How to Grow Hydrangea from Cuttings

Hydrangeas are fascinating flowering plants that produce pretty leaves and large flower heads in various bright colors.

An explosion of new cultivars reflects the popularity of hydrangeas. And it’s no surprise, as the plant is resistant to pests, grows in sun or shade, and bounces back from cold temperatures. Luckily, hydrangeas are an easy plant to start from cuttings. And a mature plant can yield dozens of new hydrangeas to fill your garden.

For the process you will need:

• Hydrangea cutting,
• Peat moss or potting mix
• Pot
• Water
• Sharp scissors or pruning shears
• Rooting hormone

The first step for how to root cuttings from hydrangea is to select a stem for cutting. In early fall, choose a stem for hydrangea propagation that is at least 6 inches (15 cm.) long, has no flower and is new growth. A new growth stem will be a lighter green than old growth. Also be aware that if you live in a colder climate where the hydrangea dies back to the ground, the whole shrub may consist of new growth

Once you have selected a stem to propagate the hydrangea, take a sharp pair of shears and cut the stem off just below a leaf node. A leaf node is where a set of leaves will be growing. The hydrangea cutting should be at least 4 inches (10 cm.) long and should contain at least one additional set of leaves above the selected leaf node. Snip the cutting from the stem.