Each flower has its unique charm. Roses represent love, lavender flowers are gracefully beautiful, and hydrangeas are loved for their pure beauty. Hydrangeas are a top choice for gardens and homes alike. If you dream of having a garden full of hydrangeas, this article will guide you on how to propagate hydrangea to create a stunning space by stem cuttings and division method.

Table of Contents

How to Propagate Hydrangea In 5 Steps

Following these five steps to learn how to propagate hydrangeas

Step 1: Choosing the Right Time

Like lavender propagation, spring or early summer is also the best time to take cuttings from hydrangeas(big-leaf, oak-leaf, smooth, or panicle types). The cuttings will have a good chance of growing into solid plants by fall.

Spring is an ideal season because the plants will overgrow at this time, giving the cuttings plenty of time to develop roots before the colder months.

It's better to take cuttings in the early morning or evening to prevent the stems from heat. You can also take cuttings in late summer or fall to grow indoors; however, this is generally more challenging and only sometimes succeeds.

Step 2: Taking Stem Cuttings

When growing new plants, you should prepare the right tools and materials to make propagation more effective.

  • A sharp, clean knife or pruner.
    Tip: remember to wipe them with cotton soaked in rubbing alcohol to stop fungal diseases from spreading to your new plant's health.
  • Rooting Hormone
  • Pot
  • Potting mix

When choosing the plants for cutting, pick a young stem that grew during the current season. It'll look lighter than the older ones. For the best results, select a stem with plenty of leaves and no flowers.

To propagate the plant, use the clean pruner to cut the stem 4" to 6" long just above the leaf node. At the top of each cutting, remove all leaves but leave some. When you remove leaves, the stem will focus nutrients more on encouraging root growth instead of leaf growth, facilitating the successful propagation of hydrangeas.

Dipping the root end in the Rootex rooting hormone is essential for better hydrangea growth. It helps roots grow more robustly and evenly. 

How to apply:

  1. Put some rooting hormone powder in a zip-lock bag.
  2. Dip the cuttings in water, shake off the extra water, and then put the stems in the bag.
  3. Shake the bag until the powder covers the stem.
  4. Let's use what you need, remove the excess when you finish, and avoid dipping directly from the container to prevent contamination.

Step 3: Planting the Cutting

Many plants can grow roots in water, but hydrangeas need a different approach. They won't root in water, so you must plant their cuttings in a potting mix like Nature Premium Potting Mix. This potting mix should drain well, usually from coir, sand, or peat moss.

Pick a pot that fits your space and the number of hydrangea cuttings you want to plant, and make a hole 2’’-3" deep for each cutting. When planting a hydrangea cutting, put it into the soil up to the bottom set of leaves, remembering to firmly pack the soil around the stems and water it well.

Humidity is crucial for these flowering plants to maintain root growth. Since they're still growing roots, we need to keep the soil moist to support their stems until they can absorb water, which can take a couple of weeks.

Step 4: Caring for Your Cuttings

To help your cuttings grow, put them in a warm area with indirect sunlight. Water the soil when it feels dry to keep it moist but not too soggy. Regularly misting the cuttings 1-2 times daily will prevent them from drying out and maintain the necessary humidity level.

Hydrangea cuttings might take 2-4 weeks to grow roots, depending on several conditions, including temperature, humidity, and the plants' overall health. Keeping them in a warm, humid environment will help this process be more effective.

Step 5: Potting Up and Beyond

To check if your cuttings are growing roots, gently pull on them. If you feel a bit of resistance, new roots are forming. Then, you'll also see new leaves sprouting.

Once your new hydrangeas look strong and healthy with plenty of new growth, it's time to transplant them into bigger pots or in your garden. 

If you plant the cuttings in the garden, space them 4 to 6 feet apart. If you plant them in the fall, they'll grow into flowering bushes by the following season. Always keep enough water and humidity in any climate for the cuttings, even when planting outdoors or indoors.

Alternative Method: Propagation by Division

If you have a mature hydrangea plant with many stems, there is an alternative method that you can use to make new plants through division. Following these steps:

  • Carefully dig up the mature plant, trying not to damage its roots.
  • Divide the plant into smaller parts, ensuring that each has its roots and stems.
  • Plant each divided section in its hole filled with good-quality, well-draining soil.
  • Water the newly planted sections well.
  • Keep watering them regularly and give them proper care to help them grow strong.

With our simple instructions, you know how to propagate hydrangea and prepare to make a beautiful garden or home. With a bit of care and experimentation, you'll soon enjoy the delightful blooms of these lovely flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I Propagate Hydrangea in Water?

Hydrangea is a plant with woody stems, so you should use a unique seed-starting potting mix to help the hydrangea cuttings grow roots; you can not grow hydrangea cuttings in water.

2. How Long Does It Take for Hydrangea Cuttings to Grow?

A month. Roots usually start to grow in around one month after planting the cutting. You'll know they've formed when you feel some resistance if you gently pull on the stem.