How Power Grown Indole-3-Butyric Acid Stimulates and Controls Plant Growth
Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is a plant growth auxin that enhances the development of plants and food crops when it’s applied to cuttings, leaves, or soil. It’s been proven to increase flower production and crop yield. It’s used primarily to enhance plant growth. The auxin induces cell elongation and cell division in plants, which leads to increased water intake.
Efficiency and effectiveness in plant growth is why indole-3-butyric acid is commonly used by cultivators. Not only does indole-3-butyric acid increase plant growth, it has been used throughout history to protect plants during transplant. Power Grown offers this plant growth regulator as a water-soluble powder at 99% concentration.
How Does Indole-3-Butyric Acid Work?
Horticulturalists use indole-3-butyric acid to stimulate plant growth in roots, flowers, fruits and crops. Like indole acetic acid (IAA), it is an auxin. Auxins are a class of phytohormones that are directly related and involved with plant growth and development. Aside from plant growth and development, the auxin aids in initiating root formation in a process called micropropagation.
Here are a few other things indole-3-butyric acid can do:
- Decrease chance of flower and fruit dropping
- Induce shoot development
- Induce sugar and mineral accumulation at the site of application
- Create clones
If you are moving plants and want to propagate certain species, the auxin will decrease transplant shock while helping to induce growth in the offshoots and cuttings. Indole-3-butyric acid allows the plant cuttings to produce new roots rapidly. IBA is commonly used in these examples:
- Some crops are difficult to root and they’ll take a long time to root due to pathogenic fungi. Rapid root formation will allow the roots to overcome this stress.
- Some crops (like rosemary) are unable to root from cutting. Indole-3-butyric acid will allow these crops to root.
- Many seedless crop plants are not available to the organic market. Using IBA to propagate from cuttings allows growers to produce many seedless crops like seedless tomatoes, melon, squash, cucumber, and more.
How Safe Is It?
While IBA is largely safe for humans and the environment, it is strictly recommended that you do not inhale or swallow the substance. If it is applied to the eyes or skin, it can cause inflammation and irritation. For workers, it’s recommended to use protective eyewear, such as goggles or safety glasses.
As long as humans adhere to these guidelines, IBA is particularly safe. The active ingredient of IBA is not toxic to the environment for a few reasons:
- The auxin is chemically close to other naturally occurring substances. In animals, it’s broken down to a chemical that closely resembles other chemicals found in naturally occurring substances.
- The auxin does not linger in the environment. After time, the substance is chemically broken down.
How to Use Indole-3-Butyric Acid
For the most potent results, mix IBA with NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) where the IBA is 50% higher in strength. For example, use 200 ppm (parts per million) of IBA with 100ppm of NAA.
Indole butyric acid from Power Grown is water-soluble. It has a minimum purity level of 98%, which makes it easily achieve the consistency you need. Once mixed, do not refrigerate or store the solution; use immediately.
Power Grown’s indole-3-butyric acid comes in five size ranges: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 grams. All product sizes from Power Grown are 99% concentration.
There are several ways to apply the plant hormone to your plants. Let’s list the three most common.
Concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid are quantified by ppm (parts per million). To calculate the concentration, use this equation:
Replace X and Y, (X mg/ Y ml) x 1000 = Z ppm
So, if you have 100 mg of powder, and mix it in 200 ml of water, you will have 500 ppm of the GA solution at 200 ml.
1. The Spray Method
The most common method to apply plant growth regulators to plants and crops is through spraying. To achieve even coverage of the solution, we recommend a 2qt. of spray solution per 100 sq. ft. If you’re unable to achieve thorough coverage of the area, you can expect subpar results. To cover a larger area, use a boom sprayer.
2. The Drench Method
The use of substrate drenches is the second most commonly used method of application. Drenches are the application of a known volume of IBA to each container. When drenching, a larger, more diluted solution is used than sprays. Drenches typically offer a longer duration of growth control than sprays. And because of this longer duration of control, growers must be careful not to overuse the solution. As a general guideline, 2 oz. of final solution is applied to a 4-inch pot or 4 oz. to a 6-inch pot.
3. The Sprench Method
As its name suggests, this method is a hybrid of the spray and drench method. Higher volume of spray is applied. This achieves the drenching-like affect, but in spray form. Typically, the volume is usually twice of a normal spray application.
Contact Power Grown Today
Power Grown is your one-stop shop for high quality plant hormones and fertilizers. As all products are derived from natural sources, you can be assured that the products will help you achieve ideal growth and development for your plants, fruits, and crops. You can buy IBA and/or any other related products by calling 916-474-0451 or visiting our site at https://www.powergrown.com.
