The hydrangea is an opulent flowering shrub that lights up our gardens every year with its colorful pompons.
Hydrangea is easy to grow and once well established, it will bloom abundantly in the summer. This generous plant will elegantly dress a wall, can be used as a hedge, or simply as a central element of a bed. It will be very easy to multiply Hydrangeas in the summer season by following these few tips...
Cutting period
The end of spring and summer are the ideal periods to cut hydrangeas.
In spring, cuttings should be taken from the non-arched stems (still green) while in summer, semi-woody branches should be chosen.
Cutting methods
The simplest method is to make cuttings using the end of a stem; the recovery will work better if the cutting is taken from a branch that has not flowered during the year.
- Cut the branch with sharp secateurs or a knife without crushing the stem to a height of 15 cm, just below a group of leaves;
- Remove all the lower leaves, leaving only the two leaves at the top of the stem;
- Plant the stem in a tall pot containing a mixture of heather soil, potting soil and river sand;
- Water well and let it drain;
- Cover the cutting and the pot with a translucent plastic bag (freezer bag) that you will maintain with a rubber band fixed around the pot. This is the "smothering" method of taking cuttings.
Another method is to take half-hardened heel cuttings in summer for this purpose:
- Detach a branch with a piece of bark from the main stem ;
- Cut off the basal leaves ;
- Place the cutting in the same mixture as previously recommended, water and seal in a plastic bag.
The roots should form in less than three weeks, the formation of new leaves is a sure sign of recovery. You can then remove the plastic bag and grow the cutting in its pot in the shade.
During the winter, place your cuttings in a frost-free environment; a ventilated frame will do the trick during the good weather. These plants can be installed in the garden the following spring or grown in a pot for another two years, giving them time to harden off before being introduced into the garden.
Tips for success
The cuttings should be placed in a bright place but never in full sun. Be careful not to keep the saucers full of water because the young roots could rot. To avoid cryptogamic diseases, a trick consists in adding charcoal powder to the substrate.
Remember to water well the first year the plants from cuttings installed in the garden, they will have better chances of recovery.
