Cloning ?s

[chewmauro]

I just finished my cabinet and can't wait to get it into production, but first I have to get some clones off of my outdoor efforts.

I am planning on taking 2 clones off of each plant and starting them with Olivia's Cloning Gel in Organo Starter Plugs.
I wish I could start them under floros in my veg cab, but it ain't built yet. So I will be putting them 18/6 under my 430w hps in the cab.

So my questions are:
Does what I have described sound like a good approach? I've never cloned before!
Will taking clones off of an outdoor plant and droping them into 18/6 that runs overnight cause major issues?

 

[sproutco]

You will need some sort of high humidity for the clones in addition to the rooting hormone. I use a fishtank from walmart. 10 gallon $10 covered with clear plastic wrap. Spray cuttings and interior of fishtank with water. You can use small pots with soilless mix for the clones. Wet soil well before inserting the clone and firm the soil after inserting. You might lightly water them after inserting as well. You might have the 400 watt about 18 inches away from the clones as they don't require alot of light while rooting and especially don't need alot of heat.

 

[chewmauro]

So I should put my clones directly into soil or should I put them into the Grow Plugs and then place those in soil?
I was planning on starting in the Grow Plugs then transplantign those into ogranic soil for the actual grow.

Heat is a major concern right now (as anyone anywhere in the US can testify). My cab can hit 90f on the hot days and I am sure that it might get pushed higher if I turn my Vantec down.

 

[sproutco]

I am not sure what a grow plug is. You want a reasonable amount of the stem (preferably with a node below ground; place where leaves come out of the stem; you would remove the leaves) below the ground. Having the clones in cups of some sort is probably better than just planting directly into some soil because you will have to pull them up eventually. If they are close together the clones roots can tangle with each other. 90 degrees is okay but you will have to have high humidity constantly. I would use the plastic covered fish tank. You can wash it with bleach water easily between cloning sessions.

 

[Guest]

They will melt under a 430hps, they need very very *little* light. You don’t want photosynthesis to occur! They will eat themselves.. I use a 20w floro 30" inches above the tray/dome(s). Soak the plugs, push a nail or something clean into the plug to make sure the cut will get close to the bottom of it.. Make your 45 degree cuts with clean razor.., dip in olivia...and *only* mist the dome to add humidity, not the cuts. You might need to moisten the plugs once at day 6 or so (maybe not) Feel them, if they still feel moist just leave them alone. Let them breathe for 10-15 minutes a day by removing dome and re-mist it with spray bottle. Keep humidity up in there. Plugs should be showing roots at 10 days or so..

Just hang a 2ft 20w floro & timer in a closet or something, forget the 430 & cab. They wont smell hardly at all....or, hang the floro in the cab if the 430 is not in use but get yourself a humidity dome/tray..

good luck, Ick

Fishtank ? I guess if you have one ? These domes/tray cost 4 bucks and work great..

 

[chewmauro]

Grow Plugs are nothign more than organic versions of rockwool cubes.
When I say that I would be putting them into soil I mean that I will be putting them in individual cups of soil for later transplanting into individual grow bags of soil.
I like the fish tank idea. I'll grab one from Wally World.

 

[sproutco]

a 2 tube 2' florescent light fits great on top of the plastic covered 10 gal fishtank.

 

[Guest]

a 2 tube 2' florescent light fits great on top of the plastic covered 10 gal fishtank.

but too close and once again, too much light

 

[Guest]

I have done whole grows under 400watt hps with no problems. Make sure you have propper air circulation for temps.

Go get the starter kit at your local Hydro store.It contains the starter plugs and a dome tray a must have.

Just soak clones re-cut bottom of stem on an angle and under water ( I use a tray). Gently take outer tough layer off. Then dip in clone gel/powder and in the plug. Be sure to mist clones as much as possible and add water to some extra tray spot for humidity. Keep cover on always and keep light as far away as you can.

 

[chewmauro]

Thanks for all the help folks.
My one major question still remains.
Will switching from the natural light cycle to an indoor cycle that runs 18/6 with lights on overnight throw my plants into confusion?

 

[Guest]

I have done whole grows under 400watt hps with no problems. Make sure you have propper air circulation for temps.:

Ive done grows under 4000w of hps, but what has that to do with rooting clones ? fact of cloning > you dont want photosynthesis to happen.

 

[sproutco]

Thanks for all the help folks.
My one major question still remains.
Will switching from the natural light cycle to an indoor cycle that runs 18/6 with lights on overnight throw my plants into confusion?

No problem.

 

[sproutco]

Ive done grows under 4000w of hps, but what has that to do with rooting clones ? fact of cloning > you dont want photosynthesis to happen.

Sure you want photosynthesis to happen. Otherwise, the clone begins to feed off of itself. Your reduced light rule is more appropriate for outdoors when the sun would raise leaf temperatures and increase water loss.

 

[Guest]

Sure you want photosynthesis to happen. Otherwise, the clone begins to feed off of itself. Your reduced light rule is more appropriate for outdoors when the sun would raise leaf temperatures and increase water loss.

