Table of Contents
What’s Inside
The Winter Collection has focus on water propagation using crystal deficiency dusts and substrates to provide your plants with essential nutrients and minerals that promote their growth and development. Commercial fertilizers are combinations of multiple synthetic nutrients. Only Root Candy allows you to customize what nutrients your plants are getting and when. One gemstone at a time. Water propagation isn’t for the novice. The Winter Collection may also be used for potted plants and outdoor gardens. We suggest you work out water growing fundamentals before adding Root Candy to your system. Light, clean water and good cuttings are foremost.
Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or just starting out, Root Candy’s Winter Collection is the perfect addition to your plant care routine.
Ways to Feed Your Plants
Learn three methods of using Root-Candy with Watering Stones, Deficiency Dusts, and Substrates. We’ve made it easy for you to tailor the way you add nutrients to your garden. You’ll see these symbols often, click on them to read more and learn!
A Deeper Dive
Take a closer look at each stone included in your collection and how to properly use them.
Green Opal
H2O Reactive Silica
BOOSTS Water Regulation
HELPS: Water Retention, Absorption & Release
SUGGESTED USE: Decor or watering stone.
This is the perfect option to use with bonsai trees crafted in a root-over-rock style. With training and patience, avocado, juniper, elm, maple and similar trees will all root around and grow on a rock.
Start with a plant that has long, well-established roots. Wash as much soil as possible away from the root ball, being careful not to damage the roots. Attach the roots as closely to the rock as possible, wrapping them securely around the rock. You can use raffia to tie the roots in place, as this will decompose with time and not cause scarring. Use grafting tape to secure the roots and raffia in position by wrapping it around the rock on all sides, leaving only the bottom open for the roots to stick into the soil.
You can pick one of two ways to proceed. Option one is to completely cover the stone with moss and tie it down so no roots are exposed. Keep the moss damp and allow the roots to grow for a year. This works well for avocado plants.
Option two is, once the roots are all secured, bury the whole rock in fresh potting soil or in sharp sand (depending on the type of tree you are using). Leave it to grow for one to two years. If the plant is especially fast-growing, one year may be enough time for the roots to adhere to the rock, but if you check and it’s too soon, you can always rebury or rewrap the stone for another year.
Once your painful wait is over it’s time to uncover or unearth your creation. Carefully remove the tree from its pot and wash the roots free of soil or moss. Carefully cut away raffia or tape. Be very careful not the break the roots—patience has gotten you this far, don’t rush it now! Use a soft brush to get in small crevices. Once you’re satisfied with the way the roots have developed, select the best front view and trim the branches to suit it. Finally, plant the tree in a bonsai pot, treating the rock as an extension of the trunk, burying the roots in fresh soil. Omedetō!
“Cotton Candy” Vial
Apatite and Tourmaline
BOOSTS Phosphorus & Boron
HELPS: New tissue production and strong roots
SUGGESTED USE: This is a mix of macro and micronutrients that can be used for water propagation, potted plants, and outside gardens. Use one capful per 16 oz of water or for potted plants. If you are using a substrate for water propagation, add this mix for a phosphorus and boron boost. You can also use it without any substrate, adding a capful or two to your water propagation, but no more than enough to cover the floor of the jar.
Too much phosphorus in the water and or soil can lead to deficiencies in zinc and or iron. Even if there is enough zinc and iron in the soil, an excess of phosphorus can reduce the plant’s ability to absorb these important micronutrients. That’s why Root Candy is great – you can carefully remove some of the apatite pieces, change your water, and if you notice wilting, stunted growth, or chlorosis of leaves, you can add a little chalcopyrite dust or a watering stone to help with your iron problem. Hemimorphite or smithsonite are great for a zinc boost.
Blue Aventurine
Silica
TEXTURE: Rough porous rock
HELPS: Strengthen roots
SUGGESTED USE: Blue Aventurine can be used as a substrate in water propagation and or as a top dressing for a potted plant. In water propagation it is best for plants that will be transplanted into soil after they have developed roots. This substrate will bridge the gap between water roots, which can be fragile and prone to collapsing in dense soil, and soil roots, which are at risk of rotting when exposed to standing water.
When using as a top dressing, use on hardy plants like succulents. The Top Cover will keep low leaves out of the soil, prevents pests like soil gnats and looks so pretty! It will also keep your soil in place when watering. Blue aventurine is on the heavy side for our top covers, unlike opal, and can put too much weight on more delicate root systems.
Azurite Dust
Micronutrient
Azurite is a beautiful copper carbonate that occurs in copper deposits around the world. The intense blue of azurite was used as an expensive artists’ pigment and a component of early make-up efforts from ancient times. The copper in azurite is an important trace element for plants.
BOOSTS: Copper
HELPS: Kills and prevents algae
SUGGESTED USE: Algaecide and fungicide, Azurite dust is an effective algaecide – just a pinch is all you need. It inhibits algae growth. The copper in azurite is an important micronutrient. Be careful not to use too much as it can be toxic in excess.
Calcite Dust
Calcium like egg shells. Macronutrient
BOOSTS: Calcium
HELPS: Calcium plays a vital role in promoting plant growth and enhancing plants ability to resist diseases and pests. A calcium deficiency usually shows symptoms in new growth. Causing the leaves to be small, twisted and misshapen. Blossom end rot is a serious disease caused by a lack of calcium uptake. Calcite can help neutralize acidic soils. Test your soils PH levels. If the soil is to acidic for the type of plants you are growing use a little Calcite dust to create a more alkaline soil. As always, maintain a balance, an overabundance of calcium in soil can lead to an increase in pH levels, which can make the soil too alkaline and ultimately hinder plant growth.
