First clones in rockwool going into soil

[Fonzie]

Never used rockwool before and hae had problems with my aero cloners

My aero clones are taking unusually long to grow roots so I went searching for alterior cloning methods - So far I have 15 clones in rockwool cubes for 24 hours and they all look at least good, I have a tub floating in a tub method to control temps (71 F.) and humidty (Lots) -

Never having used rockwool - anything different from aero clones roots going into soil?

Thanks all!

 

[Guest]

I always make sure that the cube can drain properly, then keep it moist, covered and warm... and it should be easy! The temp id probably the most important thing. Your temps look good!

Peace

 

[B.C.]

High ya Fonz

High ya Fonz

I don't want ta sound like a butthead,but I'd shoot for 75-80 degrees right in the rockwool cube. Wally-world sells those lil spike thermometers for abouta buck,they work great for this.Also leave your dome cracked alil,by doing this you create a air exchange that mold or fungus (aka damp off disease) can't get started in.After a few days you can crack the dome a lil more,and after 5-6 days take it completly off.This works great for germing seeds too.Good luck man.Take care...BC

 

[Fonzie]

Cool

Thanks kind readers.

I have a digital laser infered thermometer - I can make it about any temp we need! lol

This rockwool seems to be pretty absorbant - almost like those dam water crystal things - only different. I use FoxFarms Ocean Forest with 40% Pearlite and having that clump of absorbant stuff around the root ball isn't what I have ever done before normally as soon as the have roots an inch or two long_ I drop them in soil in a 8 oz styro coffee cup and they get 2 - 3 weeks there.

Looks like I should get stronger roots with the cubes and Clonex - but I'd rather ask early than fix too late.

Thanks Willie and B.C.

 

[Guest]

I don't want ta sound like a butthead,but I'd shoot for 75-80 degrees right in the rockwool cube. Wally-world sells those lil spike thermometers for abouta buck,they work great for this.Also leave your dome cracked alil,by doing this you create a air exchange that mold or fungus (aka damp off disease) can't get started in.After a few days you can crack the dome a lil more,and after 5-6 days take it completly off.This works great for germing seeds too.Good luck man.Take care...BC

Why would that make you sound like a buthead? Do you think that below 75f is to cool? Does it take longer? I pay close attention to temps, then I dont...you know I need to check more often than I do and keep a log... but !

Personally I dont use rock wool anymore...but no matter the method, I think that temps are the most important.

Willie!

 

[B.C.]

High Willie!

High Willie!

Why would that make you sound like a buthead? Do you think that below 75f is to cool? Does it take longer? I pay close attention to temps, then I dont...you know I need to check more often than I do and keep a log... but !

Personally I dont use rock wool anymore...but no matter the method, I think that temps are the most important.

Willie!

Yeah Willie I didn't want to come off sounding like a know it all...And,yes,I think you'll have quicker and better results at 75-80 degrees,don't forget the air exchange though,otherwise I think they might cook...lol
Hey Fonzie,if ya don't want to fuck with the cubes don't.Get some dixee solo cups, ya know the plstic ones? You can take these cups and drill a bunch of holes in the bottom and on the sides around the bottom and jus use yer fox farm mix that ya mentioned,pop yer clones right in it.Ya need to water it from the top the first time then after that they will suck it up from the bottom with no probs.jus put the water in the tub and away ya go! This has been my method for years now.Btw I don't even use rooting hormones,it's all about the temps...Take care,BC

 

[Fonzie]

I've been battleing a slew of problems for 6 months - first it was spider mites then about 90% of the garden went into flower from stress. Clones in the aero cloner are taking FOREVER. I set up a wick cloner to augment and it's a tad cool I think.

The garden hasn't been in thriving mode, and the recovery is slow but gaining. I tend to think part of the problem was the initial decline in health - very possible due to old ferts.

I started 15 cuts - so far 15 still look healthey. Temps are high 70's - they don't wilt when uncovered for an hour or so - (20% RH here)

And today during the reading - I learn FoxFarms nutes have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years - and while I'm not sure - it's very possible I have old nutes - I know guano teas and bubble hash water have started to turn the tide - I'm ginning up with molassas and kelp extract and fish juice.

I'll keep ya-all posted.

Thanks for stoppin in.

 

[Guest]

Hey fonzie!
I dont exactlly know what an areo cloner is, I think I have an idea. I root my cuttings in bubbling water in bottles, coffee containers, rubbermaid storage containers, things that I make myself. Thats not what is important here.
The temp. of the water or the cube or soil or soiless mix is what is the most important thing I believe to having, quick success at rooting clones! No matter the method. I alway thought the temps. should be between 70 and 74 f.
And this is because its less likely to grow stuff you dont want, bacteria & whatnot!

What does everyone else think...if I had to pin point a degree, I try to keep the water in my cloner @ 74f

Peace, Willie!

 

[Fonzie]

Cheapo Aero Cloner - just a little water cloner with a couple air wands and a pump. - usually work great - least for the last 3 or 4 years.

I have 2 they are both pretty loaded with cuttings - everything is mostly green - slowly turning yellow - and some are slowly growing roots - very slowly. I don't want to toss the cuts unless they die, so as they root or get sick I either plant or toss.

