Are these going to become roots on these cuttings? They're taking forever to appear, and I'm worried about the cutting not getting nutrients

Question

I think these cuttings are at least two months old. It's a random bush or perhaps tree that had very nice white flowers. Tomorrow I'll try to go looking to see if I can find the "donor" and identify it.

They seem to be hanging on, but not growing new leaves. Finally, these little white structures appeared up and down the stems in the water. They look root-color-like but are not growing out into actual roots.

Is there any idea what all these white structures are? S hall I just stick them in soil now and let them decide what they want to do?

I won't be heartbroken if they fail, but at 1 millimeter per month, it seems futile to leave them in water.

Where I live now, it's a real challenge to find something called "rooting compound" that is actually a plant hormone. Folks are chemical-averse here; you can't buy ammonia or peroxide at any normal stores for example. There are some inorganic compounds that one can get online that are said to "promote root growth" but nothing that's an actual plant hormone.

Answer 1

Those look very much like the start of roots to me. If you are getting new leaf growth (which I think you are, but the picture is of-course point in time), those are roots - and I'd be considering planting the cuttings in soil.

It is difficult to see, but if the white stuff on the leaf is mold, you want to get onto that. Maybe wipe down the leaves with bleach / vinegar and keep an eye on it.

If you are wanting to continue to grow the cutting in water for a while longer maybe try blacking it out - I speculate it is possible the light is confusing the rooting structures - certainly the roots don't need any light, and light can't be good for algae etc.

As far as I know, rooting compound is normally applied to the cutting to stimulate the cells to produce roots (ie it is not applied to roots - indeed soil may be beneficial here as it can stimulate the exchange of nutrients between the plant and the soil microbiome).

I would not bother about it here, but there are a few alternatives to chemical rooting hormone which can apparently help. If you have access to a willow tree you can easily make "willow water" which is probably about as good as commercial rooting hormone, and, I believe, the basis of it. (Found https://gardentherapy.ca/willow-water-diy-rooting-hormone/ on the subject). There are a couple of other things people use to stimulate growth - Cinnamon is considered a rooting hormone. Also honey - although afaict honey is more something to prevent infection then an actual rooting hormone.

Answer 2

Given:

• enough free space(soil)
• easy weekly watering
• warm temperatures

there's no advantage to keeping cuttings in water. Just be careful not to damage them when planting.