Hi Tony,
Plants produce Salicylic Acid when cut or hurt..as in cuttings this triggers a natural defence against bacteria, fungi etc etc and viruses... this is called SAR....Systemic Acquired Resistance....
Honey assists this process as does Aspirin..........and what is aspirin made from originally...meadowsweet or the Tribal Indians in America used to chew Willow Bark...so the cycle goes round and round.
Salicin - Auxin, plant hormone - willow bark..and this also assists SAR..Systemic Acquired Resistance. see how closely the words are linked Salicylic Acid produced by plants - all plants Salicin......supplied by the willow tree.........
Interesting to say the least..so effectively you can Willow Water your sick plants to help heal them, if you transplant out a tree...watering it with willow water 2 or 3 times is like medication to the plant..Willow Water watered on your plants also stimulates good root growth..because as you know willows root like mad and the Salicin has the same effect on other plants..
When you put willow water on your cuttings (twice) in one week it is nearly as effective as soaking the cuttings overnight..however soaking them guarantees a better strike rate....
I love the organic way is far far more interesting than just going and purchasing a packet of something it teaches people why and how it works........
Lila Smith
Organic Kitchen Gardening -
www.windwand.co.nz/organickitchengarden.htm