rooting hormones

[John85]

How long do they last if stored properly?What have you experimented?
Thank you for your comments.

[Brian Ellis]

I believe someone I know used to use custard powder with good success rates

[Anthony Darby]

I quite like custard powder but I'm not if I need it to put down roots?

[Martinr]

I believe someone I know used to use custard powder with good success rates

Certainly works with Rhubarb

[David Nicholson]

Yes, Rhubarb works for me too Martin

[Lesley Cox]

I'm surprised Cliff the Booker hasn't already joined the above discussion. But back to the subject in hand,

I suspect most rooting hormones will last a lot longer than the manufacturers say they will, with proper storage. If powdered forms are stored dry, airtight and perhaps in the dark, they should last several seasons. Having said that I haven't used powdered forms for a number of years but invariably use a liquid called Liba 10,000 which was developed in NZ for the hort industry especially on plants which are notoriously difficult to root such as feijoas and various Protaceae and Myrtaceae, including the ornamental Eucalypts. The manufacturer says renew it every season and I did this year because I had run out but my previous 200ml bottle lasted for 4 years with no sign of deterioration. Not only that, I should have discarded each day's solution and renewed it but being lazy, simply topped up what had evaporated (which it does quite quickly) with water and continued to use it for cuttings, at a rate of 1 part hormone to 8-10 parts water. Still no sign of deterioration and cuttings rooting well and quickly. The "replace every day/season" is, I think, an unnecessary ploy on the manufacturer's part to make one buy more. But then, I'm a natural-born cynic.

[ranunculus]

I'm surprised Cliff the Booker hasn't already joined the above discussion. But back to the subject in hand,

I suspect most rooting hormones will last a lot longer than the manufacturers say they will, with proper storage. If powdered forms are stored dry, airtight and perhaps in the dark, they should last several seasons. Having said that I haven't used powdered forms for a number of years but invariably use a liquid called Liba 10,000 which was developed in NZ for the hort industry especially on plants which are notoriously difficult to root such as feijoas and various Protaceae and Myrtaceae, including the ornamental Eucalypts. The manufacturer says renew it every season and I did this year because I had run out but my previous 200ml bottle lasted for 4 years with no sign of deterioration. Not only that, I should have discarded each day's solution and renewed it but being lazy, simply topped up what had evaporated (which it does quite quickly) with water and continued to use it for cuttings, at a rate of 1 part hormone to 8-10 parts water. Still no sign of deterioration and cuttings rooting well and quickly. The "replace every day/season" is, I think, an unnecessary ploy on the manufacturer's part to make one buy more. But then, I'm a natural-born cynic.

You mustn't tempt me into a discussion about hormones, Lesley ... remember, I'm married!!!       Ouch!!!

[John85]

Thank you Lesley.