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Rooting hormone powder / gel

McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
in Tools and techniques
Hi all,

I'm curious to hear from people who do and don't use rooting hormone to aid their cuttings and what their experiences have been. I'm particularly interested to hear from those who didn't and now do...or vice versa. 

I never use it but seem to have a pretty high success rate which I believe might be down to seasonal timing and the conditions in which I place my cuttings.

However, I wonder if i'm missing a trick and should give it a try? will my plants root quicker and be stronger? 

Cheers. Razz. 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I've used it on occasion.  I'm not convinced that it makes any difference, but I haven't done a proper trial of the same plants at the same time with and without rooting powder/gel, so I can't be sure.  I think using the right type of cuttings for the plant (soft/semiripe/hardwood/root) and getting the timing and conditions right is much more important.


    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Winston_The_Gravity_ManWinston_The_Gravity_Man Posts: 263
    I read a lot of gardening publications .... let's just say I have a lot of time on my hands ! .... and it seems to me that the ratio of people who support the efficacy of hormone rooting compound run at about 50 / 50 against those that 'have never found it to be any good'. 

    Proponents of organic and chemical-free gardening often recommend powdered cinnamon because it's meant to encourage rooting and helps to prevent cuttings damping-off. 
    When there's always biscuits in the tin, where's the fun in biscuits ?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Hormone rooting powder was banned in the UK in 2011.
    I used it for many years with good results.
    I did try the new 'natural hormone' (?) rooting powder with less good results.

    I don't use it any longer but still get good results using very well drained compost and a plastic bag.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    This one seems to have very good results according to the reviews.
    https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-rooting-powder-75g/p/0342209
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've never used it, so can't say whether it would be better or have no effect. I feel that when doing cuttings, the timing is more important than anything, so a bit of research is usually needed depending on the plant. I do as @Pete.8 does, but I don't always use bags - usually a plastic bottle cut in half if the pot's a 3 inch one.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GravelEaterGravelEater Posts: 124
    Like others have mentioned, I too have read a lot online without finding solid stats to back up claims.

    I read that honey offers some natural protection from disease/pest as well as cinnamon.  Not tried. so can't comment.

    I tend to find that when advice states that a rooting compound is a must, there is usually a lot more work involved in propagating than simply dumping cuttings into compost/grit, covering and leaving.

    I'll be following this thread out of interest.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I've used it in the past for house plants, but I can't say if it was any more successful than if I hadn't. 
    Nowadays I just dip the stem in honey, and water with a bit of honey 'tea'. It's antibacterial and antifungal. 
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