Successfully propagating plants from cuttings is one of the most rewarding skills a gardener can master. It allows you to clone your favorite specimens, expand your garden economically, and share beloved plants with friends. The key to consistent success often lies in using a quality rooting hormone, which provides the necessary boost to encourage strong, healthy root development.
With various formulations like gels, powders, and liquids available, each with its own strengths, selecting the right one can be daunting. This roundup simplifies your search by highlighting the best rooting hormones on the market. Whether you are working with delicate houseplants, stubborn hardwoods, or a full hydroponic system, there is a product here designed to meet your specific propagation needs and help your cuttings thrive.
Our Top Picks for Rooting Hormones
- Clonex Rooting Gel
- Hormex Rooting Hormone #16
- Hormex Liquid Rooting Hormone Concentrate
- Hormodin Rooting Compound
- Quick Clone Gel
- Garden Safe TakeRoot Rooting Hormone
- Bonide Bontone II Rooting Powder
- Dip’N Grow Rooting Solution
- Midas Products Rooting Powder 0.3% IBA
Clonex Rooting Gel
Clonex Rooting Gel is a high-performance, water-based formula that sets the industry standard for propagation. Its tenacious gel consistency clings to the cutting stem, creating a protective seal over the wounded tissue. This action ensures the essential rooting hormone IBA and other beneficial ingredients remain in direct contact with the plant to effectively promote root cell initiation.
Beyond hormones, Clonex is fortified with a full spectrum of mineral nutrients and trace elements. This provides vital nourishment to the delicate new root tissues during their critical formative stages. The gel offers a complete support system, protecting the cutting and supplying everything needed for robust root development in one easy application.
Hormex Rooting Hormone #16
For propagating difficult woody plants and trees, Hormex Rooting Powder #16 offers a high-potency solution. With a 1.6% concentration of IBA, this powder is specifically engineered to accelerate root development in hardwood cuttings that are often stubborn to root. It provides the strong hormonal signal needed to support the establishment of a healthy root system on challenging specimens.
Hormex stands out by offering its rooting powder in multiple strengths, allowing you to match the product to your specific plant type. This #16 version is ideal for the most difficult cuttings. It is compatible with all growing mediums, including rockwool, coco coir, and soil, making it a reliable choice for both hydroponic and traditional gardening methods.
Hormex Liquid Rooting Hormone Concentrate
The Hormex Liquid Rooting Hormone Concentrate is a versatile solution that does more than just promote rooting. It is formulated with Vitamin B1 to help prevent transplant shock and shield plants from root damage and environmental stress. This makes it an excellent choice not only for cuttings but also for established plants during repotting or when moving them outdoors.
This concentrate accelerates root development while improving overall stem strength and foliage growth. By enhancing nutrient absorption and water uptake, it supports healthy photosynthesis for thriving plants. Its liquid form is easy to mix and can be used with all growing methods, including soil, coco coir, and hydroponics, for a wide range of plants from vegetables to ornamentals.
Hormodin Rooting Compound
Hormodin Rooting Compound is a classic, no-fuss powder that prioritizes convenience and effectiveness. Its straightforward design requires no measuring or mixing, making the propagation process incredibly simple. This ease of use is perfect for both beginner gardeners and those who prefer a direct, uncomplicated approach to rooting cuttings.
The application process is as easy as it gets: simply dip the cut end of your plant cutting into the powder, tap off any excess, and plant it into your chosen medium. Hormodin provides a reliable dose of rooting hormone to stimulate root growth without any complicated steps, ensuring your cuttings get the help they need to establish themselves quickly.
Quick Clone Gel
Quick Clone Gel is marketed as a highly advanced cloning gel designed to produce faster, healthier, and stronger roots. It is an ideal tool for gardeners who want to reliably replicate their best-performing plants, ensuring consistent quality and saving money on new starts. The goal is to capture the genetics of your most vigorous specimens.
The procedure is simple: take a healthy cutting, dip it in water, then into the Quick Clone Gel, and finally into your growing medium. Users can expect to see consistent and strong rooting in as little as 5 to 10 days. This gel is formulated to work with a wide variety of plants, from ornamental roses and orchids to vegetables like peppers and tomatoes.
Garden Safe Brand TakeRoot Rooting Hormone
Garden Safe TakeRoot is a widely available and user-friendly rooting powder that is perfect for the casual home gardener. Its active ingredient is Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), which is a synthetic version of the root hormone that occurs naturally in plants. This makes it a reliable and effective choice for promoting root growth on a broad range of common garden and houseplant varieties.
Application is straightforward and requires no special knowledge. Just moisten the end of your cutting, stir it in the powder to coat the stem, and gently tap to remove any excess before planting. This two-pack offers great value for those who do regular propagation or want to have a supply on hand for all their gardening projects.
Bonide Bontone II Rooting Powder
Bonide Bontone II Rooting Powder is a ready-to-use dust that speeds root development on a wide array of cuttings. To use, you simply dip the end of your clipping into the powder and then place it in moist soil. This stimulates root production in both hardwood and softwood cuttings, making it a versatile option for ornamentals, vegetables, fruit trees, and berries.
A unique feature of Bontone II is its versatility beyond cuttings. It can also be used to treat seeds or bulbs before planting. By placing them in a bag with a small amount of powder and gently shaking, you can coat them to encourage stronger initial growth, giving your plants a better start from the very beginning.
