Wish I’d Known This Sooner! An Easy Way to Propagate Hydrangeas from Cuttings

These hydrangea branches that seemed to be dead have sprouted new shoots. At first the plant had almost completely lost its vitality with faded flowers and dry yellow leaves. I cut off the faded flowers and damaged parts. Surprisingly, inside the branches that seemed to be dead the plant core was still green. I used fresh aloe vera to prepare a mixture to support recovery and propagation. And after just two months, something amazing happened. Watch until the end of the video to see the details of the care process. This hydrangea has finished its blooming season, its leaves are dry and yellow, and the two large flowers have also withered. If it is not cared for in time, I worry that the plant will become weaker and gradually lose its vitality. First, I used a clean pair of scissors to cut off the two large flowers that had withered and dried out. Then I continued removing the leaves that had dried out, turned yellow and withered. Some leaves were nearly half dry, while others had dried out completely and fallen around the base of the plant. I removed all the yellow leaves and damaged leaf parts around the base to clean the area around the plant. Next, I checked the branches that had dried out and withered. These branches looked dead, but when I made a cut, the core inside was still green. This shows that these branches still have the potential to continue growing. I continued cutting off three dried and withered branches to prepare for the propagation process. Then I gently lifted the plant out of the pot and removed some of the old growing medium from the top. This growing medium was quite old and retained a lot of moisture. Therefore, I added a layer of soil mixed with pumice to the surface to help improve aeration of the growing medium. Which country are you watching this video from? Please leave a comment below and let me know. It's wonderful that we can connect with each other from all around the world. Next, I prepared a mixture from aloe vera to support the plant's recovery and propagation process. I prepared a fresh gel-rich aloe vera leaf, then cut it into small pieces and put them into a blender. Then I added 300 milliliters of water and blended the mixture until smooth. Aloe vera contains a lot of water, gel, and natural compounds. When used on plants, the gel can help provide moisture and soothe damaged tissues. It can create favorable conditions for the plant to recover well after pruning. Once the aloe vera was blended, I strained the mixture to remove the residue. Next, I added one liter of water and three vitamin B1 tablets to the filtered aloe vera water. B1 plays a role in the plant's energy metabolism. It supports the plant's vital functions and recovery process after pruning or injury. Stir the mixture well to combine the ingredients evenly. Then, I used this mixture to soak the three flower branches I had cut for propagation. I put the remaining mixture into a bottle to use for the mother plant. I sprayed it evenly over the surface of the leaves, stem, and the remaining healthy branches, especially on the areas that need to recover. After spraying, I placed the plant in a well-ventilated area with indirect light, away from direct sunlight. After soaking the three hydrangea branches for about 15 minutes, I began planting them. I used pumice as the growing medium for the three hydrangea branches. Pumice has a fairly airy structure, creating plenty of space around the branches to help them root faster and prevent water logging. I placed each branch into a pot and slowly added the growing medium around it. Then, I gently secured the base so the branch would remain stable in the pot. I used the aloe vera and B1 mixture that had been used to soak the branches to water the plant. I watered with a sufficient amount and let the water drain completely through the holes at the bottom of the pot. I continued caring for the plant with the aloe vera mixture once every two weeks. After planting, I placed the plant in a well-ventilated area with indirect light. After two months, my hydrangea had undergone a noticeable change. The parts of the stems that previously looked dry and withered and seemed to be dead began to develop new shoots. When I lifted the plant to check, I could see a few new roots had started to develop underneath. The dormant buds on the stems continued to produce many new hydrangea plants. The good news is that all three branches have begun to develop roots. The dormant buds on each branch also developed into healthy new plants. Then, I replanted these new plants in fresh growing medium. I used coconut coir crumbs as the growing medium. Coconut coir crumbs are lightweight and airy, helping new roots develop better. I placed each new plant into a pot and gently added coconut coir crumbs around it. I watered with a sufficient amount of water and placed the plants in a cool well-ventilated area with indirect light. I hope this process gives you another method to consider for caring for and propagating hydrangeas at home. Thank you for watching the video until the end. See you again in the next videos.