IBA Rooting Hormone: Compare Hormodin, Hortus & Clonex

Successful propagation starts with a healthy cutting, a clean work area, the right rooting environment, and a rooting hormone matched to the job. For professional growers, nurseries, and propagation teams, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is one of the most established tools for supporting root initiation on cuttings.

Custom Hydro carries three practical IBA formats: Hormodin rooting powder for a simple dip-and-stick workflow, Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts for teams that need a water-soluble formulation and flexible application methods, and Clonex Rooting Gel for direct contact between the cutting and a ready-to-use gel. The best choice depends on the type of cutting, the propagation program, and how you prefer to prepare and apply the product.

What is IBA rooting hormone?

IBA, or indole-3-butyric acid, is a synthetic auxin used to support root initiation during vegetative propagation. Applied correctly to the basal end of a cutting, it can help create a more consistent propagation process and support movement from cutting to established plant.

IBA is not a substitute for good propagation fundamentals. Cutting freshness, sanitation, humidity, temperature, oxygen around the rooting zone, moisture management, and the condition of the stock plant all matter. Rooting hormone works best as one part of a controlled propagation system, not as a fix for stressed or poorly prepared material.

Hormodin: three strengths for different cutting challenges

Hormodin is an IBA-based rooting powder designed for a straightforward workflow: moisten the basal end of the cutting as directed, dip it into a small amount of powder, tap off excess, and place the cutting into the rooting medium. In short: dip it, tap it, stick it. Always follow the product label for the specific crop and application.

The strength guide is a starting point, not permission to ignore the label or your own propagation data. If a crop is new to your program, run a small controlled trial and compare rooting speed, callus formation, root quality, and transplant performance before changing the formula across an entire batch.

Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts: flexible preparation for propagation teams

Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts uses IBA-K, the potassium salt of indole-3-butyric acid, in a concentrated water-soluble formulation. Unlike a traditional IBA powder dip, it dissolves directly in water without requiring alcohol as a solvent. That can make it a useful fit for commercial greenhouse and nursery teams that want a repeatable solution-preparation workflow.

Hortus IBA is listed for multiple application methods, including basal dip, total foliar immersion, and spray drip-down. Use only the method and rate permitted by the current product label for your crop and site. It is available in three sizes:

• 100 g for smaller propagation programs, specialty nurseries, trials, and first evaluations.
• 250 g for regular cutting cycles and mid-scale commercial propagation.
• 1 kg for high-volume or year-round propagation programs.

Hortus IBA is also listed as EPA registered for greenhouse and nursery use with a zero-hour re-entry interval under the Worker Protection Standard. Keep the current label and SDS with the product, and make label compliance the final word on use, personal protective equipment, application method, and re-entry.

Clonex Rooting Gel: ready-to-use contact for cuttings

Clonex Rooting Gel is a water-based, alcohol-free gel containing IBA. The gel clings to the cutting stem and maintains contact around the treated tissue, making it a convenient option for teams that prefer dipping the cutting directly into a ready-to-use formulation rather than applying a dry powder or mixing a solution.

The standard workflow is simple: make a clean cutting, dip the stem to the desired depth, insert it into a pre-moistened rooting medium, and maintain the humidity and temperature appropriate for the crop. Clonex is available across several scales:

• 15 mL single-use packets for sampling, small batches, or keeping a clean portion at each propagation station.
• 250 mL for small propagation programs and routine bench work.
• 32 oz for teams processing hundreds of cuttings.
• 1 gallon for commercial operations where volume and cost per application matter.

Because the gel remains on the stem, it can be a good fit when uniform coverage and a repeatable dip procedure are priorities. As with any plant-growth regulator or rooting product, follow the current label and product directions for the crop, application, handling, and storage requirements.

How to choose between powder, solution, and gel

Choose a Hormodin powder when you want a ready-to-use basal-dip workflow with a clearly defined range of IBA strengths. It is especially convenient when your team is propagating different cutting types and wants a simple strength comparison to evaluate.

Choose Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts when your operation benefits from making a measured solution and using a label-approved application method beyond a simple powder dip. The pack size can be matched to the scale of your program, from trial work to high-volume production.

Choose Clonex when a ready-to-use gel and direct stem contact fit your propagation workflow. The range of pack sizes also makes it practical to test the format at bench scale before moving to a quart or gallon for larger programs.

For any format, consistency is the goal. Use clean tools and containers, avoid returning unused powder or solution to the original package, keep treated material moving into the rooting medium promptly, and record the product, batch, date, cutting type, and propagation conditions. Those simple records make it much easier to identify what is working and repeat it.

IBA propagation checklist

• Start with vigorous, properly hydrated stock material and fresh cuttings.
• Prepare a clean rooting medium with appropriate moisture and air space.
• Keep the treatment focused on the basal end and remove excess product as directed.
• Use the strength, rate, application method, and protective measures stated on the current label.
• Control humidity and temperature without keeping the rooting zone saturated.
• Track results by crop and cutting type instead of assuming one formula fits every batch.

Find the right IBA rooting hormone for your program

Whether you need the simplicity of Hormodin No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3, the solution-based flexibility of Hortus IBA Water Soluble Salts, or the direct contact of Clonex Rooting Gel, Custom Hydro can help you match the format to your propagation workflow. Review the product label and SDS before use, then choose the size and formulation that fit your cutting volume, crop mix, and application process.

Shop IBA rooting hormones or contact Custom Hydro if you need help comparing the available formats for a commercial propagation program.