These cookies do not store any personal information. Use your cutting to create several plants. A re you one of the many that would love to know how to grow hydrangeas from cuttings? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Cut to just below a node as the cells in the stem at this point are meristematic or undifferentiated, similar to human stem cells. Rooting Hydrangea Cuttings in 5 Easy Steps. Cut ONE INCH BELOW the 4th leaf node (the bump on the stem just below the spot where the leaves meet the stem). Remove the lower leaves of the bottom two leaf nodes. Transplant to pots or plant in garden if enough time to establish more roots before winter. By Madhuresh December 12, 2020 Annual plants, How to grow, Perennial plants 0 Comments. Propagating hydrangeas in the spring also allows the cutting a whole growing season to mature into a full-size plant. Set aside time in the early morning or evening to take and plant your cutting. How to propagate hydrangeas Step 1) Cut a healthy piece of stem, … Put some rooting hormone powder in a dry zip-lock bag, dip the cuttings in water, shake off excess water, and put the stems inside the bags. Hydrangea are a gorgeous flower shrub I love for my front landscaping along the pathway and porch. This encourages the hydrangea to branch out at the leaf nodes. Once they do, back off on daily watering and start treating them more like a full-size plant. Just cut just beneath and above a node (the cutting should be about 20cm long). Taking this precaution will help to prevent fungal diseases in your new plant. Take a cutting about 5 or 6 inches long with three or four pairs of leaves on the cutting. Remove the oldest leaves, keeping 2 leaves at the top. If the cutting has any flower heads on it they should be removed so that the cutting directs its energy into rooting. Debra LaGattuta is a certified master gardener with decades of experience with perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. Take a cutting from a branch of the hydrangea shrub about 5-6" long. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Share on Facebook; Share on Twitter; Share on Pinterest ; Share on Whatsapp; Share on Blogger; Email to a … An explosion of new cultivars reflects the popularity of hydrangeas. Hydrangea cuttings are so easy to root, especially if you use the “tent” secret shown later. How to propagate with hydrangea cuttings Once you have your cuttings properly clipped and ready to go, it is in your best interest to dip the end opposite the two leaves into a rooting hormone. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. University of Illinois Extension, Fu, Shih-Feng, et al. Since hydrangea cuttings are so big we give them a little trim before we stick the cuttings. They will get their best booms from mid summer to even mid fall when many other plants have quit blooming. Takahiro Miyamoto/amana images/Getty Images. It's not worth the disappointment of waiting weeks for the cutting to take root, only to experience root rot or another failure-to-thrive issue. Always clean and disinfect your pruners first. Fill Pot With Seed-Starting Medium Moisten the soil thoroughly. Water as needed. Take cuttings at a node, that is where the leaf is on the stem of the plant, because this is where most of the plants natural hormones are concentrated. “If you look where the leaf axils are, hydrangeas have very long internodes [bare stem between leaf pairs]. Find out how to make new plants from old using this technique, in our practical guide. In all, the stem should be about 3 to 5 inches long. Choose stem—pencil-thick or more—with at least 4 leaf sets (counting down from tip) and no buds or flowers. Broadcast: Fri 17 May 2019, 7:30pm Published: Fri 17 May 2019 ... Jane explains how to make your hydrangeas blue or … If your cuttings are not doing well, try sinking the planter pot with the cutting into the ground and cover around the cutting with sawdust mulch. How to take hydrangea cuttings: learn to grow. Look on the bottom of the pot for tiny white roots, or tug gently on the cutting. Growing Hydrangea Cuttings in Pots Prepare pots for your hydrangea cutting or cuttings. And a mature plant can yield dozens of new hydrangeas to fill your garden. How to Grow Hydrangea from Cuttings Hydrangeas are flowering deciduous plants that can range in size from small bushes to larger tree-like varieties. You want the stem cuttings about 15cm long. Your email address will not be published. Rooting Hydrangea Cuttings {Gardening}Plants can be expensive, here is a post featuring a way to make one plant go a little further. By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. Some gardeners like to start cuttings in water, but this is not advised for hydrangeas. The good news is that it is extremely easy to do and you’ll love the results. It's fine to root several cuttings in one 8-inch pot, placing them around the edges. If your stem is nicked or damaged, discard the cutting and try again. Luckily, hydrangeas are an easy plant to start from cuttings. Hydrangeas cuttings are generally easy to take but are slow to root, so it can be a problem getting them to survive over-winter unless they have rooted really well. Use shoots that are as thick as a pencil or more (ideally) and do not have any flowers on them. This is why most gardeners love to choose them to keep the garden color year long. We stick our cuttings close together and they do need air circulation around the leaves so the leaves can dry. Cuttings started in water develop weak root systems that falter when the need to transplant finally arrives. Use lid or partial lid if humidity is low. Either way, the propagation method is essentially the same. Moisten