Cuttings, Perlite, And Peat Moss

Q: I have rooted several cuttings from an oak leaf hydrangea in a mixture of perlite and peat moss. I’m not sure what to do next. 

A: In a sheltered spot outdoors dig a trench six inches deep and a few feet long. Fill the bottom two inches of the trench with coarse gravel. When the leaves have fallen from your cuttings, re-pot them into individual gallon pots. Place the pots side-by-side in the trench, pack soil around them and place mulch over the soil. You should be able to see just the stems above the mulch. Unless we have a terribly cold winter, the cuttings will be happy in their pots and you can plant them wherever you like next spring.