EZ Clone 60 questions

[FinestKind]

Hey all... I'm not quite sure where this question belongs, but it is essentially about the EZ Clone machine, so I guess this will do.

I've had my EZ Clone 60 filled with White Widow from Nirvana cuts for almost 3 weeks now (3 weeks tomorrow), and there are very few roots showing, as of yet. I've had some difficulty cloning using vermiculite/perlite with this strain, as well, it just seems like it's a tough one to get to root! Although, I did have roots after 3 weeks on at least some of my clones in V/P. This is my first attempt with the EZ Clone.

So, they are starting to get real pale looking (nute deficiency), and I'm wondering: what should I add to the water (if anything) to speed up the process and feed them through what is a long cloning process? If I should add something to the water, please tell me how much. I've foliar fed them twice just using Jack's Classic 20-20-20 and Cal/Mag, a week apart, but it doesn't seem to be helping too much (they are still fading in color, not quite yellow but a very pale green, although the last feeding was just done yesterday). Right now, there's nothing in the water. Thanks all!

 

[LiLWaynE]

What are your temps?

 

[issack]

your room temps are too hot.. making the water in the cloner above 80. Also the 60 clone site has the same pump in it as the 120.. making the water warmer cause the space is smaller..

i clone with my EZ clone in 70 to 73 room temps.. making the water in the cloner nice and cool at mid 70s.. 14 days there are so many roots you have to take them out..

once you get your room temps cool then you will see the result of fast EZ cloning.

 

[FinestKind]

Actually, my machine is in a room at 58-60 degrees, making the reservoir temp between 68 and 70, at least according to the on-board thermometer, so that's not the problem... perhaps too cool, if anything, although that's what the manual says is the ideal range... any other suggestions?

 

[issack]

how close is the light to it and what light are you using..

When i first started using mine i made the mistake of having the light too close... made the leaves yellow and stems brown and started mushing..

now i use just one 40w 4f florescent about 16inches away from the cuts... roots start showing in 7 days.. they don't need much light to root. Too much is bad.

it might just be too cold as well. 58 is rather chilly.

 

[FinestKind]

Thanks Issack.... I have a 4' florescent, both tubes going so 80 watts, about 10" away... I just turned on a heating mat underneath the thing, which (believe it or not) actually helps bring up the temp... it is 63 degrees down there (basement) right now, so I'll check the temp tomorrow to make sure it's not too warm.

FK

 

[LiLWaynE]

i have a feeling its the stuff you sprayed on the leaves

 

[FinestKind]

i have a feeling its the stuff you sprayed on the leaves

Naw, can't be... it was just a very weak nutrient solution that I rinsed off 24 hours later, and I didn't do it for the first time until 2 weeks into the cycle... I always did it after 10 days when I was rooting them in v/p before, as per the instructions of Mel Frank's Marijuana Grower's Insider's Guide. Unless aeroponics really is a completely different animal, which I suppose it could be for all I know.

So, now with a seedling heat mat underneath the reservoir, the temperature is 78 inside the reservoir... so those are pretty much my options, 70 or 78... which is more desirable?

And none of you guys put Clonex solution or anything similar, or any nutrients in your water, either? Maybe I just need to be more patient? Quite a few are nubbing at this point, so I don't know... thanks all for holding my hand through this!

One other important detail is that I've had the light on 24 hours, which I've heard both sides of the debate on... should I set it to 18/6? Thanks again all!

FK

 

[sparkjumper]

I would go 18/6 with it,but having them on 24/0 shouldnt stop them from rooting.I bought a 55 count "growclone" tray using a small pump.I just cant get them to root like I can with rockwool cubes and a humidity dome.I've been growing close to 10 years now but I'll be damned with those bubble cloners.After a few tries I went back to cubes and a dome.Whatever works for you man

 

[FinestKind]

I would go 18/6 with it,but having them on 24/0 shouldnt stop them from rooting.I bought a 55 count "growclone" tray using a small pump.I just cant get them to root like I can with rockwool cubes and a humidity dome.I've been growing close to 10 years now but I'll be damned with those bubble cloners.After a few tries I went back to cubes and a dome.Whatever works for you man

Boy, I hope your wrong I'm already 3 weeks behind on my next grow, if I have to wait another 3 weeks on top of it, I'm gonna flip out. I changed it to 18/6 anyway, I figure it can't hurt at this point, all I need is 48 out of 60, please oh please!

Oh, and I put the heat mat on a 12/12 cycle, on at night and off during the day, maybe that will average out to the mid-70's.

Anyone else have any hints or tricks or tips for the EZ Clone?

 

[Duckmang]

I don't use any nutrients in the cloner but I do use a bit of Hormex. I've had success without it but with the Hormex the cuts seem to root more aggressively. With Hormex the entire stem that is exposed puts out roots, without it the cuts just seem to root sparsely around the nodes. When cuts come out with really good roots they do much, much better in the early veg stage.

