Hydrangeas are among the most popular garden plants because of their compact growth and the incomparable abundance of flowers. The propagation of hydrangea cuttings is quite uncomplicated and succeeds 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 your own offshoots.
Non-lignified, non-flowering shoots are suitable as hydrangea cuttings
cut cuttings
In order for the offshoots to root as quickly as possible, it is important to cut the cuttings from a one-year-old, non-lignified and flowerless shoot. Use a sharp knife to cut off this below the leaf knot.
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 surface. As a result, the offshoot gets enough water and does not dry out despite the lack of roots.
Deploy
To do this, proceed as follows:
- Fill the growing pots or bowls with growing soil.
- Dip cuttings in rooting powder and plant a few inches deep in the soil.
- Press the substrate gently so that the small plants have sufficient support.
- Pour carefully with a soft stream.
- Cover the vessel 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 the cuttings
Transplant the rooted cuttings into pots about four inches in diameter. You can already place the small plants in special hydrangea soil or continue to cultivate them in potting soil.
Place the pots in a sunny and sheltered spot. 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 gradually get the hydrangeas used outdoors and transplant them into the garden.
tips and tricks
Hydrangeas need a lot of water to thrive. Therefore, never let the soil dry out completely and water moderately but regularly.