Propagating hydrangea will allow you to get more of these beautiful plants without splashing the cash. And, with a little patience and know-how, it’s not too difficult.
With an abundance of impressively sized flowers in blue, pink, lime-green or white, it’s no wonder these shrubs have recently made a serious comeback. They bring stylish structure and form to both contemporary and cottage-style garden schemes, and Growing hydrangea Also, is undemanding.
So, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly approach to filling your garden with these show-stopping shrubs, this guide will definitely come in handy.
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Easy steps to propagate hydrangea from cuttings
Cuttings from plants are a wonderful way to increase your collection and add more foliage and flowers to your plot for free. And with hydrangeas, it’s easy.
You can take softwood cuttings from spring to early summer. as RHS As advised, take your cuttings from soft and flexible young shoot tips, which will root easily. Alternatively, you can take semi-ripe cuttings (which have a woody base) in mid-summer, or hardwood cuttings in winter.
Whichever approach you take, make sure you use a sharp, clean pair – Spear & Jackson’s Razorsharp Bypass Secateurs at Amazon Highly rated by reviewers.
Follow these simple steps:
- Once you’ve taken your cuttings, place them in a pot of hard compost, water well, then place the pot in a propagator or cover it with a transparent plastic bag for about six weeks. If you are using the plastic bag approach, remove it briefly and shake daily to avoid excessive condensation.
- Keep your hydrangea cuttings somewhere frost-free over the winter, then pot them in a larger pot when new growth appears in the spring.
- Renowned gardening expert John Negus suggests liquid feeding your hydrangea cuttings with a high-potash tomato fertilizer. “Apply it weekly, making sure the cuttings are wet with compost,” he says. Levington Tomorite, available from Amazonis a popular variety.
- Remember to harden off your cuttings for two to three weeks before planting them in their final position outdoors. This involves placing your hydrangea cuttings outside in their pots for a few hours during the day, before bringing them indoors overnight. It allows plants to gradually acclimate to sun, wind and rain before transplanting them into the ground or your plant of choice. Garden plants. It’s also worth remembering that they can take a few years to flower.
Early Grow
EarlyGrow Mpl50119 Medium Propagator
Made from shatterproof plastic, this easy-to-use propagator comes with two extenders so you can grow a wide range of plants. Its lid has vents so you can control ventilation and humidity levels as needed.
How to propagate hydrangea from seed
It is also possible to grow hydrangeas from seed, although growing them from cuttings is much faster and easier.
Even if you are Growing hydrangeas in pots Or in the ground you can get free seeds from them. Collect the small seeds by cutting off the dried flower heads and placing them in paper bags – continue to dry them here for a few days. Then, shake the bag to release the seeds.
Once you have your seeds, it’s simply a case of planting them in a tray of potting soil, without covering them with soil. Place them somewhere sheltered and sunny – a windowsill is ideal – and keep them moist – they should sprout within a few weeks. Pot them up when they are big enough to handle.
FAQs
Should you remove developing flowers when cutting your hydrangea?
It is best to get rid of any flowers you see on young hydrangea cuttings.
“It’s not unusual for hydrangea cuttings to develop flower buds on top, but if you let them bloom they’re liable to stunt growth,” says John Negus. “The best way to remove them is with pointed scissors to avoid damaging the delicate stems.”
Can you divide hydrangea to make new plants?
Another common way to propagate many outdoor and indoor plants is by dividing them. So you may be wondering, “Can you divide hydrangea?”.
Unfortunately, as John Negus explains, dividing hydrangeas can be impractical because most have a single stem. But there can be exceptions. “Sometimes, if a bush of shoots develops, the bush can be dug up and divided into well-rooted clumps,” he says.
If like you, go ahead and divide the plant in late fall when the leaves fall. “Then, shorten the stems to 18in (45cm) from the base. Replant the sections in holes two or three times the diameter of the rootball. Work in plenty of compost or compost and set the plants at the same depth as before.
“Water them well to make sure the roots are in close contact with the soil,” he adds.
Interested in more hydrangea gardening advice?
What our guides Hydrangeas can grow in the shade And How to change the color of your hydrangeas Packed with useful tips to help you get the best from this much-loved plant.
The original version of this article previously appeared on Gardeningetc, a sister website to Homebuilding and Renovating.
