Hydrangea not looking good need help

[bls82699]

I was just given a beautiful Hydrangea on Easter Sunday, when we arrived home with it my husband left it out on the front porch. The temperature went down to 26 degrees that night and all of the beautiful dark pink flowers are brown. I brought it inside immediatly the next morning and it is still ver brown and alot of the leaves are brown as well. The plant also smells horrible.

I am wondering what I need to do to nurse it back to health. I haven't watered it because it still feels very damp, I know that they don't like being over watered.

Please help I would love any suggestions.

Thank you.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Cut off the dead material and give it sun during the day. Don't leae it out to freeze anymore and it should resprout from the base, but flowers are a goner for this year most likely...

HG

[bls82699]

Thank you for responding so quickly I am new at this. How far back should I cut it? or should I just remove all of the dead stuff?

[The Helpful Gardener]

All of it or the hollow stems will just keep going. Hopefully it is not too far gone and will come back from roots (likely).

HG