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February Gardening: Another use for aspirin

Questions We’re Often Asked: Hormone Rooting Powder



Artificial rooting powders have been in widespread use for over half a century. The plant hormones auxin and cytokinin, usually naphthalene acetic acid (a-NAA), are often part of commercial rooting preparations.
Stem cuttings are conventionally prepared, then their lower end moistened in water, then dipped into the powder before being inserted into a sterile grow medium. Leaf cuttings, with or without the petiole, may be similarly treated, even various forms of grafts. Instead of coming as a dry powder, a few commercial preparations are offered as gels. Unfortunately, once the container they come in is exposed to air, they may start to deteriorate, advertising their condition in a distinctly odiferous fashion. While there are references in ancient Greek writings to vegetative propagation by cuttings as well as grafts, whether they encouraged root formation with such albeit natural preparations are unknown. Somewhere in the mists of horticultural history, a gardener soaked some fresh willow twigs in water overnight, dipped cuttings into the liquid and observed the improved results.

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Since aspirin was originally discovered during the 19th century in willow bark, it is not surprising that pills of the same dissolved in water have been similarly used by latter-day gardeners of an experimental disposition. Experienced horticulturists may designate cuttings as softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood. Some rooting powders, such as the ubiquitous Stim-Root, come in three different strengths to accommodate these distinctions. For most home gardeners, however, who are likely to be interested only in softwood cuttings, a one-size-fits-all will suffice. Such are widely available from such firms as Bayer, Miracle-Gro, and Schultz. Those which to eschew chemical preparations and take the organic route – or root – may have to look a little harder for their ideal. Vitax Organic Rooting Powder is one alternative, while Richters Herbs (www.richters.com) offer Root-A-Maker™ Natural Rooting Powder, which they claim, makes cuttings root faster, and result in healthier and stronger plants. Those of a more modern bent may be tempted to try a birth control pill dissolved in water for similar results. Such has reportedly been used as houseplant fertilizer, even to prolong the vase life of cut flowers. Utilized for either of these purposes or even to encourage rooting in cuttings – ‘striking’ is a gardening term – is presumably possible. Conventional rooting preparations, though, have the advantage of being distinctly easier on the pocket book. They also do not require a physicians prescription.


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Wes Porter -- Bio and Archives

Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.


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