What Does Rooting Stimulant Mean?
A rooting stimulant is commonly used when transplanting plants or to encourage a young plant to develop a robust, healthy root mass. These commercially available products generally contain various forms of synthetic root hormones such as auxin, vitamin B1, mycorrhizal fungi, or other common fertilizer mixtures such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium.
Rooting stimulants are believed to spur healthy plant growth and root development when used as directed. Many growers also believe that applying a root stimulant to a plant makes it more disease resistant.
Maximum Yield Explains Rooting Stimulant
Commercially available rooting stimulants often contain the synthetic plant hormone auxin, which is well-known for stimulating root growth in plants and cuttings. Auxin also spurs a plant’s cell division, stem elongation, and cell wall elasticity.
Some root stimulants are made up of vitamin B1, which is a natural root stimulator. Organic root stimulants often contain mycorrhizal fungi, which also aid a plant in growing a healthy root mass. If going this route, it's important to avoid fungicides, which will kill off the beneficial fungi.
Fertilizers with higher than normal levels of phosphorus are also frequently marketed as root stimulants.
Rooting stimulants are most commonly used on young plants, especially seeds and clones, to ensure rapid root development. They come in three main forms: powders, liquids, and gels. Rooting stimulants are often called root boosters, rooting hormones, or root growth stimulators. Sometimes they are concentrated, which allows a grower to apply stronger or weaker solutions to their delicate young plants.
Some organic growers rely simply on willow extracts as root stimulants to help their seeds and clones take root. Honey is also used on cuttings, although it does not act as fast as other methods listed here.
