How to Make a Rooting Tonic

A rooting hormone or tonic promotes root growth in plant cuttings. You can buy rooting hormone at nurseries but if you have willow trees nearby, you also can brew up your own.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boiling Water
• Large Pot
• willow twigs
• clippers or cleaver
• jar with tight fitting lid

1. Gather a handful of chopstick-size willow twigs. Fresh branches work best; avoid deadfall. Any variety of willow (salix) will work since they all contain the natural chemical IBA (indolebutyric acid) - a natural plant growth regulator.

2. Chop the willow stems into 3-4 inch pieces with clippers or a cleaver. You should have about 2 cups of clippings to make a one gallon batch of willow bark rooting hormone.

3. Place the chopped willow pieces in a large container and cover with 1 gallon of boiling water.

4. Allow the prepared willow bark tea to stand overnight. The longer it steeps, the more IBA will be released into the water.

5. Store the willow bark rooting hormone in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Label the container.

6. Soak tip cuttings into the willow bark rooting hormone overnight prior to planting in soil. The IBA will infuse into the bark and stems encouraging rooting and inhibiting fungus, bacteria and viral disease.

Tips & Warnings

• Willow bark rooting hormone will stay fresh up to two months in the refrigerator.
• Water young plants with willow bark rooting hormone. The salicylic acid from the willow will help defend plants against bacteria, fungus and viral diseases.
• Evidence shows that salicylic acid works by aiding the wound healing process. Absicsic acid is a stress hormone that all plants release in response to injury. It stops the movement of fluids through the system and ‰??shuts down' the injured area. The salicylic acid found in willow bark tea works to inhibit the wound response, hence allowing growth.

[jujudy]

on 4/25/2009 I have been making willow water rooting hormone for my cuttings for a long time, but I did not know there was the added benefit of helping the cut (wound) to heal. Thanks for the info. 5*s

[lynsuz12]

on 1/18/2009 Good to know this.
Thank you.
5*

[liah]

on 9/11/2008 thanks for the tip but wher i live in Seychelles there's no willow. can i substitute it with another plant that contains salicylic acid

[wytetyger059]

on 7/11/2008 Great tip! Now, off to my neighbors to offer to prune their willow. lol

[pergammano]

on 2/3/2008 In a pinch I have used aspirin, as well.