| How can I start a new tree/shrub of the white hydrangea tree? How long before maturity? What fertilizers to use? |
| You can start a new hydrangea by taking cuttings. Take a cutting from a branch of the hydrangea shrub about 5-6" long. Most experts say the cutting will work best if taken from a branch that did not flower this year. Remove the lower leaves of the bottom two leaf nodes.( Cut largest leaves down to about half their size Dip cuttings in rooting hormone (this is entirely optional) and insert into damp vermiculite or sterile medium. Water pot well and allow to drain. Make sure soil is moist but not soggy. Cover cuttings and pot with plastic. Try to keep plastic from touching leaves by adding stakes around the inside edges of the pot. Place cuttings in bright light. NEVER PLACE NEW CUTTINGS IN THE SUN. They will cook in the plastic. And even if they are not in plastic, they should be placed in a bright shady area. Do not water again until top of soil begins to feel slightly dry. Overwatering will cause cuttings to rot. Expect cuttings to begin to form roots in 2-3 weeks depending on temperature (faster in warm weather) and humidity. Some cuttings root in as little as one week. If a tug on the cutting resists the pull, it is rooting. Once the cutting begins to produce new leaves, it is rooted well enough to be planted in a larger pot or in the ground. It will take your new little cutting 2-3 years before it begins to branch out and look like a real hydrangea shrub. |
