What type of cuttings are you talking about?
Can't really help without knowing what plants you are referring to...
Let us know and maybe someone can help.

They are hydrangea cuttings.. Any help appreciated. Really want to get these to root.

barnbatt

Below is a link to an easy way to do them. I chose not to just put mine under a bush and "remember" to spray them with water, so mine are in a North window with 2 liter soda bottle covers over each little cutting. (It's just too hot out of doors) I used 4 inch pots and sat them on newspaper on top of a bookcase that sits under a window. The soda bottles fit all the way over the pots and rest on the newspaper. Newspaper absorbs excess water from pot as well as condensation drips and creates more humidity. I will leave the caps on the soda bottles for about 10 days and then remove them. Watch to make sure there is still plenty of condensation inside. Mine are about a week along now and I see some buds swelling. Hope this helps.

Oh yes, I used composted pine bark for a planting medium so they would be sitting in a very coarse medium to make sure the stems are not too wet. I believe potting soil mixed half and half with perlite would be fine also. Hydrangeas may take a wetter medium than many other woody ornamentals... not sure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrangia propagation

Yup! That's the link I was going to suggest to!
From what I've seen, they can be rooted in water but the other suggested ways are much better and have a much better success rate.
Good luck with your cuttings!
Cathy

Cathy, I haven't had any luck rooting Oak Leaf Hydrangea in water at all, but did under mist. Haven't tried the method I linked above for Oak Leaf, but suspect it will work if taken at the right time. I understand it is a harder one to propagate. Mopheads are much easier and I really like them better, anyway.

Hey Millie,
I just mentioned that water propagation was possible since in searching it was mentioned a few times. Of course, there are many factors in the success rate of it, including type, season, soft or hardwood cuttings, misting, etc. When I try to propagate a plant, I try to go with the most successful route, but sometimes, if there is a chance that the easiest way will work... ;)
Good luck with your propagations too!
Cathy

Cathy, agree 100%. I will use whatever will work and the less work the better. LOL Just wanted to save someone the effort with Oakleaf Hyrangeas. The easiest way is to pin a stem to the ground and let them do all the work, but sometimes someone will want a rooted plant after I have ripped all the volunteers out of the ground when pruning, so then I have to do the work myself. ;)

Its funny how people have luck with different things. I have never ever been able to make a hydrangea root in soil, but I can in water. It usually takes 2-3 weeks for any sign of roots. Hang in there and if they are looking good just give them a bit more time!

I have a 100% sucess rate with Hydranges.I use root tone and coarse sand.After putting them in damp sand,I put them in the shade under a bush and forgot about them.2-3 weeks later,checked them and everyone had a great root system.I pot up Lady in Red directly in soil conditioner and it roots fast and have not had one failure.Now roses are a different story..lol
Annette

Remember all those old sayings...like "more than one way to skin a cat." LOL

I have had 0 luck trying to start a cutting from my grandmothers hydrangia at her cottage It was my great grandmothers and has been there forever. At least 40 years that I know of. I tried to root it by dipping it in rooting hormone and then I put it in a bucket of sand and filled it with water. I used fine sand. Could that be the problem. It was a soft wood cutting.I've also tried to root it a few times in water without any success. I'v e heard pussy willows are easy to get to root also in just plain water and I can't do that either. Help! I'm going to try some of the tips I've read here but really wonder if the fine sand could have been my roblem?

I have only used coarse sand to root in.I wet the sand real good before I put my cuttings in.I just potted up about 20 more today.The Lady in Red will root right in the pot in soil conditioner(broken down pine bark).I finally am getting roses to root after a lesson from Millie.I have alot of things in water and sand,just to see what is the best way for me.I have some kind of bush,varigated grn/yellow,I rooted in water and now I have alot of those potted up.I am learning.The soda bottle method works very well for my roses.