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Making willow water is an essential part of my plant rooting routine, I use willow water for rooting because it’s free and easy to make, it’s potent, and it’s 100% natural.
I like to take cuttings from all kinds of edible or medicinal plants, bushes, and trees. It’s way cheaper to buy just one plant and use it as the mother.
I also take cuttings (with the appropriate permission) from established specimens in my local area, because if they’re thriving locally already, then their cuttings should also do well in the same locale.
But I do not like the idea of the potential hazards of the chemicals found in commercial synthetic rooting compound. So I make willow tree water instead.
This DIY rooting hormone recipe is super simple.
What is Willow Water?
Willow water is simply a homemade rooting compound that you use to increase the success rate of cuttings and increase the growth and strength of roots of cuttings and plants.
Willow water is the product of a simple process that extracts the incredibly potent root stimulating compounds from the willow wood.
Indolebutyric acid (IBA) is a root-stimulating hormone found naturally in plants, but willow has a remarkably high concentration of this valuable hormone, particularly in first-year growth.
Older growth still has plenty of IBA, but not as much as new growth, which is still actively growing.
Salicylic acid, which shares many of the pain-relieving properties of Aspirin, is the second substance that makes willow water such an amazing natural rooting compound.
Salicylic acid, in the simplest terms, protects against disease.
This plant hormone is vital to the process of systemic acquired resistance. This process is where the plant initiates a defense response to pathogens.
Interestingly, it can also trigger the same response in nearby plants.
These powerful defense and protection properties are why salicylic acid is so beneficial for cuttings.
Fresh cuttings are vulnerable to fungi and pathogens, so willow water with its high concentration of salicylic acid, gives cuttings the best chance of survival during propagation.
Pro Tip
You can freeze the willow water in ice-cube trays and defrost as-needed
How to Use Willow Water
It’s really easy to use willow water. If you’re going to soak your cuttings before you plant, like I suggest for propagating elderberry cuttings, then simply soak your cuttings in willow water instead of regular water.
Then, before you plant the cuttings, water the potting medium with the willow water.
I’d recommend watering your cuttings twice more with the willow water, then switching to regular water.
Making a Homemade Root Starter is EASY!
Willow water is such an effective DIY rooting compound and it’s safe – there are no synthetic and potentially harmful chemicals to leach into your soil or your crops.
Plus, it’s free – willow is readily available almost anywhere, Willow water stores well and takes minimal effort to prepare, and will protect your cuttings from fungi and pathogens, and encourage them to quickly develop strong roots.
FAQs
Willow water is a natural homemade rooting compound that encourages strong, vigorous root growth for cuttings, seedlings, and even established plants. It also protects against fungi and diseases.
Yes! In my experience, willow water works better than commercial rooting compounds, The science of how willow water works is well-documented, and growers around the world swear by it.
No. Some people think that salicylic acid is the same as aspirin, which is not true, although they do share many of the same properties. Additionally, salicylic acid is not the rooting hormone in willow, indolebutyric acid is. So aspirin won’t work as a rooting hormone. However, because of its similarity to salicylic acid, it may help to protect cuttings and seedlings against fungi and pathogens.
Yes! If you don’t have time or access to willow to make willow water, willow bark powder is a great alternative. I like this one because it’s 100% natural and good value. And remember, it’s a great natural painkiller, too. To use it as a natural rooting hormone, soak your cuttings in water for 24-48 hours and fully hydrate them. Then coat the root end of the cuttings in the willow bark powder before planting in the potting medium.
Yes. Cinnamon does work as a natural rooting hormone. Follow the same method as using willow bark powder. Cinnamon is a good choice for DIY rooting compound if you’re in a pinch and don’t have willow bark powder or willow water.
How to Make Willow Water
Create willow water rooting hormone quickly and easily with this simple method. Homemade rooting hormone encourages plant health and vigorous root growth.
Ingredients
- 2 cups willow
- 6 cups water
Instructions
- Take some pruning shears and gather about two cups of willow. Harvest new growth as it has higher concentrations of the rooting and healing compounds compared to older growth.
- Chop the willow into one-inch lengths. The smaller you cut the pieces, the more of the beneficial compounds leech out into the water for a stronger rooting compound.
- Put your willow cuttings into a roomy, heat-proof container.
- Pour 6 cups of boiling water over the willow cuttings, making sure the willow is covered. Stir well.
- Leave the willow to steep in the boiling water for around 24 to 48 hours, then strain out the wood and retain the liquid.
- Store willow water in a jar in the fridge for up to 3 months. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays and thaw as needed.
What type of willow? There are 4 types of willow (that I know of) that grow in my area.
Hi Roo,
Any type of willow will do – shrub and tree types both work really well. But you’ll get the very best, most efficient rooting hormone from newer shoots, and particularly those harvested in late winter and early to mid spring, as this is when the beneficial compounds are at their peak.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Propagating elderberry cuttings has been on my “to-do list” for some time. I didn’t know that I need to gather some willow first… Great article, thanks for sharing
This is the most amazing thing, isn’t it? Nature is just cool. Thank you for the reminder that I need to get down to the creek and get some more willow. I just took some rose cuttings and I’m late doing the elder berries. We’re moving homesteads again and I want to be sure to take cutting from all my favorites! This willow water will really help – thank you!
You’re definitely not too late for elderberry cuttings. In my experience, it’s actually best to wait until late fall or through into mid-winter when the tree/bush starts to go dormant. Then it’s more likely to put its energy into producing a large, strong root system. And yes, willow water will definitely help! 🙂 Good luck with the move.