papkey5
Yamadori
I am trying to make my work of getting successful cuttings foolproof. So, I am working on eliminating possible shortfalls. What reliable rooting hormone do you use, and where do you buy it from?
There is no "foolproof" rooting hormone. Frequently zero rooting hormone works better than applying rooting hormone. There are times rooting hormone really helps, if applied correctly.Pick up a copy of M. Dirr's "Propagation of Trees and Woody Shrubs", I'm working from memory, the title of Dirr might be slightly off. The edition I have buried somewhere is from 1983. It is still a standard text for plant propagation courses, so used copies and more recent editions should be available and inexpensive.
Too much rooting hormone will inhibit rooting. There are times where zero hormone will give a low percent rooting, but too much hormone will guarantee zero rooting.
I've used the powder, the liquid and the gel types. I think I like the liquid, but if you use it, set a timer, you only want to soak the cuttings for the time specified in the directions, 5 minutes or 30 minutes. What ever the directions state.
Concentrations vary widely between different manufacturer's and brands. Read the Labels. Then read DIrr, then take out your calculator and do the math.
Heavy handed use of hormones will guarantee failure.
That's the only help I can give. I don't mean to be "Debbie Downer".
If you are doing this as a hobby, and don't need to pay the mortgage with the results, try using zero hormones, it will often work.
Side note:
Much of whether you have success is not dependent on hormones. Setting up a good rooting bench, or bed is far more important than whether or not you use hormones. A bed where you can heat the soil and keep it at a specific temperature, like 27 C or 80 F, high humidity, bright shade, and perhaps a misting system. For example some misting systems are set at 15 seconds of mist every 20 minutes. Being able to control rooting media temperature, air temperature and control frequency and volume of mist is very, very important. More important than using rooting hormones in terms of achieving commercial success rates (over 70% of cuttings will root).
Putting cuttings in a 3 or 4 inch pot, then putting the pot and cuttings in a plastic bag is a low tech, hobby method, and can give results from 5% to 100% depending on species. If you don't mind the randomness, the low tech method often produces enough rooted cuttings for hobby purposes. It is the method I use. My heating pad for a rooting flat shorted out years ago, I have not set up a new rooting set up.
You can try willow waterI am trying to make my work of getting successful cuttings foolproof. So, I am working on eliminating possible shortfalls. What reliable rooting hormone do you use, and where do you buy it from?
I have tried mostly deciduous. It has always been semi-hardwood growth from the current season.The important part: what kind of cuttings are you taking? What species, that is.
Edit: Leo beat me to it!
I had not thought that too much hormone negates rooting. Thank you for that knowledge.There is no "foolproof" rooting hormone. Frequently zero rooting hormone works better than applying rooting hormone. There are times rooting hormone really helps, if applied correctly.Pick up a copy of M. Dirr's "Propagation of Trees and Woody Shrubs", I'm working from memory, the title of Dirr might be slightly off. The edition I have buried somewhere is from 1983. It is still a standard text for plant propagation courses, so used copies and more recent editions should be available and inexpensive.
Too much rooting hormone will inhibit rooting. There are times where zero hormone will give a low percent rooting, but too much hormone will guarantee zero rooting.
I've used the powder, the liquid and the gel types. I think I like the liquid, but if you use it, set a timer, you only want to soak the cuttings for the time specified in the directions, 5 minutes or 30 minutes. What ever the directions state.
Concentrations vary widely between different manufacturer's and brands. Read the Labels. Then read DIrr, then take out your calculator and do the math.
Heavy handed use of hormones will guarantee failure.
That's the only help I can give. I don't mean to be "Debbie Downer".
If you are doing this as a hobby, and don't need to pay the mortgage with the results, try using zero hormones, it will often work.
Side note:
Much of whether you have success is not dependent on hormones. Setting up a good rooting bench, or bed is far more important than whether or not you use hormones. A bed where you can heat the soil and keep it at a specific temperature, like 27 C or 80 F, high humidity, bright shade, and perhaps a misting system. For example some misting systems are set at 15 seconds of mist every 20 minutes. Being able to control rooting media temperature, air temperature and control frequency and volume of mist is very, very important. More important than using rooting hormones in terms of achieving commercial success rates (over 70% of cuttings will root).
Putting cuttings in a 3 or 4 inch pot, then putting the pot and cuttings in a plastic bag is a low tech, hobby method, and can give results from 5% to 100% depending on species. If you don't mind the randomness, the low tech method often produces enough rooted cuttings for hobby purposes. It is the method I use. My heating pad for a rooting flat shorted out years ago, I have not set up a new rooting set up.
Does anyone have instructions for solubilizing the powders? I'm not sure if that would help or not.Rooting powders can mess up stuff because they're usually mixed with calcium chloride to keep it dry.
It depends on the type of powder you have.Does anyone have instructions for solubilizing the powders? I'm not sure if that would help or not.
I played around with solubilizing some IBA powder in about 5-10% isopropanol / 90-95% water. It seemed to go into solution, but I didn't take good notes or try enough to determine success rates.
Yup, this is what I use, and even got rooting on prunus mume. And my corkbark pine cuttings after 0 months are still green with what I tell myself are swelling candles.Putting cuttings in a 3 or 4 inch pot, then putting the pot and cuttings in a plastic bag is a low tech, hobby method, and can give results from 5% to 100% depending on species. If you don't mind the randomness, the low tech method often produces enough rooted cuttings for hobby purposes. It is the method I use. My heating pad for a rooting flat shorted out years ago, I have not set up a new rooting set up.
Yes, this 5-cent solution gets you 90% of what you need.Enclosing the cuttings in a plastic bag really helps
I have found this to be absolutely true.Key to getting rooting is improving the environmental factors. A horticultural heat mat really, really makes a difference. Enclosing the cuttings in a plastic bag really helps, or if gadgetry is your strength building a misting bed, with the heated soil makes a huge difference.