31st Dec '25

Plant Hormones

Auxins are group of a plant hormones, their name comes from the greek 'to grow'. They play an essential role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in the plant life cycle.

Auxins cause different parts of the plant in different directions. This is known as tropisms:

Grow towards light () and away from gravity ()
Grow towards gravity and towards water

Phototropism

Auxin is found on the side of the shoot. The auxin the shoot cells to elongate

Geotropism

Auxin is found on the side of the root. The auxin the root cells elongating


Artificial uses of plant hormones

By understanding how plants grow, we are able to influence their growth using their own hormones:

  • Rooting Powder
  • Weedkillers
  • Fruit Initiation
  • Sustaining cut flowers
  • Ripening