Hydrangeas are fascinating flowering plants that produce pretty leaves and large flower heads in various bright colors.
An explosion of new cultivars reflects the popularity of hydrangeas. And it’s no surprise, as the plant is resistant to pests, grows in sun or shade, and bounces back from cold temperatures. Luckily, hydrangeas are an easy plant to start from cuttings. And a mature plant can yield dozens of new hydrangeas to fill your garden.
The first step for how to root cuttings from hydrangea is to select a stem for cutting. In early fall, choose a stem for hydrangea propagation that is at least 6 inches (15 cm.) long, has no flower and is new growth. A new growth stem will be a lighter green than old growth. Also be aware that if you live in a colder climate where the hydrangea dies back to the ground, the whole shrub may consist of new growth
Once you have selected a stem to propagate the hydrangea, take a sharp pair of shears and cut the stem off just below a leaf node. A leaf node is where a set of leaves will be growing. The hydrangea cutting should be at least 4 inches (10 cm.) long and should contain at least one additional set of leaves above the selected leaf node. Snip the cutting from the stem.
Next, strip all but the top most set of leaves from the cutting. The cutting should have only two leaves left. Cut the two remaining leaves in half crosswise (not lengthwise).
If available, dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone. While rooting hormone will increase the chances of successfully propagating hydrangeas, you can still propagate hydrangea shrubs without it. Now, stick the cutting into damp potting soil.
Cover the pot with a plastic bag, making sure that the bag does not touch the leaves of the hydrangea cutting. Place the pot in a sheltered location out of direct sunlight.
Check the hydrangea cutting every few days to make sure the soil is still damp. In about two to four weeks, the cutting will be rooted and your hydrangea propagation will be complete.
Hydrangea shrubs are excellent for personalizing yard landscaping and garden design with color and shape. Shrubs can be trimmed to suit any outdoor home decorating plan and garden design of any size or layout.
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