How to take hydrangea cuttings to double your beautiful blooms
Follow this simple expert guide to get the most out of your hydrangeas this season
Want to get the most out of your hydrangea this summer? We asked plant experts how to take cuttings from the flowering plant to multiply its beauty in your garden.
Whilst garden trends may come and go, making the most out of what you've got will never go out of fashion. If you're looking for sustainable garden ideas, then cuttings are a great place to start. Especially when it comes to hydrangea, as they can provide some rather impressive plants, and it's a super easy process.
How to take hydrangea cuttings: an expert guide
From succession planting to making compost at home, finding ways to make your plants go further is a gardener's worst-kept secret, because it couldn't be easier. That said, there are ways to improve the process, as we discovered when learning how to take hydrangea cuttings.
Tools you need to cut hydrangeas
The tools needed for the job are pretty similar to the essential tools every gardener needs. If you're up for the task, these are the tools that the experts recommend having to hand:
- Clean, sharp secateurs
- Terracotta pot(s)
- Pencil or cane (optional to help with planting)
- Potting soil
- Pelite
- Watering can
RRP: £11.99 | We recommend this sturdy pair of professional secateurs to get the job done safely, and with precision. This handy tool can be used as garden shears, branch cutters, flower cutters and tree pruning.
RRP: £34 | Looking for a stunning new pot addition to grow your cutting in? This 42cm honeycomb design pot will add a fun texture to any garden and is large enough to give your hydrangea all the growing room it'll need.
RRP: £9.71 | You can't pot your cutting without some high-quality soil to support it. This bag from Miracle-Gro is enriched with all the nutrients your plant will need to succeed from cutting to fully rooted.
1. Choose the correct place to cut
Where you cut makes all the difference. Founder of Beards & Daisies and plant expert Jo Lambell stresses the importance of getting the right place when taking your cutting.
"Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a 10–15 cm section just below a leaf node," she instructs.
2. Strip the stem of leaves
"Once you've got your cutting, only remove the lower leaves, keeping a pair at the top," recommends Jo. This is also a good time to dip the base of your cutting in rooting hormone if you have some. This will give the cutting a better chance at establishing and growing roots.
"Rooting hormone is helpful but not essential. It can encourage early root growth and help protect the cut end from rot, but hydrangeas usually root well on their own," adds Jo.
3. Pot your cutting
"Pot into a small container filled with a free-draining mix, such as multipurpose compost with a little perlite. Then, water lightly and cover with a propagator lid or a loose plastic bag to create gentle humidity," says Jo.
Check the cuttings once a week, watering them only if the soil has completely dried out. They should take around 3-4 months to take root, so be patient.
FAQs
When is the best time to take hydrangea cuttings?
Just as you should know when to prune hydrangeas, the timing matters when it comes to cutting them, too.
"The best time to take hydrangea cuttings is typically around late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing. This allows for good conditions for root development and establishment before winter," explains Georgina O'Grady, managing director at Evergreen Direct.
So whilst hydrangeas are one of the plants to prune in February, it's a completely different story for cutting.
What are the benefits of taking hydrangea cuttings?
Although it can be tempting to leave your plants, a little interference now and then can make a huge difference not only for your plant's health but also its longevity. This is why knowing how to deadhead plants properly is so important.
"It’s an easy, low-cost way to create new plants that stay true to the parent in colour and form. Many gardeners also love the sense of continuity that comes with propagating a favourite shrub," points out Jo.
It's also a great budget garden idea, as you're using a preexisting shrub to increase the amount of colour plants in your garden. There's no need to buy extra plants or seedlings!
Can you root hydrangea cuttings in water?
"Yes, hydrangeas often root well in water. You’ll usually see roots forming within a few weeks. While soil tends to produce sturdier plants in the long run, water is a great way to get started if you’d like to watch the progress up close," exclaims Jo.
If you're looking to make more out of the rest of your garden, why not try out Monty Don's secret to keeping roses flowering longer? Your plants will thank you.
