Cytokinins & Keiki Paste

Imagine staring at your favorite orchid, wishing you could magically coax it into producing baby plants. Or maybe you’ve got a leggy Monstera that refuses to branch no matter how much you pamper it. What if there was a way to activate hidden growth points, triggering your plant to sprout fresh leaves, branches, or even whole new plantlets?

Enter cytokinins, the plant world’s cell division masterminds. These powerful hormones, used in Keiki Paste, hold the key to unlocking dormant buds and explosive new growth. Whether you’re a beginner experimenting with propagation or an experienced grower familiar with plant hormones, understanding how cytokinins work can revolutionize your plant care game.

Cytokinins: The Hormones That Tell Plants to Grow

If auxins (another major plant hormone) are responsible for elongation and root formation, then cytokinins are their bold, shoot-promoting counterpart. These hormones work by stimulating cell division (cytokinesis), essentially telling plant cells to multiply rapidly. Without cytokinins, plants wouldn’t be able to grow new shoots, expand leaves, or even stay green for long.

What Cytokinins Do in Plants

Cytokinins control a wide range of growth processes, including:

• Activating dormant buds → Encouraging side shoots and branching
• Triggering cell division → Essential for new growth
• Promoting leaf expansion → Making leaves bigger and healthier
• Delaying leaf senescence → Slowing down yellowing and aging
• Regulating root vs. shoot growth → Balancing auxins and cytokinins

Think of cytokinins as the “green light” for shoot growth, while auxins act as a “stop sign” for lateral buds, keeping a plant’s main shoot dominant.

The Push-and-Pull Battle Between Cytokinins & Auxins

Cytokinins don’t work alone—they’re in a constant tug-of-war with the above noted auxins, another key plant hormone responsible for root growth, elongation, and apical dominance. This delicate balance dictates plant architecture, influencing whether a plant focuses on upward growth (apical dominance), lateral branching, or root expansion.

Imagine cytokinins and auxins as two rival city planners:

• Auxins want to build skyscrapers—focusing on vertical dominance, suppressing side shoots, and directing energy into a strong central stem.
• Cytokinins want to expand suburbs—encouraging lateral growth, breaking apical dominance, and stimulating cell division for new shoots, leaves, and buds.

Plants regulate these two hormones to maintain an efficient growth strategy, but when external factors (like pruning, environmental conditions, or hormone applications) disrupt this balance, plants must adapt.

How Cytokinins and Auxins Work Together

The Cytokinin-to-Auxin Ratio Controls Growth Direction

Plants adjust the ratio of cytokinins to auxins to determine whether to prioritize shoot growth, root development, or a balance of both.

Cytokinin-to-Auxin Ratio	Growth Outcome
High Cytokinins, Low Auxins	Promotes shoot formation (more branches, side shoots, or keikis)
High Auxins, Low Cytokinins	Encourages root formation (longer, stronger roots)
Balanced Cytokinin & Auxin Levels	Leads to callus formation (undifferentiated growth, useful in tissue culture)

For example, when cytokinins dominate, a plant will focus on new shoots and increased lateral growth. But if auxins remain in control, the plant will reinforce root systems and suppress side branching to maintain apical dominance.

Practical Example:

• In tissue culture, botanists manipulate the cytokinin-to-auxin ratio to force plant cells to develop into shoots or roots as needed.
• In a natural setting, a plant’s hormone balance shifts seasonally—favoring auxins in early development to establish roots, then increasing cytokinins as the plant matures to encourage flowering and branching.

Auxins Maintain Apical Dominance, Cytokinins Break It

Apical dominance is a plant’s strategy for focusing energy on vertical growth, ensuring the main shoot grows stronger and taller than lateral branches. This dominance is maintained by high auxin levels in the shoot tip, which suppress cytokinin activity in lower nodes.

However, when cytokinins are introduced—either naturally or artificially (like with Keiki Paste)—they can override apical dominance, triggering side shoots and new branches.

Real-World Application:

• Pinching or pruning removes the auxin-rich shoot tip, allowing cytokinins to take over, stimulating lateral bud activation.
• Keiki Paste application introduces external cytokinins, effectively tricking the plant into waking up dormant buds, even if apical dominance is still intact.

Root vs. Shoot Development: The Underground Battle

Auxins and cytokinins also control how plants allocate resources between roots and shoots.

• More auxins = Stronger root growth (at the expense of shoots)
• More cytokinins = Increased shoot growth (at the expense of roots)

Example:

• If a plant experiences drought stress, it may increase auxin production to prioritize root expansion, seeking out more water.
• Conversely, if a plant is well-watered and nutrient-rich, it may increase cytokinin production to focus on leafy, above-ground growth.

