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Hydrangeas are flowering deciduous plants that can range in size from small bushes to larger tree-like varieties. [1] X Research source If you want to grow your own hydrangea plants, you can produce new specimens by growing hydrangeas from cuttings. Multiple propagation methods exist depending on whether you own the mother plant and how many cuttings you want to root.
Steps
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Prepare pots for your hydrangea cutting or cuttings. [2] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
- Use a soil mix that is 1 part potting mix or peat moss to 1 part sand or vermiculite.
- Add soil to the pots you want to use and dampen thoroughly. Check to make sure there are no dry areas in the soil.
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Remove the hydrangea cutting you selected with sharp scissors or pruning shears.
- Cut at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) below a leaf node.
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Remove excess leaves. Cut off leaves below the top leaf pair, being careful to cut above the leaf nodes. Removing these leaves causes the plant to produce more roots. [3] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
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Trim top leaves. Although optional, if you trim the largest leaves to about half of their current size, it can help increase root production.
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Dip the bottom of the hydrangea cutting in rooting hormone. You can use either a liquid or powder form of rooting hormone. Hydrangea cuttings will propagate without rooting hormone, but roots will grow more quickly if you use it.
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Stick the cutting into the prepared pot. Push down gently until the cutting is 2 inches (5.1 cm) into the soil.
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Allow the hydrangea cuttings to root. It will usually take 2 to 3 weeks for cuttings to root, but it may happen more quickly depending on temperature and humidity.
- Place your potted cuttings outdoors if your outside temperature ranges from 60 to 80 degrees F (15.5 to 26.7 degrees C) and you have an area available protected from wind with partial shade.
- Keep potted cuttings indoors if you are experiencing hotter or colder temperatures. Make sure the rooting hydrangea cuttings receive partial or filtered sunlight.
- Keep soil moist, but do not over water. Hydrangeas prefer not to dry out, but they also prefer not to be in any standing water. [4] X Research source
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Pull gently on 1 of your hydrangea cuttings after 2 to 3 weeks. If you feel resistance, the cutting has rooted. You can transplant now or allow the cutting to further develop its root system.
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Prepare your hydrangea cutting by removing excess leaves from the stem. Cut a stem at least 4-5 inches long that doesn't have any flowers or buds on it. Trim off the base leaves. Trim half of the top leaf off. [5] X Trustworthy Source Missouri Botanical Garden Oldest botanical garden in the U.S. and center for botanical research and science education Go to source
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Set cutting in a vase or glass filled with water. A clear, glass container is best, as it allows you to see the roots once they start to form.
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Wait for roots to appear.
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Change the water in the vase frequently to prevent molding.
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5Plant the cutting once roots appear.
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Brush away mulch and soil from the base of the back or side of a mature hydrangea plant.
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Look for a non-flowering shoot with 2 to 3 pairs of leaves. It is important to look for a cutting near the base of the plant, as woodier cuttings will generally produce more roots.
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Make sure the proposed cutting is at least 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to 15.2 cm) in length.
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Select your hydrangea cutting in the morning. Avoid taking cuttings at any time when the plant's leaves are wilted.
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Bend a low branch on a hydrangea bush so that it touches the soil. [6] X Research source
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Keep the branch in place. Weigh it down with a brick, stone, or other heavy object.
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Remove the brick or stone and check the branch for roots.
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Replace the brick or stone if roots aren't present, or if they haven't reached the soil. Check again in another week for roots.
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Cut branch from the mother plant.
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Dig up the rooted section from the ground. Be careful not to cut the roots of the cutting or the mother plant with your spade.
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Transplant to the location where you want the hydrangea to grow. Make sure the plant will have partial shade.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionAre hydrangeas fast growing?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerHydrangeas are considered fast growing and can grow as much as 25 inches or more each year.
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QuestionWhere can hydrangeas grow?Community AnswerMost don't like very hot positions so direct south is best avoided. They are happy in a woodland setting or partially shaded area that receives sun either early or late in the day.
