As far as propagating plant cuttings go, nothing is more crucial than the sunlight and water they get.

However, there are a lot of growers that are not aware of the necessity of rooting hormones. If you're wondering how to use rooting hormones to improve propagation, you don't need to look further than this article. This article will cover all the knowledge you need to use this product and how it improves the probability of your plants thriving.

Rooting Hormones- The Basics

Rooting hormone, as the name suggests, is a chemical compound that catalyzes the growth of your plants' roots. The combination of rooting hormones stimulates root growth when you attempt to grow a plant by cutting from an identical plant.

This propagation process is called cloning. Hence, you can check out our guide to cloning plants if this is new for you.

Using a rooting hormone is one of the most reliable processes for propagating plants. If used correctly, it enables a plant to cut in, developing its roots faster.

You can use

Rooting hormones on leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, and root cuttings. As per your ease, rooting hormones are available in liquid, powder, and gel forms.

Plants that you can Use Rooting hormone On

Many gardeners use rooting hormones on succulents and ornamental plants.

Rooting hormone is fit for plant cuttings depending on its types, such as leaves, roots, and new growth. You can use it on woody stems and blooming plants, provided that you let the blooms fade before taking the cutting.

Some cuttings require a more significant amount of rooting hormone compared to others. You can estimate this amount by looking at how green a stem is.

The top-most part of a cutting is called softwood, which can easily bend without breaking.

Therefore, cuttings of softwood usually do not require hormones, as they can grow roots in water. Usually, you can get softwood cuttings from herbs such as mint, lemon balm, and basil.

The cuttings from other plants are usually stiffer. For example, Thyme and rosemary usually yield hard brown stems. Therefore, cuttings with harder stems need rooting hormones for faster rooting and growth.

Is it essential to Use Rooting Hormone for Propagation?

Using rooting hormones is not an absolute necessity for propagating new plants. However, using it can always aid your gardening skill and needs.

Rooting hormone significantly improves the success rate of cuttings. When the rooting gets faster, the number of clones you make from the mother plant also increases. Therefore, you can grow as many new plants as you want at a faster rate.

What usually happens during cloning is that not all of your clones can form roots successfully. Therefore, cultivators take more cuttings than the actual number they require. But if you use rooting hormones, you can significantly improve your success rate.

Rooting hormones also significantly increase the speed with which your cuttings start rooting. It means that you will get to harvest your plants quicker. Creating clones is usually faster than starting seeds, but unaided cloning takes time.

With rooting hormones, your plants will begin to take roots within a week. Therefore, making the entire process easier and faster.

How many Types of Rooting Hormones are there?

There is a wide variety of rooting hormones that growers can use. It includes rooting sprays, powder hormones, rooting solutions, and rooting gels. Let us have a look at them to know them better.

Rooting Solution

Liquid rooting hormones are available in a spray as well as solution form. Therefore it offers the choice to plant growers and gardeners.

The product is usually available in standard and concentrated strength. However, you need to dilute it before using them on plants.

Liquid hormones are easier to use and create less mess than powdered hormones.

Further, you can alter the concentration according to the requirements of the cuttings you are rooting.

Rooting Powder

Rooting hormones as available as powder resemble talc powder in their consistency. Further, they are preferable in large-scale growing operations.

The powder form of rooting hormone is very convenient to use and does not need to be refrigerated. Further, it has an extremely long shelf life among all forms of rooting hormones. However, the powder does not cover the entire cuttings, and it is comparatively less efficient than the liquid rooting hormones.

Rooting Gel

Rooting gel is high on our list of recommendations, and we strongly suggest that you use this. The rooting gel is very convenient and creates minimal mess. The convenience of the rooting gel also lies in the fact that it does not require dilution.

Rooting gel is preferable among other forms of rooting hormones as it barely creates any mess and is more effective in its coverage. It adheres better to plant cuttings.

How do I Use Rooting Hormone to Root Plant Cuttings Faster?

Selecting which type of rooting hormone is not enough as long as you don't know how to apply them correctly. Therefore, let us look at the process of using rooting hormone for your plant cuttings because techniques and strategies will differ depending on the type of plant you wish to grow.

