A traditional method of using willow water to encourage plant cuttings to root has been supported by a recent test. The homemade concoction, derived from willow twigs, reportedly helped cuttings root faster and prevented rot.
Willow contains indolebutyric acid, a plant hormone also found in commercial rooting powders, and salicylic acid, which is known to protect cuttings from bacteria and fungi.
To create willow water, thin willow twigs are cut, stripped of leaves, and then steeped in boiling or cold water for 24 to 72 hours until the water changes colour. The twigs are then strained out, and fresh cuttings can be placed in the resulting liquid to root.
In a test, pothos and tradescantia cuttings rooted in willow water rooted faster and none rotted, compared to a control group in plain water where some cuttings rooted more slowly or went limp.