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QuestionWhen you say that cuttings from a flowering shoot will not have blooms, do you mean that it won't flower the first season or that it won't ever bloom?Community AnswerThey should flower when they grow more stems. The stem of a flowering cutting has already flowered and so is not as vigorous.
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Tips
- Most gardeners have more success rooting hydrangea cuttings in soil than in water.Thanks
- Hydrangea propagation is most successful in early summer as this gives your new plants time to mature before fall sets in.Thanks
- You can store hydrangea cuttings in the refrigerator overnight if you are not able to pot them right away.Thanks
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Warnings
- Keep cuttings far enough apart so that the leaves don't touch the leaves from other cuttings. This can cause rotting.Thanks
- If you take your cutting from a flowering shoot, you will not have blooms on your new hydrangea plant. Blooms appear on branches that flowered the year previously-the current non-flowering branches.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Hydrangea cutting
- Potting mix or peat moss
- Sand or vermiculite
- Pot or pots
- Water
- Sharp scissors or pruning shears
- Rooting hormone
- Brick or large stone
- Garden spade
- Vase
References
- ↑ https://gilmour.com/hydrangea-care
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hydrangea/pruning-guide
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hydrangea/pruning-guide
- ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/node/96806/printable/print
- ↑ https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/rooting-cuttings-in-water
- ↑ https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/11/Hydrangea-Production_Species-Specific-Production-Guide-PB1840-B.pdf
- ↑ https://plantsciences.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/11/Hydrangea-Production_Species-Specific-Production-Guide-PB1840-B.pdf
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/growing-hydrangeas-from-cuttings/FKHULOPZQMQE5LLUCFAGK2NNNE/?c_id=6&objectid=10668255
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To grow hydrangea from cuttings, start by removing all of the leaves below the top leaf pair on your cutting. Then, stick the cut end of the cutting into a small pot filled with 1 part potting mix and 1 part sand or vermiculite. Place the pot in partial sunlight and water the cutting regularly so the soil is always moist but not soggy. After 2-3 weeks, your hydrangea should be rooted and you can transfer it into the ground or a larger pot. To learn how to grow hydrangea cuttings in water, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Thanks! This is very helpfully explained and illustrated! Now I can try this to propagate the two different hydrangeas I bought for my home garden. One has grown so large in two years, with huge bunches of lovely, long-lasting flowers. I'll try propagating it right away. The other is in a very shady location, not doing so well. I'll move it to a similar sunny location as the first one, then see what happens. " ..." more
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"Thanks! This is very helpfully explained and illustrated! Now I can try this to propagate the two different hydrangeas I bought for my home garden. One has grown so large in two years, with huge bunches of lovely, long-lasting flowers. I'll try propagating it right away. The other is in a very shady location, not doing so well. I'll move it to a similar sunny location as the first one, then see what happens. "
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"This is very helpful. I would pull them up or dig them up, and sometimes I wouldn't get good roots. I have a lot of friends that want some, and now tomorrow, I can just do cuttings instead of damaging the whole plant. I love plants and I'll be able to get more. I live on a fixed income and now I can share my plants and get plants from friends. Thank you for this awesome site."
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"I have 2 beautiful hydrangeas in my garden, each a different species. I wanted to grow more, so I'm trying the rooting in water technique. I got so much enjoyment cutting them, and now I have 5 vases full of cuttings on my windowsill; they look so pretty! If they root, I'll give some away to my friends! "
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"I planted my blue ones to the side of my white ones, and now I can barely see them. I would like to put new starters up front to see if they will take a hold. My pink ones are up front, too. I don't want to plant them next to each other so I only have all pink or blue. Thanks for showing me how to do this."
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"I have a very large 10 year old hydrangea. For the first time since it was planted, it has bloomed continuously. I wanted to continue more of it in the area adjacent to the existing plant. This information has given me what I needed to be able to make new plants. Thank you."
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