Growing Hydrangeas from hardwood cuttings is one of the easiest ways to propagate these beauties during the Winter months. The time to take hardwood cuttings is in late Autumn to early Winter, once all leaves on your Hydrangea have fallen.
What you’ll need:
- your secateurs
- a budding and grafting knife (or any sharp, clean knife)
- hormone solution/powder (optional)
- some good quality seedling or premium potting mix
- Small propagation pots
Hardwood cutting method
Choose a piece of stem which is hardened and brown. You will have to look further down from the soft growing tip to get what you need. The chosen piece of stem should not snap cleanly when bent.
Cut off a 10-15cm piece of the stem section you’ve selected. Important: Ensure the cut is just below a bud. Remove any remaining leaves.
Grab your knife and slice off a 1-2cm sliver of the bark at the bottom of your cutting. Do this on one side of the stem only.
If you have some, dip the stem in hormone solution specifically for hardwood cuttings. I use Yates Clonex Rooting Hormone Gel for Hardwood Cuttings which is readily available at Bunnings. Hormone solution increases the chance of your cutting taking root and can speed up the root growth rate. This step is optional. Plenty of gardeners get good results without it.
Fill your propagation pot with potting mix then water. Create a vertical hole using an old pencil and carefully place your cutting inside. Firm the potting mix around the cutting. Go again and take as many cuttings as you desire.
Place the pot in a sheltered, well-lit position and keep an eye on it over the Winter months.
Wait until the stems start to shoot in Spring. Gently move them from side to side to check if roots have developed. If well rooted, replant into a bigger pot or directly into the garden.
I took my cuttings in mid May as the majority of leaves had fallen by then on my chosen plant. Note that this simple method can be applied to many deciduous plants including Roses, Wisterias and Crepe Myrtles.