Dip’N Grow Rooting Solution
Dip ‘N Grow offers the control and effectiveness of a liquid rooting hormone concentrate. Its key advantage is the ability to be diluted with water to create a custom strength suitable for everything from delicate softwood cuttings to tougher hardwoods. This proven formula contains both major rooting auxins, IBA and NAA, recognized for their root-inducing properties.
The liquid solution allows for more even and complete absorption of the rooting hormones into the cutting stem compared to some other forms. This ensures the entire cut surface is treated uniformly, which can lead to more consistent and reliable rooting results across a batch of cuttings.
Midas Products Rooting Powder 0.3% IBA
Midas Products Rooting Powder with a 0.3% IBA concentration is a solid, general-purpose rooting hormone. This strength is typically well-suited for a wide range of softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings, making it a great all-around choice for many common garden plants, ornamentals, and houseplants.
Like other powder forms, it is easy to use—just dip and plant. The 0.3% IBA level provides an effective boost for root initiation without being too strong for more sensitive plants. It is a reliable and straightforward option for gardeners looking for a dependable powder to support their propagation efforts.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Right Rooting Hormone
When I’m trying to propagate my favorite plants from cuttings, using one of the best rooting hormones can feel like a superpower. But with powders, gels, and liquids on the shelf, how do you pick the right one? It really comes down to understanding a few key things about what you’re growing and how you like to work.
First, let’s talk about the types. Rooting powders are the classic choice. They’re easy to use; you just dip the moistened stem end into the powder, tap off the excess, and stick the cutting in your potting mix. The downside is that the powder can sometimes clump or not stick evenly. Rooting gels have become my personal favorite for many plants. The gel clings to the stem perfectly, creating a solid seal around the cutting that keeps it moist and in direct contact with the hormone. Liquid concentrates are the heavy-duty option. You dilute them in water and then either do a quick dip or soak the cuttings for a longer period. They’re fantastic for hard-to-root woody plants but can be overkill for your average herbaceous cutting.
Next up is potency, which is usually indicated by the active ingredient, Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). You’ll see this listed as a percentage, like 0.1%, 0.3%, or 1.0%. As a general rule: use a lower concentration (0.1% IBA) for soft, herbaceous cuttings that root easily, like coleus or pothos. A medium strength (0.3% IBA) is great for semi-hardwood cuttings, like many common shrubs. For the tough customers—woody plants like trees and some difficult ornamentals—you’ll want the high potency option (0.8% to 1.0% IBA). Using a hormone that’s too strong on a delicate cutting can actually burn the tissue and prevent rooting, so it’s important to match the strength to the task.
You should also consider any extra ingredients. Many modern formulas include fungicides to help prevent damping-off disease, which can rot your cuttings before they even have a chance to root. This is a huge help, especially in the humid environment that cuttings need. Finally, think about the plant itself. Some rooting hormone products are specifically tailored for certain plant families, like a formula just for tomatoes and vegetables or one designed for acid-loving plants like azaleas. If you specialize in a particular type of plant, these targeted products can be worth looking for. By thinking about the form, strength, and additives, you can confidently select one of the 9 best rooting hormones for plant cuttings that fits your specific gardening project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to use a rooting hormone?
Strictly speaking, no, you don’t always need one. Many easy-to-root plants like mint, basil, or willow (which actually produces its own natural rooting hormone) will do just fine in a glass of water. However, using a rooting hormone significantly increases your success rate, helps roots develop faster and more robustly, and is practically essential for propagating woody plants like roses, hydrangeas, or fruit trees. I think of it as cheap insurance for my precious cuttings.
What is the difference between rooting powder and gel?
The main difference is the application and how they adhere to the cutting. Powder is dry and can be messy; if you tap off too much, you lose the hormone, and it doesn’t always stick evenly. Gel is a thicker, viscous liquid that coats the stem completely and stays put. This consistent seal helps maintain moisture right at the point where roots are trying to form. Many gardeners find gels provide a more reliable and successful result, especially for beginners.
Can I use honey or cinnamon as a natural rooting hormone?
You can, and I’ve tried it myself! While they aren’t technically rooting hormones containing IBA, they do have beneficial properties. Honey is a natural antiseptic and can help prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Cinnamon also has strong antifungal properties. So, while they won’t actively stimulate root growth like a commercial hormone, they can help protect the cutting from rot, giving it a better chance to callus and form roots on its own. For difficult plants, I still rely on a proven product from a list of the 9 best rooting hormones for plant cuttings.
How long do I soak cuttings in liquid rooting hormone?
This depends entirely on the product’s instructions, so always read the label! Generally, there are two methods. A “quick dip” involves using a higher concentration solution for just 3-5 seconds before planting. A “prolonged soak” uses a more diluted solution, and you soak the cuttings for several hours or even up to 24 hours. The prolonged soak is typically reserved for very hard-to-root woody species. For most common garden plants, the quick dip method is standard.
Is it possible to use too much rooting hormone?
Absolutely, yes. More is not better. Applying too much powder or gel, or using a concentration that is too strong for the type of cutting, can cause chemical burns to the stem tissue. Instead of encouraging roots, it will kill the cells and prevent rooting altogether. Always follow the dosage and concentration guidelines on the product packaging for the best results.