What Does Rooting Hormone Mean?
Rooting hormone is a combination of plant growth hormones that helps to stimulate a plant to switch from producing green cells (leaf and stem material) to root cells. It can come in either powder, gel, or liquid form.
Rooting hormones are also known as auxin hormones. This type of hormone accelerates the growth of the plant by helping the cutting switch from producing green stem cells to manufacturing root cells.
Rooting hormones increase the chance of successful plant rooting and can also help to produce roots of higher quality. It simplifies the task of propagating plants. Rooting hormones are readily available at hydroponics stores. The product is applied to the open tips of cuttings as soon as they are taken from the mother plant, and right before the cuttings are planted into a grow medium.
Maximum Yield Explains Rooting Hormone
Many growers prefer to use rooting hormones in a gel or talc-based powder form, as rooting solution takes a longer time to prepare, given that it requires dilution before applying. Rooting hormones are used to speed up rooting if the propagation conditions aren’t ideal for the specific plant.
Using rooting hormones with the propagation process requires a freshly cut branch or stem that doesn’t have any leaves. Be careful not to get the rooting hormone on the foliage as this can damage the leaves.
It is important to understand the rooting hormones and their effects on specific plant genes before use. Even with plants that can handle rooting hormones, it is important to ensure the rooting hormone is used in proper amounts to avoid damaging the cutting. The quantity depends on the type of rooting hormone and the plant in hand.
For example, with plants like dahlia, hibiscus, cape daisy, or lobelia, the use of rooting hormone is highly recommended. Conversely, the use of rooting hormone on coleus, petunia, moss rose, or impatiens can disrupt growth.
It’s important to note that rooting hormone formulations are not foolproof, and are not always successful in 100% of cuttings. Many are also expensive. A home-made rooting hormone solution can be made from willow trees or sprouted seed tea that is generally as effective, and costs a mere fraction of commercial hormone-based formulations, as well.
It is also important to note that the cutting must be taken from the donor plant in the right way, or you immediately decrease your chances of success.
