Some growers have experimented with gel rooting hormone products. Although rooting gels can work to promote new root growth, there are some distinct advantages of using Hormex Rooting Powder hormone verses a gel form rooting hormone. First, and foremost, a gel rooting hormone has the tendency to coat the entire base of a cutting. This can actually impede oxygen reaching the critical places where new root shoots will form. In fact, a grower who uses a gel rooting hormone product is more likely to have “saggy” cuttings or those that develop root rot. Hormex Rooting Powder ensures that the cutting’s stem has access to the proper amount of oxygen it needs.
Another advantage of Hormex Rooting Powder is speed. Growers experience faster root initiation when using Hormex Rooting Powder compared with a root hormone gel. One aspect of cloning that is often overlooked is the speed at which the cuttings root. Speed is a huge factor in successful cloning because the faster a cutting roots, the faster it can be moved to the vegetative stage of growth. This is so important because the optimal conditions for rooting clones are also conducive to many pathogens. The relatively warm temperatures and high humidity used to promote rooting in clones are also an open invitation for unwanted fungi and molds. In other words, the longer a cutting stays in the “cloning” stage, the longer it is subjected to conditions where pathogens might take hold. The faster a clone can create roots and be moved to the next stage of growth, the less likely it will be affected by a pathogen.