ASPIRIN for plants

[Purple Strawberry]

When you mix it with the water do you crush the asprin up? I read Martha's article and it doesn't say.

 

[davaroo]

When you mix it with the water do you crush the asprin up? I read Martha's article and it doesn't say.

I do. It just seems like a good idea.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I seem to recall that willow leaves contain a compound that promotes rooting, however I'm not sure if it is the same as the compound in the bark.

Interesting stuff. As someone who prefers organic methods, this is something I would try. It certainly is not as toxic as many other alternatives.

 

[davaroo]

I seem to recall that willow leaves contain a compound that promotes rooting, however I'm not sure if it is the same as the compound in the bark.

Interesting stuff. As someone who prefers organic methods, this is something I would try. It certainly is not as toxic as many other alternatives.

Willow contains salicylic acid, which for centuries was known for it's analgesic and anti-inflammtory indications. In the mid 1800's, acetylsalicylic acid was synthesised, to duplicate these properties.

So, in essence, with aspirin you have the active ingredient from willow in a tablet.

As many know, you can spend a bunch of money on rooting compounds, which invariably turn out to be willow tea and sugar/honey/corn syrup etc. It isn't hard to make if you are inclined.

Take a handful of willow sticks, cut fresh, and place them in a container, then pour screaming hot, boiling water over them and let them steep for several days. Screen this and add 10% honey to the mixture and there you go. Rooting compund.

Sans the honey, I dont see why you couldn't pour this on your plants with the same effect as aspirin. But, you can make a lot of aspirin water for next to nothing. Hacking up a nice willow to do the same, well... it don't seem right, somehow.

 

[Purple Strawberry]

Is Tylenol asprin?

 

[DrakeMaiden]

No tylenol is not aspirin.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I also found a willow tea recipe called aspirin water, but the recipe I found didn't have honey in it.

Isn't aspirin a different chemical form from what you get straight from the tree . . . the acid form of something that is chemically neutral in the tree? Just trying to remember. We made aspirin in high school chem class, but I have forgotten the details.

 

[Purple Strawberry]

Darn, I guess I gotta wait until I go to the store tomorrow.

 

[vfem]

I guess my question is now... can I just use willow bark rather then asprin?! I have a willow tree and I've made rooting hormone juice from it before. Good stuff!

 

[DrakeMaiden]

My guess is yes, you could use the willow tea, and it would probably be an even safer alternative.