Hydrangeas are pretty flexible; they can be started from softwood cuttings (fresh new growth) taken in early spring, when the plant is just leafing out, or semi-hardwood cuttings (partly matured first year growth that may have developed a semi-woody base) in late summer.
Many people think of hydrangeas as perennial flowers, but these plants are woody-stemmed shrubs that root differently than non-woody, soft-stemmed plants. That's why rooting hydrangeas in water, like you may do with some houseplants, rarely succeeds.
Hydrangeas do best if grown outdoors. Here are two suggestions for getting cuttings through the winter: (1) sink pots of cuttings into the ground and cover well with lightweight mulch. (2) put smaller pots of cuttings next to a foundation and cover them with large clay pots for the winter.
To take hydrangea cuttings, use secateurs to collect material from hydrangea stems and a knife to trim each cutting. Due to its woody nature, it's not possible to propagate a hydrangea cutting in water, so you'll need to insert them into a pot of gritty compost, instead.
Expect cuttings to begin to form roots in 2-3 weeks, depending on temperature (faster in warm weather) and humidity. Some cuttings root in as little as one week.
Hydrangeas are deciduous perennial shrubs that grow and bloom throughout the spring and summer months. You can take cuttings any time from late spring after the plant has leafed out until early fall.
Hydrangeas are pretty flexible; they can be started from softwood cuttings (fresh new growth) taken in early spring, when the plant is just leafing out, or semi-hardwood cuttings (partly matured first year growth that may have developed a semi-woody base) in late summer.
Most common hydrangeas prefer a partial sun location - ideally receiving sun in the morning hours and shade in the afternoon. The reblooming Endless Summer® Hydrangea series prefers part shade.
Most gardeners take their cuttings from the end of spring to the beginning of autumn. You can take cuttings later in mid-autumn, provided the hydrangea is still growing, but as the temperature drops, you may find the cuttings struggle to put down roots without a heat mat.
These showy blooms practically arrange themselves, but if you cut them at the wrong time (or prep them incorrectly), they'll deflate fast and furiously. For lasting arrangements (about two to three days for fresh cut flowers), take our advice and gather blooms in the morning.
Most softwood cuttings are taken in spring and early summer, from the tender new growth of the season. If potted by mid-summer they will develop sufficient roots to survive the winter, otherwise pot up in the following spring.
It's really important to get your fresh cuts in water immediately after cutting them. So when you head out to the garden to cut hydrangeas, bring a large bucket of water with you. And as soon as you make a cut, drop the stem in that bucket of water to help keep them fresh.
Roots need air in order to grow. You should try and change the water with fresh tap water every 2-3 days or so for best results because oxygen in the water will be depleted.
ANSWER: You can bury the entire clay pot with your rooted hydrangea cutting in the garden for the winter if the clay pot has a drainage hole in the bottom so that the pot won't break. Simply dig a big enough hole that you can fit the entire pot in the ground and the lip is at soil level.
Many gardeners add vinegar to their watering can to change the acidity of their soil and turn their hydrangeas blue. However, you'll probably have better results using Hydrangea Blue, a liquid fertilizer that produces blue flowers.
Propagating hydrangeas from leaves is one of the easiest ways to double your stock. Simple cut leaves, dip in some rooting hormone, plant in vermiculite or sterile soil, and you'll have new plants in a few weeks.
To rejuvenate the hydrangea, remove up to 1/3 of the older living stems down to the ground each summer. This will revitalize the plant. If necessary to control the size of the plant, cut back before late July to allow for buds to develop. Usually the plant will return immediately to its former size.
Best time to plant hydrangeas
Fall is the best season to plant hydrangeas, followed by early spring. The idea is to give the shrub plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before blooming. The best time of day to plant is early morning or late afternoon.
A newly planted bush may bloom the first year if it set flower buds while it was confined to a pot, and then not bloom again for a year or two as it settles into the soil in its new location. Instead it is busy growing new roots and branches, instead of flower buds.
Though they are fast growing shrubs, it can take 2-4 years for hydrangeas to reach their full size. Some are faster to mature than others. Growing hydrangeas is simple, and they can thrive in just about any climate.