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.
Cinnamon works great as a rooting agent and works just as well as your typical hormone rooting powder. With the help of a little cinnamon powder, you can give your plants a quick start!
I like using willow water. If you can get a bunch of young twigs from any willow tree, remove the leaves, break them in small pieces, pour boiling water as if you were making a tea, and let it rest for two or three days. You can add some of that water to rooting cups.
Plants have a chemical called auxin that tells them when to grow roots. Synthetic root hormone products contain compounds that mimic auxin while organic or natural root hormone products contain natural compounds that mimic auxin. In a way, rooting hormone is like replacement hormone therapy for plant cuttings.
I don't have any rooting hormone, what should I do? There are many plants that will root easily in water, without additional rooting hormone. If you don't have any commercially available (synthetic) rooting hormone, simply try rooting your cuttings without it.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Actually Work? 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.
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.
Embarking on your quest to propagate plants, you might wonder, "What can I use instead of rooting hormone?" Cinnamon emerges as a stellar candidate due to its natural antifungal properties. These properties help safeguard your delicate cuttings against common fungal threats that often compromise root development.
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.
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.
Prepare a cup of warm water, add a spoon of sugar and a spoon of baking soda. Then add a spoon of white vinegar. Cover and seal the fermentation for 48 hours. Homemade rooting water is completed with this recipe.
"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.
All you need to make a rooting powder with apple cider vinegar is the vinegar itself and water. You only need to add one teaspoon to each 1.2 to 1.4 litres of water. This should give the plants a slight boost to help them root successfully.
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.
I just googled it and got an answer I was NOT expecting: "Your own human saliva has enzymes that can help your houseplant roots grow. In fact, some gardening experts believe that the best natural rooting hormone for houseplants is saliva. Yes, that's even over cinnamon, willow water, or apple cider vinegar."
For starters, they do not like the scent of cinnamon. But they will also perish if they ingest it as well. Using cinnamon oil to spray on the plants will also deter thrips. In addition, the oil or powder can also help to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies in the same manner!
Root Growth: Honey's natural sugars provide an energy boost to your plants, promoting robust root growth and enhancing their ability to absorb nutrients and water from the soil. Natural Pest Control: Honey can act as a deterrent to certain garden pests.
Stinging nettle and comfrey tea are effective alternatives if you don't have access to a willow. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Auxin, a naturally occurring plant hormone, stimulates root formation. Several synthetic forms of auxin are sold as “rooting hormone.” Though some plants will root readily without treatment, application of rooting hormone to the base of the cutting will often improve your chance for success.
Honey is a much-vaunted rooting stimulant when applied to stem cuttings. Honey is relatively cheap and readily available. Cutting and dipping using honey into inert propagation media (mixes of perlite, vermiculite, coco peat) or non-inert potting mixes or soil is supposed to stimulate better and faster rooting.