How to promote plant root establishment and growth?

Root boosters, or root stimulators, allow us to give nature a helping hand exactly where it has the greatest impact on the final harvest. A rich root system is undoubtedly the foundation of every abundant crop. So how do you choose the right “root booster”, and what else is a root booster good for? That is exactly what this article is about!

Roots and rootlets form the entry point for all uptake of water, nutrients and minerals. A developed system of healthy white primary roots and secondary rootlets is therefore the most important aspect visible directly on the plant, and one that you need to keep fully under control from the beginning to the end of the growing cycle! Among other things, this is where quality nutrition, the microclimate inside a grow tent or regular watering play their part...

In modern horticulture, however, there are above all proven ways to significantly speed up the growth of plant roots, and, for example, also increase the success rate of rooting cuttings.

Growers and gardeners around the world make extensive use of more or less sophisticated root boosters for this purpose, whether these are organic (bio) root boosters or supplementary fertilisers based on minerals.

A good root stimulator is an irreplaceable helper during the first weeks of development of any plant species when cultivating herbs or agricultural crops, both indoors and outdoors.

In addition, boosters speed up metabolism and biochemical processes taking place inside the plant, thereby stimulating its overall development from the very beginning and allowing every grower to achieve higher yields in even less time.

Our customers’ experience, as well as our own, speaks clearly: without using root boosters, it is difficult to achieve massive roots and the juicy fruits or lush flowering associated with them. 

Another piece of experience you can draw on when buying a suitable root booster is to use this product, which falls into the category of supplementary fertilisers, ideally together with the base nutrition from the same manufacturer. This will achieve maximum synergy of the active ingredients.

How do plant roots work and how do they respond to root boosters?

The very presence and vitality of lateral roots, which absorb nutrition through their surface, is surprisingly crucial. Root hairs and fine rootlets are responsible for the uptake of oxygen and other microscopic substances. A healthy and branched root ball therefore only goes together with a sufficiently aerated substrate. Most root boosters offer universal use for any of the growing media, whether you grow your plants using hydroponic or aeroponic systems, or you stick to cultivation in soil, or in coconut coir. In all cases, their use will not only achieve explosive growth of roots and rootlets, but will also significantly support the plant’s immune system, making it more resistant to stress, diseases, moulds or pests. 

Our TIP: A very popular and practice-tested combination is root booster + enzymes. From the separate article, it will immediately become clear why this is the case.

How do you choose a root booster?

Pay particular attention to the content of the basic nutrients N-P-K. This varies between individual manufacturers and products and also affects the overall level of EC in the watering solution. For example, Atami Rootbastic contains a lot of basic nutrients. By contrast, ATA Rootfast from the same brand contains only very few basic nutrients and is used only during the first two weeks of the growing cycle.  Among the very best root boosters is certainly the popular Canna Rhizotonic, whether in mineral or purely organic form.

Support for the plant root system? CANNA (BIO) Rhizotonic supplementary fertilisers are Dutch top-class products that thousands of growers swear by.

These are among the boosters that contain almost no nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium and are based on a completely different principle. Their advantage is that, in addition to the vegetative phase of the plant, you can also confidently use them during the flowering period. It is also worth mentioning HESI Root Complex, which is available in many volume variants and reliably activates beneficial microorganisms in substrates for better absorption of fertilisers.

If you are interested in supporting root formation and plant growth, please do not hesitate to contact us with any question. We will also be happy to help you choose the ideal root booster. Write to us at info@higarden.cz. We look forward to your questions!

- BioNova X-cell booster - stimulator from the first day of planting!
- Canna Rhizotonic
- Perlite
- Atami Rootbastic<