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African Violets

anyone use honey as a rooting hormone substitute?

18 years ago

I separated out three fairly sizable suckers this afternoon when preparing some new box-store NOIDs ($1.50 each!!!) for repotting. I didn't make it to the nursery in time to get some rooting hormone, but then came across several references online to using honey as an alternative, so I mixed up a batch (1/4 cup honey plus 3/4 cup boiling water; cool and let plant material perch in this for a few days).

Anyone have luck with this type of thing before? (I did a search and didn't see any posts in reference to it.)

Rebecca

Comments (5)

canttype
17 years ago
It's really not necessary to use rooting hormone at all! With honey, you might be asking for trouble from bugs? Hmmmm...

I just stick the sucker or crown in soil and put the plant in a plastic bag and leave in a warm bright spot(but sunless) for a few weeks. Voila!

Diane
korina
17 years ago
Me too. I've never used rooting hormones of any kind; the trick is to completely enclose the plant until it roots, usually 4-6 weeks.

Good luck.

Korina
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Willow tea is well known for its rooting ability. It contains a hormone that promotes rooting, salicylic acid. It also contains high concentrations of Indolebutyric acid (IBA), the same stuff that is synthesized for commercial rooting powders. But it is in its best concentration at the growing tips and during the active growing season. The closer the plant gets to dormancy, the less potent its abilty to encourage rooting. The same chemcial (salicylic acid) can be found in aspirin (just the plain stuff, like Bayers) so crushing up a baby aspirin or two in water will achieve the same thing. Honey contains natural fungicidal properties and antiseptic qualities which is why it is believed to aid in root development. But it is best to use raw honey, not processed honey that has been pasturized. This process will remove most of its rooting benefits.
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I have read several trials where rooting hormones have proved efficacy. But it was in all cases liquid hormone, not powdered. According these studies, the best method was a long soak (24 hours) in a IBA solution of 100 to 200 ppm. I haven't done an scientific trial comparing hormone / not hormone application, but I have gotten good results with this method. In the photo a "Ronde Precoce de Bordeaux" after 3 weeks with a 100 ppm/24 hours hormone soaking. You can observe a lot of roots initiating:
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Hi there all of you! Look I am a REAL amateur...and am growing roses.. and am rooting them... and its not hard at all. I tried to root about 5 cuttings...last fall and all of them budded...and leafed. I made a couple of mistakes...but I learned... and ONE...is alive..and growing. Hereis how: Old grandmothers..knew. That was my first lesson. How do you think they shared with neighbors? Well, just like me. I cut off the rose..in the fall... and I stuck the cuttings in juice bottles..with water.. They developed roots...little ones...and several didn't...but they all leafed. Its the " where you cut "..that is important. Amazing eh? I kept two of the smaller bottles..like olive bottles..( because they had cuttings only 5 inches high) in my bathroom window near the open window..( cracked open about 1 inch) These leafed in spring. The others also leafed. I merely took the ends...which had little roots.. and several didn't...( these I just dipped in rooting hormone and dipped a pencil in the dirt..and planted the branch) and planted them..in dirt you buy from wallmart..or anywhere : Potting Soil. I placed them outside. Lesson one: Don't put them down on a deck...Squirrels dig. Lesson two...you might lose some..to something that turns the branch dark...and they die. Lesson...several make it! This fall...I will do it again. Happy rooting!
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Willow water helps plants root because willow naturally roots very easily. This was trimmed a few weeks ago. Willow trimmings in willow water for a few weeks. Next, I put them in a pot and kept the cuttings moist for weeks (Watering once daily and/or misting them a few times a day) New growth on nearly every one. Willow water is a naturally occurring organic rooting hormone made by extracting the active element that causes willow to root easily into the water. Water your plants with this to increase likelihood of rooting. Refrigerate if you aren't going to use immediately. It isn't a fail safe 100% method for rooting difficult cuttings, but it can increase the odds and it doesn't have to rely on man made chemical to do so. I have not used this method for citrus cuttings, but I personally think it will help. I put cuttings in a zip up bag with a very small amount of willow water (too much will cause rot). I hang the bag up in a window that gets some sun, changing the water every week or so. When the cuttings either have white spots/roots or the bottom of the bark is swelling, I plant them in a pot buds facing up. I have tons of willows in my area if you need some materials, message me!
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swiss_1
17 years ago
I managed it without the bag and even let the compost dry out! OK so it took quite a while, but it did happen. Now I have a lovely baby plant!

I have set down some more leaves using a bag and they have rooted quicker, but still no sign of new leaves.

I do have them in my bathroom, so maybe the extra humidity helps out.

Swiss
scoutsadie
Original Author
17 years ago
Well, experiment didn't work so well, it seems... the bit that I had sticking down into the honey mixture has turned brown on each plant, and I had forgotten to bag them, so they're totally droopy and not looking so good... I have put the suckers into some potting mix and bagged the three of them, so hopefully they'll perk back up. :( I was so excited.
kimgmc12_yahoo_com
13 years ago
When making a honey propagation mix, you need 2 cups of water and one tablespoon of honey, boil the mix, let it cool, then dunk your scions (cuttings) in the mix.
I have always started my cutting without the use of homones, honey or willow water, but have heard of many people having great success.

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