First time cloner, questions in hand!!! :D

[StickyHands]

The only issue I have so far, is this strange goo like substance on one of the cuttings. It was on the area where water sat over night (during the 6 hr dark period). The cutting looks happy so I think I might let it be.

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Thanks all

I was wondering what that was?
You still cleaning the prop out, and refreshing it with fresh air and slight misting? Nothing on the top of the prop that might have fell on it?

Just thinking out aloud...
They still lookin healthy m8...

 

[BrownThumb]

Doesn't matter where you cut the stem... as long as there's enough that the plant can draw sufficient water from whatever medium the stem is in contact with to stay turgid. (Upright and perky) I've cut the stem in nearly every place you can and still had acceptable results.

All of the 'tips' that people talk about when cutting and prepping clones are really secondary to the health of the mother plant and the environment variables. Just one example? I've cut clone stems under water only a few times... nearly 10 years ago. Never since and no problems.

Keep the root zone warm and the light levels low... you'll be happy.

Stay Safe!

I learn something every day...I too thought you had to have at least one inter-node in the medium for roots to form, although injuring the stem to cause scarring is also known to promote root growth. I guess another misconception bites the dust.

Yep, your clones look OK so far....assuming you don't f-it up out of the gate, patience is the key, IMO.

 

[socialist]

Doesn't matter where you cut the stem... as long as there's enough that the plant can draw sufficient water from whatever medium the stem is in contact with to stay turgid. (Upright and perky) I've cut the stem in nearly every place you can and still had acceptable results.

All of the 'tips' that people talk about when cutting and prepping clones are really secondary to the health of the mother plant and the environment variables. Just one example? I've cut clone stems under water only a few times... nearly 10 years ago. Never since and no problems.

Keep the root zone warm and the light levels low... you'll be happy.

Stay Safe!

I agree. I do cut, when I can, with a node at the bottom. I also scrape the outer layer of the bottom 1/4 inch away. Does this help? Probably not but its the habit I've been in for many years.

 

[BrownThumb]

To whom it may concern and for what it's worth, there are instructions on creating a very effective cloning unit via cheap plastic ice cube trays or some such from WalMart somewhere on this site. They use perlite as a medium for rooting and I even saw one where the dude had put wicks running through holes in the cube slots from another tray with water in it just beneath the tray with medium/cuttings. He used Tiki torch wicks if my memory serves me correctly. So it was somewhat automated in regards to keeping the perlite moist while the plants root. That looks like a super easy and cheap way to be successful almost 100% of the time rather than a lot of the other methods. I just did my first run of a clone bucket a while back and that was OK, but in the meantime all of the cuts I took and did by hand in Rockwool rooted and took off. I even got one to take in one of those shitty little expandable peat pellet pots and those blow... Anyway, there's a number of different ways to do it, but that WalMart thing in hindsight seems like a really good and cheap way to go. It is not necessary to get fancy and get a clone bucket or any of that other shit. BTW, I am talking about monster clones, not regular clones which I believe would be much easier.

 

[mwz]

Awesome, thanks guys!! We scraped the outside of the stem too, hopefully it helps! Apparently, from info from my hydro shop guys, there is there is a build up of plant hormones at the node, resulting in better rooting. However, knowing that you can cut it anywhere is a relief! (ty Hydro-soil)

The stems are very turgid, so the clones are healthy. I'm happy with how the leafs aren't wilted and look like the did on the day we took the cuttings. Now I just need to be patient!!

Brown-thumb, I'm very intrigued regarding the semi-automated cloning using a wick and perlite! I will research and follow up. The idea is very appealing.

Once again, thanks guys! I'm an old Overgrow refugee and it's input like this that keeps me coming back (after I keep deleting accounts post grows out of paranoia lol). K+ when my rep resets!

 

[socialist]

The nodes DNA tells them to branch or root depending on the conditions. This is why people cut this way.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Oh yeah... something I learned a loooooong time ago.

Mark a cup/bucket for each strain and fill it with R/O or other clean water. Toss your cuttings in there for 30 minutes to an hour or so before you clip, dip and stick em. Keeps em super moist and gives you a longer working time.

Stay Safe!

 

[BrownThumb]

....
Brown-thumb, I'm very intrigued regarding the semi-automated cloning using a wick and perlite! I will research and follow up. The idea is very appealing.

