Apple cider vinegar for rooting works as reported by many gardeners, although there is little evidence from horticultural research. Some of the natural compounds in apple cider vinegar may mimic rooting hormones. As a scarification aid, apple cider vinegar definitely works.
Apple cider vinegar can be used as a rooting hormone, but too much is not good for any plant (in fact, a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water can be used to help control weeds in the garden). As a rooting agent, you can dip your cuttings into the apple cider vinegar for just a few seconds, then plant.
Willow is good for rooting cuttings because it contains high concentrations of Indolebutyric acid (IBA), and also salicylic acid, from which aspirin is derived and which protects against fungi and other pathogens. To make willow water, simply gather around 2 cups of fresh willow growth chopped up into short lengths.
Vinegar as a fertilizer: Nope, doesn't work. Acetic acid only contains carbon hydrogen and oxygen -- stuff the plant can get from the air. The other things that may be in vinegar could be good for a plant -- but it seems an expensive method of applying an unknown amount of nutrition.
If you're venturing into the realm of propagation, finding the right rooting hormone can be the key to success. But did you know that your kitchen cupboard might hold a magical ally? Cinnamon powder, a common household spice, doubles as an effective substitute for root hormone.
Success factors for rooting your cuttings
They'll root faster with plenty of sunlight, but avoid setting them in direct sun. Temperature is also important, the warmer the better to speed things up. For cuttings that are more valuable or difficult, adding a little aquarium pump to oxygenate the water will help a lot.
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.
Aloe Vera Rooting Hormone
Just extract the fresh gel from a mature plant's leaves and mix it with a bit of water in a blender. Soak the cuttings in the mixture and add them to the growing medium. Spray the growing medium and plants with the remaining mix of aloe vera gel and water.
Vinegar spray is one of the most effective homemade bug sprays. It is a natural bug repellent and a weed killer. Mix one part vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar) with three parts water in a spray container and add a teaspoon of dish soap. After thoroughly mixing the contents, spray on the plants.
The two main nutrients that support excellent root growth in plants are phosphorous and potassium. These two ingredients are extremely helpful in any fertiliser mix that needs to encourage a thick, healthy collection of brand-new roots, or to strengthen and stimulate existing systems.
Oxygen. The roots greatly benefit from available oxygen. To speed things up, you can try to use a small aquarium pump to constantly add oxygen to the water your cuttings are growing in.
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.
PRO TIP If you have a Pothos in your collection, another tip to speed up root growth is to add a pothos cutting to the same water as the cutting you're waiting to root. Pothos release a natural rooting hormone into the water that helps trigger root growth in other cuttings sharing the same water.
Hormonal Balance
ACV's ability to stabilize blood sugar levels can also help reduce fluctuations in other hormones, such as cortisol, which can impact mood and energy levels. Incorporating ACV into your diet may support overall hormonal balance and contribute to improved well-being.
If these items are of organic nature, that can also be your organic rooting hormone. Here is my favorite shortlist: banana peels are high in potassium. coffee grounds contain potassium and nitrogen.
Among its many benefits, which I appreciate more the older I get, aspirin is an effective rooting hormone. Dissolve one regular strength aspirin–not one of the fancy new pain killers–in a gallon of warm water. As you trim back the plants, stick the pieces in the aspirin water and let them soak for a few hours.
Homemade gnat repellent spray: A mixture of dish soap, water, baking soda, and vinegar can be filled into a spray bottle. The mixture should contain a few drops of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar, and baking soda per cup of water. A few sprays of this mixture is an effective gnat repellent.
ACV isn't as acidic as other vinegars, which is why it is more useful in the garden and safer for your plants, but you should still be cautious and ensure that you dilute your solutions carefully, as too much can damage and even kill your plants.
Spray a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water in winter and early spring when buds appear, then every couple of weeks. This will help with brown rot, black spot and leaf curl, to name a few.
Recent studies have shown that while honey was not as successful as synthetic plant rooting hormone, with many plants it significantly increased the percentage of cuttings that produced roots, and the amount of root development.
"Rooting hormone can help yield better results, but it's not necessary." Plants that easily propagate, such as most varieties of succulents, rarely need the jumpstart that a rooting hormone can deliver. However, plants that are more reluctant to root, such as citrus plants, can benefit from it.
Can I Just Sprinkle Epsom Salt on Plants? Never apply Epsom salt straight from the package. Always dilute the granules in water first, and either drench your plants' roots or spray it on the foliage. Don't spray on hot or sunny days, however, to avoid scorching the foliage.
Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the two main nutrients that stimulate root growth. Organic fertilisers often display the relative quantities of each, as well as nitrogen (N), in the form of the NPK ratio. In particular, phosphorus allows new root systems to spread through the soil or another growing medium.