A few weeks back, my wife was taking some cuttings to propagate some of her plants. As a once avid watcher of the late and much missed Geoff Hamilton on Gardener’s World, she knew her chances of success would be better if she added a touch of rooting hormone to each cutting. So that’s what she did. I’m pleased to report that her cuttings rooted very well.

Anyone with a passing acquantance with Australian English will know that “rooting” means more than something botanical - there’s a very much biological meaning too. Still, the Aussies don’t bat an eyelid. They still call it rooting hormone just the same.

If you still don’t know what “rooting” means, then trying thinking of rooting hormone as some sort of aphrodisiac.

And now you’ll have to excuse me, just off to get a tub of yoghurt. (Pronounced Aussie style so the “yo” rhymes with “go” rather than “law”.)