This is an anecdotal response, but it's the best one you've gotten yet. Oh
yeah, and the "only" one, apparently.

First, you'll want to dilute that concentration significantly. For a 0.04%
starter, I'd recommend no more than about 0.5 ml/liter.

Yes, the hormone is absorbed primarily through roots, but it can also enter
the plant through other surfaces. I guess that's why it works when you soak
a rootless plant. If you subscribe to Alan Koch's (Gold Country Orchids)
thoughts, the underside of the leaves are the preferred surfaces.

I would guess that applying it to the base of a keiki would be OK, but you'd
probably want a formula that stays put like Keiki-Root from Plant Hormones
Canada. Apparently the application of such hormones spark root growth
systemically, not locally, or we'd see roots growing from many surfaces
after a soak.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Xi Wang" wrote in message
news:0a8Xd.599770$8l.439919@pd7tw1no...
Hi group,

Sorry to bother you guys with another question (I looked on the net and
couldn't find an answer), but when one uses rooting hormone (ege 0.04%
IBA..etc), how is the stuff absorbed into the plant anyway? I presume
roots. But how about just normal plant tissue....can one apply it to
leaves and get the same result? What if one wanted to use it to get roots
out of a nodal keiki that hasn't rooted yet. Can it be applied just to
the base of the node? How long should one wait in order to judge whether
the hormone has done it's job? TIA

Cheers,
Xi