Velvet hydrangeas are a wild form of garden hydrangeas and are among the rough-leaf hydrangeas, to which subspecies they belong. The impressive shrub with its very large, velvety leaves and plate-shaped, light purple flowers thrives best in partially shaded garden areas. It is very easy to propagate both from cuttings and by division.
How to propagate a velvet hydrangea?
The propagation of velvet hydrangeas is particularly easy using cuttings. In June or July, cut off 10-15 cm long shoot tips, remove the lower leaves, dip the cut in rooting powder and plant the cutting in cultivation or herb soil.
It's particularly easy: propagating velvet hydrangea cuttings
Preferably in June or July, but also in spring or autumn, cut off suitable shoots from a strong and he althy velvet hydrangea bush. Velvet hydrangeas, like so many shrubs, are propagated via top cuttings, i.e. H. about 10 to 15 centimeters long shoot tips with several pairs of leaves.
Planting a velvet hydrangea cutting
The cut cutting should be planted immediately if possible. If this is not possible, wrap the shoot in a damp cloth and store it in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. However, keep in mind that temporarily stored cuttings are susceptible to fungi and root more poorly.
- Fill a small pot with low-nutrient potting or herb soil.
- Now remove all leaves except for the top pair of leaves.
- Make a pulling cut with a sharp knife across the lowest leaf axil.
- The root-forming cells are located there.
- Dip the cut site in a rooting powder (€8.00 on Amazon) or in wood ash.
- Now plant the cutting several centimeters deep into the substrate.
- Press the soil lightly and water the substrate.
- Place the pot in a not too bright and warm place.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Keep the substrate evenly moist over the next few weeks.
Incidentally, you can easily see whether and when the cutting has formed roots: it then begins to grow, first forming new leaves and then new shoots. If this is the case, plant the young velvet hydrangea in a larger pot with soil suitable for hydrangeas.
Tips & Tricks
Since velvet hydrangeas can grow very large, they can often be propagated very well by division. To do this, dig up the plant - the solid root ball is often much smaller than its above-ground parts - and divide it into the desired number of individual plants.