This explains why rooting hormone (high in auxins) encourages cuttings to develop strong roots, while Keiki Paste (high in cytokinins) triggers shoot development.

How This Affects Propagation and Growth

Understanding this push-and-pull relationship is key when propagating or shaping plant growth.

• Want a plant to grow bushier? Apply Keiki Paste (cytokinins) to stimulate branching.
• Need to strengthen the root system? Use a rooting hormone (auxins) like IBA (indole-3-butyric acid).
• Trying to propagate in water? Ensure a good balance—starting with auxins for roots, then shifting toward cytokinins for shoot growth.

Hormone	What It Does
Cytokinins	Promote shoot growth, cell division, and branching
Auxins (IAA)	Promote root growth and apical dominance
Ratio Matters!	High cytokinin-to-auxin = More shoots High auxin-to-cytokinin = More roots

This hormonal tug of war also explains why some plants stay leggy—too much auxin suppresses lateral buds, while a boost of cytokinins (like Keiki Paste) can break that dormancy and push out new branches.

What is Keiki Paste? The Magic of BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine)

Keiki Paste is a powerful cytokinin-based gel designed to activate dormant buds. It’s particularly famous among orchid growers, where it’s used to create keikis (baby plants), but it’s also incredibly useful for other houseplants, especially aroids like Monstera and Philodendron.

What’s Inside Keiki Paste?

The key ingredient in most Keiki Pastes is 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), a synthetic cytokinin. This compound is stable, potent, and highly effective at stimulating cell division and shoot formation.

Component	Function
6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP)	Stimulates cell division and bud activation
Lanolin	Acts as a slow-release carrier for prolonged absorption
Isopropyl Alcohol	Helps dissolve and mix the ingredients evenly

Since natural cytokinins degrade quickly, the lanolin base in Keiki Paste ensures a slow, consistent release, allowing the hormone to work over several weeks.

How Does Keiki Paste Work?

When applied to a dormant bud, Keiki Paste:

1. Breaks dormancy → Encourages the bud to activate.

2. Stimulates rapid cell division → The bud starts to swell.

3. Forms a new shoot or keiki → Depending on the plant, this could be a branch, leaf, or baby plant.

DIY Keiki Paste Recipe: Make Your Own Cytokinin Paste at Home

If you love experimenting with plant care, making your own Keiki Paste is surprisingly easy! Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients for Keiki Paste:

• 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) powder – 1% concentration

• Lanolin (anhydrous) – The carrier

• 99% Isopropyl Alcohol – Dissolves BAP

Instructions for Making Keiki Paste:

1. Dissolve BAP → Mix 0.1g of BAP with 1-2 mL of isopropyl alcohol in a small container. Stir until fully dissolved.

2. Mix with Lanolin → Add 10g of lanolin to the BAP solution and mix thoroughly.

3. Store in a sealed container → Keep in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Pro Tip: Start with a 1% BAP concentration. Higher amounts (e.g., 3%) can cause callus formation instead of proper shoots.

How to Apply Keiki Paste for Best Results

Applying Keiki Paste is simple, but where and how you apply it makes all the difference.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Find a dormant bud → Look for a node or growth point. For orchids, this is typically on old flower spikes.
2. Gently scratch the surface (optional) → Use a toothpick or sterile blade to expose the bud slightly.
3. Apply a small amount of paste → Use a cotton swab or toothpick to dab a tiny amount onto the bud.
4. Wait and monitor → Growth should appear in 2-6 weeks, depending on the plant.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
No growth	Node not active, too much auxin	Try warmer conditions, reapply in 3-4 weeks
Callus formation	Too much BAP	Use less paste next time
Deformed growth	Hormone imbalance	Ensure even application & proper lighting

What Plants Benefit from Keiki Paste?

What Plants Benefit from Keiki Paste?

Keiki Paste is not just for orchids—its cytokinin-rich formula can be used on a wide range of plants to trigger new shoots, promote branching, and even encourage plantlet formation. Whether you’re trying to make your Monstera fuller, your citrus tree branch out, or your Hoya put out new growth points, Keiki Paste can be a powerful tool in your plant care arsenal.

Best Houseplants for Keiki Paste Application

Certain houseplants respond especially well to cytokinin application, making them prime candidates for Keiki Paste.

