Willow rooting hormone

14 years ago

Do any of you use willow cuttings to make your rooting hormone? If so, do you find it necessary to heat the solution and why? Do you use heat to speed up the process or to partially sterilize the material. I have been cutting thin (1/2 inch) willow branches into 2 inch pieces and placing them in a gallon of water in the sun and the water turns brown after a couple of weeks. I am now watering some my cuttings with it, has anyone else tried this?

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Comments (6)

albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
14 years ago
I posted several dozen willow water links at GW's 'willow water' links. - Tips & Techniques Forum - GardenWeb

The stuff in willow water that contributes to its usefulness is salicylic acid. The hormone in willow water is very short lived in solution. I have posted several links on salicylic acid at gardenweb.com for 'salicylic acid' - Tips & Techniques Forum - GardenWeb

Do you have any old open bottles of old fashioned uncoated aspirin setting around. Once an aspirin bottle has been open it slowly reverts to some salicylic acid.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i thought aspirin WAS salicylic acid

as well as a lot of the acne products ...

ken
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albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
14 years ago
Aspirin (USAN), also known as acetylsalicylic acid. Salicylic acid is the main metabolite of aspirin.

Go to Wikipedia and look at the diagrams of Aspirin and Salicylic Acid. Aspirin is made from salicylic acid and the reaction is diagrammed at Wikipedia. This reaction is often used as a teaching tool in undergraduate organic chemistry.
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
14 years ago
Oh, yes. Salicylic Acid is used in many skin care products.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i did go there albert..

and as soon as i saw the high school chemistry lesson.. my head started to swoon .. lol ...

what i meant to ask.. wouldnt a couple of aspirin in a pail of water.. do the same thing as the willow????

ken
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
14 years ago
Posted by ken_adrian z5
what i meant to ask.. wouldnt a couple of aspirin in a pail of water.. do the same thing as the willow????

The aspirin has to deteriorate back to salicylic acid from which it was made to get any benefit. I have asked some chemistry students at university how long would that take and under what conditions. No one I have found knows. Perhaps a few minutes is all it takes.

(BTW, The coating on aspirin sold OTC is to prevent the change from happening too soon in the stomach as some water and some stomach acid seems to do the job quickly. The reason aspirin is sold in pills to be taken orally rather than just swallowing the salicylic acid raw is to minimize upset stomach.)