Detailed Guide to Hydrangea (Bigleaf Hydrangea) Cutting Propagation

  Hydrangeas can be propagated by division, layering, and cuttings, but cuttings are generally the most commonly used method. For early spring cuttings, one-year-old dormant branches can be used as cuttings; for cuttings taken from May to August, new branches of the current year can be used. The cuttings should be about 10 cm long with 2 to 3 nodes, and the rooting medium is plain sand or vermiculite. After early spring cuttings, provide shade and keep warm, maintaining a certain humidity; after cuttings taken from May to August, shade and keep moist, place in a shaded spot, mist frequently, and keep the medium moist. After about 30 days, they will take root and survive; after rooting, transplant into pots separately.

  Step one, get everything ready. Try to use a utility knife or similar; do not use scissors, because the wound made by scissors is a crushed wound, different from a cut made by a knife. For the branch, choose one from the current year that is semi-mature, not the best one, as shown in the picture above.

  Step two, make a diagonal cut three to five centimeters below the node.

  Step three, make a flat cut above the node, keeping the bud.

  Step four, cut off about two-thirds or one-half of the leaf; either is fine. It depends on the leaf size: leave less on large leaves, and more on small leaves.

  This is now one cutting ready for propagation.

  For the propagation medium, you can use 2.0 vermiculite, fine seedling peat, etc. Before planting, remember to sterilize the medium first with a fungicide such as potassium permanganate or carbendazim. Then water the medium thoroughly so it absorbs enough water. Insert the cutting into the medium, with the part below the node fully inserted into the medium. Place a tray under the pot and put some water in the tray; the main thing during propagation is moisture retention. Just mist frequently to keep it moist, and do not place it under strong sun; a cool, shady place is best. Too high a temperature is also not good; ideally the temperature should be between 25-30 degrees.

  The rest of the days are just the moisture-retention process. Everyone, do not mess with them; do not pull them out for no reason. At the current temperature, they will root in about twenty days, and after basically one month you can pull them out and pot them up. This was casually planted after the propagation demonstration in the group last time. When the roots are this good, they can be potted up.