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No Rooting Hormone?
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Posted by claudosu z7 OK (My Page) on Mon, Jan 3, 05 at 13:03
| I've read on various threads here that you shouldn't use rooting hormone when growing geraniums from cuttings. Why is that? How could they hurt them? I recently took cuttings from various of my mom's geraniums, and I used Rootone. Will the rooting hormone kill my cuttings?? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: No Rooting Hormone?
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| I've never heard that. One guide I use about the act of using cuttings simply says to use the hormone. It doesn't say "exception"....so I assume unless the guide for the particular plant declares you shouldn't, I figure any and all can use it. As with any cutting, you should take a number of them....at least a half-dozen..just in case.
So, if you like, why not try a couple without the hormone and a couple with....and hold a couple in reserve. See what happens. |
There is an exception
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| Should you be using vermiculite as your geranium cuttings medium, no rooting hormone is necessary. |
RE: No Rooting Hormone?
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| Geraniums will root in virtually any moist medium. Hormone isn't harmful, just not necessary. During the winter here, I have been known to simply take a piece of an interesting variety and put it in the ground where I wish it to grow. The same works in pots. Ryan |
RE: No Rooting Hormone?
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I have spoken to commercial pelargonium growers, none of whom use rooting hormone for cuttings. One grower uses a solution of Vitamin C powder* as a rooting aid, others nothing at all. With one exception (Mabel Grey) I have had no problems with Pellie cuttings. One other point do NOT close up or tent pellie cutting as they will rot. Keep the compost warm and the cuttings in a light warm place and they will root in a few weeks.
* Vitamin C solution: 1/2 teaspoon vitamin C powder in 50ml cooled boiled water, store the solution in a brown bottle. I make my solution up fresh before each cuttings session.
PS Do not use composted bark for the cutting or planting media as it retains too much moisture. |
RE: No Rooting Hormone?
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| I have heard that you shouldn't use rooting hormone on anything edible. Maybe they are considering that some people might use the scenteds for culinary use. |
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