How To Use Rooting Hormones
Using a rooting hormone to propagate plant cuttings
increases the chance that the new plant will thrive.
Taking a cutting from a plant and growing it produces a new plant identical to the parent plant. This is a
reliable and inexpensive way to propagate your favorite plants and the best way to grow new
difficult-to-propagate plants. Stem cuttings are the most common, but plants can also be grown from
root cuttings and leaf cuttings.
When the rooting hormone is used correctly, it causes the cutting to develop roots quickly and be more
robust than cuttings that don't receive the rooting hormone. Most homeowners use it primarily on
ornamental plants in the landscape and to propagate succulents. It is available at garden supply stores
and at online gardening sites.
Plants also have hormones and these chemicals are called plant hormones. These are different than the
hormones found in animals.
Plant hormones fall into 5 main classes:
Auxins are produced in terminal buds and suppress the growth of side buds and stimulate root
growth. They also affect cell elongation (tropism), apical dominance, and fruit drop or retention.
Gibberellins affect cell division, flowering, size of fruit and leaves, and they are important in
overcoming seed dormancy.
Cytokinins promote cell division, aging in leaves, and influence cell differentiation
Abscisic acid is a stress hormone that inhibits other hormones during periods of stress.
As you can see hormones are critical for the growth and development of plants. The hormones that will
be discussed in this post are the Auxins, which are responsible for root growth.
The auxins help plants produce roots. It is only natural that someone creates products that can be
applied to plants to help them make roots – commercial rooting products. Products like Clonex, a brand
name, are called a number of different things, like; rooting gel, rooting compound, cloning gel, rooting
solution, rooting powder and rooting medium. These are all essentially the same thing – rooting
hormones.
Top Picks!
Gel Rooting Hormone: HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel
Liquid: Dip ‘N Grow Liquid Rooting Hormone
Powder: Miracle Grow FastRoot
The rooting hormone works on a variety of cuttings, including new growth, woody stems, leaves, and
roots to dramatically increase the odds of success with propagation. If the plant is a blooming plant, wait
until the blooms fade before taking the cutting. Rooting new plants from parents requires patience and
the cuttings are fragile before the root system develops. In general, keep the planting medium moist but
not wet and provide light but no direct sun.
Remove a fresh, healthy stem cutting from a parent plant using a clean knife or shears. Use only cuttings
from vigorous and healthy plants, and make sure the growing tip is between 3 inches and 8 inches long.
Cut the topmost few inches from the stem. The cut should be made near a node, which is a slightly
swollen knob on the stem. Remove any leaves or flowers from the node area.
Moisten the bottom few inches of the cutting so the rooting hormone will adhere to it.
Pour a little rooting hormone out of the container and dip or roll the bottom few inches of the cutting in
the rooting powder. Do not dip the cutting directly into the rooting hormone container. Don't apply the
powder any higher than the planting depth. Shake the excess powder off by lightly tapping the cutting
against the edge of the container.
Plant the cutting in a soilless potting medium. Make a hole in the potting medium with a pencil or similar
tool. Make sure the planting hole is wide enough that the rooting hormone is not rubbed off as you sink
the cutting into the soil.
Tamp down the soil around the cutting to remove any air pockets. Water lightly and keep the cutting
warm at 60 F or higher. Most plants root better if they are kept out of direct sunlight.
Some plants, such as many succulents, don't have stems. These plants can be propagated by leaf
cuttings. Depending on the leaf structure, apply the rooting hormone to the part of the leaf that was
closest to the center of the plant and cover it with a soilless potting mix. Plant the leaf partway in the mix.
If the leaf has a short stem, such as found in African violets, dip the stem in rooting hormone and plant it
in the potting soil just like you do with stem cuttings, sinking the stem up to the leaf in the mix.
In some cases, it is necessary to cover the backside of the leaves with the rooting hormone and lay them
on top of the moist soilless mix and lightly press down until the leaf touches the mix. Keep all rooting
plants out of the direct sun until they have developed a robust root system.
Some plants, such as many succulents, don't have stems. These plants can be propagated by leaf
Root cuttings are just what they sound like. They are pieces of the root of a parent plant that will
eventually produce a new plant. Pull the soil back from the root area of the parent plant. Cut 2-inch
pieces of slender roots and recover the root area of the parent plant. Roll the root cuttings in the rooting
hormone and plant them shallowly in a rooting medium. Keep the medium moist but not wet. Root
cuttings are frequently taken in the fall to give the plant the entire winter to produce a new plant by
spring.
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