Here's the thread: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=42847&highlight=mart+cloner

 

[quinoa64]

Great thread, mwz. I haven't done much cloning yet, but I've been reading a lot and starting to try it, and it's really helpful to see the good advice here.

I noticed you trimmed the fan leaves on your clones. I've read the arguments against doing this (stress, water loss, leaves are the nutrient source until roots grow).

What are the arguments for trimming?

 

[Hydro-Soil]

What are the arguments for trimming?

Reduced leaf area cuts down on transpiration... cutting down on the amount of water the stem has to be able to absorb to keep the cutting from wilting.

Having cloned in 15-20% humidity for years... I can tell you that no-dome cloning can be done reliably with trimmed leaves.


Stay Safe!

 

[BrownThumb]

..................

I noticed you trimmed the fan leaves on your clones. I've read the arguments against doing this (stress, water loss, leaves are the nutrient source until roots grow).

What are the arguments for trimming?

I clipped the leaves like they tell you to do when you're first getting started and reading everything people have to say... I don't think it makes a hell of a lot of difference. If the clone is going to take, it will take with whole leaves or hacked up leaves. I hack leaves on a mother plant to retard growth, but other than that or lack of space, I'd leave the leaves whole and rely on good technique coupled with patience. I could show you some I am doing that way right now and they are fine. It's almost like the less you care, the easier it becomes. No foolin'.

 

[mwz]

Hey guys!!

I've compared a picture that I took, of one of the clones, on day 1 verses a picture I took today (day 7). As you can see, there is new growth!! However, I can't see any roots yet.

My question is, what does the new growth mean!? Can I extrapolate that there are some roots? If so, should I be feeding them a watered down (1/5th strength) nutrient mix?

The following picture is from the attempt before this one. I'm very proud of how has gone Thanks for much for the info!!!!! This has been a very enjoyable thread!

 

[socialist]

With the new growth you probably have roots. Go ahead and give them some half strength nutes.

 

[Galactic]

Re: First time cloner, questions in hand!!!

I would say at a minimum they are uptaking nutes. Definitely new growth, slightly underfed, 1/5 strength is hard to mess up.

Great progress man!

I wouldn't saturate it fully, maybe 50-75% once its feels airweight-ish.

 

[mwz]

Water pH: 5.7
ppm: 214
Humidity: 70%
Nutrients: 100% str Rhizotonic, 20% str Canna Vega A+B

Thanks Social and Galactic! I've gone on the cautious side and given them 1/5th strength nutrients. My reasoning is that I think some of the clones aren't as advanced with regards to roots. If the clones are still happy in two days I'm going to up the strength.

I've also opened all of the air holes on the humidity crib. If there's no sign of wilting tomorrow, I'm going to take it off for half a day and see how they go. Once the dome is happily off, I'll remove the heat pad and lower the light to see how they like it.

 

[Galactic]

Re: First time cloner, questions in hand!!!

I wouldn't add nutes in response to advance rooting but simply because of the slight N fade...

It's my experience that while rooting, the cutting's primary objective is maintenance of moisture content and pushing forth roots(why its possible to root with plain water). Nutrient uptake is not a focus as I believe the nutrients required for Rooting are allocated from fan leaves and starches already within the cutting (why A1 mother-health cuts root faster than deficient mothers, all the while displaying minimal deterioration relative)

That said, don't sweat it. If anything, foliar some kelp on your mother's 2-3 days before taking cuts to have that little N boost ahead of time. I personally root at 5-800 ppm from getgo though, as I rarely change my water in the cloner and just top off so it could be anywhere or if I'm running a tray of rockwool, I could be using leftover water... Lol.

Mother health is the #1 factor in cloning. The variables beyond youre stressing on are secondary and Ive gotten acceptable results anywhere in between and extremes. Mothers are bueno then they root themself. You just provide environment and attention.

You're not doing any wrong bro.

The dome, I open the port holes for 1-2 days once roots visually poke out cubes, then I have slid it slightly off center for day or 2 before just a straight transplant into the open. Depends on the situation, ultimately dependant on mother health what you can throw at them stress/hardening-wise.

 

[mwz]

Success! Roots after 11 days Thanks all!!

 

[socialist]

Nice. Good luck with rest of the grow!!

 

[BrownThumb]

Success! Roots after 11 days Thanks all!!

[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=42864&pictureid=1021593&thumb=1]View Image[/URL]

Congratulations! I think now you will find that virtually every cut you take roots if you use good technique and keep the environment right. Confidence helps a lot. Rock on!