Yes they are!

"Dipping cuttings" is likely referring to woody cuttings from shrubs - much
more in need of a strong boost.
--

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


"Xi Wang" wrote in message
news:XPqXd.614134$8l.412270@pd7tw1no...
Hi Ray,

Thanks for your reply. I checked the label, and it's actually a 0.4%
solution of IBA + fungicide. But it didn't say that it should be diluted!
In fact, it says dip the cutting and then just stick it in a pot and wait.
Are orchids more sensitive to these hormones than other plants? Will the
undiluted solution damage the plants, and how long should one wait for
results? TIA

Cheers,
Xi

Ray wrote:
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.