Willow bark extract and the biostimulant complex Root Nectar® increase propagation efficiency in chrysanthemum and lavender cuttings

Biostimulants are a powerful tool for optimizing the propagation efficiency of vegetative cuttings, however, their optimal application rates are often species specific. Herein, the root promoting effects of Nutrifield's biostimulant complex Root Nectar (R) and the biostimulant willow bark extract were tested on vegetative cuttings from lavender (soft wood) and chrysanthemum (semi-hard wood). Application of Root Nectar (R) at 1 mL/L achieved consistent improvements in the formation of adventitious roots and root branching in both lavender and chrysanthemum, and 1.06 mu L/L willow bark extract achieved best results for both species. The root promoting biostimulant effects of Root Nectar (R) and willow bark extract can be utilized to speed up propagation of soft and semi-hard wood cuttings, highlighting their applicability to improve process efficiencies in horticultural industries, which are dependent on rapid large-scale vegetative propagation.