How to propagate hydrangea cuttings in spring

Hydrangea is a noble flower, so it is not cheap. What to do when you liked the purchased hydrangea and there is a desire to arrange a whole garden of hydrangeas, and finances do not allow you to treat yourself to buying new seedlings?

There is a way out of any situation - to engage in independent reproduction of hydrangeas. In addition to the fact that you will be able to make your dream come true and save money at the same time, the process itself is very exciting. Watching how your own offspring develops is a real pleasure for many gardeners.

To date, the propagation of hydrangeas is represented by at least three options, but the most popular is the propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings.

Reproduction by cuttings

This method is literally praised by summer residents, it is desirable to start breeding hydrangeas in the summer, as soon as the buds form. But if it is not possible to wait until the summer, carry out this procedure in the spring.

In order to propagate flowers by cuttings, it is necessary to clearly understand what they are. So, the stalk is a part of the stem, on which there are from 1 to several buds. Use young shoots, older shrubs need pre-pruning.

Empirically, gardeners have found that cuttings obtained from lateral shoots located at the bottom of the crown take root better. Make sure that this crown is well lit. Propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings always implies the presence of large, developed buds and the absence of visible ailments on the plant.

How to determine if a flower is sick or not? If the leaves dry up, blotches and grooves, aphids or mold are visible on them, carry out therapeutic pruning of the shrub and in no case use such shoots for propagation.

It is equally important to carry out the reproduction of hydrangeas in the spring, keeping moisture in the cut parts, the possibility of an early rooting of flowers depends on this factor. Therefore, it is better to cut the shoots early in the morning, when the green space is still saturated with moisture. When planting further, make sure that it does not dry out, constantly moisten the soil.

Step-by-step propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings is as follows:

1. Fill a small jar with purified, preferably spring, water, place the container in the shade and start cutting the cuttings.
2. Carefully cut off the top with the bud, you won't need it.
3. Divide the part of the stem that remains. Each of them should include 2-3 pairs of leaves.
4. Clean the cuttings from the lower leaves, reduce the number of upper leaves by 50%, then carefully place the cuttings in the solution, where an effective stimulator of growth and development of the rhizome is added.

Make sure that the leaves do not get into the liquid. Gardeners advise stimulants like root, heteroauxin, zircon. The mixture is prepared according to the instructions on the back of the package. 2 hours of keeping the plant in this solution is enough for the cutting to be completely saturated with minerals.

1. If there is no special composition at hand, we suggest making it yourself. Mix 200-250 ml of water with 1 teaspoon of fresh honey. Honey is a very useful component that ensures the early appearance of callus - a thickening at the end of the cutting, from where the roots appear.

How to properly care for cuttings

Continue propagating hydrangeas with cuttings by starting to plant them. The soil should consist of peat and sand, the optimal ratio of the components is 2: 1. Landing includes preliminary moistening of the earth. In order for the flowers to take root better, cover them with jars, and then water the areas up to 2 times a week, distributing water directly onto the jars.

When the weather is hot and dry outside, remember to water the new shoots daily. If the cuttings are not covered, additionally irrigate the leaves and stems.

It is just right to expect rooting only in a month, it is after 30 days that the first leaves will appear. At this time, the plant can be freed from cans, but they are still weak and undeveloped, so it is better to cover the seedlings with several layers of film. In preparation for the winter, you will need to additionally cover the flowers with leaves and fix a small frame on top, treated with a film or other light material. The penetration of snow will delay the spruce branches.

In the spring, prepared cuttings are planted in the garden at a permanent growing site.

The issue of propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings is considered in more detail in the step-by-step video instruction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wariuf-9cbA.

Other ways to propagate hydrangeas

1. Reproduction by layering. Assumes the beginning of the process in early spring. The earth around the shrub is well dug up, leveled with a shovel. Next, make grooves that go 1.5-2 cm deep, place 1 shoot taken from the bottom of the plant.

A simple technique helps to speed up the process of the appearance of roots: mark the location of the first developed kidney and make a constriction in front of it, consisting of softened wire. Two turns are enough so that when the shoot becomes thick, the wire is pressed into the bark. After that, roots form in this area.

As soon as the shoots reach a height of 15-20 cm, hill the bushes, repeat the hilling in a week. Continue the procedure until the mound rises 20-25 cm.