You may be wondering, “What are the pros and cons of using a rooting hormone?” Most people don't know the answer to this question! The short answer is that you can easily use rooting powder for cuttings and it offers many benefits. It's actually a simple way that anyone, regardless of ability or age, can enjoy gardening more.
What is a rooting hormone?
Rooting hormones are chemical solutions that can be applied to the cut end of a stem or branch to promote root development. They are used primarily by gardeners who propagate their own plants, but also find application in agriculture and horticulture.The rooting hormones canWe divide them into two broad categories: synthetic and organic rooting hormones.
Synthetic preparations are usually chemicals derived from plants that have been modified to remain active for an extended period of time. This makes them more economical because they last longer. Synthetic rooting agents include indolebutyric acid (IBA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), IAA, zeatin, thidiazuron (TDZ), and chlormequat chloride.
Organic preparations are obtained from plant extracts. These rooting hormones typically stimulate rooting over a shorter period of time and do not need to be applied as frequently as synthetic preparations, resulting in a greater overall economic benefit. These include indolebutyric acid (IBA) and benzyladenine (BA).
What are the advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Rooting hormone shortens the time it takes for roots to grow, so your new plant is less stressed.
- One application lasts up to 3 months.
- It is easier to grow plants from cuttings.
Disadvantages:
Rooting powders for cuttings can be harmful if inhaled or ingested by humans. So be careful not to lean over the preparations when adding them to your soil mix.
Use a clean knife or scissors to remove a fresh, healthy stem section from a mother plant. The mother plant must be strong and healthy, and ensure that the shoot tip is between three and eight centimeters long. Cut off the top few inches of the stem. Cut near a node, which is a slightly swollen bump on the stem. Remove all leaves and flowers from the area of the node.
Add some rooting hormone to a clean container and dip (or roll) the bottom inch of the cutting in it. Do not immerse the cutting directly into the original container containing the preparation. Do not apply rooting hormone higher than the final planting depth of the cutting. Shake off the excess powder by lightly tapping the cutting against the edge of the container.
You can also apply the preparation with a brush/sponge to the moistened cut surface of a cutting until it is covered with a fine layer of the powder. Make sure there is no excess preparation on the leaves, otherwise they will burn.For rootinglarger plants, e.g. For example, shrubs and vines, use a powder that contains higher concentrations of auxin.
Plant the cutting in soilless potting mix. Poke a hole in the potting soil with a pencil or similar tool. Make sure the planting hole is wide enough so that the preparation is not rubbed off when you insert the cutting into the soil.
Tamp the soil around the cutting to remove air pockets. Mist the cutting lightly with water (a spray bottle works well) and keep it warm. The root system develops best when the cutting is not in direct sunlight.
During the rooting period it is usually not necessary to water the plants as often as they would need during the rooting period under normal conditions. Do not overwater rooting plants or leave them dry for too long, as this sometimes has a negative effect on rooting and the plants can even die completely!
Once the roots are well established, you should slowly acclimate to outdoor conditions by slowly discontinuing treatment with the product over a few days and treating the plants with water only. Grasp seedlings or larger cuttings by the base and carefully pull them out of the rooting base; do not pull cuttings by the leaves!When rootingIn soil you must always carefully dig up the new plants. Rooting powder for cuttings can be applied to rooting modules/rockwool cubes indoors to make roots easier to see.
Before rooting the cutting, be sure to remove any dead leaves or leaf debris so that the preparation does not get caught under these leaves and block water and gas exchange. While some preparations do not require high humidity, most types of rooting hormones benefit from high humidity during application. Spray rooting medium with a fine stream of water before applying for best results. If you use natural preparations, spray them with the rooting hormone solution, not water.
How long does it take for the drug to work?
If you've been wondering, "How long does it take for rooting hormone to work?" – then you’re in luck. It speeds up the propagation process from weeks or months to just a week, depending on the product used. The preparation allows new roots to form so that the plant can be transplanted into the ground without damaging it further. Rooting hormones come in many forms, but all reduce transplant shock and increase rooting rates.
Antifungal vs. rooting hormone
These two terms are used in discussions about theRooting of cuttingsoften misunderstood. There are two processes to consider when rooting cuttings. The most important is to get the cutting to root, and this can only happen if the plant contains enough rooting hormones. This can be a natural preparation or it can be added by the gardener.
The second process is to keep the cutting free of fungus so roots can form. If cuttings become infected before roots form, the cutting can deteriorate to the point where roots no longer form. In this way, antifungal agents may promote rooting, but they do not cause roots to actually form. If you keep cuttings relatively clean, fungal infection is usually not a problem, and for this reason, most commercial rooting hormones do not contain fungicides.
