honey as a rooting hormone for cuttings

usemyname · Jul 9, 2009

has any one heard of using honey in place of a rooting hornone ? in the past i have always used a gel cutting hormone and always have had 100% success rate most of the time i was preparing for my current batch of cuttings when i realised i needed some more i could only get powder but researching i found out that honey can be used in place of a hormone with great success as it has high antibacterial and antifungal properties and supplies the cutting with sugars and moisture. i later found out that a combo of powder and honey is just as get as any other. well with no gel ive given it a go . well see how true it is soon . any others heard of this?

LifeGiver · Oct 8, 2009

I have heard of dressing wounds with honey to prevent infection, so I would imagine that honey would act similarly with the end of a cutting.
However, a wound is not going to be kept moist like a cutting would be, and much of honey's anti-microbial activity is due to it's high osmotic pressure (very low water content). Therefore, if you keep the honey in a moist environment, even though it does have anti-microbial chemicals as well, it will start to degrade and may encourage undesirable microbial growth in the long run (sooty mold is common).
This may or may not hold true, and the important thing to do is try it for yourself. Sometimes someone else's failed method works for you and your situation, let people know either way.
Props on the creative way to stretch rooting hormone, just keep a watchful eye for any unusual discoloration or molds.

RUSHOE · Dec 2, 2009

gonna give it shot as well ......

SmokeyMcPopkinZ · Dec 2, 2009

definitely keep us updated this is a cool experiment and god knows im cheap so this would be perfect for me lol

honey as a rooting hormone for cuttings

usemyname

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LifeGiver

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RUSHOE

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SmokeyMcPopkinZ

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