How to propagate hydrangea by cuttings in the summer
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All hydrangeas are beautiful, regardless of the variety in the garden, they will immediately grab your attention with lush flower caps. Sooner or later, the question arises of how to propagate a plant, and there are several ways. You can grow a hydrangea from seeds, propagate by dividing the bush in the process of transplanting to a new place, as well as by layering and cuttings. In this article, we will talk specifically about propagation by cuttings, this is the easiest way that even a novice florist can handle. Hydrangea cuttings can be rooted in both spring and summer, but it is still preferable to do this in the summer, before the plants bloom. For rooting, you need to take green shoots, which are cut from the bush early in the morning. Then put the cuttings in the water and get ready for the preparations.
How to propagate hydrangea by cuttings - preparing cuttings
- For best results, you need to cut the top off a side branch with 4-6 leaves. The stalk should be cut at an angle slightly below the node, remove a couple of lower leaves. The remaining leaves must be cut in half, and the top cut can be made straight. If buds have already appeared on the plant, then they will also have to be cut off, since the cutting will not take root with the buds.
- Then, following the dosage indicated in the instructions, put the cuttings in a solution of a growth stimulator "(Epin", "Biohumus" or a homemade stimulant from aloe juice). This procedure will ensure faster and more successful rooting. After the growth stimulant it is necessary to sprinkle the lower cut of the cutting with the drug "Kornevin" (the name of the drug speaks for itself - it will also help the early rooting). The cuttings are now ready to be placed in the soil.
Soil preparation and rooting to propagate hydrangea by cuttings
In parallel with the preparation of the cuttings, it is necessary to prepare a container with soil in which they will root. Mix one part coarse sand with two parts peat, distribute evenly in a container and moisten with a spray bottle. Pour a layer of wet sand one and a half centimeters thick on top of the soil mixture. Deepen the prepared cuttings by three centimeters, observing the distance between them 5-7 cm (the foliage of the cuttings should not touch each other). Spray the plantings with water and cover with either a film or a plastic lid - you should get an impromptu greenhouse.
This greenhouse should be placed in a warm enough place in partial shade. It is necessary to water the cuttings at least once every seven days, but in many respects the watering regime depends on the temperature (ideally + 18 ... + 25 degrees) and air humidity - make sure that the ground is constantly moist, but not waterlogged. Ventilate the greenhouse periodically and remove condensation. If you create the right conditions, the cuttings will take root in three to four weeks. You will know that the process is going well by the appearance of young leaves - after their appearance, the shelter can be removed.
How to care for rooted cuttings
After you are convinced that the rooting process was successful, you need to plant the cuttings in separate containers. Prepare containers with a drainage hole, pour expanded clay or some other material on the bottom that will act as a drainage layer. You can buy special hydrangea soil at a flower shop or a grocery store.If you prefer to prepare the soil mixture yourself, then mix one part of sand, two parts of peat and two parts of garden soil. After replanting hydrangeas, do not expose them to the sun, but let them continue to grow in partial shade. Do not forget about regular watering and periodic feeding - they will help your plants grow stronger faster.
If you plan to plant a hydrangea in your summer cottage, then this can be done in three years (it may take a couple of times to transplant the plant into a larger container during this time). As in the case with any seedlings, it will first be necessary to harden the hydrangea, gradually accustoming it to outdoor conditions on the balcony or on the porch of the country house. If the plant is weak, then you can temporarily transplant it into a greenhouse, and after a while, when the hydrangea gets stronger, plant it in the garden in a permanent place.
When propagating by cuttings, it is preferable to take green shoots. For example, panicle hydrangea can only reproduce by green cuttings and only in summer before flowering. But in the case of a large-leaved or tree-like hydrangea, rooting of cuttings in the spring and autumn is permissible, and not only green, but also semi-lignified, and sometimes lignified. It is necessary to first find out the variety of the plant and its characteristics, to act taking into account these characteristics, and then the rooting procedure will be successful.