


There are two naturally occurring auxins plants use to initiate rooting: Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).

These dynamic chemicals will move around the plant in response to environmental conditions.įor example, higher concentrations of auxins in the root system will boost roots and hinder the growth of shoots when they are more abundant in the foliage, auxins will increase cell elongation to produce larger leaves and taller plants. Auxins are a class of phytohormones that are responsible for several aspects of plant growth, including the growth of roots.įound in the stems, root tips, and buds, auxins are present in all plants in varying concentrations. In order to sprout, increase in size, bear flowers, form fruit, and produce seeds, plants rely on hormones to signal each stage of growth and development. Plants require plant hormones throughout their lifecycle. These techniques involve taking a part from an established plant – the roots, stems, branches, or leaves – and providing the right conditions for it to put out fresh roots and regrow.Īpplying rooting hormones to the cut portion of the plant will speed up the time for roots to emerge, often stimulate more roots to form, and can drastically increase the success rates for difficult-to-root species. The new plant, technically a clone, will grow to be identical to the parent specimen. Learning how to propagate your plants is easily one of the most rewarding (and cheap!) ways to multiply your collection.ĭividing, grafting, layering, and cutting are among the horticultural skills we can use to propagate plants asexually.
