How to Start a New Hydrangea

Hydrangea in bloom

Hydrangea, a classic southern flowering shrub, is appreciated for large blooms that are suitable for floral arrangements or drying for crafts. Hydrangea macrophylla is perhaps the easiest variety to propagate. The most successful forms of hydrangea propagation are through cuttings and layering. Start new hydrangea from spring into early fall.

Things You'll Need

• Flower pot
• Potting mix
• Rooting hormone
• Plastic bag
• Hand pruners
• Hand trowel

Instructions

Cuttings

1. Fill a 4-inch-deep or larger flower pot with fresh potting mix, which may be vermiculite, peat, or an even blend of perlite and coarse sand. Moisten the potting mix until water seeps from the drain holes.

2. Clip a 6-inch piece off the tip of a hydrangea stem. Remove leaves from the lower third of the clipping. Cut the tips off large leaves, so all leaves are approximately the same size.

3. Dip the tip of the stem into rooting hormone. Cover about 1 inch of the stem bottom. Shake off extra rooting hormone.

4. Use your finger or a pencil to create a hole in the potting mix. Place the cutting into the hole so about one-third to one-half of the stem is in the potting mix. Firm the soil around the stem. Water lightly around the stem to settle the soil.

5. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag to hold in moisture. Place three or more supports, like straws or twigs, around the perimeter of the pot to hold the plastic away from the leaves. Seal the bag with a twist-tie or clip.

6. Place the container in indirect sunlight. Keep the potting mix moist, never soggy.

7. Check for roots on the cuttings in four to six weeks by gently tugging on the cutting. If the stem offers resistance, roots have set. Transplant the cutting to the ground before fall, or keep it in the flower pot to plant the following spring.

Layering

1. Look for recent growth at the base of a hydrangea shrub. Choose a flexible stem at least 18 inches long. The stem must bend to reach the ground.

2. Use a hand trowel to dig a 6-inch-long and 2-inch-deep trench. Center the trench parallel to the stem, so the center of the trench is beneath the center of the stem.

3. Remove the leaves from the center 6 inches of stem. Drag the blade of hand pruners or a knife along the center 6 inches of the stem to remove a small amount of stem surface. Dragging a sharp blade across the underside of the stem once or twice will suffice.

4. Rub rooting hormone, if desired, on the scraped underside of the stem. Press the stem into the trench, and cover with about 2 inches of soil. Place a brick or rock over the buried stem to hold it down.

5. Water the stem every seven to 10 days if there is no rainfall. Check for roots in four to six weeks. When roots are 1 to 2 inches long, cut the stem from the mother plant. Dig up the new growth to transplant to a new location or to place in a pot. If desired, you may leave the new plant next to the mother plant to extend root growth time before you relocate the hydrangea.

Tips & Warnings

• To easily dry hydrangea, cut long stems, remove the leaves, and stand the flowers in a vase without water. The color of the bloom will fade as it dries.

• Keeping the soil soggy or allowing the leaves to touch the sides of the plastic bag may cause the leaves to rot.

References

• Alabama Cooperative Extension; Hydrangeas; Kerry Smith, et al.; October 2010