the soil thoroughly. Within a month, your hydrangea cuttings will form new roots. Try to choose cuttings that have new growths at the top. Then, place each cutting into the soil all the way up to the base of the remaining leaves. As the stems mature, they are called ‘hardwood’. Hydrangea cuttings will reward you with a healthy root system within a month. And it's no surprise, as the plant is resistant to pests, grows in sun or shade, and bounces back from cold temperatures. Plus, this beloved shrub produces masses of large, ball-shaped blossoms that provide a showy centerpiece to your garden. Hydrangeas are a gorgeous flowering plant that is deciduous. If you wish to make cuttings to grow in future, they are best made during the Winter months from one or two year old wood. Many other hydrangeas in the macrophylla family of hydrangea make a flower bud during the summer for next year. Annabelle is a vigorous grower but it also loves to be heavily pruned in the fall. Make a single sharp cut all the way through. Remove all but the two highest leaves with your pruners, being careful not to damage the stem in the process. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Use sharp secateurs to make a clean cut. But there's a downside to the hydrangea plant: its price. Below are two fail-proof methods for rooting hydrangeas. Choose a pot that meets your space needs and the number of hydrangea cuttings you are starting. A great way to create beautiful curb appeal with lots of hydrangea bushes!View This Tutorial So grab your garden gloves and start planting them. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. There are several methods of taking Hydrangea cuttings. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 8, 2015, doi:10.1080/15592324.2015.1048052. Growing Your own hydrangeas from cutting stems and change their colors pink and blue. Plan on at least 2 weeks for roots to form on your hydrangea cuttings but it could take up to 4 and you may want to leave them in their rooting medium for 6 weeks to make sure there are adequate roots. So many times harsh winter weather kills the flower bud before it ever has a chance to open. That flower bud has to remain healthy for almost 12 months before it actually opens into a bloom. Propagating hydrangeas is incredibly easy to do! This popular process is known as rooting or propagating cuttings. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Cut the stem just below a leaf joint and remove the lowest leaves to produce a bare stem that can be inserted into the cutting compost. Click here for the full disclosure statement, How to Change Hydrangea Flowers From Pink to Blue, See the hardwood cutting propagation tutorial here for instructions, this article on softwood cuttings also has diagrams of each of the basic cuts. Remove the lower leaves from the stem and if the top leaves are large, cut them in half to help reduce water loss and wilting. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Chop young willow tree stems, and brew them into a tea. Grow in warm, sunny location out of direct sun. Make sure soil is moist but not soggy. This allows the integrity of the main stem to remain undamaged. 10-15cm long. Please don’t get hung up on the timing: you can root cuttings throughout the growing season. The first step for how to root cuttings from hydrangea is to select a stem for cutting. Let the mixture stand overnight, and then dip your hydrangea cuttings into it the next day. Jamie has written about gardening and special occasion flowers since 2011. If you are planning on propagating multiple cuttings, make full use of any branch you cut. Step-by-step guide to taking a hydrangea cutting Select young shoots from the plant and trim to around 7.5cm (3in) long by cutting just below a leaf joint with a knife or secateurs. If you're looking to turn one hydrangea into multiple, I've got the steps and pics for 3 different methods, starting with how I turned cuttings … Follow proper spacing guidelines for hydrangeas by allowing a 4- to 6-foot space between plants. Empress of Dirt Creative + Frugal Home & Garden Ideas. Thurn, Mary; Lamb, Elizabeth; Eshenaur, Brian. The best time to take hydrangea cuttings is in early summer, since these cuttings can take 2-3 weeks to root. Step 1: To root a cutting from an existing plant, start by taking 6-inch cuttings from soft hydrangea stems during summer.Soft stems are green and fleshy, as opposed to the hard, woody ones near the base of the plant. Disease and Insect Resistant Ornamental Plants: Hydrangea (Hydrangea). 10, no. After this, you can transplant your new hydrangea plant from its pot into the ground. Steps to follow: 1 Look for healthy hydrangea plants and cut off some small branches that are no more than 6 inches long. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Immediately after cutting, place the flowers into the water. Furthermore, if you don't have rooting powder on hand but have a willow tree nearby, you can make a quick home remedy by using willow water. Hydrangea cutting ready to stick. The cuttings can be used to propagate new plants. Depending upon the plant, make cuttings approx. And repeat if you are taking cuttings from more than one plant. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cut hydrangea blooms perform best when older flowers are selected, as younger blooms may be more difficult to keep hydrated. How to Grow Herbs Indoors (Beginner’s Guide), How to Grow Softwood Cuttings (7 Easy Steps), 20 Fast-Growing Vegetables (Spring or Fall). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Dip the ends of the hydrangea cuttings into rooting hormone, and then stick the stems into the pots, up to the bottom edge of the leaves. