Hydrangea Propagation: Stem Cutting

It's been a while since I tried propagating my hydrangea.  I've had about 5-6 cuttings in the past and almost all of them wilted in a week.  However, one survived.  For about a month and a half, it remained fresh in a glass of water, but it wasn't rooting or growing any new leaves or stems.  Now, about three months later, the stem cutting is finally ready for planting.  If you see the picture, it has new stem and leaf growth and it has nice white roots.  I'm not sure why this one survived.  I didn't use honey or any rooting hormone. As a matter of fact, the stem cutting which I smeared with honey died very quickly.  I think ants ate it.  Maybe my shears was clean when I cut it.  I really don't know.  I do know now that stem cutting works for propagating hydrangea.  It has a low survival rate, but it can work.

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