First time user: How to use indole-3-butyric acid on phalaenopsis orchids
 

Hey guys!
I want to know how to use indole-3-butyric acid on my phalaenopsis orchids for encouraging root growth. I have indole-3-butyric acid potassium salt. How do I make a solution (bearing in mind I don't have a kitchen scale that can measure small amounts)? And how do I use it on my orchids, just spray on the stem?

I am a beginner here so any explanations would be very helpful.

You could buy some Dyna Grow KLN on Amazon and follow the directions on the bottle.
What are you trying to root?
-Keith

Welcome to Orchidboard!

I'm assuming that you are looking to apply IBA (an auxin precursor for those not familiar with it) on ailing plants. I would suggest that you look into buying pre-made auxin containing products, such as kelp/seaweed extracts. The added advantage of these is that they often contain other phytohormones other than auxins as well as minerals and micronutrients.

If you use IBA, the issue is that the dosages applied are usually in the range of 0,1 - 0,4%. You would need a scale capable of weighing mg in order to do it (not even a standard kitchen scale would be enough), unless you mix up an absurdly large amount. Overdosing IBA can lead to symptoms of phytotoxicity and cause far more harm than good to the plant.

What's the trouble with your Phals? If you're dealing with rootless orchids, providing the growing conditions for recovery is probably the largest factor in success, and helping the plant along with hormones is a way to further increase the odds of success.

I guess you could make a very strong solution with the smallest amount you can weigh accurately and then keep diluting the solution down until it is at the required concentration.

KLN is 0.07% IBA plus 0.10% NAA, and as they are similarly-effective synthetic auxins, I think it's safe to use their sum (0.17% or 1700 ppm) to do a calculation for either one.

They recommend 1 teaspoon/gallon - 1:768 - used as a drench of the medium, so that makes the final hormone concentration 1700/768=2.21 ppm or 2.21 mg/kg

Thanks! How do I use it though? Just spray on the lower part of the stem? Or spray on the roots?

---------- Post added at 04:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 PM ----------

Thanks so much for the reply. Unfortunately, that product is not available in Egypt :(. They only have Indole-3-butyric acid 98% potassium salt so I think I will just have to guess and dilute it sequentially. What way do you recommend applying the solution to the orchids? Misting the stem?

I was using that product as a reference for the hormone concentration, not as a suggestion that you try to acquire it.

Many orchids are not particularly good at foliar uptake, due to the waxy cuticle layers on the leaves. The cutex is intended to slow water loss, so naturally slows uptake as well. Mature phalaenopsis have particularly thick layers.

If the plant has no roots, immerse it in the hormone solution for a few hours to give it time to take up the active chemicals. If it does have roots and you are trying to encourage more, simply water with it.

You have a 98% IBA product. Weighing is best, but as most powders have a roughly 1g/cc bulk density, if you add 5 milliliters of powder of a liter of water, you have - approximately - a 5000 ppm solution. 1 ml of that to a liter gives you a 5 ppm solution and you can dilute that further to reach the desired final concentration.

Thanks so much this is super helpful!