Rooting powder encourages cuttings to form strong roots faster. For this purpose, preparations for professional horticulture contain natural or chemically modified growth hormones. While you can't make these yourself, there are alternatives that you can use to easily make your own rooting agents. How - you will find out in this article.
Aspirin stimulates plants to develop roots
willow water
If you want to make your own rooting agent, willow water is probably the best alternative to the commercially available agents. Young willow branches contain large amounts of plant growth hormones, as well as salicylic acid. These are exactly the active ingredients that are also found in the rooting powder for commercial use.
You can easily make willow water yourself:
- Cut young willow shoots, no more than a finger thick, remove the bark and cut everything into small pieces.
- For ten liters of pasture water you need about two to three kilograms of clippings.
- Place the bark and wood in a bucket and pour water over them.
- Leave for at least 24 hours.
- Strain through a sieve.
- The willow water can be stored in a cool place for up to two months.
Application:
So that the root formation is successfully stimulated, place the cuttings in the willow water for a day. The seedlings absorb the active ingredients with the liquid and form roots more quickly.
You do not have to dispose of the pasture water afterwards. If you water the offspring with the rooting aid until they sprout, this has a very positive effect on growth.
Cinnamon as a rooting powder
Cinnamon powder does not contain growth hormones. However, the spice acts as a natural fungicide and antibacterial and can therefore be used very well as a plant strengthener in the root formation phase.
Application is straightforward and requires no preparation: just sprinkle some cinnamon powder on the seedling before sticking it in the substrate.
aspirin
A remedy that can also be found in almost every household is aspirin. The tablets contain the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid. This has an antibacterial effect and promotes the nutrient transport of the plants.
- It is important that you use uncoated tablets.
- Dissolve one pill in a glass of water.
- Soak the cuttings in the solution for a few hours before planting.
tips
In order for the offspring to root well, you should definitely pay attention to high humidity. After thoroughly moistening the soil, close the seed tray with a transparent plastic hood or foil. This measure means that the leaves hardly evaporate any water and do not dry out. To avoid rot and mildew, remove the hood briefly every day.