Donna, it almost sounds like you are going to kill them with kindness.

You should be able to take cuttings now. I don't bag mine for humidity, I dust with rooting hormone, insert in 5" deep plastic pots with drainage holes filled with any commercial potting soil and sit in shade. Water occasionally to keep moist.

When it gets a little later, you could place the pots someplace semi protected...under a rhododendron is good - mother nature will do the rest. If we have an frigid blast of cold weather predicted (winter before last :) ), you could move the pots into an unheated porch or garage temporarily.

If you have a large plant with flexible stems, pinning a branch to the ground with a brick or rock will usually assure layering - a new plant to cut free from the parent plant and pot up or transplant in Spring.

Just wanted to say, I second Mor's suggestion for pinning flexible stems to the ground. That is how I've always successfully started new plants. It works wonderfully. Good luck!

Thanks for the responses to my question about starting new plants. The layering technique is a great one. Do you scratch the underside of the branch where the brick is placed, or just leave it as is? I am quite startled by the prices on Hydrangeas as found in common places like Lowe's and Home Depot garden shops. I wish there was a place to find young rooted cuttings of some of the gorgeous lace cap varities. None of my neighbors are growing Hydrangeas where a cutting could be had, and small plants are not found in the local stores. Is there a trade section of plants or cuttings here on this web site? Thanks!

You could scratch and dust on a little rooting hormone, but these will layer if you do not. I cleaned up a bed for my neighbor this Spring - contained hydrangeas growing under a magnolia, japanese anemone, fern, azaleas. The bed was neglected and had old leaves, browned fern fronds, almost like 'forest litter'. The hydrangeas had layered themselves in multiple places - I potted up a few for him to share with friends and tranplanted others, then pruned.

Why don't you post on the PNW exchange, I think you'd find someone close by with cuttings and there are a couple of Fall exchanges planned if the dates are convenient to you.
And, here on the coast, most of the local nurseries are beginning their Fall sales that will continue into October...I'm starting to see ads for 30-40% off.

What would be the email address of the PNW Exchange? I am new to this board and am in the process of catching up and learning more and more about Hydrangeas. Actually, the hydrangeas are every bit as beautiful as the Rhodies we are so fortunate to have growing here - at least to me. Thanks for all of your help. Donna1952_1@Juno.com

Nantucket Hydrangeas sells cuttings of many unique varieties. I believe the address is nantuckethydrangeas.com
Even if you don't buy from them, you will enjoy browsing their website.....yg

Hi Donna - The Pacific Northwest Exchange forum is right here on GardenWeb -

It looks like people are meeting in Issaquah on 9/24, another Saturday when I'm not free to go that far -

Here is a link that might be useful: Pacific Northwest Exchange