Cloning sucesses

[mufinman]

I been playing this game for a while and cloning, which when I was a nubie was supposed to be very difficult, has turned out to be not such a hard thing to do. It isn't that difficult but while my success rate is very good (85%-95%), some cuts take 7-8 days, some take 40 days to root. I understand the strain parameters and differences but why does one cut take a week or two more to root than another cut taken from the same plant? I've played with top cuts vs bottom cuts and use nothing but the tip of a branch for my cuts, even though cutting up one branch into 2 or 3 clones has been successful.

 

[WelderDan]

What cloning method, how big a cut do you take, how many leaves do you leave on? Dome, no dome? Mist, no mist?

Do you clean/sanitize your utensils? Scissors or razor?

Lots of variables that can affect your success.

 

[MicroRoy]

I like to make my first cut with shears then recut it with the razor. I do clean my tools with alcohol.

I use rooting powder cheep stuff. Stick them in Perlite.

I use kind of a vented dome. They need air. Spritzing goes by feel. I don't like them to wet.

I like to have six leaves. If it struggels I might cut a couple off.

 

[Terpz]

I only transplant the earliest, healthiest rooted clones.. which usually happens around day 10 - day 16. After that, if they haven't rooted, they get tossed. Only the strong survive here.

 

[mufinman]

What cloning method, how big a cut do you take, how many leaves do you leave on? Dome, no dome? Mist, no mist?

Do you clean/sanitize your utensils? Scissors or razor?

Lots of variables that can affect your success.

Sorry, of course you are right. I'd be the first to ask the same Qs.

Home made bubbler: 3 gallon tote with 4, 9" air curtains driven by 2 walmart duel outlet air pumps. light is one 24" white T5. smaller cuts (3") leave only one small leaf, no dome (mist occasionally, sometimes). 20 sites.

take cuts from various places on the plants with new razor blades, nothing laboratory clean. my veg/mom area is only 36"x36"x18"D so they can not be grown much bigger before they exceed or grow into the light.

 

[mufinman]

I only transplant the earliest, healthiest rooted clones.. which usually happens around day 10 - day 16. After that, if they haven't rooted, they get tossed. Only the strong survive here.

with my smaller tent only 4 plants are run at a time, so I do not require many clones and have 3 months or more between runs. I do throw away a lot of rooted clones in the process but I'd like to have a handle on how to determine, if its possible, the quickest way to rooting.

 

[Floridian]

Mufinman some cuts take 40 days to root?Never seen that bro

 

[stoney917]

Easy quickest aero....
Most consistent rw

 

[Terpz]

with my smaller tent only 4 plants are run at a time, so I do not require many clones and have 3 months or more between runs. I do throw away a lot of rooted clones in the process but I'd like to have a handle on how to determine, if its possible, the quickest way to rooting.

In that situation, I would cut 10 clones but only transplant the 4 first/healthiest rooted. So many variables go into cloning.. I suggest experimenting and playing around a bit. I actually caught myself getting a little lazy and watering the clones/seedlings when 'I' wanted, instead of when "they" wanted. It definitely slowed down the rooting process. Again, so many variables. Good luck!

 

[WelderDan]

Sorry, of course you are right. I'd be the first to ask the same Qs.

Home made bubbler: 3 gallon tote with 4, 9" air curtains driven by 2 walmart duel outlet air pumps. light is one 24" white T5. smaller cuts (3") leave only one small leaf, no dome (mist occasionally, sometimes). 20 sites.

take cuts from various places on the plants with new razor blades, nothing laboratory clean. my veg/mom area is only 36"x36"x18"D so they can not be grown much bigger before they exceed or grow into the light.

I would think you'd have consistent results since you're using consistent size cuts and environment. Are you checking to see if the cuts are all the same depth in relation to the water? That's the only variable I can think of.

I would wipe that blade with alcohol to remove the protective oil before I use it, if you aren't already doing it. Between cuts as well.

I never had good luck with bubblers myself.

IMO, the single most important thing is to get the cutting into the medium as soon as possible after the final cut is made to avoid an embolism.

