How to Grow Hydrangea from Cuttings

Co-authored by Rachel Guffey

Last Updated: April 9, 2024 Approved

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Hydrangeas are flowering deciduous plants that can range in size from small bushes to larger tree-like varieties.^{[1]
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Research source} If you want to grow your own hydrangea plants, you can produce new specimens by growing hydrangeas from cuttings. Multiple propagation methods exist depending on whether you own the mother plant and how many cuttings you want to root.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Selecting Hydrangea Cuttings

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It is important to look for a cutting near the base of the plant, as woodier cuttings will generally produce more roots.

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Avoid taking cuttings at any time when the plant's leaves are wilted.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Rooting Hydrangea Cuttings from the Bush

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Weigh it down with a brick, stone, or other heavy object.
Keep the soil moist.
Check again in another week for roots.
Be careful not to cut the roots of the cutting or the mother plant with your spade.
Make sure the plant will have partial shade.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Growing Hydrangea Cuttings in Pots

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1
Prepare pots for your hydrangea cutting or cuttings.
- Use a soil mix that is 1 part potting mix or peat moss to 1 part sand or vermiculite.
- Add soil to the pots you want to use and dampen thoroughly. Check to make sure there are no dry areas in the soil.
2
Remove the hydrangea cutting you selected with sharp scissors or pruning shears.
- Cut at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) below a leaf node.
Cut off leaves below the top leaf pair, being careful to cut above the leaf nodes. Removing these leaves causes the plant to produce more roots.
Although optional, if you trim the largest leaves to about half of their current size, it can help increase root production.
You can use either a liquid or powder form of rooting hormone. Hydrangea cuttings will propagate without rooting hormone, but roots will grow more quickly if you use it.
Push down gently until the cutting is 2 inches (5.1 cm) into the soil.
7
Allow the hydrangea cuttings to root. It will usually take 2 to 3 weeks for cuttings to root, but it may happen more quickly depending on temperature and humidity.
- Place your potted cuttings outdoors if your outside temperature ranges from 60 to 80 degrees F (15.5 to 26.7 degrees C) and you have an area available protected from wind with partial shade.
- Keep potted cuttings indoors if you are experiencing hotter or colder temperatures. Make sure the rooting hydrangea cuttings receive partial or filtered sunlight.
- Keep soil moist, but do not over water. Hydrangeas prefer not to dry out, but they also prefer not to be in any standing water.^{[3]
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If you feel resistance, the cutting has rooted. You can transplant now or allow the cutting to further develop its root system.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Rooting Hydrangea Cuttings in Water

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Cut a stem at least 4-5 inches long that doesn't have any flowers or buds on it. Trim off the base leaves. Trim half of the top leaf off.^{[4]
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Missouri Botanical Garden
Oldest botanical garden in the U.S. and center for botanical research and science education

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A clear, glass container is best, as it allows you to see the roots once they start to form.
5
Plant the cutting once roots appear.

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Are hydrangeas fast growing?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Hydrangeas are considered fast growing and can grow as much as 25 inches or more each year.

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Where can hydrangeas grow?

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Most don't like very hot positions so direct south is best avoided. They are happy in a woodland setting or partially shaded area that receives sun either early or late in the day.

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When you say that cuttings from a flowering shoot will not have blooms, do you mean that it won't flower the first season or that it won't ever bloom?

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They should flower when they grow more stems. The stem of a flowering cutting has already flowered and so is not as vigorous.

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Tips

Most gardeners have more success rooting hydrangea cuttings in soil than in water.

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Hydrangea propagation is most successful in early summer as this gives your new plants time to mature before fall sets in.

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You can store hydrangea cuttings in the refrigerator overnight if you are not able to pot them right away.

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Warnings

Keep cuttings far enough apart so that the leaves don't touch the leaves from other cuttings. This can cause rotting.

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If you take your cutting from a flowering shoot, you will not have blooms on your new hydrangea plant. Blooms appear on branches that flowered the year previously-the current non-flowering branches.

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