Hydrangea Cutting Propagation Methods and Steps Explained

1. Selecting and Preparing the Branches

Select branches that have no flowers or flower buds, about 20 cm will do. Remove the lower leaves, make a diagonal cut about one inch below the node, leaving only one node, and make a flat cut above the node. In addition, the tool used to cut the branches must be very sharp, and the cut must be clean, so as to prevent the cut from becoming infected. After cutting, it is best to place them in a cool, ventilated place to dry.

2. Preparing the Leaves

If there are too many leaves, transpiration will cause the plant itself to lose too much water; if there are too few leaves, the plant cannot carry out photosynthesis to grow roots. Therefore, we need to cut each leaf in half.

3. Requirements for the Cutting Medium

Generally, the cutting medium is peat plus vermiculite. However, common potting soil for potted hydrangeas can also be used for planting, as long as drainage is good; just water thoroughly before cutting. Note that leaves should not touch each other, to avoid infection from rotting leaves.

4. Cutting

Insert the prepared branches into the medium, press firmly with your hand, water again to settle them in, place in a cool, ventilated place, and frequently mist the leaves to keep them moist. Wait patiently, and do not pull them out to check for no reason; basically they will root in half a month. Those who have rooting powder at home can appropriately sprinkle some rooting powder to help the hydrangea grow roots quickly.

Once 3-4 leaves have grown, they can be pulled out and potted up. After potting, water thoroughly, place in a cool place to recover for two days, and then they can be placed in a spot with ample light for normal care.

Although it looks very troublesome, the editor believes that as long as you care for them attentively, you will certainly be able to propagate hydrangeas well and eventually grow hydrangeas that everyone envies. But hydrangeas come in so many colors, so how can we ensure that the hydrangeas we grow are the color we like?

Illustrated Guide to Hydrangea Cutting Propagation Methods

Preparation for Hydrangea Cutting Propagation

When propagating hydrangeas by cuttings, because stem cuttings are chosen, the branches first need to be prepared.

When selecting branches, you should choose relatively robust branches, remove them with a small knife, and note that when taking the branch, the wound should be smooth and preferably at a 45° angle.

Then, the removed branch can be flat-cut at the leaf node, generally using a small knife to make a flat cut above the node, and cutting off the excess branch, keeping only two leaves.

The retained leaves also need to be partly cut off, preferably cut in half, so that when cutting is carried out, water evaporation can be reduced and survival is easier.

Hydrangea Cutting Propagation Methods

Prepare the soil; generally, loose and fertile sandy soil is chosen. Then insert the prepared branches. Note that when cutting, it is best to disinfect with carbendazim solution. After cutting, mist frequently to keep moist.

Generally, about 20 days after cutting, the hydrangea will have rooted, and after 1 month it can be potted up.

Hydrangea Cutting Propagation Methods (Example Operation)

Prepare the cutting medium and container. The one shown below uses peat + perlite, a mainstream cutting medium. Of course, you can also try other media. As for the container, if you are not propagating many, a nutrient pot or a disposable cup will do; you do not necessarily have to buy this kind. After filling it, water thoroughly once to keep the medium moist.

Select young branches of the current year, cut the branches as shown below, one pair of leaves per small section, then cut each leaf in half. This is done to reduce water evaporation. As for the length of the cuttings, do not leave too much above the leaf surface, about 1-2 cm, and about 3-5 cm below the cutting. Leaving it too long is useless, and leaving it too short makes it unstable when inserted.

For the cutting soil, you can choose peat soil and perlite mixed at a 1:1 ratio. Fill the seedling tray with soil, then place it in a tray filled with water and soak for more than 30 minutes to ensure that all the soil in the seedling tray is thoroughly wet, with no dry spots.

Insert the 3-5 cm end of the hydrangea branch below the node into the soil, and try to keep the leaves from touching each other, otherwise the leaves are prone to rot and infection. After all are inserted, water thoroughly once more so that there are no gaps between the medium and the cuttings. Finally, find a cool, ventilated place, remember to check every day, mist to keep moist, and roots will grow in about one month.

Place the seedling tray in a place without direct sunlight and with good ventilation. During this period, use a spray bottle and mist 1-2 times per week to keep the soil moist. Roots will begin to grow after about 3 weeks.

Gently pull upward with your hand. If you feel resistance, it means the hydrangea has grown roots and can be moved from the seedling tray into a flower pot. Afterward, keep it in a semi-shaded environment for care, keep the potting soil moist, and water with ferrous sulfate nutrient water once every 10-15 days.