The Easy Way to Propagate Hydrangeas in Your Garden

Though it's meant to be a relaxing hobby you can do at home, gardening requires a lot of shopping for supplies. One way to ensure you spend more of your gardening time in your actual garden is to make the most of what you have on hand. If you're already growing hydrangeas, you can easily multiply them in a few simple steps.

According to Simplemost, hydrangea cuttings can be used to grow new shrubs around your yard. In late spring and early summer, the new stems of the plant start to toughen up. They are easy to snap off at this time of year and more likely flourish into new flowers. As for time of day, try collecting your cuttings early in the morning: This is when the plant is at its healthiest and most hydrated.

An ideal snipping for propagation is between 4 inches and 6 inches long, hasn't flowered yet, and has at least three leaf clusters branching off the main stem. Once you've broken off the cutting just below the bottom leaf stem, prune off the smaller leaves on the lower two clusters and trim any larger leaves down to half their size. The cutting should be planted 2 to 3 inches deep in a cup of potting mix. Covering it with a plastic bowl or bag will mimic a greenhouse and create a warm, moist environment. After four to six weeks, your hydrangea should have sprouted roots and be ready to transition to your garden.

Another option is to sprout the new set of roots before you make the cutting. To do this, find a low-hanging branch on your hydrangea plant. Remove all the leaves from one of its leaf clusters and poke the bare stem into a container of potting soil. You can keep the stem in place by pinning it beneath a rock. Water this pot like you would a regular plant, and after two months, check it for roots. If it has rooted, you can snip the stem from the branch to make a separate plant. It will be ready to plant in your garden right away.

Hydrangeas are one of the most common garden plants, and they're fairly easy to care for. Here are more easy-to-grow plants for first-time gardeners.

[h/t Simplemost]