Home-made rooting hormone!

[Snadger]

Here's another tip I got from Thriftyfun.com!!

When starting a new plant from a leaf or stem cutting, the cutting will be more likely to form roots and create a new plant if a rooting hormone is used.
While commercial rooting hormone can be used there are organic homemade versions that work as well.

To make rooting hormone soak the yellow-tipped shoots of a weeping willow tree in water. A tea made from the bark of a willow tree is also effective. When using the shoots or bark soak them for 24 hours prior to using.

Some people have found that using honey makes an effective rooting hormone as well.

I haven't tried it....but I'm going to, if I get a chance!

PS I recently rooted three grape vine cuttings without using hormone...........just stuck em in the compost with a placcy bag over the top and they rooted fine! Done the same with chrysanths and pelargoniums so wonder whether rooting hormone is overated?

PPS Heard of sticking an aspirin in vase of cut flowers before to keep flowers fresh! Willow bark gives you aspirin methinks so there may be a link with the DIY rooting hormone above? Just a thought!

[srodders]

Monty Don reckons rooting hormone is a waste of money and never uses it. I use it, but wonder if it is worth it.

I think it is the salicin (basis of aspirin, and also found in meadowsweet) from the willow which has the beneficial effect. Adding a soluble aspirin to the watering can when watering new sown seeds also allegedly improves seed germination.

[The Doctor]

I'm sure this isn't typical, but when I was trying to get cuttings of my outlaws' bay tree to take, the only two that did were two of the ones I didn't put hormone powder on!!

Thanks for the tip though, I'll certainly be trying this out once I find a weeping willow round here.

[Flummery]

Another point about rooting hormone is that it loses its effectiveness rapidly, or so I've been told. So you can't use last year's! I'm trying to root some cuttings of a wild honeysuckle with a fabulous scent. Can't be bothered to buy a rooting compound for one thing especially when I will have to chuck it at the end of the year.

[rustylady]

Have taken cuttings with and without hormone rooting compound. No noticeable difference in results. Main thing is to make sure that your cuttings are the right size and ripeness (varies according to variety). I have rooted several bay cuttings (just stuck in a pot of compost and more or less left to themselves). Fuchsias, busy lizzies, tradescantia, mint etc I root in glasses of water - when the roots form pot them up.

[Snadger]

Mentioned the honey to my work colleague who used to work in an 'Olde Worlde' plant nursery. He said that all they used was sugared water, which would tie in well with the honey theme!

[gobbledegook@ntlworld.com]

Aspirin..

I read somewhere that aspirin is almost indistinguishable from plant Growth Hormone

[snohare]

Wow, what an interesting thread ! It fairly looks like solving some headaches ...

[Bill HH]

Last time I used hormone rooting compound the seedling died but I developed extreemley hairy fingers.
In my opinion its a big con based on the knowledge that gardeners try to give plants every chance of success. You might just as well hang a dream catcher in the green house.

[shushkin!]

I learnt from my Uncle in the US that they are quite keen on using raw untreated honey like we use rooting hormone. Apparently honey has anti-bacterial properties so it helps stop the cutting succumbing to mildew etc.

[Bal]

Last time I used hormone rooting compound the seedling died but I developed extreemley hairy fingers.
In my opinion its a big con based on the knowledge that gardeners try to give plants every chance of success. You might just as well hang a dream catcher in the green house.

What you trying to tell me they don't work!

[snohare]

Sorry to say it Bal, but no they don't. Isn't it transparently obvious ?
Not so sure about dreamcatchers though - you don't need to worry about leaving doors open or watering every day with them...

[Bal]

I meant the dream catchers

[midseaman]

Other organic way to make rooting hormone.

Maybe good way but there are other ways I tried to make rooting hormone

try this way too. The Ultimate Gardening Guide: How to Make Your Own Rooting Hormone

[planetologist]

Wow, what an interesting thread ! It fairly looks like solving some headaches ...

Actually, it causes a headache for me. I've tried the willow extract and it made no difference. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and rooting hormone (indole-3-acetic acid) are not really similar at all. And anti-bacterial is not the same as rooting hormone. I think a bit more scepsis, questioning and precise word use would really be a good idea. Science has a lot to offer even to non-scientists.