Where are you located? I don't have any potted, mine are all in the ground but with some milder temps this past week I'm starting to see buds on mine as well. As long as they don't have a hard freeze they'll be fine.

I'm guessing with those temps you're pretty far down south?

Yes, forgot to put in my zone, we're in south carolina. I just moved it outside figuring that if we do suddenly plummet into the teens again, I can always pick it up and move it in. Thanks.

When do other members in 9b-10 prune hydrangeas? They are pretty sparse looking and I don't want to prune too early. I usually use March 15 as my date to start clean up pruning. Do you lightly fert. at the same time.
I have thought of trying fish emulision solar spray in addition to a half amount of azealia fert.
Any suggestions please

Look up on the Internet your average date of last freeze in Spring by N.O.A.A. and, because it is an average, add two more weeks or whatever makes you feel comfortable. For SC, that tends to be around March and April: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/ilm/climate/freeze.html

gardenmagic40, pruning time depends on the type of hydrangea that you have. Without knowing that, a general "safe" time would be to prune after blooming but before the start of July. You can apply fish emulsion after the shrub has leafed out (but I still wait two weeks after my last average freeze in Spring though). A 1/2 cup to 1 cup of cottonseed meal in early Spring and again in June will do for the whole year. Hydrangeas do not need as much fertilizer as roses do. Check the levels of mulch when you fertilize and add more if needed to maintain about 3-4".