Hydrangeas for free...

Recently I transplanted three hydrangeas into a new flowerbed along the house (those of you who have looked around have probably seen the Hailey’s Garden post. Little did I know how finicky they are during the transplanting process (it was one of those…if I’d known that beforehand moments). However, growing your own hydrangeas is actually pretty easy!

Hydrangeas are fairly easy to root. You can choose to root them in water or soil. Personally I feel the soil method to be more of a sure-proof method. To begin the process you’ll need to gather some materials.

Find a healthy plant to get your starting material. Some easy sources are in your own yard, from a neighbor, friends and or family members. If you are in an area where they aren’t as prevalent (we live in the South so they’re everywhere here)…you could always buy a new one and take cuttings from it (before you plant it in the ground). You’ll also need potting medium, pots and clean garden shears or kitchen scissors. Optional items are clear plastic bags, sticks and plant rooting hormone.

Step 1

Find a hydrangea and cut some small branches just below a leaf node. Make sure your cuttings are at least 5-6" long with several nodes (preferably on a new growth branch (light green color) that don’t have a flower). Nodes are the rounded locations on the stem where new leaves grow.

Step 2

Make sure to place your cuttings in water immediately after cutting and leave them there for about an hour.
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Step 3

Next, strip all but the top most set of leaves from the cutting. The cutting should have only two leaves left. Cut the two remaining leaves in half crosswise (not lengthwise). The plant will look like this.

You may choose to use a root growth hormone. This isn’t mandatory, but it does help the plant to get off to a good start. Dip the base of the cut stems into the rooting hormone. (Follow directions on your particular label.)


Step 4

People use and suggest all different kinds of potting medium. I say use what ya got! If you have compost and potting soil….use it. I personally used a good potting soil and mixed in some sand I had left over from Hailey’s sandbox. You just want to make sure that the plants don’t get too wet or dry out too quickly. Fill the container.

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Place each cutting in a pot or section or a divided/ large container making sure that they don’t touch each other.

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Step 6

Water, water, and water those pots till the water runs freely from the drainage holes. The soil should now be moist but not soggy.

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At this point you have two options; you can water several times a day to make sure soil stays moist you can make a mini greenhouse. To make a mini greenhouse insert two sticks into the pot and then place a clear plastic bag over the whole pot. Make sure the plastic doesn’t touch the leaves and keep out of direct sunlight or it will literally cook your hydrangea. Don’t know bout you….but I’m not planning on eatin’ em!

Below are some additional options for set up...

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Step 8

Place in a partially shaded area where they will receive bright but indirect sunlight. Keep an eye on them and water when top of soil becomes dry.

Top of FormAfter two to three weeks your cuttings should have roots and they are ready to remove the cover. To make sure that roots have grown; you can pull lightly on plant, if there's resistance you have roots.Leave them in the pot (outside the bag) for one more week. After that they should be ready to plant!

That’s all you need to know about how to grow your own hydrangeas. With a little work, you can start new hydrangeas for your yard or for friends and family…