Hydrangeas will grow bigger and produce more flowers if they’re cared for correctly (Image: Getty)
If you’ve got a hydrangea plant, you’ll know how beautiful they can be if the right care is given to them. Aside from pruning, there’s one very important task that gardeners should never forget: propagation.
With spring and summer on the horizon, many keen gardeners will want to know how to get their hydrangeas in the best possible shape. Propagation, which means increasing the number of plants, can help to bring your garden back to life after the long and harsh winter. And according to experts, there’s one vegetable that can help you do this with your hydrangea cuttings.
Hydrangea cuttings will thrive if you add one simple vegetable to the plant (Image: Getty)
Elise Harlock, floral expert at Prestige Flowers, said: “Potatoes are a surprisingly simple tool to use in your garden.
“It can be disheartening to see your plants and flowers dwindling after winter, propagation is the best way to bring your garden back to life. By inserting flower cuttings into a potato before planting in soil, it creates a stable environment and keeps the cutting hydrated.”
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Plants like hydrangeas and roses can really benefit from doing this, because potatoes act as a natural moisture reservoir, keeping cuttings hydrated while they develop roots.
And these plants need that steady moisture to thrive in their early stages.
How to propagate with potatoes
For this method, use a medium-sized potato and take a screwdriver or pencil to poke a hole in the potato, deep enough so the end of the plant stem can fit snugly.
Potatoes are an excellent natural tool which can help your plants thrive (Image: Getty)
Cuttings of any size can be used, but it’s more effective if the stem is 6-8 inches. For smaller stems, adjust your potato size accordingly.
“Dipping the stem in a rooting hormone before putting the cutting into the potato can help the root development but not essential,” Elise added.
“Once your stem is comfortable in the potato, simply plant the potato into well-draining soil, leaving only the cutting visible above the soil.”
Elise continued: “Keep the soil moist but not water-logged. Wait for a few weeks and try tugging on your cutting, if you feel resistance, then roots have formed.”
When roots have formed, you can transplant your new plant into the ground or into a pot. Some gardeners keep the potato and allow it to decompose naturally but cuttings can also be removed and planted solo.
Elise added: “Remember your plant will still be young and vulnerable, so monitor it closely, especially if planting outdoors.”
“A potato is a fruitful propagation aid which can increase your growing success rate and it’s simple enough that gardeners can experiment with different plants, herbs and flowers.”