HEY! Welcome back to that wonderful world of KC. Just curious why you didn't just take cuttings? My cutting that I planted in a pot late spring is doing well and will end up in the ground next spring.

Brad, you stinker! Don't you remember my cutting failed, too? I was certain this was an easier way... How about you give your cutting to me next spring? Then you can make fun of me for having even more hydrangeas, and it will free up one of your pots for another tree!

Jen, I'm sorry...they usually layer so easily. I don't wound or use hormone either one, but whether Spring, Summer or Fall layering I usually wait until Spring to cut the stems loose and pot them....wonder if that could point to our wet mild winters.

Did you put a couple of handfuls of dirt over the stem where it touched the ground before weighting down?

Yeah, I did cover the stems with dirt... maybe my rock weights were too heavy, but I don't think so, they comparable to about half a brick. Stinking hydrangeas! I still can't believe they didn't cooperate. I would have waited until spring to cut them loose, too, if there had been anything to cut. All there was was a withered stem. It kind of reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the East's pathetic little legs after Dorothy removed the ruby slippers.

Jen, I hate to rub in (more) salt, but last spring when I raked the mulch away from my hydrangeas, I noticed that one stem was bent to the ground by the mulch, and it happily rooted and made a baby plant.
Maybe it only happens when you don't really care. Kindof like a perfect cake or a great-hair day. K.

Sure Jen, you can have mine! After all you did give me your baby hosta this spring. And you know I need another pot for all the things I will get next spring!

That was too easy, Brad! I guess the mere mention of another potted tree did the trick. You know I was only kidding, however if a potted hydrangea shows up at the next plant exchange, it will be #1 on my "gotta have it" list. Plus, who knows...maybe I'll get lucky like Karen and find some rooted baby hydrangeas when spring comes. And speaking of babies, I hope that little hosta of yours flowers for you next year. I bet it will.

Could it have been too early? I think you ought to try again next summer. When I layered my mother's hydrangea, I only scratched it a little with my fingernail, loosened the soil under the stem, put plenty of loose soil over it, then a rock, no rooting hormone. I left about the top eight inches of the branch sticking out and put at least a couple inches of soil over it so it wouldn't dry out. The rock helps to keep it from drying out too.
Cuttings have been hard for me to winter over. I prefer layering, then cutting loose in the spring. Then I wait two or three weeks before I transplant.
Hang in there.

Layering will not work if the soil surounding the wound is not kept constantly moist. If the soil dries out it has a tendency to die or more likely form a callous and heal. The moisture is the primary trigger for the plant cells to create roots. Layering in a top layer of loose mulch with out irrgation is prone to failure. Also the wound should be no more then a scratch, if not at all, as mentioned above.

I layered about 25 plants the summer. Layering creates the best quality plants.

This plant was created through layering last August 2004 and the photo taken in November of 2004 sometime. The root system seems to go crazy in the fall.

dave

Ah! A very interesting and informative reply, dsacco! I'll give it another try. Thank you.

Sorry for laughing...but your comment "It kind of reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the East's pathetic little legs after Dorothy removed the ruby slippers." had me rolling!!!

Oh Jen, sorry to hear. I did same one spring and found rather sturdy roots within a coupla weeks. Actually looked transplantable at that point. Maybe it doesn't take a season?

Oooo, that's a serrata story, not a macrophylla.

Weeded this summer and left a pile while work going on around the house. Oh ya, rooting hydrangeas. My Blue Billows (serrata) just can't be killed.

I'm sure your macrophylla cutting is different. And ya, my serrata's would shoot roots under a 2 ton brick, it seems.

I use hairpins and I'll try it on one of my macros next year.

Good luck next year.

fyi-dave