The shade-loving hydrangeas also decorate those garden corners that otherwise often look a bit dreary. What many people don't know: The romantic flowering plants can be easily propagated yourself, so you can realize your dream of a blooming hydrangea bed inexpensively.
How do I grow hydrangea offshoots myself?
To grow hydrangea offshoots, cut young shoots without buds and flowers in spring, divide them into pieces and plant them in potting soil. Use root activator, keep the environment moist, shaded and ventilate daily.
Propagate hydrangeas through cuttings
All Hydrangea species can be easily propagated by cuttings. All you need for offspring is:
- special potting soil
- small planters, yogurt cups or vegetable bowls are well suited
- Root activator from garden shops.
Do the following:
In spring or early summer, cut young shoots without buds and flowers and divide them into short pieces, each with one to two pairs of leaves. Reduce the evaporation area of the leaves by cutting them in half with a sharp knife.
Dip the underside of the offshoot into the root activator or carefully sprinkle the planting hole with activator. Insert cuttings into the soil and press down. Water the seedling and place a transparent plastic bag over the pot, securing it with a rubber ring. This creates a warm, humid greenhouse climate that stimulates growth. Don't forget to ventilate daily to avoid mold formation.
Now some patience is required
Place the cultivation pots in a shady place in the house or on the terrace, as the cuttings are very sensitive to direct sunlight. After just 14 days, the small offshoots sprout the first root fibers. As soon as the Hydrangea offspring are well rooted, you can separate them. It is better for the little plants to spend their first winter indoors. The following spring you can plant the small hydrangeas in the garden.
Pick off side shoots
Propagation is even faster if you already have a large hydrangea in the garden. Some types of hydrangeas form side shoots that you can cut off and transplant to another location. These offshoots root easily and quickly develop into magnificent plants.
Tips & Tricks
A natural substitute for rooting powder is willow water, which you can make yourself. To do this, cut young willow shoots into pieces about two centimeters long and pour boiling hot water over them. Let it steep for 24 hours and drain.
