Rooting Hormone Powder at the Gentlest Strength
Hormex number one carries 0.10% IBA, the lowest in the range. That low figure is deliberate. Delicate material burns at strengths meant for woody stems. African violets, geraniums, poinsettias, succulents and garden herbs all sit in this band. So do most soft new-growth cuttings from house and greenhouse plants. The method itself is short. Cut a 3 to 6 in stem below a node at a 45 degree angle with clean tools. Wet the cut end, dip about three quarters of an inch into the powder and tap off the excess. Set it into your rooting medium and hold heat, humidity and light. The bottle here is 0.75 oz, which is a lot of cuttings at this dose.
Matching Strength to Soft Stem Cuttings
Hormex numbers the bottles for a reason. One is the weakest, and the numbers climb through three, eight and sixteen as stems get woodier. Using too strong a powder on a soft cutting scorches the base and stalls it. Using too weak a powder on hardwood does nothing at all. If a cutting snaps cleanly and is still green, start here. If it bends rather than snaps and shows bark, step up the range. Tap the powder into a separate dish rather than dipping into the bottle. That keeps plant material and moisture out of the stock. Dispose of what you poured rather than tipping it back.
Key Features
- Strength: 0.10% IBA, the gentlest in the Hormex range
- Suits: African violets, geraniums, poinsettias, succulents and herbs
- Soft Cuttings: new green growth that snaps cleanly rather than bending
- Method: wet the cut end, dip three quarters of an inch, tap off
- Cutting Prep: 3 to 6 in of stem, cut below a node at 45 degrees
- Bottle Size: 0.75 oz carded bottle, which goes a long way at this rate
- Stronger Options: Hormex also make 0.3%, 0.8% and 1.6% IBA powders
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Ingredient | IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) |
| Concentration | 0.10% |
| Form | Powder |
| Bottle Size | 0.75 oz, carded |
| Cutting Length | 3 to 6 in, cut below a node at 45 degrees |
| Dip Depth | About three quarters of an inch |
| Best For | Delicate houseplants, garden herbs, succulent and soft cuttings |
| Range | #1 at 0.10%, #3 at 0.3%, #8 at 0.8%, #16 at 1.6% IBA |
| UPC | 073906024029 |