No you dont, photosynthesis encourages *growth* of the cutting. So a cutting with no roots will consume itself trying to grow. You want the cutting to be in a stasis state. You have it backwards

 

[Tunefull]

Hello Chew

Lots of diff methods for cloneing
Try a few diff methods(Side by side if u can)
You will find somit that suits you
Like my problem is it is normally to cold where i live(so i have to ADD heat)To get my clones to root(apart from a few summer months)

I have always said Location is a big part of germing/rooting.In a simple fashion
If your not in the right place,You got to control things(Either with extra heat or takin heat away so on)

So in my experience those who say ""yea germing/rooting clones is piss easy,I dont have to have no set up and run at 100% success rate""Are lucky in location

That said There is nothing u cant do,Just need to create the right conditions...And weed being Weed you dont even have to get the climate spot on(Is quite a bit of give and take))



Few things
U want as little light as possible really when your rooting your clones(i think)
My understanding(From what i have seen by trying myself)
Is a simply 15 watt floro Will root your cuttings at the same speed a 400hps would...If anything the 400 hps would work very much against you(Making your cuttings burn up energy trying to adjust to the huge light your putting them under(There not working so hard on roots then)))
That mixed with as u say warm weather in states anyway....


If u cant use a small floro
Maybe you could shade the area where your clones are(or even have the clones ABOVE your light(make a little shelf or somit))
Dont do anything till u hear from some others(Shade may not work(i think it would tho))


Humidity is important(So u would start them under a cover)
Spray the dome daily...I would not spray the clones tho(they get a bit lazy and dont feel the urgency to root coz they get sprayed(maybe))
temps anywhere from 65-85%(I would even say 5deg either side would still be ok(Tho not sure))
Humidity close to 90%
The higher the humidity the better(for the first few days))

After a few days take the lid off daily(or a few times a day)for say 15 mins(readies them for when u finally take the lid off)
Now myself the last lot of clones i done(Had great help from MTF sandman(and some others))
I took the lid off after just a few days,and within 10 days the roots were pushing out thru the rockwool cubes....This was the fastest i have ever had such a abundance of roots
And i feel it can only be down to the fact i took the lid off a week sooner than i normally would of(That was the only thing i done diff))
Tho my light was only a 20 watt floro
I would not suggest you take the lid off(for good)After just a few days if useing 400hps tho...




The plants u are taking the cuttings off,There still veggin yes?
If so there should be np with them going thru 18/6 in your cab(Its what there getting outside nearly(albeit randomly outdoors)

Mmm as i say i use rockwool cubes(not sure what a Grow plug is(guesssing its a compact soil plug)
Tbh i have no expereince with them,Tho i have rooted in soil before(never compacted tho)
When i use the Rockwool i make my hole(for the stem)Off center to try and get a bit or air thru the sides(REad it somewhere)
So my only concern with PLugs is if there compacted to tight(but not really knowing what they are i cant say really


but yes i just use rockwool(inch cubes)
when i see roots i transplant into soil
If i can get the rockwool off the Stem/roots with no damage(to plant)i do that to re use the rockwool cubes(as i say i make my hole to one side,So i just use the other side when i re use them))


Bottom line for me is
They want to root/grow/reproduce
So just give them incouragemeant (regarding conditions)and they will
Keep things simple if you can
And have fun
If some die they die(There only cuttings)Just try and learn from it(Is what i love,If they die is somit u done wrong,Not the plant itself))
So u have to work it out then*grins*



Anyway gone on enough
Will end now
All of what i have said is what has/does work for me(or things i have read)

Take idea's from loads of folk,and u will find what suits you





good luck m8

 

[sproutco]

No you dont, photosynthesis encourages *growth* of the cutting. So a cutting with no roots will consume itself trying to grow. You want the cutting to be in a stasis state. You have it backwards

Then if you don't want photosynthesis to happen why not just put the cutting in a dark closet? Photosynthesis is stored energy. This does not mean "growth". That may be what the rooting hormone does...slows growth and encourages root formation. The energy for roots forming has to come from somewhere.

 

[Tunefull]

Lol when i started to reply there was only like one reply
Took me so long to right it there are loads now!!!!!!

 

[Guest]

Then if you don't want photosynthesis to happen why not just put the cutting in a dark closet? Photosynthesis is stored energy. This does not mean "growth". That may be what the rooting hormone does...slows growth and encourages root formation. The energy for roots forming has to come from somewhere.

Photosynthesis is the conversion of light to (sugars) and then to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) the plants uses for growth. Once again, Photosynthesis encourages growth of the cutting which dramically slows the rooting process..
Ive used too much light before and ended up with beat to hell clones done in 4 weeks..then another two or three to recover..not the right way..You want to be on the datk edge of photosynthesis

 

[sproutco]

What about florida nursery growers rooting in full sunlight with mist/sprinklers? It is not the light, it is the heat and loss of water that is the problem.

 

[chewmauro]

Wow.

I have so much to learn. Thank goodness that IC is such a fountain of information and advice.
Much love and thanks.