I read somewhere that Weeping Willow branches don't need rooting hormone. In fact, if you take a branch and boil it in some water, that will itself make rooting hormone for other plants to grow roots.
I don't plan on planting one in the yard but I think it is nifty that a branch from this tree will cause other plants to root out. I am taking a gardening course too. Of course not having that, I use honey as a rooting hormone when I need one.
This page contains the following solutions.
Making your own rooting hormone with willow water. Here's what you do: Get a handful of willow twigs (any Salix species will do).
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I know you can make your own rooting hormone dip with willow branches. But can you make it with other rigorous rooting plants such as mulberry bushes by soaking their branches or roots in water for a while? What about kudzu?
Hardiness Zone: 6b
By PHILLIP WOLF from Michigan City, IN
I prefer to use honey as a rooting hormone, and it helps to keep rot from setting in also.
Blessings,
Robyn
Robyn, do you mix the honey with water first, or use it undiluted? Thanks, Nica
I dip the tip of my cuttings into honey. This works as well as any purchased rooting hormone. jjs w palm fla.
Honey are sometimes adulterated. How do I identify quality honey
you dip the cutting into the honey after you make the cut....you then need to put the cutting into a growing medium such as Rockwood cubes or a product I use called root riot......they are sponge like blocks that hold moisture and support the cutting while it roots....the roots actually grow right through the blocks and you can plant them directly in soil.
For the make rooting powder :
1) Buy a can of root hormones. This hormone is called indole butyric acid. This is a powder composition.
2) Buy a pack of baby powder from the pharmacy!
Honey is a great natural alternative to chemical rooting based rooting hormones. This is a page about using honey to root cuttings.
