How To Use Aloe Vera Gel As A Natural Rooting Hormone

Using aloe vera gel as a natural rooting hormone is an inexpensive and environmental friendly alternative to synthetic rooting hormones.

In this article I’ll tell you about the benefits of using aloe vera to root cuttings and show you how to make your own aloe vera rooting hormone solution.

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How do rooting hormones work?

Rooting hormone powders and gels help to seal and protect the cutting from bacteria and fungi while also encouraging the development of new roots.

Aloe vera works well as a natural rooting hormone for cuttings because it has antibacterial and antifungal properties that protect the cuttings from pathogens.

This allows the natural rooting hormones in the cuttings to stimulate root growth.

Aloe vera is also rich in nutrients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes that are helpful for root growth.

How to make aloe vera rooting hormone

Cut a small aloe leaf from one of your plants and peel off the skin.

If you don’t have an aloe vera plant you can purchase the leaves from a fruit and vegetable market or buy aloe vera gel.

Add the gel and a small amount of water to a blender and blend it together.

How to use aloe vera to propagate cuttings

First, clean and sterilize your equipment before you get started.

Take the plant cuttings early in the morning in late spring or early summer for the best results.

The cuttings should be about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in length, depending on the plant.

Remove the lower leaves from the cutting and cut just below a set of leaves on a 45-degree angle.

Once you have the cuttings ready, dip each cutting into the aloe vera solution and then make a hole in the potting mix with your finger for each cutting.

I often place a few cuttings in the same pot because they won’t all root.

Keep the soil moist and the roots should begin to form in 7 to 14 days.

Aloe vera gel can also be used for water propagation. Just add a ½ teaspoon of the gel to the water to help the cutting root.

The cuttings can be potted up when the roots grow to an inch (2.5 cm) in length.

Which plants can be propagated with aloe vera?

You can use aloe vera for many different types of cuttings including hard-wood, soft-wood and green-wood cuttings.

Aloe vera can also be used for grafting.

Can aloe vera juice be used for propagation?

The juice of the aloe vera plant is rich in nutrients and you can add a teaspoon of aloe vera juice to the water if you’re water propagating plants.

Aloe vera juice can also be diluted and used to water the cuttings to stimulate root growth or added to a spray bottle for foliar feeding.

So that’s how to use aloe vera for plant propagation.

There are lots of synthetic rooting hormones available that can promote fast root growth in cuttings, but if you’d prefer a natural option you should definitely try aloe vera as a natural rooting stimulant.

It’s very rare to get a 100% success rate for propagation, but natural rooting hormones can help to increase your success rate. [1]

Have you tried using aloe vera or any other natural rooting hormones? Let me know in the comments below.

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