 

[humble1]

did you bleach the unit before use?
i've found that using the prescribed amount of bleach for sterilization is too much, even if you clean the heck out of it, because the pucks retain some of the bleach. i think the 60 site is recommended to be cleaned with 2 cups of bleach, but i would only use half of that (if that much) and only every other cycle or less.

 

[FinestKind]

humble1, nope I didn't bleach it, this was the first use so I just rinsed it out real good with a hose. 2 cups does seem a bit excessive to me, seeing as it takes one cup of bleach in my 350 gallon hot tub to "shock" it, which means at any given time there is about 1/4 of a cup in it, and that is enough to keep it sanitary.

Duckmang, thanks for that, perhaps I'll run out and get some of that....

How about temps??

Thanks again all,

FK

 

[NBtrichgrower]

cut the light back to 18 hrs, move it further away from the cloner, a foot and a half roughly if you got 2x40 watt tubes going, and raise the water temp a bit closer to 78 is what mine likes. I dont use any gel or powder , nor do i add anything to the water. I dont ph it either , but my ph is decent anyway. I did try adding different things to the water (superthrive, propagater, b1 etc) a few times but it always slowed things down, if not screwing it up completely

 

[FinestKind]

cut the light back to 18 hrs, move it further away from the cloner, a foot and a half roughly if you got 2x40 watt tubes going, and raise the water temp a bit closer to 78 is what mine likes. I dont use any gel or powder , nor do i add anything to the water. I dont ph it either , but my ph is decent anyway. I did try adding different things to the water (superthrive, propagater, b1 etc) a few times but it always slowed things down, if not screwing it up completely

Done, done, and done... thanks!

 

[JoJoDancer]

Don't have too much stem inside the cloner.. Never more than 1/4 of the length of the clones.

 

[stillsmokin843]

check your ph first. i have the ez 60 site some strains take longer. i wouldnt worry about switchin to 18hrs. your light can be 30 in away. you dont want to muchlight you want to force them to root so stay away from to much light and foliar feeding. your unit is probably clean enough or you would have stems rotting etc. The cooler the temps the less chance for bacteria to build but due seem to root a bit slower. warmer temps root a lil faster but anywere close to 80 is asking for trouble with bacteria. clonex is all i use with the stains i have tried always had roots in 5 to 14 days. please take my advise clean the unit between every session. you can add 2 cups or a lil less just make sure you fill to top of manifold with water first.if you ever get rott in there and ruin a crop youll be pissed as was i.so make sure ya keep it clean. when i cut cloanes i scrape one side of the plants lightly to knock off some skin dip in clonex and if ya get impatient just dip them again when ever ya feel like it cant hurt them i did it in my first batch and damm that shit is like steroids for plants. sorry for the rambling im pretty stones good luck peace

 

[FinestKind]

Thanks again... JoJo, I've got maybe an inch, inch and a half sticking down below the collar, and probably 2 to 3 above... I had short tops this time around because it hadn't been very long since my last cloning (which was a relatively unsuccessful try in vermiculite and perlite)

Stillsmokin, thanks once again for the good advice, I think I will re-dip them, I'm actually out of Clonex at the moment but have something called Juicy Roots, which is very very sticky and thick and I'm thinking will work well with the machine. I think I'm going back to Clonex, however, I've never had the same success without it. I think I'll try my trick of 12 on, 12 off for my heating mat, which will keep the temp between 70 and 78... does this make sense?

FK

 

[FinestKind]

Well, here we are, 3 weeks and two days into this cloning attempt, and still no roots. There are a few 1/4" long roots sticking out of a few of them, and they have bumps all over the stems, which my local grow equipment supplier (whom we call "Yoda" for his vast knowledge and experience) said was a sign that they were getting close. He also said that the White Widow, and white strains in general, take a long time to clone, a month not being unheard of. I redipped them in Juicy Roots (cloning gel), let them stand for 10 minutes, and turned the thing back on. He said back the light off and bring the temp into the mid 70's, the same as a lot of you have said.

LilWayne, you'll be happy to know that he agreed with your assesment on the foliar feeding... he said that starving them encourages them to root. But boy, did they look hungry! I'm not sure they'd still be here if I hadn't. Hard to say, but next time I'll just leave em alone.

Already way behind on the next cycle, c'mon roots!

FK

 

[Dr.Dank]

have the stem just a tad out not all of them so the roots can start to grow reaching for water and nutes... i use cloning gel and the temps are kept inside the ez cloner at 72 with a chiller roots shall pop in 4-7 days i also give them a tad of hydroguard tho not nessesary and 1/2 1/2 1/2 of general hydroponics 3 parts nute... good luck hope this helps also the light cant be too intence the first 3-4 days then you can change