{"id":45091121,"date":"2023-12-07T20:46:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T18:46:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.botanopia.com\/do-you-really-need-rooting-hormone-for-your-plant-cuttings-copy-to-edit\/"},"modified":"2023-12-07T20:46:54","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T18:46:54","slug":"do-you-really-need-rooting-hormone-for-your-plant-cuttings-copy-to-edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.botanopia.com\/us\/do-you-really-need-rooting-hormone-for-your-plant-cuttings-copy-to-edit\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you really need rooting hormone for your plant cuttings?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1653634955856{background-color: #e2d1ca !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Do you really need rooting hormone for your plant cuttings?” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”tiempos-headline”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1653478468798{margin-top: 35px !important;margin-bottom: 35px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_raw_html]W2x3cHRvY10=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

You might<\/span> ha<\/span>ve<\/span> heard about the term \u201crooting hormone\u201d before, but you\u2019re not sure what it is, or if you need it.<\/span><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s used to stimulate the formation of new roots on your plant cuttings.<\/span> Let\u2019s<\/span><\/span> explain:<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1647514051307{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-bottom: 1px !important;border-left-color: #e9eae4 !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-color: #e9eae4 !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-color: #e9eae4 !important;border-top-style: none !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Rooting hormones, what\u2019s that?” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”tiempos-headline”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Just like humans, plants secrete hormones that control all kinds of processes. They help to regulate or stimulate the growth of roots, or the growth of new stems\/branches.<\/p>\n

Those phytohormones (= plant hormones) are naturally present in plants. But they can also be produced synthetically. An exact replica of the natural hormone molecule is then recreated in a lab.<\/p>\n

You can buy those commercially, in powder or gel form. You then use these hormones locally on the part of the cutting where you want the new roots to form. Most often you dip the stem of your cutting in the powder or gel. You can then place your cutting in water (or in soil) to root.<\/p>\n

The benefit of using synthetic hormones is that your cuttings will develop roots faster and more reliably. Your cuttings can then absorb water and nutrients through those new roots to grow further.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”45091122″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/404540035″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1647514051307{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-bottom: 1px !important;border-left-color: #e9eae4 !important;border-left-style: none !important;border-right-color: #e9eae4 !important;border-right-style: none !important;border-top-color: #e9eae4 !important;border-top-style: none !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”What about \u201cnatural\u201d alternatives? I\u2019ve heard of cinnamon and honey, does that work?” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”tiempos-headline”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Honey does not contain rooting hormones in a significant concentration, so it won\u2019t 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\u2019t really have issues with fungi on your cuttings though.<\/p>\n

Similarly, cinnamon also does not contain any rooting hormones. Cinnamon has some antimicrobial properties so it might help prevent bacterial growth that could harm your cutting. But it will not help your cuttings to create roots.<\/p>\n

There are many more such recipes floating around on the internet, that involve Aloe, or coconut water, or willow bark concoctions. There is no scientific proof that these reliably help your cuttings to root. For example, even if willow bark does contain rooting hormones, it\u2019s difficult to extract it yourself into a liquid that will be concentrated enough.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”45066079″ img_size=”full” alignment=”right” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/404540035″][\/vc_column][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”I don\u2019t have any rooting hormone, what should I do?” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”tiempos-headline”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

There are many plants that will root easily in water, without additional rooting hormone. If you don\u2019t have any commercially available (synthetic) rooting hormone, simply try rooting your cuttings without it. Focus on creating the ideal rooting conditions for your plant as we outline below.<\/p>\n

You may also try to pair several cuttings in one glass. There isn\u2019t significant research available to back this up, but the theory makes sense. You pair a plant that roots very easily, such as a spider plant, with other cuttings. The spider plant will release its naturally available rooting hormone in the water, which will then be available for the other cuttings in the same glass. We have not tested it, but feel free to report your findings if you do!<\/p>\n

If you want to root more precious cuttings, or more difficult species, then invest in a synthetic rooting hormone. They last for many years and are fairly inexpensive to buy, so they will be well worth the money. We don\u2019t recommend that you experiment with homemade recipes that either just don\u2019t work, or won\u2019t make a significant difference to your cuttings.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Everything you need to grow your cuttings in water:”]