Hydreneas are among the most popular garden plants because of their compact growth and incomparable abundance of flowers. Propagating the hydrangea by cuttings is quite uncomplicated and can be achieved even if you are not blessed with the proverbial green thumb. For little money you can make your dream of a blooming hydrangea hedge come true by growing cuttings yourself.
How do I propagate hydrangeas with cuttings?
To propagate hydrangeas through cuttings, cut annual, flowerless shoots, reduce the leaves and put them in rooting powder and potting soil. Cover and ventilate in a mini greenhouse and keep moist until roots grow.
Cut cuttings
So that the offshoots grow roots as quickly as possible, it is important to cut the cuttings from an annual, non-woody and flowerless shoot. Cut it off below the leaf node with a sharp knife.
Only one or two pairs of leaves remain on the cutting. Since the hydrangea leaves are quite large, they are cut in half to reduce the evaporation area. This means that the offshoot receives enough water despite the roots not yet being present and does not dry out.
Insert
Proceed as follows:
- Fill growing pots or bowls with growing soil.
- Dip the cuttings in rooting powder (€9.00 on Amazon) and stick them a few centimeters deep into the soil.
- Press the substrate gently so that the small plants have enough support.
- Pour carefully with a soft stream.
- Cover the container with a hood or a transparent plastic bag (greenhouse climate).
The mini greenhouse must be ventilated once a day so that the humidity can escape. Keep the soil moist but not wet to prevent the roots from rotting. After just a few weeks, the cuttings have formed a small root ball.
Separation of cuttings
Transplant the rooted cuttings into pots about ten centimeters in diameter. You can plant the small plants in special hydrangea soil or continue to cultivate them in potting soil.
Place the pots in a sunny and protected location. During the first winter you should overwinter the small hydrangea plants indoors, as the offshoots are still quite sensitive to frost.
Next spring you can slowly accustom the hydrangeas to the outdoors and transplant them into the garden.
Tips & Tricks
Hydrangeas need a lot of water to thrive. Therefore, never let the soil dry out completely and water moderately but regularly.
