Our Technical Services team recently filmed tech-training videos to further educate greenhouse teams on important strategies and best practices. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at Rooting Hormones.
Rooting hormones are an important part of any vegetative propagation. Ordering URCs through Ball Seed is a great start for reliable supply and timely delivery. But how do you ensure the rooting uniformity of your crop and reduce shrink?
The answer? Rooting Hormones!
In the video below, culture research manager Dr. Nathan Jahnke shares how rooting hormes can help improve propagation success by increasing rooting uniformity and reducing plant losses. He also walks you through the many different hormone types and formulations most widely used in the industry.
Synthetic auxins – especially IVA – are most common. Powders are traditional and easy to use, while liquid formulations are newer, scalable, and reduce labor.
The application method you choose can affect effectiveness. Powder dips require handline each cutting individually, which can be labor intensive. Liquid sprays, sprenches, or dips can treat several cuttings at once. Higher-volume applications help the hormone reach the stem-substrate interface where roots form.
Nathan also offers some areas to be mindful of when using rooting hormones. For instance, over-application or high concentrations may lead to leaf yellowing or curling. He suggests that growers should test rates and volumes before treating an entire crop to have a good benchmark on what will work with your growing conditions.
This training video and all the others in our Tech On Demand playlist can be found easily at our YouTube channel. Be sure to like, subscribe, and add notifications for whenever a new video posts. You'll find great recommendations and ongoing learning opportunities from some of the best in the industry.