Why Do We Need To Use Rooting Hormones?

If you want better roots for your plants, it will be a good thing to use rooting hormones. Add the rooting hormones to the water before watering your plants. There are some plants that can produce their own rooting hormones, so there’s no need to add more when you water these kinds of plants.

In plant propagation, you can multiply your plants by taking a piece of the mother plants to produce a new plant. There are some plants that only need a leaf to grow a new plant. Stem cutting is also another way to produce a new plant through the process called grafting. For trees and shrubs, you can cut a part of the stem to produce a new one.

5 Best Rooting Hormones For Plants

#1 HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel

This is one of the best rooting hormone cuttings. It is a water-based rooting compound gel that remains in contact with the stem when used. In addition, it seals the cut tissue and supplies the hormones to promote the development of root cells. It also has vitamins to protect the delicate, new root tissue.

Pros

• The formula of this product is completely alcohol-free.
• Rooting is faster as compared to others. The success rate is 100% according to most buyers.
• The formula of this rooting hormone gel is thick and stays where you put it.
• Its color is dark purple, making it easy for you to see where it is.

Cons

• Molds may appear on your plants when improper propagation is done.
• The price is a bit expensive.

#2 Quick Clone Cloning Gel

This rooting hormone is in gel form made with brewed tea base. It is from natural ingredients known by organic gardeners for faster root development. It is perfect for all plants including trees, roses, orchids, cactus, bonsai, bamboo, peppers, and tomatoes.

Pros

• This product provides strong and consistent rooting in 5 to 10 days.
• The consistency of the gel is thicker than others to seal the fresh cut more effectively.
• It is easier and less messy to use than other powder form products.
• It coats the cuttings on your plants really well.

Cons

• Propagated plants may rot if the Quick Clone gel is improperly used and contaminated.
• The product’s seal is not that safe and is more prone to contamination.

#3 Garden Safe TakeRoot Rooting Hormone

This one of the best rooting hormone products has an active ingredient called Indole-3-Butyric Acid which promotes root development on different varieties of plants. It’s very easy and inexpensive, and it can be used to multiply the plants in your garden.

Pros

• This product has a cheaper price as compared to others, but the result of the rooting is very effective.
• It can save you more money in buying plants. Because of the success rate of more than 50%, you can just buy one plant instead of buying another five.
• The rooting hormone works consistently.

Cons

• May work best with more experienced gardeners.
• If improperly used, it may create molds on your plants and eventually wilt and die.

#4  Hormex Vitamin B1 Rooting Hormone Concentrate

From the Hormex brand, this rooting hormone features the active ingredient NAA and comes in a concentrated liquid form that will treat dozens of cuttings. To use, dip a fresh cutting into the undiluted rooting hormone and insert the cutting in a moist growing medium. For an added root-boosting effect, mix 1 teaspoon of Hormex concentrate in 1 gallon of water and use the solution to saturate the soil around the new cutting. When transplanting newly rooted plants, use the same liquid solution for watering to reduce transplant shock.

Pros

• Affordable concentrated liquid
• Active ingredient of NAA
• Includes vitamin B1 to add nutrients
• Can dilute for use on transplants

Cons

• Strong concentrate might require mixing with water
• NAA is a synthetic chemical

#5 Dip ‘N Grow Liquid Rooting Hormone

This is one of the best rooting hormone products that contain both rooting auxins. One of its best features is self-sanitizing. It can eliminate cross-contamination because it contains ethyl and isopropyl alcohol which is unlikely to leave any toxic residue on the plants.

Pros

• It is easy to start trees and shrub cuttings with this liquid rooting hormone.
• The product has a higher hormone content. It also contains alcohol which makes the absorption of hormones faster.
• It contains the most powerful rooting hormones: IBA and NAA which are more potent as compared to others.

Cons

• The cuttings should often be sprayed and need to stay moist.
• Avoid direct sunlight for it can over stimulate them.

Different Types Of Rooting Hormones

1. Powder Form

Commercial and hobbyists usually use rooting hormones in powder form. This type of rooting hormone may be the most popular among gardeners because of its advantages, one of which is its shelf life. Compared to other forms, powdered rooting hormones can last longer when kept dry. To use it, you simply dip the cutting into the powder. You may also increase the amount of powder that can stick to the cutting by soaking it in water before dipping it into the powder. However, this technique may cause contamination of the cuttings. It is more advisable to use a small amount of powder in batches.

