The use of honey in rooting plants has even been tested and proven effective to a certain degree. In most comparative studies, commercial rooting hormones give the best results, but in some plants, honey does beat out simply inserting cuttings in growing medium with no special treatment at all.
Using Honey as Rooting Hormone is a great way to help cuttings propagate properly. As it has antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal properties that will save the plant from rot and infection.
Cinnamon works great as a rooting agent and works just as well as your typical hormone rooting powder. With the help of a little cinnamon powder, you can give your plants a quick start!
The reason honey works well as a natural rooting hormone is because it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Honey protects the cuttings from pathogens and allows the natural rooting hormones in the cutting to stimulate root growth.
The concept is certainly simple enough: when you take a stem cutting, you simply dip the cut end into honey before you insert it into your favorite growing medium, likely potting soil or vermiculite. This is supposed to stimulate better and faster rooting.
Mix 1-2 tbsp honey with 2 liters or water until dissolved and water your plants as you normally would. If you have ants in your pots or garden, this honey/water mix might attract more. You can also use this mixture to spray on foliage to nurse unhealthy plants back to health.
Got a cutting that's refusing to root or taking its sweet time? Add a Pothos! I'd heard of using willow as a natural rooting hormone, but didn't know Pothos has this 'super power' too. Just pop a Pothos cutting in with the water with your slow-to-grow cuttings and it helps speed up root development.
Warm growing medium temperatures accelerate cell division which leads to faster callusing, root initial development and subsequent root growth. It also speeds up the dry-down rate of the growing medium, which also helps encourage better rooting. The best way to warm the growing medium is through bottom heat.
Sprinkle rooting hormone powder on a saucer. Dip the cutting in the powder, which will encourage root growth once it's planted.
Did you know that honey acts as a natural rooting stimulant? The reason honey works well as a natural rooting hormone is because it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Honey protects the cuttings from pathogens and allows the natural rooting hormones in the cutting to stimulate root growth.
Making Vinegar Rooting Hormone
A teaspoon of vinegar in 5 to 6 cups (1.2-1.4 L.) of water is enough. Any type of apple cider vinegar at your local supermarket is fine. To use your homemade rooting hormone, dip the bottom of the cutting in the solution before “sticking” the cutting in rooting medium.
Don't underestimate temperature either, most cuttings root dramatically faster if you keep them around 24°C to 26°C. Keep the container small. The plant naturally creates its own hormones to stimulate the growth of roots.
There are two naturally occurring auxins plants use to initiate rooting: Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). IBA is most commonly used in commercial rooting products because IAA isn't very stable and quickly degrades when exposed to light.
"Rooting hormone can help yield better results, but it's not necessary." Plants that easily propagate, such as most varieties of succulents, rarely need the jumpstart that a rooting hormone can deliver. However, plants that are more reluctant to root, such as citrus plants, can benefit from it.
Some plants will root in water, but cuttings will develop a better root system when rooted in a soil-less potting mix. Sand or perlite can also be used, especially for cuttings that need good drainage and may rot if kept too wet.
The most common rooting mediums used are coarse sand, vermiculite, a blend of equal parts peat moss and vermiculite, or a blend of equal parts peat moss and perlite. The planting medium should be moistened before inserting cuttings and should be kept moist throughout the rooting and shoot formation process.
You can put cuttings straight into soil as long as you have prepared them correctly. 'Cut under a node at the bottom and above a node at the top,' says Chick-Seward. You must also remove the lower leaves, leaving only two or three at the top.
You're not changing the water
Roots need air in order to grow. You should try and change the water with fresh tap water every 2-3 days or so for best results because oxygen in the water will be depleted.
Also scratch 1/2 cup into soil at base to encourage flowering canes and healthy new basal cane growth. Soak unplanted bushes in 1 cup of Epsom Salt per gallon of water to help roots recover. Add a tablespoon of Epsom Salt to each hole at planting time.
Cuttings need energy to make roots. If the cutting has too many leaves – or even too long of stem – it will spend its limited energy keeping those alive instead of on growing roots. I love a long cutting for the potential of a new big baby plant, but it's better to cut it into sections and root them each separately.
Keeps your body hydrated
Another great benefit of warm water with honey is that both possess moisturising properties. Hence, when you drink this mixture first thing in the morning, your body automatically stays duly hydrated all day. This also further aids in the fat burning process to hasten weight loss.
Honey, when mixed with hot water, can become toxic
Turns out, honey should never be warmed, cooked, or heated under any condition. A study published in the journal AYU found that at a temperature of 140 degrees, honey turns toxic. When you mix honey in hot milk or water, it turns hot and turns toxic.
Potential benefits of drinking honey water include:
Keeping you hydrated. Supporting digestion, such as by combating constipation or acid reflux symptoms. Easing a sore throat or cough — try it as a natural alternative to cough syrups and cough medications.