I want to sterlize everything - and have twice, but when you put the same cuts in,,, it's not helping. As I can, I'll move all the present cuts into one of the cloners - I will sterlize the second and start fresh.

I need a working method while I get these other ones back again. That's the rockwool and Clonex.

When the aero cloner is working right, it grows roots in about a week or two - Change the water about once a month - I set the temps at 79 and had phat roots, no humidity dome, no hassle - no root hormone all of a sudden - it's 2, 3 and 4 weeks -- - I dunno


When everything goes to crap - I always go back to what was working - when that falls on it's face

fubar

I've dropped the aged FF nutes, using some guano teas, molassas and kelp extract,,, and - accept for slow motion cloning - the garden looks better.

It was a lot of bad shit - like I said - most have had to revert to veg state so it's been a challange getting it stabilized and running mostly right.

I know a healthy garden runs a hell of a lot smoother - I suspect the cloning will pick-up when it's clean and healthy

kids,,,,,,,,

 

[Guest]

I like to keep the temps inside my misted dome at 80 degrees,make sure and keep that dome well misted for the first week,even if you have to remove and remist a few times a day,dont mist the cuttings themselves

 

[Fonzie]

So far, I still have 15 cuts - had one go kind limp after leaving uncovered overnight - watered the cube- it perked up again. No roots visable, but everything is looking healthy. (only been 4 days and temps are a touch low when I pull the cover)

I combined the rest of the mostly healthy cuttings into one aero cloner and sterilized the second - it's mostly full again of fresh, healthy and thriving cuttings, and a couple days behind the rockwool.

vroom, vroom?



Get your motor runnin
Head out on the Highway!!!

Once I get this resolved,, I may try somethine different - When I started, Roots were not easy - the cheapo aero cloner was the solution. Had a couple stressfull sequences and plant problems recently, and everything went to hell. I feel like the proverbial one armed wallpaper hanger

 

[Guest]

i do rockwool cubes in a tray under a humidity dome and flouros. Takes about 1.5-3 weeks to root through before at soil.

 

[Guest]

wow that long to root Jumblyjoe....I do the same with results in 10 days....7 if I put the cubes over a bubbler after 3 days to take hold...I keep my temps @80 and only use superthrive...rooting clones love warm water IMHO...I as well am not trying to come off as a know it all...just my experience thus far...stay safe and happy growing...

 

[Guest]

The difference between rooting clones at 80-85 degrees as opposed to rooting them at 70-75 degrees can be measured in many days,cuts will root much quicker at the higher temps.If they are taking longer than 10-14 days,try upping the temps a little with a heating pad

 

[Fonzie]

Well men,,,,, 11 days along, I still have 15 healthy looking cuts,, no roots visable, and I inserted the clone half way between the corner and the hole in the center of the cubes. (I found a thread in IC that proposed the plant could get more O2 if a new hole was placed towards the corner -) The cuttings had a little wilt set in a couple days ago - I lightly watered the cubes and everything is running fine and looking healthy.

The water bath temp is 84 and the cubes are maybe 75 while covered and cool some when uncovered, and I'm betting that may be retarding the progress.


About the aero cloners - The one I scrubbed, replaced bubble hose and sterilized from top to bottom is growing roots in a little over a week with my B-52's LSD's alwas take longer. The other one with the remnants I could't bear to shit-can,, I've been changing the water about every three days and that has helped.


I dunno,,, cloned like a big dog for a few years, went to couldn't grow roots and back to cloning with choices.

I did have an interesting screw-up - while cutting clones to fill the sero cloner, I cut the clone, dip in clone-X and let set for a "few" minutes - forgot and left a coupe out long enough to seriously wilt - with the cut covered in a glob of clone-x - came back - saw the wilted cuts and went ahead and put then in the CAC (Cheapo Aero Cloner) - with in an hour - they were both reviving - One recovered, the other I had to re-cut the scar then it recovered fully. 24 hours later = the difference in swelling and protrusion formations where it was dipped in the hormone is noticeable.

 

[Fonzie]

Checking in -

I still had 14 cuts and nothing showing roots, so I took a razor blade and chopped the rockwool down to about 1/2 inch - didn't find any roots growing - but the tops look good. Real good - especially for this long.

Anyway,, long into short - cut the rockwool back close to the stems, planted in my usual mix FF/OF and 1/2 pearlite and figgured to let them cruise that way. Maybe they will smell the dirt and send out scouts.

They even wilt and stand back up when watered - just like real plants, I won't cout it totally succesful till I see real growth. I'm keeping the pretty far from the floros - figgure to babt them for a while. anyway,,,

On the bright side I am growing roots in the aero cloner once again.

I'm about ready to try the Clone-x straight into soil.

Hey - if ya let the cutting set for 10-15 minures after dipping in Clone-x,,, then drop them on the aero cloner,,, a few days later,, - the changes that aera of the stem go thru - are worth the cost of admission for the Clone-x.

Come to think of it - it would be a good idea even with the cubes - allow the plant time to draw some of the goodies in befor rubbing away. - lil late for me this time - but something to concider.

chi'

 

[Guest]

I like olivia's cloning solution to soak cubes in overnight and also to rehydrate the cubes when they start to run dry,Olivia's,b'cuzz root and water always seem to make even the orneryiest ones root.You definately dont need all this expensive shit though,I use it because I refuse to lose a pheno