To make a natural organic rooting powder to use when taking cuttings you will need to find a willow tree, any of the Salix species is fine.
Cut off some of this years growth, remove the leaves and cut into one inch pieces. Place these right side/way up (direction is important since rhizocaline- catalyst to promoting root formation travels down the stem of any cutting) in a glass, add 1/2″ of hot water, cover with a plastic bag and let sit 24 hours. Steep your cuttings in this for 24 hours, and then place in the rooting medium. The willow water may be stored in the fridge and covered to prevent contamination, but is best used up within three days.
Ive used this method many times and had excellent results. Also another method I use, which comes in dead handy if your out and about is to take the cutting and lick your clean fingers and gently rub them over the end of the cutting. Not sure why or how this works but it does.
If you have any other organic gardening tips we could use on our allotment please let us know.
Willow does get results – but I didn’t know why. I’ve just used cold water but I ‘m going to try making the tea using hot water as you do. Interesting about your second method – never heard of it before and will try it out. Thanks for the tip.
Find a willow that is growing on the side of a river. put your hand in the water and pull the willow root tips. put in a bucket. pund them into a mulsh. i useally can smell a distinctive smell when crushing them. soak in cold water fo an hour. use the water, or take the muched roots, and use them as’floor’ to where you will transplant to.
Top tip – thanks aj
[...] permalink if you have a willow tree of any species just cut a branch or two off wih its leaves boil it up and then strain the leaves and stuff out ..and bam willow tree cantin hormones that help with rooting ..but when i was looking for a link to prove my answer i found this which looks really cool iim going to try this Organic rooting hormone – willow tea The Allotment Junkies [...]
[...] If you’ve got a willow tree, you can make your own organic rooting hormone treatment – willow tea – by cutting up young willow branches and leaving them to soak in water for a while. I don’t [...]
willow is absolutely phenomenal!!