Orchids (Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, and More)

• Best Application Spot: Dormant nodes on flower spikes
• What to Expect: Formation of new keikis (baby plants) or new flower spikes
• Timeframe: 3-6 weeks for visible growth

Orchids are where Keiki Paste gets its name, as it’s frequently used to produce “keikis”—tiny clones of the mother plant. If you have a healthy orchid spike with dormant buds, applying a small amount of paste can trick the plant into producing a baby orchid instead of a new flower spike. This is a fantastic way to propagate orchids without cutting or using a flasking method.

Pro Tip: Once the keiki develops roots at least 2-3 inches long, you can carefully separate it from the parent plant and pot it in orchid bark or sphagnum moss.

Aroids (Monstera, Philodendron, Alocasia, and Others)

• Best Application Spot: Dormant growth nodes along stems
• What to Expect: Increased branching, new side shoots, or additional leaves
• Timeframe: 2-4 weeks for visible results

Aroids like Monsteras, Philodendrons, and Alocasias naturally grow vertically and tend to get leggy over time, especially if they’re seeking more light. If your Monstera is growing tall but not bushy, applying Keiki Paste to a dormant node can encourage the plant to branch out, creating a fuller and more lush look.

For Alocasia, the paste can be used to stimulate dormant corms to sprout faster, reducing propagation time significantly.

Pro Tip: If you want your Monstera to grow multiple stems, apply the paste to nodes lower on the plant. The closer to the base, the more likely it will produce a side branch rather than just a new leaf.

3. Hoyas and Succulents – Encouraging Fuller Growth

• Best Application Spot: Leaf nodes or dormant growth points
• What to Expect: New vines, growth activation in slower-growing varieties
• Timeframe: 2-6 weeks, depending on species

Hoyas are infamous for their slow growth—some varieties can sit dormant for months before putting out a single new leaf! Keiki Paste can help jumpstart new growth points, leading to more vines and a fuller, more compact plant.

For succulents, the paste can be applied to dormant nodes or damaged growth points to encourage offsets or side shoots.

Pro Tip: Avoid applying Keiki Paste directly to Hoya peduncles (flowering spurs), as this may interfere with blooming. Instead, focus on leaf nodes where new vines emerge.

Can Keiki Paste Be Used on Outdoor Plants?

Keiki Paste isn’t limited to houseplants—it can also be used on fruit trees, shrubs, and other outdoor plants to stimulate branching and improve yields.

Fruiting Trees – Increasing Branching and Production

• Best Application Spot: Buds along branches
• What to Expect: Increased branching, more flower production, and higher fruit yields
• Timeframe: 4-8 weeks for noticeable results

Cytokinins are naturally present in fruit trees, but applying Keiki Paste can give them an extra push. This is especially useful for trees that are growing too tall without lateral branching, like citrus trees, mango trees, and even apples and pears.

Pro Tip: Apply Keiki Paste to lower buds on young trees to encourage horizontal branching, leading to a stronger, more productive canopy.

Shrubs and Ornamentals – When to Apply Cytokinins Outdoors

• Best Application Spot: Dormant buds along the main stems
• What to Expect: Fuller, bushier growth with better flowering potential
• Timeframe: 4-6 weeks, depending on species

If you have a leggy or sparse shrub, Keiki Paste can encourage side growth, making the plant denser and more visually appealing. This works well for plants like roses, hydrangeas, and lilacs, which benefit from a more compact and floriferous growth habit.

Plants That Should NOT Be Treated with Keiki Paste

While Keiki Paste can be game-changing for many plants, it’s not suitable for everything. Some plants don’t respond well to cytokinin stimulation, or the added growth may cause structural problems.

Avoid using Keiki Paste on:

• Root crops (carrots, beets, radishes, potatoes) → Excess shoot growth can divert energy away from the edible root.
• Ferns → Their reproduction relies on spores, not node-based shoot growth.
• Woody trees (oak, maple, pine) → Most large trees regulate cytokinin internally, and artificial application could lead to unbalanced growth or stress.

Plant Type	Where to Apply	Result
Orchids (Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium)	Flower spike nodes	New keiki (baby plant)
Monstera, Philodendron	Dormant buds on stems	More branching
Hoyas & Succulents	Leaf nodes	New growth points

Should You Try Keiki Paste?

Whether you’re coaxing an orchid to produce keikis or encouraging bushier growth in your aroids, Keiki Paste is one of the most effective plant growth hacks available. With the right application, it can turn a single plant into many, making propagation easier and more exciting.

If you have you tried using Keiki Paste, share your experience in the comments or in the Plant Hoarders Community on Facebook.