Hey everyone! I'm looking for some guidance on using willow water as a natural rooting hormone. I've heard it contains auxins and salicylic acid, which can promote root growth. If you have any experience with this, I would love your insights on a few things:
- What's the best way to prepare it? Should I be using the seeping method or boiling it?
- How often should I water my plants with it? Should I dilute it?
- When I start with seedlings, is there a point where I should switch back to regular water, or is it okay to keep using willow water continuously?
- Are there specific types of willows that work better? I have access to a black willow tree; will that do the trick?
Thanks in advance for any help!
2 Answers
Absolutely! Willow water can be an effective natural rooting hormone because of those auxins. Most folks go with young shoots or twigs using either the seeping method or a quick boil to retrieve the goodies. Typically, you’d want to dilute it before giving it to your cuttings or seedlings. It's best to stick with it for a few weeks until you see some roots forming, and then you can switch to regular water. And yes, black willow should work just fine! Young, green twigs are the way to go! Just remember, it’s a gentle approach, so patience is key here.
Thank you for your reply! Quick question—can I get cuttings one day and prep the willow water the next, or does it need to be done immediately?
Another option you might consider is dissolving an aspirin in some water; it's known to help with rooting as well. Just a thought!
Yep, black willow works great too!