Learn how to diffuse hydrangeas by cutting , layering , or division when you want more plants for your garden .

Krisada Panichgul

Propagating hydrangeas pays off big , allowing you to multiply your collection of this severely - working , beautiful floweringshrub for gratis . Hydrangeas root readily from stem cuttings , ground layering , or division — so how do you decide which technique to try in your own garden ? This guide will avail you choose the good generation method for you and thetype of hydrangeayou have in your garden , letting you make more of these all - hotshot shrubs .

Hydrangea cuttings

Credit:Krisada Panichgul

Select a Hydrangea to Propagate

The best hydrangea to propagate is a vigorous , level-headed plant life . It should be destitute ofpests and diseases . A new plant created from cuttings , layer , or division will have the same characteristics as the parent plant so take a plant to propagate that has a pleasing maturation drug abuse and flower course .

Some hydrangea cultivars are patent . A patented cultivar is protected , and it isillegal to reproduce a patent cultivarby any method .   Popular variety show such as ‘ Limelight ’ , ‘ Strawberry Sundae ’ , and ‘ Bobo ’ are all protect by patent .

Methods for Propagating Hydrangeas

The three main method for making more hydrangea are base cut , ground layering , and division . Let ’s break in them down to discover which one is the good for you .

1. Stem Cutting

When propagating bystem cuttings , a section of an actively growing stem is cut from the industrial plant in outpouring or former summer and planted in moist potting dirt . In a few weeks , the cut originate roots , and a raw plant develop . Maintaining consistent warmth and humidity around the cutting until it produces new root is significant . Stem cuttings are usually the most prolific method acting of propagation .

Best for : Producing many raw hydrangea plants .

2. Ground Layering

This easy method acting is similar to stem turn cuttings , but the stem are still attach to the main plant to propagate it . You just bend a bow from the parent plant down to the ground , and bury a part of the stem in a shallow deep . Roots work on the buried destiny of the prow , and then the stem can be split up from the parent flora . The amount of blank space near the parent plant limits strand layering propagation .

Best for : build only a couple of Modern plant life .

3. Division

tranquil hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens ) andoakleaf hydrangeashrubs spread to form colonies alternatively of growing clumps like many other hydrangeas . The fastestpropagation methodfor bland and oakleaf hydrangea colony is division , which involves using a sharp spade to fag up a portion of the colony and replanting it in a new locating .

Best for : Propagating still and oakleaf hydrangeas .

KRISTSADA   Panichgul

cutting hydrangeas

Credit:KRISTSADA Panichgul

In early leaping , hydrangea grow fresh , slightly pliant novel increase know as deal , which make first-class cuttings for propagating . In summertime , the shrub ’s part mature growth bed as semi - hardwood can also be cut for propagating .

Propagating Hydrangeas from Stem Cuttings

Mid - spring or former summer is the good clock time to take hydrangea cuttings . Hydrangea plants are actively growing during this period and are quick to produce unexampled roots . Take cutting from a healthy hydrangeathat is free from pests and disease .

gradation 1 : Using acute , sanitized pruners , snip off a 5- to 6 - inch - long press cutting from the tip of a arm that ideally did not flower last year .

tone 2 : Remove the two downcast leaves from the cutting . This disclose the leafage knob , from which new roots will go forth .

Step 3 : Cut the remaining leaves on the cutting down to half their size of it . Reducing the foliage size lessens the pressure on the plant to support the leafy growth . rather , the plant can crusade resources toward form new roots .

Step 4 : Dip the cut end of the stem cut intorooting endocrine . Although rooting hormone is not essential , it speeds up the rooting process . Plant the cutting in moist potting soil , burying the two lowest folio nodes .

footprint 5 : Water the sight well and allow it to run out thoroughly . Then , wrap up it with clear plastic , such as a plastic handbag . Add bet if needed to prevent the charge card from touching the cutting . target the cut in anindirect short locationindoors — not in direct sunlight . Do not water again unless the top of the soil is juiceless .

Expect roots to shape in two to three weeks . If there is resistor when you softly tug on the plant , it has produced new roots . Remove the plastic cover and admit the plant to carry on expanding its young root organization . Repot as involve , plant the raw hydrangeain a larger container or transplanting it into the landscape painting .

Propagating Hydrangeas by Ground Layering

All hydrangea can be disseminate by ground layering . plant life with long , flexible theme are easy to base stratum . Spring or early summer is the best metre to propagate using this method acting .

footfall 1 : Select a long , flexible stem on the outer edge of a hefty , actively growing hydrangea .

pace 2 : Gently flex the branch toward the ground so that a 5- to 6 - inch - retentive portion of the offshoot near the center of the length touch the ground . polish off the leaf in this 5- to 6 - in - long segment . Removing the leave exposes the leaf node . newfangled source will forge at the foliage nodes .

Step 3 : Use a sharp tongue to gently come up a thin layer of bark off the undersurface of the branch where the leaves were removed . Be deliberate not to disturb the leaf node .

footmark 4 : Dig a 2 - inch - inscrutable oceanic abyss about 6 inches long . Place the prepared portion of the hydrangea stem in the deep and cut across it with soil . Place a heavy gem or brick on top of the swallow offshoot to keep it in shoes .

stair 5 : Keep the buried share moist and disturb it as little as possible . Two to three weeks after burying the ramification , check for new roots . Remove the stone or brick and gently move away soil in the oceanic abyss . If you do n’t see new roots , softly tug on the branch . If it extend electrical resistance , new tooth root have formed . Clip the rooted stem from the parent plant and pot the rooted part in a container or in the garden . Water lightly and regularly until a robust new theme system strain .

you may also hold off until leaf emerge from the soil , indicating new roots have shape . prune the frozen plant from the parent plant andpot the new hydrangea in a containeror the garden .

Propagating Hydrangeas by Division

Many industrial plant can be propagate by air division , although chopping up healthy plants can seem shivery to new gardeners . Do n’t worry ; naval division wo n’t harm the parent hydrangea .

Step 1 : Use a needlelike nigga to swerve a 6 - inch or larger section from the edge of an established hydrangea . urge on the nigger straight down , savvy late enough to get as much of the antecedent system as possible . Each section needs both leaves and roots to grow .

Step 2 : Replant the unexampled section promptly so the roots do n’t dry out . Plant it at the same astuteness it was before in interchangeable luminousness and soil conditions .

dance step 3 : irrigate the division andcover the surround grease with mulchto conserve moisture until the plant becomes install .

Frequently Asked Questions

The best meter of twelvemonth to propagate hydrangea is outflow through summer . Do n’t essay to circularise the hard , woody branches in fall or winter .

While many otherplant cuttings can root in water , hydrangea is not one of them . Cuttings will only form root in grease .

Take cuttings in the former morning , if possible , when the stem are holding onto the most H2O .