How to propagate hydrangeas: from cuttings, the easy way
Hydrangeas are excellent for propagation. These wonderfully flowering bushes make a brilliant addition to any garden as their huge blooms will brighten up any room. Learning how to propagate hydrangeas can help make them even more effective without incurring any expense.
Once you learn how to grow hydrangeas, hydrangea propagation is easy and can be done at any time during the blooming season using the same methods as hydrangea pruning. Since hydrangeas very rarely produce seeds, learning how to propagate them is one of the only ways to duplicate these plants.
Here, you’ll learn the intricacies of hydrangea propagation with expert tips to keep your plants blooming.
How to propagate hydrangeas
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“Hydrangeas are best grown by propagation due to the rarity of the seeds,” says Rachel Crow, gardening editor for Houses & Gardens. “Their showy flowers are easily rooted if you know how to take plant cuttings and the bushes take very well when brought outside.
“The first step is to take a cutting of a hydrangea stem that is at least four inches long,” explains Rachel. “It’s best to choose a stem that has no flowers but is newly grown. To do this easily, prune the stem in early fall when those bright green stems are fresh and just beginning to emerge.
“Using sharp pruning shears that have been washed to ensure your plants are protected from disease, cut just below a leaf node,” continues Rachel. “Find a leaf node that sits under a leaf cutting to provide nutrients to your stem as it forms roots.”
Similar to rose cuttings, the freshly cut stem needs to be doused in a rooting powder or hormone to increase the chances of a successful development of a new plant. Place the coated stem in a pot of damp potting soil before placing in a plastic bag, making sure the bag does not touch any part of the plant itself.
How to root hydrangea in water
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Aquatic propagation has become increasingly popular in recent times, with succulent propagation predominately being done by the water method rather than by rooting in the soil.
You can propagate hydrangeas in water in much the same way as hydrangeas in soil, however using this method may produce different results. Aquatic propagation can result in a weaker root system which may fail when placed in soil outdoors, but this does not happen 100% of the time.
If you want to try propagating hydrangeas in water, the steps are the same up to dipping the stem in rooting powder. However, after coating, place the stem in a clear glass filled with water, making sure the leaves are above the water level. With this process, make sure to purify the water every few days.
When should you take hydrangea cuttings?
It is best to take hydrangea cuttings in early to mid fall when the plant is developing new growth, which is around June to September. If you take cuttings during this time, you can distinguish the fresh shoot from the older, more mature shoot as the stems are very different in color.
How long do hydrangea cuttings take to take root?
Hydrangea cuttings will root in about two to three weeks, depending on the temperature they are kept at. To maintain higher humidity and speed up the propagation process, cover your plant with a plastic bag to maintain humidity and temperature throughout the rooting process.