Phytotoxicity
Where too high a concentration of Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets is used there may be phyto-toxicity. Where after application there are problems such as leaf-curl, leaf mortality, leaf spotting then use a lower concentration to achieve desired results. We say "testing is essential." Do your trials, make observations, vary your techniques and take suitable action to achieve desired results.
Precocious plant cuttings
Some precocious plant cuttings, when treated by leaf solution application of Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts, exhibit root formation all over the stems and leaves. Growers have seen this in some plants such as chrysanthemums and ficus benjamina. You should treat these cuttings at lower IBA concentrations.
Juvenile cuttings
There are many reasons for delay of rooting. The cuttings might be too old. Juvenile cuttings root faster and with lower Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets concentration than older cuttings. Sometimes growers must take cuttings from older plants to meet production demands. In those cases the IBA concentrations should be higher. Using older stock plants, cuttings taken from the base of the plant may root more easy than those from the top. Shoots taken from the top of the plant are physiologically "older" then the shoots taken from the bottom.
Leaf size vs. root development
Using a leaf application of Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets there is an equal balance in the timing of root development and then leaf - bud development especially for fast-growing plants such as chrysanthemums. Growers notice those slow growing plant varieties, such as floricultural azalea, may have slow bud development. What is happening is the cutting is sending its energy to the sink point, the newly developed root area at the expense of the bud. This is good since soon after the strong roots are present the buds and leaves develop strongly and fast.
Slow to root and/or develop cuttings
Where plants are slow to root or are slow to develop using a light spray at a low concentration Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts solution or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets may be beneficial. Timing is not critical, however, the growers should apply during the normal growing season not the dormant season. Typical rates are 25-50 ppm IBA (1/2-1 tablet per liter of water), however, some growers go up to 500 ppm IBA, our historical rates are typically low. Many growers have used this technique when they use imported cuttings that have been in storage for a long time. You might want to mix the IBA solution with your foliar fertilizer application.
Transplanting spray
When transplanting rooted plants, some growers used either a spray or Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets their fertilizer application. You can mix and apply Hortus Salts or Rhizopon AA Tablets with water soluble fertilizer.
Boom sprayers
If your planting trays are in long bench rows use a broom-sprayer to apply the Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets solutions. Periodically check the spray pattern on a dry paper to assure uniform coverage. When the nozzles get clogged some parts of the row may not be fully covered with the solution.
Droopy plants and timing
You can handle plants with drooping cuttings. Usually these cuttings revive in a day or so. The leaf's ability to absorb the solution through the stoma affects the use of Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets solutions. Since the stomas are pores through which gases and liquids enter the plant, wait until the leaves have recovered, then use the solutions.
Timing is important. Applying the Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts or Rhizopon AA Water Soluble Tablets solutions early in the day is better so that the plants are not under stress during a hot part of the day. The stoma will be open when cool and may close when under heat stress.
