Velvet hydrangeas are a wild form of garden hydrangeas and belong to the borage hydrangea, to which subspecies they belong. The imposing shrub with its very large, velvety leaves and the plate-shaped, light purple flowers thrives best in partially shaded areas of the garden. It is very easy to propagate both by cuttings and by division.
Velvet hydrangeas are best propagated from cuttings
Particularly easy to achieve: Propagation of cuttings in velvet hydrangea
Cut off suitable shoots from a strong and healthy velvet hydrangea bush preferably in June or July, but also in spring or autumn. Like so many shrubs, velvet hydrangeas are propagated via cuttings, i. H. about 10 to 15 centimeters long shoot tips with several pairs of leaves.
Plant a velvet hydrangea cutting
The cut cuttings 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 take root less easily.
- Fill a small pot with nutrient-poor seed or herb soil.
- Now remove all the leaves except for the top pair of leaves.
- Make a pulling cut with a sharp knife across the lowest leaf axil.
- This is where the root-forming cells are located.
- Dip the cut in a rooting powder or in wood ash.
- Now plant the cutting several centimeters deep in the substrate.
- Lightly press down the soil and water the substrate.
- Put the pot in a not too bright and warm place.
- Avoid direct sunlight.
- Keep the substrate evenly moist for the next few weeks.
Incidentally, you can see quite well 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 and 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 aerial parts - and divide it into the desired number of individual plants.