To speed up root formation and improve plant survival, many professionals and amateur gardeners use chemical rooting agents. However, if you are against the use of any substances other than natural ones, then you can take advantage of the gifts of nature itself.
Here are 8 home remedies you can use to boost root growth:
1. Willow extract
You've probably noticed that all willows take root quickly and well. The reason is growth hormones from the auxin group. To get willow extract, you will need several willow twigs, which need to be cut into pieces (1 cm) and filled with warm water in a 1:1 ratio. The water should not be too hot, as auxins are destroyed at high temperatures! Let the solution sit for two days so that the willow blocks are well saturated with water, then strain the extract. Some gardeners also recommend placing pieces of willow twigs in a pan of water and heating them over low heat for about two hours. Make sure the water does not boil! After removing the pan from the stove, let the solution cool. After 12 hours, the willow extract should turn dark brown, then it can be strained.
Using the extract is very simple: pour the required amount into a container and insert the cuttings you want to root. Leave them there either until roots form or for 24 hours, during which time they have absorbed enough substances to grow, then plant them in the soil.
If you don’t want to prepare a solution, you can put willow branches in a glass of water and wait until they take root. Then place the plant cuttings in the same water.
Willow extract can also be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 and used to water already planted plants or soak seeds in it 24 hours before sowing.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a universal 100% natural remedy that can be successfully used to prolong the life of plants and cut flowers, and also as a root formation stimulator. To do this, prepare a solution of one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and six glasses of water, in which you immerse your cuttings for several hours. But be careful and follow the dosage exactly, as too high a dose can kill the plants.
3. Honey
If you don’t want to use store-bought rooting agents, you can moisten the tips of the cuttings in a small amount of honey. Honey kills bacteria and fungi at the cutting interface and supplies them with nutrients. Heat about 200 ml of water, dissolve 1 teaspoon of honey in it and place the cuttings in the water-honey mixture overnight. Alternatively, before planting, you can very thinly coat the cut with honey. And to increase the chances of success, wrap the planting container in plastic wrap or cover it with a jar, which will increase the temperature and humidity, creating a kind of greenhouse effect.
4. Yeast
Yeast (fresh and dried) can also be used as a rooting agent.Dissolve the yeast in water (1 teaspoon of yeast is enough for 1 liter of water) and immerse the cuttings by about a third. Leave the cutting in the solution for about a day, then rinse with warm water and place in a glass of clean water or soil. Do not change the water, but add it all the time until the roots appear. Rooting rose cuttings, for example, will take at least a month.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon, which is used as a spice in cooking and as a means to prepare masks for skin and hair, can also be useful in gardening. The spice has excellent antibacterial properties, kills fungal pathogens and repels pests. It's also very easy to use: just dip a cutting in cinnamon powder and then plant it in the ground.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel is great for accelerating root formation in cuttings. You can buy it at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself if you have the plant at home. Cut the leaf, scrape off the gel, then mix it with a tablespoon of water and place the cuttings in this solution for a week. Make sure there is always water in the cuttings! The first roots should form within a week. You can also plant the cuttings in soil and then water them with a water-gel mixture.
7. Potatoes
Potatoes are rich in nutrients and enzymes that promote the growth of other plants. Potatoes are most often used to root rose cuttings. To do this, cut a hole in the potato and insert a rose stem into it. Then plant in a planting container or directly into the garden, weather permitting. After planting, cover the container with a cut plastic bottle to create a greenhouse effect.It is recommended to open the bottle for a while for ventilation and watering, this way you will protect the plant from rotting and mold formation. Since the potatoes will begin to rot over time, this method is still recommended for outdoor use only.
8. Aspirin
You're probably familiar with the many benefits of aspirin, including many for gardeners. There are several studies showing that aspirin does not promote root growth but does protect the cut from bacteria and fungal pathogens. Therefore, it is not surprising that most gardeners soak the seeds in an aspirin solution before planting. As for cuttings, dissolve half the tablet in 1 liter of water and immerse the cuttings in the liquid for two hours.
Helpful advice! If you want to try the natural remedies suggested above, be careful not to use them in excess. Although they may be slightly less effective than their chemical counterparts, with some exceptions, overstimulated root formation can harm the plant, reducing its further growth and development.