But, some cuts just take longer to root no matter what you do. I can be sloppy as hell and they root fine, and I can be meticulous and they take forever.

 

[blays0r]

Sorry, of course you are right. I'd be the first to ask the same Qs.

Home made bubbler: 3 gallon tote with 4, 9" air curtains driven by 2 walmart duel outlet air pumps. light is one 24" white T5. smaller cuts (3") leave only one small leaf, no dome (mist occasionally, sometimes). 20 sites.

take cuts from various places on the plants with new razor blades, nothing laboratory clean. my veg/mom area is only 36"x36"x18"D so they can not be grown much bigger before they exceed or grow into the light.

I would go slightly larger - maybe a couple more inches, apx. 5-6", before cutting. Clones that are really small tend to have a hard time rooting. But it all comes down to personal preference and technique. You could even clone a topped shoot if you wanted.

 

[mufinman]

Mufinman some cuts take 40 days to root?Never seen that bro

none the less, here I am with one cut of a sssdh that is at 47 days. It has shown 'root crust' on its shaft for the last 25 days or so but no roots, another cut, from the same plant, took 14 days and another at 31 days. this has been going on for years in the same bubbler. I change water (tap) every 30 days or so. again, some cuts take only 8 days in the same environment.

 

[mufinman]

I would go slightly larger - maybe a couple more inches, apx. 5-6", before cutting. Clones that are really small tend to have a hard time rooting. But it all comes down to personal preference and technique. You could even clone a topped shoot if you wanted.

I have rooted a top cut, no problems. I only have 24 inches headroom, total. the bubbler is about 6", the light is about 5". not enough room for bigger cuts. but good idea.

 

[Ganjaganjakush]

Aloe dip to rapid rooters in a dome with a matt I have cubes exploding with roots 7-10 days everytime

 

[WelderDan]

Ya know, I just recalled something I sometimes do if a cut doesn't want to root as soon as I think it should. As long as it's still healthy, I will cut it again about 1/4 inch up from the previous cut (I always make the final cut at a 45 degree angle regardless). Sometimes that does the trick and she roots right away. You might give that a shot on cuts that won't root right away. It can't hurt... I also like to make the final cut just below a node. Seems to be the best spot as far as I can tell. For me anyway...

Keep plugging away regardless. Cloning is one of those things that can be frustrating as hell.

 

[mufinman]

In that situation, I would cut 10 clones but only transplant the 4 first/healthiest rooted. So many variables go into cloning.. I suggest experimenting and playing around a bit. I actually caught myself getting a little lazy and watering the clones/seedlings when 'I' wanted, instead of when "they" wanted. It definitely slowed down the rooting process. Again, so many variables. Good luck!

good advice but I am a multi cropper, usually 4 different strains of similar heritage but will and do occasionally run some contradicting strains. there only 20 sites in the cloner so 3-4 of each. and I 'm a little stunod when it comes to keeping track of which cut is in what hole. sometimes my best looking rooted clone is in a hole I have marked as EMPTY.

 

[mufinman]

Ya know, I just recalled something I sometimes do if a cut doesn't want to root as soon as I think it should. As long as it's still healthy, I will cut it again about 1/4 inch up from the previous cut (I always make the final cut at a 45 degree angle regardless). Sometimes that does the trick and she roots right away. You might give that a shot on cuts that won't root right away. It can't hurt... I also like to make the final cut just below a node. Seems to be the best spot as far as I can tell. For me anyway...

Keep plugging away regardless. Cloning is one of those things that can be frustrating as hell.

I can and will give that a go with the others that havent rooted yet, absolutely nothing to loose. I
'll let you know what happens.
OTOH, Ive read contradictory 'facts' about the 45degree cut. again, i've read, here at ICMAG, that a straight cut gives less area to scab up allowing ??? I forget. I've done it both ways, samey same. and to the member (I'm sorry I can not remember your name) suggests mixing KY jelly and powder rooting hormone and painting on the branch, on the plant you want to clone before taking the cut. sounds logical, actually forgot about it til now. and I will try wiping down new blades with alcohol, cant hurt, thanks.