Growing Plants from Cuttings? Using Honey as Rooting Hormone can be helpful in a lot of ways! What’s more? It is proven in a study too!
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. Let’s have a look at in it detail!
Here are some amazing uses of honey in the garden
Using Honey as Rooting Hormone
According to a study published in the University of Hawaii Extension, a series of experiments were conducted to find out the efficacy of honey as a rooting hormone as compared to commercial rooting hormones available in the market.
It concluded, “Honey did demonstrate an ability to root plant species, but it is not as successful as synthetic rooting hormones.” It means you can use honey as an alternative to market products.
Honey is also cost-effective, easily available, and safer for public use.
3 Ways to Use Honey as Rooting Hormone
- Dip the end of the cutting in undiluted honey and rotate it to create a thin layer around it. After dipping, plant it in the growing medium.
- Add two tablespoons of honey to one or two cups of boiled water and let this solution cool. Dip the cutting in it and plant it in the growing medium.
- Wet cuttings in the water and roll them in cinnamon powder. Afterward, turn the cuttings in honey before planting. The addition of cinnamon will increase the potency of this DIY rooting hormone.
Plant Cuttings that Benefit from Honey
If you are growing common houseplants, succulents, and common outdoor plants like Chrysanthemum, Herbs, Blueberries, Hibiscus, Leadworts, Firethorns, and Roses, from cuttings, then the honey will work wonders as a rooting hormone.
The research article you mention actually shows honey was more effective in some cases than synthetic. Your article states otherwise, which is misleading and not factual.
Thanks for the clarification. I will try this as lockdown stops me getting rooting powder quickly and easily.
You misquote the research article. Nowhere in the article does it say that synthetic hormones are more successful than honey.
Why you being a jerk tho if it does work even a little bit then to me it is better because it’s more natural cheaper and has anti fungal property for a healthy root stimulation process.
Well said.
Thanks so much for this advice👌.
I was raised on a farm but never heard of using either honey or cinnamon to help propagation 🤷🏻♂️
I’ll take your word, folks, and won’t bother with reports and research 😒.
I think I’ll just dip them in honey and the shake a little cinnamon on, and see how it goes 🌿.
Keep up the good work – it’s appreciated. 😀
Many thanks
Art
Curious how it worked out for you 🤔
Honey and cinnamon works I’ve propagated Malabar spinach stems using the same technique it’s been 2 weeks now the plant started growing already by the end of 1st week. I just mixed pinch of cinnamon powder in 2tbsp dabur honey and dipped 45 degree cut stems with just 2 top leaves in the DIY hormone and planted 2 inch deep in potting soil.
Inspirational 😎
This works!
I had permanent Kale cuttings which are notoriously hard to propagate.
I have tried many different methods.
Rooting in water, 30% success rate
Rooting direct in soil 50% success rate
Rooting with “chemical” rooting compound 50% success rate
Rooting with honey = cinnamon 72% success rate
The best part is I already have organic honey & cinnamon at home.
Thank you!!!!!
I see how to start the rooting but do I water the cutting periodically too?
Honey does not contain rooting hormones. Please do not use misleading terms. It may assist in rooting in other ways than direct stimulation of tissues, but this is not through the rooting hormone auxin.