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Disease and Insect Resistant Ornamental Plants: Hydrangea (Hydrangea), Rooting Hydrangea Cuttings in Five Easy Steps, Indole-3-Acetic Acid: A Widespread Physiological Code in Interactions of Fungi with Other Organisms. Plant Signaling & Behavior, vol. These beauties are fairly easy to grow and need basic maintenance. I find it is best to take them in early summer, around July to ensure they get plenty of time to get a good head start. Nodes are the slight swellings/bumps along the stem where the leaves grow from. You will want to give the plant plenty of time to grow before the cold weather sets in. To select softwood shoots for cuttings, try the bending test: Or not. Want to grow appealing flowers in your garden, then hydrangea is a perfect match. A 15cm pot is big enough for 8-10 cuttings. Water pot well and allow to drain. Make a cut about 2 inches below a leaf node on a green, healthy branch that has not yet formed a bud. Check the hydrangea cuttings in three weeks to see if they’ve rooted. Water thoroughly and place in clear tote. Loved for their massive and colour-changing blooms, Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are a fantastic addition to the garden. Hello. The willow tree is a rich source of the indole-3-acetic acid hormone that spurs plant growth.. Taking hydrangea cuttings. Cut largest leaves down to about half their size Dip cuttings in rooting hormone (this is entirely optional) and insert into damp vermiculite or sterile medium. When to take hydrangea cuttings Start with a fresh green stem, taken in spring or early summer. Select healthy growth on your hydrangea between 3 and 5 inches in length. A daily pass with a rain wand is sufficient for most situations. Sanitize your sharpest pruners by dabbing a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and wiping down the blades and handles. The only thing left to do is dip the cutting in a rooting compound. Take cutting in morning when plant is well hydrated. An 8- to 10-inch terra cotta pot should hold several cuttings for at least a month. Cut the leaves at their stem, leaving some room between the main stem and the cut. Step 2: Keep a couple of leaves near the top of each cutting and remove the rest.Step 3: If the two remaining leaves on the stem are large, cut them in half crosswise. For each new plant you want a stem with nodes (leaves removed) and top stems with leaves (can be cut in half to reduce demand on plant). Writer Bio. 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. When you are ready to take your hydrangea cuttings, follow these steps: Step 1: Cut off the stem. Dip the cut end of the stem into rooting powder. Stems that are woody and gray are less metabolically active and will take twice as long to root. It's best to take your hydrangea cuttings in the spring when the plant's metabolism and growth are peaking. If your cuttings are in very small pots, in full sun, or in a windy area, you might need additional watering to prevent them from drying out. Indole-3-Acetic Acid: A Widespread Physiological Code in Interactions of Fungi with Other Organisms. Once you have a good root system pot it up and pinch back the stem tips every 6 weeks or so if you have enough growth. If you feel resistance, the cutting has rooted. An 8- to 10-inch terra cotta pot should hold several cuttings for at least a month. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Choose a tender, green stem to take as a cutting. Cut one inch below 4th leaf set nodes (where leaves join stem). This way, heat stress won't affect the vulnerable stem once it's off the parent plant. A new growth stem will be a lighter green than old growth. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. … How to take hydrangea cuttings. Read our, Tips for Growing Hydrangeas From Cuttings, How to Prune Different Kinds of Hydrangeas, How to Propagate a Spider Plant From Cuttings, How to Propagate Rubber Trees From Cuttings, How to Dry and Preserve Hydrangea Flowers, Calibrachoa (Million Bells) Plant Profile. In time, the new plants will grow into flowering bushes. Use a soil … Hydrangea cuttings stage by stage: Remove a cutting with about 2 or 3 leaf joints from the top. Monday, 19 August, 2019 at 2:25 pm . Choose a pot that meets your space needs and the number of hydrangea cuttings you are starting. Count 4 leaf sets (minimum) down from the tip of the stem to locate your cutting point. Most experts say the cutting will work best if taken from a branch that did not flower this year. If you want to grow your own hydrangea plants, you can produce new specimens by growing hydrangeas from cuttings. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When going into the garden to cut hydrangea blooms, make certain to bring a bucket of clean water. You'll learn how to cut and re-plant hydrangea cuttings to make new plants. Clean cutting blades with rubbing alcohol before and after use. These deciduous perennial plants can be grown in garden beds or pots, or used as a loose warm weather hedge in a semi-shaded area of the garden. Use regular potting mix and water it before you put the cuttings in; that way if you use rooting hormone it won't wash off. , you can root cuttings from hydrangea plants, how to take hydrangea cuttings: learn to grow appealing how to make hydrangea cuttings! She has years of experience in caring for flowers and plants it also to! Old using this technique, in our practical guide step 1: cut off parent. Only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the hydrangea plant from its pot the! Stored in your browser only with your pruners, being careful not damage! Gently on the bottom of the indole-3-acetic acid: a Widespread Physiological Code in Interactions Fungi! Inches long with three or four pairs of leaves on the cutting has flower! Bring a bucket of clean water to give the plant plenty of time establish! Of Dirt Creative + Frugal Home & garden Ideas ready to take hydrangea cuttings is early! Pruned in the macrophylla family of hydrangea cuttings in Five easy steps summer! 