Henny Penny Farmette

The hydrangea shrub, on left below the golden blooms of an orchid, add interest to a corner of the garden

Hydrangeas, deciduous shrubs indigenous to southeast Asia, bloom from summer to fall. Although the shrubs lose their leaves in winter, showy large pink, white, red, and sometimes blue blooms adorn the plant in summer.

They are easy to grow if you have rich, porous soil, but do need adequate watering (even misting in hot summer weather). Plant them where they can get morning sun but are shaded in the afternoon. They tend to wilt if they get too hot and dry.

There are basically three ways to propagate these beautiful plants that reward gardeners with big flower clusters. You can root cuttings from a branch of the bush, in water, or in a pot.

To root a cutting from a branch of a live plant, simply select a low branch and make sure it touches the soil. Anchor it to the soil with a stone or brick. Leave it there until it roots. Once it has roots, cut the branch from the bush. Dig up the newly rooted branch, taking care not to disturb the delicate, new roots. Transplant into a location of morning sun, afternoon shade. Give it ample water.

Or, take a cutting from the mother plant, put it into a vase or glass jar of water, place the jar where it will get indirect light, and wait until it roots. Change the water often to prevent mold from growing. Transplant when the cutting has formed roots.

Finally, you can also take a cutting from the mother plant to root to root in a container of potting soil and sand or vermiculite mixed in a ratio of 1:1. Gently water the soil to ensure no dry spots are present. Remove the cutting from the mother plant, snipping away all but the top leaves from the cutting. Dip the cut end into root hormone. Stick the cutting about two inches into the prepared container of soil. Do not let the soil dry out but don’t over water. Roots will take about two to three weeks for form.