Rooting hormone is used to accelerate root development in plant cuttings more quickly than they would using typical potting soil or water alone. While commercial rooting hormones may be purchased, you can easily create your own natural version at home using common household ingredients.
DIY rooting hormones can be created using aloe vera gel, turmeric powder, cinnamon powder, aspirin dissolved in water, honey or your own saliva. Liquid versions may come ready-made or concentrated so they must first be diluted prior to using.
Ingredients
Commercial rooting hormones come in gel, liquid and powder forms for convenient use in gardens. Formulated from auxins – naturally occurring plant hormones – commercial products help plants establish roots more rapidly; however many growers opt to create their own rooting hormone using all-natural ingredients already found at home – especially those who wish to avoid chemical fertilizers and herbicides in their gardening practices.
Most rooting hormones available on the market contain indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Although IBA occurs naturally in plants and dog saliva, most store-bought rooting hormones contain synthetic IBA that doesn’t originate naturally – something organic gardeners might take issue with.
Indoor gardeners most commonly employ gel rooting hormones. This variety offers several advantages over liquid and powder varieties; its more versatile application, better adhesion to cuttings and easier cleanup are just a few advantages over these other options. Furthermore, its longer shelf-life and integrated sanitizing agent makes cleanup simpler after use.
Honey and cinnamon make an excellent combination for creating homemade rooting hormones, due to the sweet-tasting and antibacterial properties of honey that encourage new growth while decreasing chances of disease in plants. To create this simple and effective homemade solution, place one tablespoon of honey into two cups of boiling water before cooling and mixing thoroughly; dip cuttings into this solution when planting into rockwool or soil to help them form strong roots quickly and successfully.
If honey is unavailable, apple cider vinegar and willow water can also provide effective solutions to encourage new growth while decreasing disease risks. Vinegar acts as an antibiotic which will keep rooting medium free of pathogens while willow water contains high concentrations of IBA – this combination makes an excellent way to cultivate herbs, vegetables and flowers with maximum success.
Preparation
Make your own rooting hormone by gathering a few basic ingredients – some you may already have in your kitchen and the others can easily be purchased at stores. Homemade rooting hormones are ideal for gardeners looking for alternatives to commercial products which often contain harmful ethyl or isopropyl alcohols that could potentially cause disease in plants.
Rooting hormone is composed of auxin, a naturally occurring plant hormone. When used correctly, auxin helps increase cell extension into roots, stems, or leaves of cuttings planted in medium. Commercial rooting hormones come in gel form (or perhaps liquid or powder form with different concentrations) while homemade solutions of several simple ingredients may produce similar results more efficiently and organically.
To create this simple recipe, combine three tablespoons of aloe vera gel in a container with one teaspoon each of honey and cinnamon in equal parts, before thoroughly mixing all the ingredients. Your finished product can then be stored away from direct light and heat in an area such as your fridge for optimal results.
Dipped the base of a plant cutting in this solution, making sure to cover at least one exposed node with this hormone solution, then tap lightly to remove excess hormone. Insert at an angle into a tray filled with rooting medium such as light potting m
ix, perlite or sand as well as commercial rooting hormone products; secure with straws so as to avoid light and heat degradation of rooting hormone. Cover your growing tray with plastic bag to protect it against light exposure while growing;
Homemade rooting hormone is easy and completely organic, making it perfect for use on different plant species. Simply dip a fresh cutting into the solution before planting it in any growing medium of choice – giving it a headstart towards becoming a full and vibrant garden plant!
Storage
It is essential to follow the directions on a commercial rooting hormone container when using this product for optimal performance. These directions should include how and where you should store it – for maximum performance it is ideal to keep rooting hormones stored in cool places with no direct sunlight such as metal cabinets or refrigerators – plus an estimated shelf life list should also be present in its container as well as instructions about how much of this product to use and with what type of cuttings.
Most commercial rooting hormones come in either liquid or powder form, with powder being easier to apply because you can control how much product reaches each cutting. Liquid rooting hormones come either ready-to-use solutions or concentrates that need diluting before being applied directly onto cuttings; liquid rooting hormones transfer more quickly than powder versions, making them perfect for propagating fast growing plants like African violets and roses.
Rooting hormones promote root formation on plant cuttings during propagation. Rooting hormones contain chemicals known as auxins that act like natural signals to plants telling them it’s time to form roots; gardeners often need this helper; some types of succulent plants do not require rooting hormones to flourish successfully.
Homemade rooting hormone can be quick and cost-effective to make at home. Most ingredients needed can be found around the home or found at health food stores and pharmacies; what matters most, though, is using a safe non-toxic container without rust or debris for storage so as to guarantee contamination-free results that won’t harm cuttings.
One popular home-made rooting hormone is made with aspirin. Containing salicylic acid that protects plant roots as they develop, aspirin makes an effective homegrown rooting hormone when taken in pill form without coatings, crushed and broken open in order to reach the active ingredients inside.
Use
Rooting hormone is an easy and reliable way to increase the chances of success when taking plant cuttings, helping both leaf and stem cuttings develop strong roots quickly without struggling for survival. Rooting hormone comes in various forms – powders, liquids and gels are available – with commercial products often including natural auxins or synthetic chemicals mimicking them; however it’s possible to make your own simple homemade version that uses ingredients found around the house such as pantry items and refrigerator items.
Rooting hormone is usually applied to the base of cuttings prior to placing them into rooting medium such as potting soil or perlite for rooting, or it can be used for quick-dipped lettuce and other vegetables. Rooting hormones also aid plants that are difficult to propagate such as roses and citrus trees in creating strong roots more easily.
When using rooting hormones, it’s essential to follow manufacturer’s instructions closely. Many of the chemicals contained in such products may be harmful to plant and human health if inhaled or swallowed; to minimize exposure it’s advisable to wear gloves and a face mask when handling them; according to Michigan State University Extension Services gardeners should always read product labels or MSDS sheets for safety guidelines.
If using powder rooting hormone, mix the chemical with talc and sprinkle over the basal end of a cutting before placing it into a rooting medium. After dipping, tap lightly to remove any excess powder. Alternatively, sprays may be lightly applied over leaf or stem cuttings prior to placing them into rooting mediums.
Rooting gels make using rooting hormones much simpler; all it requires is to dip the base of your cutting in it, with some even eliminating the need to shake off excess. Furthermore, homemade versions don’t contain preservatives so can last much longer than commercial options.
