How to Propagate Hydrangeas in Water

Hydrangeas are beautiful flowering plants native to both North and South America and Eastern and Southern Asia. These plants are divided into two different types: mopheads and lacecaps. Mophead hydrangeas feature large, mop-shaped flower clusters that are large in size. Lacecap hydrangea flowers are clustered, but feature a circle of smaller flowers surrounded by a ring of large flowers. Hydrangeas are a favorite among gardeners, but they can be expensive. Save yourself the cost of buying multiple hydrangea plants by propogating the plants on your own.

1. Find a shoot. You want to find a new, green growth that has at least four sets of leaves. Ideally, the cutting should be between three and six inches in length.

2. Cut it off. Use a sharp set of scissors or shears to get a clean cut. Cut the bottom off at an angle. Make a small snip underneath the lowest holes from the leaves to injure the stem. This allows more roots to grow.

3. Remove the lower leaves. Strip the leaves, except for the top two sets. Peel the leaves back gently to get them off without peeling a large area of the stem off.

4. Place the cutting in the vase. A clear vase is best for watching roots grow and making sure water levels are acceptable, but any vase works. It should support the cutting so it doesn't fall over.

5. Fill your vase with water. Make sure that the openings from the second row of leaves you removed is underwater. Remember to keep checking the water level in order to keep the stem covered to root.

6. Check the water level frequently. Your hydrangea cutting needs water to root. Check the cutting daily to make sure the water level doesn't go down so that the cutting stays hydrated.

7. Wait. It takes weeks for your cutting to grow roots. In general, the cuttings take six to eight weeks to develop roots, although some cuttings can root sooner.

8. Transfer your new plant. Transfer your hydrangea from the water to a six inch planter when the roots are an inch long (or longer). Letting the roots mature allows them time to get strong enough to handle a transfer from water to soil.

Tips:
- Don't worry if your hydrangea stem looks fuzzy. The stem sometimes looks like this before the roots grow out of the stem.
- Change out the water every few days to keep it clean.