Can I use honey instead of rooting powder?

Author: Doug Cronin I  |  Last update: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Did you know that honey may contain enzymes for promoting root growth in plants? It's true. Many people have found success with using honey to root cuttings.

Is there an alternative to rooting powder?

Aloe vera is ideal as a rooting powder alternative because it contains glucomannans, amino acids, sterols, and vitamins. Studies show that these help many types of species develop more and stronger roots when growing cuttings or propagating via air layering.

Is honey good for rooting plants?

The use of honey in rooting plants has even been tested and proven effective to a certain degree. In most comparative studies, commercial rooting hormones give the best results, but in some plants, honey does beat out simply inserting cuttings in growing medium with no special treatment at all.

Can you use honey instead of honey powder?

Honey Powder is a great substitute for honey (and vice-versa).

What helps cuttings root faster?

1) Light - The more light you can provide, the faster a cutting will photosynthesize and the faster it will produce roots. We know that light intensity drops significantly with distance, so keep cuttings in front of windows. Bright light is over 3000 lux but the more you provide the faster they will root.⠀ ⠀ Or buy gr.

Honey vs Rooting Powder: A Propagation Trial

What is a natural rooting agent for cuttings?

Apple Cider Vinegar Rooting Hormone

All you need to do is mix 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into 1 gallon of water and dip your cuttings in it, then transfer them to the rooting medium.

What can I put in water to stimulate root growth?

Add a Pothos! I'd heard of using willow as a natural rooting hormone (no idea where to source that however), but didn't know Pothos has this 'super power' too! Just pop a Pothos cutting in with the water with your slow-to-grow cuttings and it helps speed up root development.

How to turn honey into powder?

It is made by dehydrating raw honey until all the moisture has evaporated. From there, it's ground into a fine powder, sugar-like crystals, or broken into shards. That's it.

Is runny honey the same as regular honey?

The higher the fructose content, the longer the honey will remain liquid. Some honeys contain more glucose than fructose and, therefore, are very likely to crystallise swiftly. There is no difference in the taste or nutritional value of these two states.

Can I use regular honey instead of raw honey?

Because pasteurization exposes the honey to high temperatures, it may destroy or remove honey's natural properties. This means that raw honey may offer more powerful health benefits, in terms of healing wounds and fighting infections, than regular honey. Many studies have found that raw honey has health benefits.

Can honey be used instead of rooting powder?

Honey does not contain rooting hormones in a significant concentration, so it won't help your cuttings to create roots. It does have antifungal properties, so it may help reduce fungal infections. If you take cuttings from a healthy plant, you shouldn't really have issues with fungi on your cuttings though.

Does cinnamon work as a rooting hormone?

Cinnamon as a rooting agent is as useful as willow water or hormone rooting powder. A single application to the stem when you plant the cutting will stimulate root growth in almost every plant variety. Give your cuttings a quick start with the help of cinnamon powder.

Do I really need rooting powder?

"Many common houseplants and ornamentals can root without it, but rooting hormone can speed things up and increase success rates. Plants that root very easily—like herbs, coleus, pothos, and spider plants—might not see a significant difference with rooting hormone."

How do you root a plant without rooting powder?

Another method for making your own rooting hormone is to mix 3 teaspoons (15 ml.) of apple cider vinegar in 1 gallon (4 L.) of water. Dip your cuttings in this solution just before planting.

Can I use set honey instead of runny?

Often the runny type of honey is specified as it is more liquid and tends to blend more easily into sauces and liquid recipes. You can use set honey instead but usually you have to warm it first to make it liquid and this may not be practical for some recipes if it requires cold or room temperature ingredients.

What is the difference between cheap honey and expensive honey?

The price per pound of raw honey depends on the higher production costs of honey, while adulteration of some processed honeys with cheaper sugar syrups drives the prices of processed honeys down. That processed “pure honey” on the store shelf may not be purely honey, regardless of what the label says.

Can honey go bad?

No, honey does not go bad. Because honey has a low water content and high acidity, it's an unfriendly place for bacteria to thrive. As long as the lid stays on and the honey stays free of added moisture, honey can be stored in the cupboard indefinitely.

Can honey be in powder form?

Sweeten your favorite drinks easily and in a healthy way with powdered honey. "Origen Sano" honey can be easily used as a sweetener or sugar substitute, ideal for coffee, tea, cereals, drinks, desserts, dressings, and vinaigrettes with the delicious flavor of natural honey.

What's the difference between honey and honey powder?

Powdered honey is literally dehydrated honey. You can find this dry honey under the names “honey crystals”, “honey powder” or “dried honey”.

How long does it take for honey to dissolve in water?

That is why we do not want to bring it to a boil. Instead, we are just dissolving honey in water to thin it out and make it easy to mix into drinks and food more quickly. The best thing about that is that it takes about 2 minutes to completely dissolve, so you don't have to wait too long in front of the stovetop.

What speeds up root growth?

For plant roots to grow faster, it requires nutrients, sufficient water, well-aerated soil, enough light, the right range of temperature and proper amendments. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three essential nutrients that a plant requires for its growth.

What liquid helps plants grow the fastest?

After weeks of giving each plant different liquids(water, carbonated water, mango juice and pineapple soda), the conclusion is carbonated water grows plants the fastest and the healthiest.

Does Epsom salt help rooting?

Epsom salt promotes deep root growth for plants so during times of drought or little rainfall, Epsom salt plants will have deep roots to seek out moisture and nutrients. Plants with deep roots thrive when other plants with shallow roots shrivel up and die if water is not constantly provide to them.

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