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In this final installment on hydrangeas I’ll. Explain how to propagate them as well as protect them from the cold winter weather. You’ll also learn how to preserve those beautiful blooms to use in arrangements.
Propagation
Hydrangeas are fairly easy to propagate. It usually works best by using a cutting from a stem that didn’t have a flower on it. .
Take a cutting from a branch about 5-6 inches in length
Remove the lower leaves
Cut the larger leaves down to about one-half of their original size.
Dip the cuttings into rooting hormone.
Prepare rooting medium by placing into container and add water. I prefer to use perlite but some folks like to use vermiculite or sand.
Some like to cover the cutting with plastic, a 2 liter soda bottle works well
Place under grow lights. I use shop lights with one warm white and one cool white light bulb. Make sure they get at least 12 hours of light per day. DO NOT PLACE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
Keep the medium damp but not soaking wet.
Roots will usually develop with 2-3 weeks.
When roots are developed pot in a regular potting soil and keep under lights until ready to move outside. Before moving harden it off like you would any seedlings.
Winter Protection Those you in USDA Zones 6 and colder who grow lacecaps and mophead hydrangeas should provide some sort of protection to ensure the developing buds won’t freeze. I have devised a system that has worked fairly well for the past several winters.
I use garden twine to tie the branches together and make the plant a small as I can, being careful to not damage developing buds at the tips of the branches. I then make a cage from chicken wire by driving wooden stakes into the ground around the perimeter of the plant. I attach the chicken wire to the stakes. I then fill the cage with shredded leaves. If you don’t have a chipper you can shred the leaves by running them over several times with a lawn mower. Straw, pine needles or similar mulching material may be used. Leaves the plant covered until spring when danger of freezing has passed.This method has worked very well for me.
If this sounds like too much trouble you might want to try and grow hydrangeas in pots. These may be moved into a garage or cellar during the winter to protect them. I do this with roses and it also works quite well. Give them a good watering once a month.
Preserving the Blooms
Hydrangea blooms are very easy to dry and preserve. The secret to getting blooms to look right is to cut them at the correct time: wait until they are past the peak of their color before cutting them.
After cutting, strip off the leaves and place into a vase without water and leave to dry. As they begin to dry they will pick up very interesting hues of color.
This arrangement was made from white flowers. This has been drying for about three weeks and is starting to show hues of pink although not showing up well in the photo.
You can also use Rit clothes dye to color your blooms to whatever shade of pink or blue that you desire.
About Paul Rodman
Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 40 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is currently president of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan.
Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the OrganicGardening.com web site.
He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan.
His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.
Posted by unajardinera (from Spokane, WA) on January 26, 2008 at 2:40 PM:
Thank you Paul for this wonderful article. How do I use Rit Dye to color them? Do I put them in a vase of it before drying to suck up the color like a carnation? Or spray the dried flowers? I would be afraid to get the dried flowers wet.
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on January 26, 2008 at 6:34 PM:
Just spray the dried flowers.
Thanks
Paul
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Subject: Hydrangeas
Posted by kathi11 (from Summerville, SC) on January 21, 2008 at 12:22 PM:
I recently moved from Pittsburgh PA to Charleston SC. My neighbor dug up a Hydrangea from my old home and put the roots in a plastic bag and mailed it to me. I planted it in August and it took and got new leaves . I'm hoping it will bloom this summer. They must be hardy.
This message was edited Jan 21, 2008 11:23 AM
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Posted by soapwort243 (from South Milwaukee, WI) on January 21, 2008 at 8:09 PM:
I found them to be hardy also. I was given a piece of root and it grew very well. I put it in a shady corner of the house and it's spreading. I appreciate the step by step, clear instructions in this article because I wasn't aware they will root from a stem. I enjoyed all three hydrangeas articles.
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Subject: Great article
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on January 21, 2008 at 3:00 AM:
Wow, you've inspired me to try growing these again. I've had little luck in the past, but having done more research on the plants, I think I know what I've been doing wrong. I especially like your information on drying them. Thanks for sharing.
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on January 21, 2008 at 8:58 AM:
This was one of the first perennials we started with and so glad we did. Your article describes the propagation so nicely, thanks Paul.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on January 21, 2008 at 3:56 PM:
Great info Paul! I have enjoyed the whole series. Thank you.
Yokwe,
Shari
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Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on January 21, 2008 at 9:18 PM:
Thanks so much for sharing this info!
I learned - and enjoyed doing it!
Fitsy
