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Special Techniques

Use Rhizopon AA dry powders and Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablet and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts solutions for air layering

You can use Rhizopon AA dry powder rooting hormones to treat air layers. Apply using a clean soft brush using Rhizopon AA #2 or #3. If using cocoa fibers make sure the processing salts have been removed. As an alternate you can use
Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablet. Soak the moss or cocoa fibers in 3-10 tablets per liter water.
or
Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts at 150-500 ppm IBA.
Wound the stem of the cane. Apply the fiber. Cover the fibers with aluminum foil to protect against drying out.

Growth Stimulation for slow to root cuttings

Certain species are slow and irregular in rooting. To stimulate the rooting a few weeks after sticking an extra treatment with a Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablet solution could be very successful. If roots of cuttings have been killed by root fungus then periodically spray solution on leaves and stems until drips down into media. Use a solution with Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets (at 1-3 tablets per liter of water) or Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts (at .2-.5 gm per liter water). Spray the cuttings or drench the soil with the solution. One liter can cover about ten to twenty square feet of growing area.

Root difficult cuttings

Some plant cuttings root with difficulty. Lacking success, some growers erroneously increase the concentration of rooting hormones. An increased concentration may inhibit root promotion. Try a low concentration of Rhizopon Water Soluble Tablet and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Saltssolution with an increased basal end immersion time. Increased time allows the cutting to absorb the active ingredients. A low concentration is also economical.

Use the Immerse Method by immersing the basal end of the cutting approximately one inch into the solution for four to twelve hours. Use Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets (at 1-3 tablets per liter of water) or Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts (at .2-.5 gm per liter water).

Avoid using herbicides when rooting cuttings

Drs. Gilliam, Eakes, and Olive at Auburn University studied how herbicide use during propagation affects root initiation and development. Weed control is a serious problem during the rooting of stem cuttings of woody nursery crops. Their studies demonstrate the potential suppression of root development when granular dinitroaniline herbicides are used during stem cutting propagation. Tests evaluated azalea and gardenia propagated using Rhizopon AA's and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts active ingredient. Compared with controls, cuttings tested with some commercial herbicides exhibited suppressed root development, reduced root quality, root length, and lower dry weight. Caution! Propagators should conduct small scale tests evaluating specific herbicides and depth of sticking cuttings of individual species to be propagated prior to treating an entire crop.

Use of fertilizers and fungicides when rooting cuttings

• Rhizopon AA and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts products do not contain fertilizers or fungicides. Apply these materials based upon plant requirements.
• When rooting cuttings do not fertilize until after root initiation. Fertilizer salts may dehydrate the cuttings.
• When transplanting you can apply Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts with fertilizer at the same time.
• Fungicides may inhibit root formation by stressing plant tissue and slowing rooting and plant growth. Use fungicides only as required

Mixing Rhizopon and Hortus IBA Water Soluble with other growing agents

Tank mixing pesticides together is sometimes desirable [for pest control, growth regulation, fertilization, fungus control, etc.]...Legally, products can be mixed if the label specifies it, or if neither label prohibits mixing and both labels permit the intended use. Before mixing [Rhizopon AA and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts with other] products for the first time, a small amount of each chemical should be combined to determine if they are physically compatible...To test a mixture, obtain a clear glass jar with a lid. [Add to half level the] carrier (usually water) and add the chemicals in the proper proportions as it would in the actual tank mixture. If the label does not specify the order to add the chemicals, add in the following order: 1) wettable powders, 2) flowables, 3) water solubles [including Rhizopon AA and Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts], 4) sufficants, and 5) emulsifiable concentrates. Thoroughly, shake the jar and let stand for thirty minutes. If the mixture immediately separates or forms clumps, sludge, or solids then the mixture is not compatible. If slight separation occurs which can be readily re-mixed, the combination could be used if the [tank] has a good agitation system.

Before mixing on a large area, [treat] several [cuttings or] plants first, and monitor their appearance for at least one week to determine if the mixture is photo-toxic-toxic or harmful to plants. Sometimes mixing several chemicals will react differently even if safe when used alone. Remember to read the labels completely and carefully. Keep good records and retest when using new formulations or products from different manufacturers of the same active ingredient.

(This information has been edited from data courtesy of Mr. Scott Clark at the New York State Cornell Cooperative Extension Service, Riverhead NY)

Special Techniques

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