For real, I've just started doing a bit of reasearch on this. It seems to show amazing results. It is naturally organic, and easy to make. Here's a bit of what I've found:
"ABOUT WILLOW WATER
As willows root easiest of all flora, there must be some substance in the sap of the willows which promotes this. Still not isolated, "rhizocaline" is actually three or four different unknown elements or compounds.
This was discovered by Dr. M. Kawase, who reported on it, as have others since. One cuts branches of current growth from any willow species, that are very green and supple. Then, cut them into one inch pieces and smash them with a hammer, or cut them lengthwise. Drop them in a pot of boiling water, remove from the heat and allow them to steep, stirring occasionally. DO NOT BOIL THE WILLOW ITSELF. After the mixture cools it is ready to use.
HOW TO USE WILLOW WATER
Soak cuttings overnight in the willow water, having re-cut the stem ends on the bottom by holding them under the willow water and dropping them in. DO NOT LIFT THE CUTS TO EXPOSE TO AIR as the air will "plug up" the sieve cells that take water up into the plant." --Pamela Ashworth Puryear
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"...if you really want to stimulate, even accelerate, root development you can do this by using an old fashion solution called willow water.
Willow trees are some of the easiest plants to propagate and hormones found in willows can be used to help promote root growth in other plants. Willow water is a concentrated solution of these hormones.
To mix up a batch of willow water, simply cut a few stems of willow branches about the diameter of a pencil that are green and supple. Then cut the branches into 1 inch pieces and smash them with a hammer. Next, bring a pot of water to a boil, drop the willow stems into the water and remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to steep, stirring occasionally. Once cooled, it is ready to use. Dip the ends of the plant cuttings you want to root into the solution before dropping them into the jar of water or pots of soil.
"The willow plant is a natural source of auxin. Therefore, it can be very easy to make up a fresh batch of homemade rooting compound whenever you need to plant some new cuttings.
1. Gather a handful of willow branch tips
2. Chop or mash into smaller pieces
3. Fill small container with pieces
4. Fill container with water & allow to sit overnight
5. Remove willow pieces
6. Dip cutting into the water, covering the stem
7. Put cutting into your potting mix (or moist sand)
8. Cover with a plastic bag to retain moisture
9. After roots form, re-pot
Also, don't get rid of the willow water when you're done with your cuttings. Save it to water your plants!
If you don't have access to willow, dissolve a few aspirins in a jar of water. Aspirin is made from willow bark, so it can have the same effect as the willow water." --http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03mar24d.cfm
Most interesting Indi...thank you for the info. I love these old-school ideas.....Nature always has a way.
starfleetcommand
Great Idea Indi. I have willows all around me. I have a question though. My clones are already in rockwool, and have been in for seven days. They were taken from a white widow that had been into flower about three weeks. I may have had the cubes a little wet. First time I am not sure. Anyhow I have since squeezed a little water out of them hopefully without doing any damage. I wonder if I made up some of that willow juice will it help clones that are already in the wool ? Maybe I'll use an eyedropper,and just drip a small amount in. Thanks.
Domin8rix
Damn... that's really cool! I make willow tea whenever I have a headache instead of taking asprin 'cause willows naturally have asprin in them. Never knew it would help w/ cloning though. Good post Indigo!
