They have a compact but opaque habit, bear countless flower buds and bloom all summer long. All good reasons why hydrangeas are one of the most popular flowering shrubs in Germany. If one plant is not enough for you, you can take cuttings and propagate the hydrangeas.
Propagating hydrangeas in a glass of water: What should you pay attention to?
It is very easy to propagate hydrangeas. All you need are cuttings, a glass and water. However, there are a few things to consider when propagating. For example:
- The right time to take cuttings. For some hobby gardeners it is in spring when the plant sprouts vigorously. Others prefer midsummer, right after the first blooms have finished. Anyone who has missed this point has their last chance in early autumn - but the early plants should overwinter indoors so that they do not freeze.
- It is best to take the cuttings early in the morning or evening so that the cuts can heal. Otherwise the areas can burn.
- It is important to remember that the hydrangeas form a layer of wax on the cut. That's why fast and precise cutting is an absolute must. You must then quickly place the freshly cut cuttings in the water before the cut wound closes.
- Choose shoots with several leaf buds but no flower buds.
- You need young wood; old wood sprouts much more slowly.
- Choose only healthy shoots. If the hydrangea is infested with pests or diseased, wait before propagating it.
Cutting cuttings: This is how it works
1. Cut the shoots at an angle directly under a pair of leaves or a leaf bud. This allows the cut to heal better and stays dry and the cuttings can absorb water better.
2. Use sharp secateurs for the cleanest possible cut. If the stem is crushed, the cutting can no longer absorb water.
3. Each pair of leaves costs the cutting energy and important resources. So that it has enough strength to form roots, you should only leave one leaf at the tip and cut it in half. All other leaves are cut off.
4. Brew willow tea and let it cool. Dip the cuttings, cut side down, into the willow tea and sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Fill a glass with water; only the lower third of the cutting should be in the water.
6. Use clear glass so you can follow the process.
7. Change the water every two or three days so that bacteria and fungi do not multiply there.
8. Place the cuttings in a bright but sunny windowsill. An east-facing window is best. Now it's time to be patient. Because a hydrangea takes time to form roots and it can take a few weeks until the cutting becomes an independent young plant with roots.
9. Wait until the hydrangea cuttings have formed roots. Then fill the cultivation pots with soil and plant the freshly sprouted hydrangeas.
10. The young plants spend the first year on the windowsill and are not allowed outside until next May. They first have to adapt to the conditions outside. For this purpose, the young hydrangeas are first placed in a place in the garden protected from the wind for a few hours and only then planted out.
11. Not all cuttings will develop properly, form a healthy root system and thrive outside as young plants. It is therefore recommended to cut at least 4 - 5 cuttings in order to eventually have 2-3 healthy young plants.
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Propagating hydrangeas in a glass of water: This is the difference to the other methods
You can propagate your hydrangeas through cuttings, water cuttings, or cuttings. Each of these three methods has advantages and disadvantages. We do the comparison.
- At thePropagation by lowering plantsIndividual shoots growing close to the ground are fixed to the ground with a brick. The shoots should be healthy so that they take root. After some time, the shoots will form new roots and then you can cut them off from the hydrangea. An important prerequisite for successful propagation is the right time. The weather should be warm and the hydrangea should already have flowers. Therefore, the best time for this propagation is early to mid-June.
- You can also use smaller hydrangea bushesmultiply by division. A good time for this is spring, when the plant sprouts again vigorously. This ensures that the new plant and the mother plant can recover. When propagating by division, the entire bush including roots is dug up and the root balls are divided into two. This way you get two plants of the same size and age. They need regular fertilization and watering to produce flowers and recover from cutting.
- The third variant is thisPropagation in a glass of water. It usually takes place in mid to late July and is a very effective option. It offers several advantages: you can observe the development of the new plants, find and correct care errors in a timely manner. If the cuttings don't produce roots, then you still haveTime before the end of summerto try a second time.
Propagation in a glass of water also has disadvantages. Some home gardeners report that it is less successful than the sinker method. This is because the young plants have a significantly weaker root system and do not develop further after being planted outdoors.
Propagating Hydrangeas in a Glass of Water: Summary
The hydrangeas can be propagated by planters or cuttings. The variant with cuttings is suitable for those who want to grow several young plants from one mother plant and who can wait patiently.
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The process is very simple: in mid to late July you cut 10 to 12 cm long cuttings, remove all but the top pair of leaves and dip the cut in cinnamon. This prevents rot and bacteria formation. Water is then poured into a glass or vase. The cuttings take a few weeks to develop their roots. During this time you should change the water regularly. The young plants are then planted in nursery pots where they spend the winter. They are then planted outdoors.