Therefore, here is a step-wise guide that you can follow.

Begin by Taking your Plant Cuttings

Firstly, you need a healthy and fresh stem from the parent plant of your choice. Further, it is essential to ensure that you use sanitized tools to avoid contamination.

Also, take the cutting from the healthiest

plants. Further, rooting becomes faster if you take the cutting from a growing tip. Take a 3-8 inch long stem with at least 2-3 leaves on it. Make sure you make the cutting just above the node.

Apply the Hormone to the Stalk

You need to apply the hormone right after taking the cutting. The steps may vary depending on whether your hormone is in powder form or gel form. This article discusses the entire process around the gel rooting hormone.

Pour out some of the gel in a separate container to avoid dipping the stalks in the gel bottle. Further, applying from another container also helps prevent cross-contamination of different cuttings.

It's best to cover the cutting at the same height as the intended planting depth. It isn't harmful to the plant but would waste the gel.

Place the Plant Cutting in your Garden Pot or in a Cloning Machine

After you apply the rooting gel, place the cutting in a garden pot with growing media or a cloning machine, depending on how you intend to grow the cutting.

Further, we suggest you use a cloning machine for rooting your plants. Using a cloning machine significantly increases the speed of the process and the probability of success. Check out this post about the best cloning machines!

If you're not using a cloning machine, place the cutting in a container with soil. Make a cylindrical hole in the soil using a pencil or a similar cylindrical object.

Furthermore, make sure the hole is broad enough to ensure the gel doesn't scrape off when you place the cutting through the pot into the soil below.

Next, you need to remove the air around the cutting. Tap it lightly, provide water and ensure that the cutting is kept warm. Further, it is best to provide a light source, such as a T5 fixture or a LED grow light.

Rooting Leaf Cuttings vs. Stem Cuttings

If your objective is to root a leaf-cutting (which is possible if the plant of choice does not have a stem-like succulent), you need to apply the gel to the part of the leaf nearest to the plant's center.

Next, cover that portion with soilless potting mix, and then place the leaf down halfway into the mix. If your leaf's stem is shorter, you can dip it into the hormone and plant like a stem cutting.

It is also possible to use root cuttings if you want. As the name implies, root cuttings are pieces of plant roots used to produce a new plant.

If you want to use root cuttings, cut pieces of root that measure two inches from the parent plant, and recover the area. Cover the cutting with the rooting gel, and then place it in your medium at a shallow depth.

Using Too Much Rooting Hormone

Yes, there are times when you can use too much or too little rooting hormone.

If you apply an amount of rooting gel below the minimum requirement, it will have no effect, leading to wastage.

Using rooting hormone in excess is detrimental to the health of your plants. It is easy to picture, keeping in mind that rooting hormones are essential nutrients. Further, it's common knowledge that your plants can burn in case of excess nutrients. Additionally, your plant will turn yellow and eventually wither.

Best Rooting Hormones

There's no doubt that using rooting hormones dramatically increases the speed of your propagation process, but a better quality product always yields better results!

Here at GroIndoor, we have a wide variety of options, but here are some of our best-rooting hormones.

Dyna-Gro Root Gel

Dyna-Grow Root Gel is one of the best-powdered rooting hormones currently available. One of the unique features of this rooting hormone is that it encourages the growth of fine root hairs along with roots that branch out laterally. This root gel leads to the development of a healthier and bigger plant.

Clonex Rooting Hormones

Clonex is a widely well-known rooting hormone brand. Clonex is particularly renowned for its rooting gel but also makes:

• Rooting Solution
• Granular Mycorrhizae Rooting Hormones
• Rooting Spray

Final Thoughts on How to Use Rooting Hormone

Now you know everything that you need to know about how to use rooting hormones! All that's required is to decide which one you want and start shopping!

And there's no place better than GroIndoor to begin! We have a wide variety of rooting hormones, so you're sure to find one that suits your needs. Plus, you also get access to our team's knowledge and assistance to help you grow your plants. Visit us now!