Home Clowning.. Err.. Cloning.

[stinkybudz]

I cant remember where i saw it but i think stinky mentioned that boiling willow branches releases hormone that roots, i had a few questions on it, can boiling longer hurt? or too short? how long should i leave the cut in the solution? i will be putting it in a nice air tight Rx bottle *of course emptied and cleaned* and freezing it between uses.

stinkybudz Reviewed by stinkybudz on 08-03-2008. Home Clowning.. Err.. Cloning. I cant remember where i saw it but i think stinky mentioned that boiling willow branches releases hormone that roots, i had a few questions on it, can boiling longer hurt? or too short? how long should i leave the cut in the solution? i will be putting it in a nice air tight Rx bottle *of course emptied and cleaned* and freezing it between uses. Rating: 5

[oldmac]

Stinkybudz,

Willow water is a natural rooting agent that's been in horticultural use for hundreds if not thousands of years. I first saw it used when I was a kid working on my aunt's farm during WWII.

We never boiled it, just took twigs and branches and cut them about twice the lenght of a bucket's depth and stood them in the bucket with water. Left them there till they started to bud, water was ready then. (1-2 weeks)

I've also seen branch and twig pieces put in a large glass jar with water, capped and left in the sun...like you would make ice tea.

Great idea, and thanks for reminding me.
I'd be interested in knowing what method Stinkyattic has for making willow water.

[stinkybudz]

Aspirin- I can't remember at the moment if that's a way to make chemical herms, but did you know that steeping willow twigs (yup! where aspirin comes from!) in hot water and then cooling that water will give you a rooting liquid? It is not as strong as commercial chemical rooting hormone, but if you are a pure-organic grower, it is a fine option for a more natural rooting agent.
Do not worry about salicylic acid being taken up and stored in the buds. Not that I would spray aspirin on plants in flower, but it is a very very safe chemical. I am not certain why you would worry about finding it in urine either, since it's perfectly legal, and an ingredient in many painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and blood thinners.

Any type of willow.
Steeping= allow to sit in very hot, but not boiling, water for some time to extract the hormones in the young twigs.

those are stinkys ways of the rooting hormone, took me a while to find the thread but thank god for search engine