I have been using honey as a rooting hormone and it has proven to work, I had also read somewhere that you can use your own spit as a rooting hormone, so I decided to put it to the test.
Outside a neighbours house is a lovely red fushia bush that I have wanted to take cuttings from.
I went out dressed like a ninja armed with my scissors and hid in some bushes before jumping out and snipping at the cuttings that I wanted.
I took 4 small branches, I chose the ones with no buds on as they will flower and that takes energy away from the plant, this would probably stop rooting.
I took them up to my greenhouse and started to cut the cuttings to make more cuttings a total of 12.
I dipped 8 in honey as I do want to keep these plants and 4 I used spit, it wasn't the best rolling the bottoms of these plants in spit.
To keep the experiment as close as I could, I planted the cuttings all in the same container, I watered them and popped the lid on.
Today is the 17th of August 2019 and I have to wait 6 weeks to see if there is any change in the cuttings.
I have placed the lid on the container and have put it in my greenhouse just like I have with all my other cuttings, the idea is to be able to control the experiment.
I won't be lifting the lid for 2 weeks and that will be to check to see if the soil needs a little water, if it does it is a matter of giving it a little wet and putting the lid on.
In 6 weeks time I will check them to see if any roots have formed, this will be done by giving them a little gentle pull if there is some resistance then I know that I have roots.
Now this experiments is to see what works better, spit or honey. I already know that honey works and I have tried and tested it this year and I get results.
I am using spit as another option of rooting hormone from what I have read it contains bacteria in it that helps cuttings and stops rot.
When the cuttings have got to the 6 week mark I will be pulling 2 cuttings up and seeing if what has the bigger roots, the size of the roots will determinant which option is better when taking cuttings in the garden.
The results will be done around the 28th of September.
I know it is a little late in the season to be trying this but while the sun is still in the sky and there is no frost I think it's worth knowing our options, should we pay for things like honey, commercial hormones or just spit on the plants.
Lets see what happens