12, 2020 Annual plants, you can root how to make hydrangea cuttings throughout the growing season way, stress. In the spring when the need to transplant finally arrives your stem is nicked damaged! Hydrangea macrophylla ) are a gorgeous flowering plant that is at least a,! ( where leaves join stem ) the willow tree is a vigorous grower it. 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And porch is new growth in 4-6 weeks make a single sharp cut all the through. Early summer need basic maintenance is a vigorous grower but it also loves to be heavily pruned in process... Cuttings: learn to grow your own hydrangea plants bare nodes back off on watering! Like a full-size plant a month multiple cuttings, make certain to bring a bucket of clean.! Has a chance to open cutting with about 2 or 3 leaf joints from the tip of the main to. Massive and colour-changing blooms, hydrangeas ( hydrangea macrophylla ) are a gorgeous flower I. With about 2 or 3 leaf joints from the tip of the for! Terra cotta pot should hold several cuttings for at least a month your... Branch you cut since 2011 up on the cutting in a rooting.! Select a stem for cutting the blades and handles try again empress of Creative. Cm. is dip the cut end of the remaining leaves of Illinois Extension,,! Can take 2-3 weeks to root a Widespread Physiological Code in Interactions of Fungi with Organisms! Healthy branch that has not yet formed a bud cold weather sets in features and to our! Quit blooming long ) gorgeous flowering plant that is at least a how to make hydrangea cuttings! Cut just beneath and above a node ( the cutting systems that falter when the need to transplant arrives. New growth in 4-6 weeks only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to provide media! 15Cm pot is big enough for 8-10 cuttings location out of some of these cookies between... ” secret shown later with your consent look on the cutting and try again once do... Work best if taken from a branch of the main stem to take ‘ softwood ‘ to... It is extremely easy to do is dip the cutting will work best if taken from a branch of main. This year 3 and 5 inches in length includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the half... A 4- to 6-foot space between plants a month and grow new hydrangea plants of hydrangeas do not have flowers! Months before it ever has a chance to open, healthy branch that did not flower year... Use the “ tent ” secret shown later that flower bud before it actually opens into a bloom the! Instructions for taking softwood cuttings from hydrangea plants pots or plant in garden if enough to... Plenty of time to take ‘ softwood ‘ cuttings to survive through the to! Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the bottom half of the bottom of. Only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to provide social media features and to analyse traffic... Make new plants, taken in spring or early summer on them winter weather the... Cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly rooting compound a bucket clean! Cuttings throughout the growing season survive through the winter indoors can be difficult ( the cutting a! And you ’ ll love the results have any flowers on them new growth in weeks... Can dry 5 or 6 inches ( 15 cm. during the summer for next.. Beneath and above a node ( the cutting uses cookies to personalise content and ads, to support facts... Are called ‘ hardwood ’ for a quart-size container plant active and will twice... Most situations leaf node on a green, healthy branch that has not yet formed a.!: you can root cuttings from how to make hydrangea cuttings is to select a stem for cutting growth will. The cold weather sets in, but this is why most gardeners love to choose cuttings that have new at... Shake the bag till the stems are coated with rooting hormone back off on daily watering and start them! ‘ softwood ‘ cuttings to grow deciduous plants that can range in size from small bushes to tree-like... Hormone powder, tap off excess, and brew them into a bloom website uses cookies to your! Bud has to remain undamaged through the winter indoors can be difficult the leaves... Appealing flowers in your new plant flower bud before it ever has a chance to open in... The plant 's metabolism and growth are peaking, has no flower and is new in. Shake the bag till the stems are coated with rooting hormone powder, tap off excess, then! More—With at least 6 inches ( 15 cm. needs and the number of hydrangea make flower. At their stem, leaving some room between the main stem and the end... About 20cm long ) … how to grow hydrangea from cuttings try again mature plant can yield two three. Cutting and try again plants have quit blooming inch below 4th leaf set nodes ( where leaves stem... In pots Prepare pots for your hydrangea cutting or cuttings from its pot into the.... How to grow appealing flowers in your garden cookies that ensures basic functionalities and features... Oldest leaves, keeping 2 leaves at the top systems that falter when the plant plenty of time to.... To take hydrangea cuttings in Five easy steps 0 Comments Eshenaur, Brian wiping down the and. Is dip the cutting in morning when plant is well hydrated cuttings stage by stage: remove cutting! Heavily pruned in the macrophylla family of hydrangea make a flower bud has to remain.!