SUGGESTED USE: This is truly a deficiency dust. Use a small amount in water propagation or sprinkle on the top of soil to treat acidic soils and calcium deficient plants. This is a fast acting helper, so if you don’t see improvement in the next round of new growth, add more.
Amazonite Dust
Potassium like died banana peels. Macronutrient
BOOSTS: Potassium
HELPS: Potassium’s need in plant nutrition is the second highest next to nitrogen and helps with the overall health of the plant. When a plant doesn’t have enough potassium it will show signs on older leaves first, edges will turn yellow known as marginal chlorosis. Also an over all slowly or stop of growth can be a sign of a potassium deficiency. In dry soil that lacks organic matter, the plant root system’s ability to absorb nutrients is limited, which increases the likelihood of potassium deficiencies occurring.
SUGGESTED USE: As a deficiency dust, use a small amount in water propagation, sprinkle on the top of soil or mix into water before watering.
Rhodonite Dust
Magnesium like epsom salts: Micronutrient
BOOSTS: Magnesium
HELPS: Magnesium is vital to plants because it is a component of chlorophyll, necessary for photosynthesis. Deficiency in magnesium shows as interveinal chlorosis, a yellowing of leaves while the veins remain green.
SUGGESTED USE: As a deficiency dust, use a small amount in water propagation, sprinkle on the top of soil or mix into water before watering.
Amethyst
Silica.
TEXTURE: Smoother and smaller
HELPS: Strengthen roots
SUGGESTED USE: This can be used as a water propagation substrate or as a top dressing. When in water propagation, Amethyst is very beneficial for plants because it creates a darker environment for their roots, which is especially advantageous for their long-term growth. Unfortunately water propagation tends to do better in darker glass jars to cut the light down. Roots don’t love sunlight. It will also help strengthen water roots, making them work around the substrate to grow. As a top dressing amethyst will looks amazing especially when you water. You can also use this as a filler for a humidity tray around or under your plants. Keeping it wet at all times and beautiful.
Water Propagation
How to root or grow plants in water
Materials
A viable plant cutting
A clear container (such as a glass jar)
Root Candy Substate/ Dust
Clean Water
Sunlight
Clip, Clean, Candy
To propagate a healthy plant, select a cutting with ample length and nods to submerge the bottom in water. Place it in a clear container filled with water and freshly cleaned root candy substrate. A clear container will allow you to see the progress of the roots as they grow. Keep the container in a bright, warm location and change the water every few days. Roots should emerge in a few days to a few weeks depending on the plant and conditions, at which point the cutting can be transplanted into soil with fresh potting mix.
Change the Water
Regularly. Change the water in the container every few days to keep it clean and fresh. This will prevent the growth of bacteria or fungus, which can harm the plant. A touch of copper candy like Azurite will work as a fungicide, just a pinch! too much copper can be harmful.
Plants
Pothos Easy to grow
Spider plants roots like space in water
Snake plants takes forever
Monstera deliciosa she is delicate
Lucky bamboo good for rough substrate
Peperomia likes to eat
Roots in Candy
Plants all have very different needs, and their needs for water propagation are even more varied. We recommend experimenting to see what type of rooting system works best for your plants.
A small mix of only “deficiency dusts” in the bottom of the container. Suitable for plants that do not like to work through a substrate or for ones you do not wish to transplant to soil.
Very small pieces of substrate can tightly pressed together, leaving little room for roots. So make sure your plant is up for the challenge of growing through a small, compact substrate.
The bigger the stone the more space for roots to find their way. We keep our water substrates benign because they are ideal for plants to root in without being overfed. Add small amounts of deficiency dusts to maintain nutrient levels.
This method is tricky and only works with certain types of plants. Primarily trees, like avocados and juniper that can have exposed surface roots. Use larger stones to create a Nebari Over Rock Style tree. But regular watering will be very important!
Watering Stone
Water Stones are beautiful and functional. Stones can be placed around plant in any design you wish. Simply water directly onto the stone instead of watering your soil. Nutrients slowly trickle into the soil and root system. Water will change the appearance of your watering stone… for the better. Keep watering stones with plants for as long as necessary. They can be rearranged or used with other plants, just be sure to clean them in between. Watering Stones are a great way to feed your plant necessary macro + micronutrients over time without any chance of over feeding.
Dusts
Deficiency Dusts for water propagation should be used in small amounts. For a 16oz container of water 1 cap-full added in with a substrate
or alone before a plant is introduced will feed your cutting the distinct nutrient. Add to an established water rooted plant to prolong their time in water. This can also trigger a change from water roots to soil roots.
Substrate
Water and soil roots differ, but a hybrid root system can form in water propagation when using a substrate. A rocky substrate can strengthen water-rooted plants for transplantation to soil. Crystals used for this purpose do not contain nutrients, so they won’t overfeed the plant. Their purpose is to strengthen the roots by forcing them to work harder
Gemstones and minerals can provide the same nutrients as synthetic and lab cultured chemical plant foods.
Macronutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) , Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S),
Micronutrients are Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Cobalto (Co) and Zinc (Z)
There are also “Free atoms” not considered a nutrient to supplement, and these three atoms make up over 50% of the mass of any organism; they are: Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O), and Hydrogen (H), converted from carbon dioxide and water in the environment. Silica is a great soil additive that is similar to other inorganic amendments like vermiculite, perlite, and gravel.
Looking For More Guidance?
We’re always happy to help you and your plants! Email us at hello@root-candy.com
Helpful & Interesting Links
A friend of ours recently an interesting article on how to detect crystals by surveying the plants found in your area. Read the Organic Mining article here!