Autumn propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings

  • Jan 17, 2021
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Good afternoon, my reader. Hydrangea, thanks to its large chic inflorescences with various shades, is able to decorate any backyard and suburban area. This plant, if desired, is easy to propagate independently using cuttings technology. Among the representatives of the genus Hydrangea, you can find shrubs reaching a height of 1.5 m, low trees, and also vines. There are both evergreen and deciduous species.

Hydrangea. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Hydrangea. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
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Advantages and possible disadvantages of autumn hydrangea cuttings

It attracts an amazing plant with its ability to bloom from the spring season to late autumn. Red, blue, white, pink, lilac buds are combined into luxurious spherical inflorescences in the form of a panicle or shield.

Propagating hydrangea by cuttings is not difficult. This procedure can be carried out in summer, spring or autumn, but taking into account the characteristics of each season.

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Advantages of autumn (early October) breeding:

  • After cutting the hydrangea before wintering, a sufficient number of branches remain, from which you can prepare high-quality cuttings.
  • In the season, when almost the entire crop has been harvested, there is more free time to perform all the necessary actions for the further rooting of the planting material.
  • By the spring period, the cuttings have time to germinate, gain strength and energy, which ensures good survival.

Among the shortcomings, the need for careful care of the planting material during the winter season is noted. They move it to open ground conditions, when stable heat is established and the threat of frost has passed. And also the difficulty lies in the fact that by the middle of autumn the shoots have time to completely woody, which reduces the likelihood of one hundred percent rooting.

Step-by-step instructions for performing autumn cuttings of hydrangea

High-quality, healthy, strong branches are selected, on which there are no signs of diseases, damage, dry areas, rot. Use a sharp instrument. Before work, it is disinfected. Hands during work are protected with gloves.

A cloudy morning is chosen for harvesting cuttings. Light rain is possible, which helps to retain moisture for future development. If further actions are planned to be performed the next day, then place the cuttings in a bucket of liquid. They cannot be left without water.

Algorithm for preparing cuttings

It is recommended to take branches older than a year for cuttings. It is advisable to choose shoots that have not bloomed in the current year.

  1. The tops are removed from the branches.
  2. The remaining part of the stem is divided into several cuttings up to 15 cm long so that at least 3 nodes remain on each fragment, in which buds will form.
  3. The bottom of the cutting must be cut exactly under the knot.
  4. At the top, leave from the last knot to a cut of about 20 mm.
  5. The lower leaves are removed completely. The upper leaf blades are cut in half.

Planting tank preparation

Earthenware, plastic containers can be used as containers for germinating cuttings.

Drainage is laid out at the bottom, and then the container is filled with nutrient soil. It is convenient to use ready-made soil extract for seedlings.

When self-made, crushed high-moor peat is combined with coarse-grained river sand in a ratio of 1: 2. You can take a mixture made up of equal proportions of sand, garden soil and pine needles. High-moor peat and sod land are added to it, observing the ratio of 4: 3: 1.

Before the roots appear, you can put the cuttings in settled water, and only then move them into the soil mixture. But such an operation is not necessary, since hydrangea shoots germinate well in the soil. In this case, it is necessary to pre-treat the lower sections with an agent that stimulates root formation. Ready-made preparations can be replaced with honey solution.

Hydrangea. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Planting cuttings

The soil mixture in the container is moistened with settled water using a spray bottle.

The cuttings are installed, observing an angle of inclination of approximately 60 degrees. They should be deepened up to 5 cm. Be sure to control that the upper kidney does not come into contact with the soil surface. Shoots are set at intervals of 5 cm. It is important that they do not touch each other.

Cover the planting container with a transparent plastic bag, glass or plastic jar. The created greenhouse conditions facilitate faster rooting. It is advisable to make ventilation holes in the shelter. If the material does not allow this, then the miniature greenhouse is aired daily.

Install the structure in a warm place, but do not expose the cuttings to burning sunlight. The soil must be kept moist. On average, water it at intervals of 6-7 days. If no shelter has been established, then systematic spraying of the cuttings will be required.

Since as winter approaches, the duration of daylight hours is reduced, it is necessary to equip lamps next to the planting tank. The shelter is left for about a month until signs of good rooting appear. This is evidenced by swollen, ready to hatch buds.

Care

After the shelter is removed from the home greenhouse, they continue to periodically water the cuttings, preventing waterlogging. It is recommended to spray them every 6-7 days.

It is necessary to keep the container with future seedlings in a room where sharp temperature fluctuations are excluded. In the spring, when the temperature outside reaches positive indicators, they begin to take out rooting cuttings to the veranda or balcony for hardening. Leave at first for 25-30 minutes, and then gradually increase the duration of stay in the fresh air.

After about 14-15 days, young seedlings can already be moved to the site, preparing temporary beds for them, if desired, for better adaptation. You can immediately drop off to a permanent place.

Is a hydrangea growing in your country house?

Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.

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