Hydrangeas are especially well-suited to this method.
Unlike many other woody plants, they grow quickly and can become mature flowering shrubs within a single year.
Below, we share how to grow hydrangeas from stem cuttings in soil.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
It’s best to take cuttings during the cool parts of the day: the early morning or evening.
Be aware that each species has many different cultivars, each with its own unique characteristics.
Taking this precaution will help prevent fungal diseases in your new plant.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Avoid older, woody stems.
The cutting should be 6 to 8 inches long, overall.
When cutting the leaves, keep some space between the main stem and the cut.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
This allows the integrity of the main stem to remain undamaged.
Remove half of each of the remaining upper leaves using pruners or scissors.
Dip the Stem Into Rooting Powder
Dip the cut end of the stem intorooting hormone powder.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
An 8- to 10-inch terra-cotta pot should hold several cuttings.
Add a seed-starting potting mix to your pot, then moisten the mix thoroughly.
Other sterile growing media can also work, such as vermiculite or coarse sand.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Pack the mix down around stems and moisten thoroughly.
Monitor the potting mix and add moisture when it begins to feel dry to the touch.
The growing mix should be consistently moist, but not soggy.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Repot as Needed
Within a month, your hydrangea cuttings will form new roots.
Well-developed cuttings can be transplanted directly into the garden at this time.
you might now begin treating the new specimens as mature plants, watering them weekly.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
If planted in the fall, the new hydrangeas will grow into flowering bushes during the next growing season.
Acidic soils tend to produce blue flowers, while alkaline soils tend to produce pink blossoms.
you could pull ever so slightly on the plant to see if you are met with resistance.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
If so, roots have formed.
Though it is tempting to transport your new plant to your garden as soon as possible, be patient.
Roots will begin to form within roughly a month.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
Shrubs with woody stems like hydrangeas do not easily root in water.
It is best to encourage their rooting with rooting hormone and then planting the stems in soil.
Simply prepare the cutting in the same way you would if you were taking it from the plant.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
