Propagation of the White Hydrangea

White hydrangeas are a variety of a flowering shrub. Hydrangeas come in many colors, including pink and blue. The pH of the soil generally determines the color of the flowers. Hydrangeas of all colors, including white ones, are easy to propagate by stem cuttings. The cuttings quickly develop roots, and these new plants are genetic clones of the original plant. The best time to take a stem cutting is during the early morning of a spring day.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• Rooting tray
• Sand
• Scissors
• Rooting hormone
• Spray bottle

1. Fill the cells of a rooting tray with potting sand. Do this on a spring morning, after the hydrangea has begun producing new shoots.

2. Cut off the end of a non-flowering shoot so you are left with a 4-inch cutting. The end of the shoot should have at least two leaf pairs on it. Repeat this until you have as many cuttings as you want.

3. Remove any leaves from the bottom half of the cuttings. Cut the top leaves in half to move the plant’s energy into creating roots.

4. Cut the base of the cutting at a 45-degree angle so you are left with a 2-inch cutting. Dip the end in rooting hormone and insert 1 inch of the cutting into the sand in the rooting tray. Repeat with each cutting.

5. Mist the soil with water from a spray bottle until it is moist. Mist the soil every day to keep it moist. Keep the tray in a shaded spot for 12 days, then move it to a sunny window. The cuttings will be ready for transplanting to a pot in 4 weeks.