2. Liquid Form

The liquid form comes in two types. One is ready to use, and the other one is concentrated. It is more convenient to use the liquid rooting hormone that is ready to use. It also contains a more appropriate percentage of synthetic hormones to boost the development of roots. To avoid contamination when using this type of liquid rooting hormone, always use a separate cup or container with a small amount of liquid instead of directly dipping the cuttings into the bottle of the liquid rooting hormone.

When using the concentrated liquid rooting hormone, you should dilute it first before use. In this way, you can determine the concentration of the synthetic rooting hormone in the final solution. This gives you more advantages, especially when you are growing quite a variety of plant species. For example, there are plant species that will require higher concentrations as compared to others.​

Be reminded that any rooting hormone in the liquid form usually has shorter shelf life than powder forms and some may even require refrigeration.​

3. Gel Form

The gel form is becoming popular nowadays, especially among indoor growers. It is the most convenient to use because it has the most appropriate levels of synthetic rooting hormones for most plants. Usually, rooting hormones in gel form are ready to use. Just like other forms of rooting hormones, you should place a small amount in a separate cup or container to avoid contamination and spreading of diseases from cutting.

You may also find the gel rooting hormones more advantageous than the other forms because they can completely cover the cut of the new plant. Because of this, the plant’s tissue can absorb more synthetic hormones. They are also less likely to wash off.​

Natural Rooting Hormone Alternatives

If you don’t want to use synthetic hormones, there are many organic stimulators that you can use. They are natural and can also successfully provide good rooting when properly used.

Honey

Honey can work as a rooting hormone because of its natural antiseptic and antifungal properties. It can protect the tender cuttings from pathogens and allow the natural rooting hormones of plants to do their work, but the results may not be seen quickly unlike that of synthetic hormones. To use it, you may also dip the cutting into the honey thinly. Growers usually see the results of their cutting from 7 to 14 days.

Willow Extract

Most growers prefer using the willow extract. It is one of the best natural and organic rooting stimulators available in the market. Some synthetic hormones even use willow extract as their main ingredient. It works wonders because it contains two auxin hormones called salicylic acid (SA) and indolebutyric acid (IBA). SA is responsible for signaling a plant’s natural defense. IBA stimulates root growth.

This hormone can be found in the growing tips of willow branches in high concentrations. Synthetic hormones containing willow extracts have these two powerful hormones and can have a very high success rate. For most growers, root growth is faster as compared to other products.​

Dos And Don’ts Of Using Rooting Hormones

Dos In Using Root Hormones

• Use hormones with cuttings that root slowly and with most woodies.
• If propagation conditions are not ideal, it is best to use rooting hormones. An example of ideal propagation conditions is a greenhouse with a misting system.
• Use rooting hormones in proper amounts to avoid damaging of the cutting.
• Cleanliness is also a very important role in plant propagation. Sterilize and sanitize all your equipment between cloning batches to produce healthy clones. It would also be helpful to pressure wash the garden fences and pots to ensure that the pests and molds don’t infect the plants.
• A healthy donor plant should be used when cloning.

Don’ts In Using Root Hormones

• When using root hormones just pour a little in a cup. Don’t pour anything back into the bottle because it may spread the disease. Anything unused should be thrown away.
• Don’t put too much rooting hormone for it may damage the cutting. Overdosing will harm it.
• Don’t get it on the foliage because it may misshape the leaves of your plants.

What Is The Best Rooting Hormone For Your Garden?

In choosing the best rooting hormone for your plants, it is important to know which kinds of plants are suitable for a certain type of rooting hormone. Some plants may not grow well with the rooting hormone method. If not properly used, it may slow down the production of the entire garden. Personally, I would prefer using a rooting hormone in gel form. The Quick Clone Cloning Gel is one of the best rooting hormones on the market. Because of the thick consistency of the gel rooting hormone, it stays on the stem, and you can be sure that it stays in place and seals the fresh cuts from your cutting.

There are many other forms of rooting hormone you can choose from. Are you ready to have a greener garden? Or know someone who is into gardening? Share this with them!

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