Re: Willow bark rooting hormone

Would it not be simpler to use a dispersible aspirin - either dip the end of
the cutting in the solution, or water in?

Gwen

-----Original Message-----
From: IGSROBIN [I*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU]On Behalf Of Sandy
Connerley
Sent: 17 September 2004 07:38
To: IGSROBIN@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: Re: Willow bark rooting hormone

Well, Claire, I have always used commerical rooting hormones when used.
But, this person swears by her white willow bark powder so thought I would
give it a go.  Found it very interesting that people used willow binding.

Sandy

ECPep@AOL.COM wrote:
In a message dated 9/16/04 4:22:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
sandy_connerley@SBCGLOBAL.NET writes:


> I just found on Garden Compass magazine that white willow bark

Sandy,

It is old country lore that any willow can be whipped up into a rooting
preparation. No chemistry is needed. Just cut the last ten inches or so of
the
growth tips (auxin containing members) and smash with a hammer. Soak for a
day
or two and use on cuttings. Also done with woody cutting is binding the
willow cutting to the half-hard cutting of any plant and attempting to root
in
your favorite mix. Most European gardeners and their progeny, their
immigrant
children know about "willow water". For those who don't live near willows or
have not grown willows, almost any species will root in water in a matter of
days. A cutting inserted in some moist soil will make a new plant when you
want
one or perhaps don't want one so do not use willow as stakes or posts in the
garden. It is easily demonstrated in the spring with sprays of pussy willows
brought in to force in the East. You have a container full of roots in days.
If you want more controlled results, you are better off buying a commercial
preparation but trying the willow water or willow binding is something that
appeals to gardeners who have access to willows.

The process is explained in any one of those botany for gardeners books
around. Sort of apical meristem propagation gone native. You can just
experiment
as there do not seem to be any rules.

To Carolyn in soggy Buffalo, sympathy from equally soggy Nassau (Albany).
After years of asking for agricultural emergency here for drought, today New
York is asking for help for water damaged crops. This is not hurricane or
storm
water folks, this is three months of rain with not one day of dried out soil
since May. One should always be careful of what you wish for. If the sun
shined this summer, one had to be quick to catch it.

Claire Peplowski
NYS zibe 4
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