I rooted two flying dragon cuttings in water without any additives.

Thanks, Vladimir! I actually didn't realize you could root citrus cuttings in water. From my internet search I only turned up results for rooting in potting soil with root growth hormone. Someone mentioned in passing that it was possible to root a cutting without using any hormone but that was the only reference.

When you rooted in water, did you cover the cutting with a plastic bag? Or prepare the cutting by removing leaves and trimming off the outer layer of bark at the bottom?

Forgot to add, this will be a lemon cutting.

''...with root growth hormone alternatives such as honey, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar or willow water?'' How did willow water get included in this list?

Willow water helps plants root because willow naturally roots very easily.

This was trimmed a few weeks ago.

Willow trimmings in willow water for a few weeks. Next, I put them in a pot and kept the cuttings moist for weeks (Watering once daily and/or misting them a few times a day)

New growth on nearly every one.

Willow water is a naturally occurring organic rooting hormone made by extracting the active element that causes willow to root easily into the water. Water your plants with this to increase likelihood of rooting. Refrigerate if you aren't going to use immediately. It isn't a fail safe 100% method for rooting difficult cuttings, but it can increase the odds and it doesn't have to rely on man made chemical to do so. I have not used this method for citrus cuttings, but I personally think it will help.

I put cuttings in a zip up bag with a very small amount of willow water (too much will cause rot). I hang the bag up in a window that gets some sun, changing the water every week or so. When the cuttings either have white spots/roots or the bottom of the bark is swelling, I plant them in a pot buds facing up.

I have tons of willows in my area if you need some materials, message me!

Miscel, I did nothing to the cuttings. Just put them in water in the sun.

Nicholas - Thank you for the generous offer! I will definitely keep it in mind, though I haven't decided if I will root the lemon stem or leave it attached. I was pretty certain I was going to cut the stem and root it until this evening when I took a closer look at my lemon again. It seems I might not have to cut off the stem in question. I'm going to have to wait and see how the other emerging stems grow. My lemon was starting to tilt over due to this one stem - my fault for not rotating the lemon regularly enough. Hopefully, the other new stems will tilt the lemon back in place.

Albert - Haha, so true about the willow water seeming a puzzling choice. I found the willow water odd at first, but I kept coming across online it as a very good rooting agent. Everything that Nicholas wrote was in line with what I read. Of all the alternatives it seems that willow water is the best choice and has the least possible drawbacks.

Vladimir - Thanks again for your help. It's very good to know that it's possible to root the citrus cutting in water and to know someone who did. I know from reading the posts here that rooting citrus cuttings can be a challenge. I'm impressed.

Like Vladimir, I have rooted cuttings successfully in water. Here is a recent rootstock cutting that I just transplanted in a soil- less mix. It took close to two months to develop roots.

I have also used cinnamon and honey as a rooting hormone to root two other rootstock cuttings this past winter and it took almost three months to see any new growth. Unfortunately, I had the cuttings in the basement and forgot to water them after I took my pots of citrus outside when spring arrived and we got busy with all the animals being born on the farm.. My fault..