I received a nice amount of hydgrangea cuttings from a lovely bush at church. I want to root them and plant them in my yard but I'm not sure how. I've rooted soft stem plants (morning glorys) in water and then planted them but never woody stem plants.

Right now some are in water and a couple of stems I planted in pots in potting soil (which is what my neighbor suggested I do) but they don't look to good right now. The leaves are wilting even though they are moist.

What should I do? Do I have to cut the flowers off? Should I cut them just below the green nodule and then plant? Help! Thanks.

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/propagation.html

I think this will really help!

i had some soft wood stems break off mine, i stripped all the leaves and flower and put them in water 1/2 up the stem, 3 wks later they have roots coming out everywhere. hydrageas are pretty easy to root

If you have access to a willow tree, crush leaves into the water with the stems. Willow works as natures rooting hormone.

I've always just stuck them into the ground.... they are so lovely... it's ok if the don't look great for a while.. just keep them moist

Thanks everyone. I will work on them tomorrow. I see now that I have to take the new stems from the old wood.

I wish I could help but I have a black thumb. The only plants that survive me are ones I don't touch

I wish I could help, but my friends call me the "plant murderer"...it's best if I don't try to help! :)

Going to try the willow idea.

I do this with forsythia and most of them usually "take". So I have too many for sure!

Can't see why it wouldn't work the same, just hadn't ever thought of trying.