You can take Hydrangea cuttings at two times during the year. In winter, when you take new hardwood cuttings, and again in summer, when you take cuttings of fairly new growth that has just started to harden a little.
For us, this method works with most Hydrangea varieties.
When to take Hydrangea cuttings
We find that the best time to take hydrangea cuttings is usually in summer, after the new growth has hardened off.
Look down the stem to where the growth starts to look more woody, this is where the cuttings are taken.
You can also take hardwood cuttings taken in winter will strike easily. You can grow them in containers, and in warmer climates even strike them directly into the garden.
The cuttings taken in summer are placed into a mixture of 1 part perlite and 1 part fine coco-peat.
For each type cuttings should be at around 15 cm (6 inches) long.
Tools and Equipment needed.
- Sharp clean secateurs or garden snips
- Small pots
- Potting mix
- Plastic drink bottles or a plastic bag with sticks to support it
- A dibbler – This is stick for making holes in the soil
- Cutting material.
- Hormone rooting powder or liquid- Optional
Taking Hydrangea Cuttings in summer – Step by Step.
- Make sure that the cutting is taken from a healthy plant.
- Take the cuttings in the morning of a cool day.
- Choose a stem that is not a flowering stem, with three sets of leaves.
- Make the lower cut 1/2 inch below the node where the leaf joins the stem. (Make this cut on an angle)
- The lower sets of leaves should be removed completely.
- The top leaves should be cut back by 1/2 to 2/3 to reduce moisture loss.
- The lower part of the stem should be shaved a little to improve callus formation and stimulate root production.
- A hormone rooting powder can be used. Simply dip the lower part of the cutting into the powder.
- The cuttings should be inserted into the propagation mix and watered in well.
At this stage you need to reduce moisture loss, you can use a soft drink bottle over the cutting, or a clear plastic bag supported on bamboo sticks.
Cuttings need to be placed out of direct sun yet with good light.
You will need to mist spray the cuttings every day or two depending on the heat. In hot weather mist more frequently.
Do not allow the soil to dry at any stage.
Using Rooting Hormone powder or liquid.
Using a rooting hormone can improve strike rate, however you don’t need to use it and most times we don’t use it as hydragea cuttings strike easily.
How to use Rooting Powder or Liquid
- Once you have removed the lower leaves.
- We place some of the powder or liquid into a small dish.
- If you are using the powder, moisten the cutting in water.
- Dip the cutting into the hormone. – What you are trying to do is to get the hormone powder over the nodes on the stem.
- Make a hole in the propagation mix. – This stops the powder from being rubbed off if you just push to into the soil.
- Insert the cutting
- Firm in.
Hydranga Cutting – After Care and Growing On
- The cuttings need to placed in a warm position with indirect light.
- Keep the soil moist and mist spray to increase humidity.
- From taking the cutting to the plant forming roots should take around 3-4 weeks.
- New foliage growth is a sign to remove the cuttings from your improvised greenhouse, still keeping the cuttings in a shaded position.
- We wait for around 10 – 12 weeks, then we can move the cuttings into more sun, morning sun is recommended.
- The time for us to pot the cuttings into individual pots or into the garden is in autumn or early spring