Is it easy to propagate hydrangea cuttings?
This is the gardening knowledge section, discussing whether it is easy to propagate hydrangea cuttings and sharing some small experiences on the timing and methods of hydrangea propagation. Detailed content will be shared next.
Hydrangea, also known as "eight immortals flower" or "pompon flower," has a beautiful and elegant inflorescence after blooming, making it suitable for planting in parks, courtyards, balconies, and other places for ornamental purposes. It is very popular among people. With the arrival of spring, many friends start to propagate hydrangea cuttings in large quantities. To prevent the base of the cuttings from rotting and failing to root and survive normally during propagation, let's introduce in detail some of the issues that need attention when propagating hydrangeas.
In spring, when the temperature warms up, hydrangeas enter the growing stage, and many flower enthusiasts start to propagate hydrangeas at home in large quantities. When the flowers are in full bloom, the garden is filled with beautiful hydrangeas. However, some flower enthusiasts, due to lack of experience in propagating flowers, do not handle the cuttings and growing media properly during propagation, which can lead to bacterial infection and rot, thus failing to root and survive. This article will provide another introduction to hydrangea propagation and subsequent care, hoping to offer some help to those who love hydrangeas.
First, methods for propagating hydrangeas through cuttings
Propagating hydrangeas through cuttings is the most commonly used method. Whether it can survive normally mainly depends on the temperature, humidity of the environment, and the handling of the cuttings and media. If the method is mastered, it can be said that propagating hydrangeas through cuttings is a very simple task.
1. Propagation season
Theoretically, propagation can be done in any season as long as the temperature is suitable. However, when propagating at home, we generally choose the period when the plant is growing vigorously, as the branches are strong with sufficient water and nutrients, allowing for faster rooting and survival after propagation. April to June in spring and September to October in autumn are both periods of vigorous growth for hydrangeas, with temperatures suitable for plant growth. Of course, branches pruned after flowering can also be propagated at any time, as long as each detail is handled properly, the survival rate can be very high.
2. Choosing strong branches
The cuttings should be selected from healthy branches free of diseases and pests. This way, after the cuttings survive, the seedlings will grow vigorously and shape up faster. If weak branches are used as cuttings, they can survive but will grow less vigorously. Therefore, when selecting cuttings, try to choose strong and vigorous branches.
After selecting the cuttings, the branches should be trimmed simply by cutting them into segments about 10 cm long, removing all the leaves from the bottom to reduce water evaporation, and retaining only 2 leaves at the top. The base of the cutting should be cut diagonally to form a horsehoe shape to increase the water absorption area and improve the survival rate.
3. Media for propagation
Experienced gardeners know that the success of propagation depends greatly on the media used. It should be loose and well-ventilated to facilitate the growth of new roots. If propagation is done directly in soil with high clay content, the rooting effect will also be poor. Commonly used media for propagation include vermiculite, perlite, and river sand. However, through several propagation experiments, I find that using a mixture of these materials yields better rooting results than using any single one. When using vermiculite or perlite, a small amount of garden soil or river sand can be added to facilitate rooting.
4. Propagation operation method
After preparing the cuttings and propagation media, propagation can begin. First, fill the pot with the growing media, then use bamboo chopsticks to make several small holes in the media without directly inserting the cuttings to avoid damaging the base of the cuttings, which could affect normal rooting. Insert the cuttings into the holes about 1/3 of their length, then gently press the surrounding soil and spray the media with water to moisten it, placing it in a shaded and well-ventilated area for care.
Second, how to prevent the base of the cuttings from rotting
Propagating hydrangeas is very simple, but the problem is that after propagation, the base of the cuttings often rots and fails to root normally. How can we avoid this phenomenon?
1. Sterilizing the media
When propagating flowers at home, we may skip sterilizing the media and cuttings to save time, but this is the reason why blackening and rot often occur after propagation. The bacteria in the soil can infect the cuttings through the wounds, leading to rot. Therefore, sterilizing and disinfecting in advance is a very necessary step.
Is it easy to propagate hydrangea cuttings?
① Sunlight sterilization
If propagating in summer when sunlight is strong, the media can be sterilized by direct sunlight exposure. Spread the media on the cement ground and let it be exposed to strong sunlight for a day before using it for propagation, which can effectively prevent the cuttings from being infected and rotting.
② Chemical sterilization
Besides using sunlight exposure or microwave heating to sterilize the media, you can also directly spray the media with 0.3% potassium permanganate or carbendazim and other fungicides to reduce the chances of bacterial infection and improve the survival rate of propagation.
2. Sterilizing the cuttings
To prevent infection, after trimming the leaves, the cuttings can also be soaked in a 0.3% potassium permanganate or carbendazim solution for 2 minutes, then dried before propagation. If you want to speed up the rooting of the cuttings, you can also soak them in a rooting hormone such as naphthalene acetic acid to improve the chances of rooting.
Third, post-propagation care is also crucial
Whether the cuttings can root and survive after propagation also depends on the subsequent care. If the care is improper, it can also lead to propagation failure. So, how should we care for the cuttings after propagation?
1. Avoid direct sunlight
Newly propagated hydrangea seedlings should be kept in a shaded and well-ventilated area. If the temperature is low, a layer of plastic wrap can be covered on the pot to keep it warm and moist. At this stage, it must not be exposed to direct sunlight, especially in hot summers, as it can easily cause the cuttings to dehydrate and wilt. After the cuttings have fully survived, some scattered light can be gradually increased to promote vigorous plant growth.
2. Soil should not be too moist
After the hydrangeas are propagated, it's best to water them with a spray bottle to avoid loosening the cuttings with too much water. Also, water properly, as some people worry about water shortages after propagation and water too frequently, leading to overly moist soil. This prevents the cuttings from breathing properly and can lead to rot over time. Therefore, during subsequent care, the soil should be kept slightly moist but the environment should be kept humid by spraying water around the plants to promote cutting growth and development.