How to Use Rooting Hormone

Posted by Amos Fred on August 28th, 2019

Rooting hormones can improve plant growth. If you are propagating plants and you want to speed up the growth process, then you can check out rooting hormones for that. These products are available in liquid and powder form. They come with auxins, which are known for boosting root and bud development, the SFGate says. By adding arooting hormone to your plants, you can achieve successful results in your propagation efforts and experiments.

If you’re going to use rooting powder for the first time, here are a few tips to help you use the hormone properly.

Read the instructions

The first step is to start with the basics. Check out the instructions on the packaging. What does that say? You’ll want to go over the details carefully. Check if the formula is the right one for your plant. That’s important. Keep in mind that hormones are powerful chemicals. They can kill your clippings if you use the wrong one, Martha Stewart cautions.

Pick the right time

Apply the rooting hormones before you put your clipping in the soil. For powdered hormones, you should dip the cutting into the hormone. Be sure to shake the clipping gently. That should get rid of any excess powder before you place the cutting into the soil.

Prepare the soil

Make the most out of the rooting powder by preparing the soil. You’ll have a much better rate of propagation success if you take the time to loosen it up. Check if it’s moist before you put your cuttings. Loosely cover the base.

Pick a spot

Don’t leave everything to the rooting hormone, though. Ensuring that the plant gets enough sunlight will also help boost plant growth, so pick a bright area. However, make sure the cutting isn’t directly exposed to the sun. Keep the soil moist up to about six weeks. That should help the cutting grow. There’s a difference between a moist soil and a wet one, though, so make sure you don’t make a mistake with that detail.

Store properly

Once you’re done, you’ll need to store the rest of the rooting hormone powder properly. Pick an airtight container and place that in a cool and dry place. You’ll also have some leftover powder from the batch you used. Don’t put that back into the container. It will only spoil the rest of the rooting hormones.

Check the expiration date

Chemicals in the rooting hormone will break down over time. That means you’ll need to be well aware of the expiry date of the product before you store it or use it. Take note of it or better yet, put the date on the container. That way, you won’t forget.

Conclusion

Follow these tips and you can expect your planted cuttings to grow much quicker. Remember, though, that the rooting hormone will only work during propagation. Using it on a mature plant will compromise the plant’s root system and lead to poor results. Also, make sure you buy from a reputable shop for your rooting hormone supplies.