What are good websites to buy plant hormones (steroids) specifically
for roots? I'm looking for something more powerful than roottone.
Websites with extensive product information are ideal

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Request for Question Clarification by neurogeek-ga on 28 Sep 2005 19:44 PDT

Are you looking for Rootone(tm) plant rooting "hormone"?  Rootone is
used to stimulate root growth in cuttings, for example when baby
spider plants are cut off from the momma and put into pots of their
own.

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Clarification of Question by twowaymirrors_net-ga on 29 Sep 2005 12:08 PDT

yes, like rootone, but more effective. I had read about products 4x
more effective a few years ago online, but I can't find any
information like that now.

Are you a home gardener or reseacher? There are no root specific
hormones. What causes root growth is the ratio of auxin to cytokinin.
Auxin and cytokinin are not steroid hormones they are peptide hormone
and this is probably what you're after. (there are steroid hormones in
plants, brassenosteroids- I think that you'd have to have these
specifically made). If you're after auxin and cytokinin you can order
them from sigma (www.sigma.com).

This agricultural extension site,

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/guilford/newsarticles/root.html

gives an evaluation of two commonly used chemicals and another
evaluation of powder vs. liquid formulations (no quantitative
evaluation of how much more effective one might be than the other).

"There are many auxins that can be used to stimulate adventitious
rooting but the two that are used most often commercially are
indolebutyric acid (IBA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). In fact,
both these auxins, either alone or in combination, are the active
ingredients in most commercial rooting formulations although IBA is
more effective for a wider range of species.

Commercial rooting products are generally available in two major
formulations/preparations. The first of which consists of one or more
auxins dispersed in a talcum powder carrier (e.g., Hormodin,
Hormo-Root, Rootone, etc.) and the second consisting of one or more
auxins dissolved in a solvent (e.g., C-mone, Dip 'N Grow, Wood's
Rooting Compound, etc.)."
...
"Individuals will often ask which formulation (powder or solution) is
most effective for rooting cuttings of various species. Although both
formulations have advantages and disadvantages and can provide
satisfactory results if used properly, the solutions are generally
more effective for various reasons. The powders are best used on stem
cuttings of herbaceous (nonwoody) plants (e.g., coleus, chrysanthemum,
and geranium), woody species which are not difficult to root (e.g.,
boxwood, Japanese holly, and forsythia), and softwood cuttings of
woody species which are relatively easy to root (e.g., Atlantic white
cedar and 'Green Giant' arborvitae)."

This site below gives some general tips on rooting techniques:

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp%5Fhfrr/hnewslet/2004/ksht0406.htm