When to Take Stem Cuttings. 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.
Most professional hydrangea growers use "softwood" cuttings, which root quickly and yield far better results. Time your softwood propagation for late spring or early summer, when new stems first start to harden. In most regions, this happens between May and mid-July.
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.
The easiest way to make more hydrangea shrubs is to divide a plant that you are already growing. This can be done in the spring or early fall. Go to your shrub with a pointed shovel and either dig the entire plant up, or use the shovel to cut off a few stems from one side of the plant.
You can propagate hydrangeas in water in a similar way to propagating hydrangeas in soil however using this method can lead to varying results. Propagating in water can lead to a weaker root system that might fail when moved into soil outside, however, this does not happen 100% of the time.
Remove the lower leaves of the bottom two leaf nodes. The leaf node is where a leaf comes out of the branch. Most roots will form at that point. Dip cuttings in rooting hormone (this is entirely optional) and insert into damp vermiculite or sterile medium.
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.
To prepare hydrangeas for winter in colder areas, add a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plants to protect the crown and roots from freezing temperatures.
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.
When to Take Stem Cuttings. 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.
On a mature hydrangea plant, make a cut about 2 inches below a leaf node on a green, healthy branch that has not yet formed flower buds. Avoid older, woody stems. The cutting should be 6 to 8 inches long, overall.
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.
While some plants bloom on new growth, others primarily set flower buds on old wood. Regardless, it is best to wait to prune all hydrangeas until spring. In the fall, hydrangeas (and all trees and shrubs) are in the process of going dormant. They do not produce very much new growth until the following spring.
Hydrangea cuttings should be kept in an area out of full sunlight and wind, where the temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If everything is done correctly cuttings should produce new growth within 2 weeks and by the end of week 4 the new roots should be formed and ready for transplant.
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.
Leaving the old flower heads on the plants will also add some interest to the winter landscape. It's best to save hydrangea pruning chores until spring or summer after plants bloom (don't worry, the new growth will soon hide any dead stems from the following year).
Keep Them Cozy. Whether or not hydrangeas need protection depends on how cold the winter temperatures drop. If the air temperature doesn't go below 0 degrees (zone 7) there is no need for winter protection. In colder climates, wrap or completely cover marginally hardy hydrangeas.
Dig a hole that's about 2 times wider than the root ball and about as deep. Place the hydrangea's root ball in the hole (if the root ball is compacted, score it several times with your shovel or trowel to loosen the roots).
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.
It should sit barely above the surrounding soil. Hydrangeas have shallow roots, so don't plant too deep. Add soil back underneath if needed.
Step 1: How to take Hydrangea cuttings
Work fast in a shaded area. Choose 3″ to 5″ long tender green stems, aka softwood cuttings, which will root more quickly and easily than woody stems. Use a pair of sharp clean pruners or scissors to cut just below a leaf node.
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.