Ice-tube cloner from WallyWorld

[Herborizer]

Well status update. The little cuttings are looking worse. Some with the edges of the leaves going dark/black. Since I am running two ice-tube trays with cuttings, I decided to pull all the cuttings from one tray. They all had zero roots, zero bumps/nubs, nothing. The stems were still stiff and not mushy.

Not sure what to say. There is this thread about NGW (same people who make sunlight supply hoods) hoses having out-gassing issues (see my signature). It would make a lot of sense if there was an outside factor like out-gassing causing the issue.

Frustrated for sure.

 

[Rasta311]

There are tons of people that are having great success with this. You are looking everywhere except what I already suggested. Outgassing is not happening and its not your water.....its your temps. Bring your temps at 84-85. I have cloned so many different ways over the years. This is just to simple and the easiest to get consistent rooted clones. And what are you checking temps with? Double check them with something else to make sure its accurate.

 

[Herborizer]

There are tons of people that are having great success with this. You are looking everywhere except what I already suggested. Outgassing is not happening and its not your water.....its your temps. Bring your temps at 84-85. I have cloned so many different ways over the years. This is just to simple and the easiest to get consistent rooted clones. And what are you checking temps with? Double check them with something else to make sure its accurate.

I really do appreciate your help. Though it's not the temps.

My ambient temp in that room has been ~80F because we have a heat wave that's lasted over a week. Not that it would be needed anyway, I have a heat mat under the reservoir. I am testing with a digital temp meter, my Hanna PH/EC/Temp pen. Also, I have cross checked my meter with my 2nd Hanna GroCheck PH/EC/Temp continuous meter.

I understand why you wouldn't want to believe in out gassing or bad water, it's hard to believe myself. Honestly, I want the problem to be something simple like temps. Temps are easy to fix. I would rather this be pretty much anything is easy to fix.

Anyway, I have replaced all my NGW hoses/tubing. It was a pain. Trust me, adjusting my temps is a lot easier then buying over 200 feet of tubing, removing 200 feet of tubing (connectors, elbows, valves, etc), and installing it back. Took hours to dismantle my rooms and remove it all/put back. I also bought some arrowhead spring water. Yep, might of been a waste of time and money, but I am ruling it out. I am at that point, what can I do.

 

[Herborizer]

There are tons of people that are having great success with this. You are looking everywhere except what I already suggested. Outgassing is not happening and its not your water.....its your temps. Bring your temps at 84-85. I have cloned so many different ways over the years. This is just to simple and the easiest to get consistent rooted clones. And what are you checking temps with? Double check them with something else to make sure its accurate.

Well, my heating mat wouldn't get my temps over 83F. So I went with another method to get the temps up to 86F like you asked me to. I took a propagation try and filled it with water. I put an aquarium heater inside of it. I dialed up the temperature until the water reached 86F (on the aquarium heater, it is set to 91F). I let it sit like this for an hour and occasionally checked temperatures to make sure it maintained 86F.

Here is a pic (below). As you can see I am 86F, measuring in the reservoir. Also, I am about 5.6 PH.

P.S. Those red things are just 16oz solo cups. I have some coco in those cups with cuttings going in there as well. The cups have no holes and don't affect the water. I just have them in there to keep those warm as well.

 

[jump /injack]

Cloning

Cloning

Well, my heating mat wouldn't get my temps over 83F. So I went with another method to get the temps up to 86F like you asked me to. I took a propagation try and filled it with water. I put an aquarium heater inside of it. I dialed up the temperature until the water reached 86F (on the aquarium heater, it is set to 91F). I let it sit like this for an hour and occasionally checked temperatures to make sure it maintained 86F.

Here is a pic (below). As you can see I am 86F, measuring in the reservoir. Also, I am about 5.6 PH.

P.S. Those red things are just 16oz solo cups. I have some coco in those cups with cuttings going in there as well. The cups have no holes and don't affect the water. I just have them in there to keep those warm as well.

Why didn't you show the clones? Have you cut the leaves in half and what kind of light are you using? Since reading about this system I have never had a problem. You do use cloning gel or powder don't you? Take a picture right over the clones and let us take a look and what is the strain? My heating mat is right on 81, no nutrient, just gel until rooted then 200ppm, low wattage lights 24/7 and leaves cut.

 

[real ting]

Those ice cube tray cloners are cool, but I don't believe they are still sold at walmart. Too bad, sounded like a cool product for ice cubes as well as clones.

 

[durka_durka420]

can use normal ice cube trays just cut slots on them....once you see root tips poking through the slots your golden....also i tried loose rockwool in my cloner and works with same ammount of success as the coir.....5-7 days and i got roots

 

[Herborizer]

Why didn't you show the clones? Have you cut the leaves in half and what kind of light are you using? Since reading about this system I have never had a problem. You do use cloning gel or powder don't you? Take a picture right over the clones and let us take a look and what is the strain? My heating mat is right on 81, no nutrient, just gel until rooted then 200ppm, low wattage lights 24/7 and leaves cut.

I did cut some of the leaves in half, only so they would fit in the ICE Tube trays better (plants side by side). My lighting is a single 24 inch T5, set about 20 inches above.

 

[Herborizer]

Day 20, no roots still. 85F in the reservoir (just checked).

 

[iGro4Me]

Day 20, no roots still. 85F in the reservoir (just checked).

Wow, that sounds like a complete anomaly.
Never had clones go that long without crazy roots poking out everywhere.

Been reading along and I'm at a loss for your situation, the best I can offer is keep doing what you're doing(trying different methods) and find one that works easiest for you.

Good vibes

 

[Herborizer]

Wow, that sounds like a complete anomaly.
Never had clones go that long without crazy roots poking out everywhere.

Been reading along and I'm at a loss for your situation, the best I can offer is keep doing what you're doing(trying different methods) and find one that works easiest for you.

Good vibes

Thanks for the feedback. Trust me, the feedback helps as this has been a long journey. I am starting to believe in an out-gassing or other environmental issue. I know my temps are right. My cuts are right. I am sanitary. I am great at following directions.

What I need todo is just try the exact same setup in a completely different room altogether and rule out some sort of environmental issue. That is the tricky part, is anywhere else isnt really secure. Yep, you are right, I will keep at it and figure it out eventually.

Hopefully no one is reading this thread and getting discouraged to try this cloning method. If you are reading this thread and considering cloning with this method, I suggest you give it a try. Everyone (but me) is really successful at it. You can cram so many clones in a small place, and it's so simple.

 

[someotherguy]

Thanks for the feedback. Trust me, the feedback helps as this has been a long journey. I am starting to believe in an out-gassing or other environmental issue. I know my temps are right. My cuts are right. I am sanitary. I am great at following directions.

What I need todo is just try the exact same setup in a completely different room altogether and rule out some sort of environmental issue. That is the tricky part, is anywhere else isnt really secure. Yep, you are right, I will keep at it and figure it out eventually.

Hopefully no one is reading this thread and getting discouraged to try this cloning method. If you are reading this thread and considering cloning with this method, I suggest you give it a try. Everyone (but me) is really successful at it. You can cram so many clones in a small place, and it's so simple.

it might be worth picking up a few gallons of cheap, supermarket bottled water, not distilled, just that cheap stuff you see in every supermarket.

that way you could do a controlled run doing everything the same except using the bottled water instead of what you're using now, just to eliminate your current water supply as the source of your problem.

whatever your problem is, it's rare and i would guess specific to your particular environment.

good luck, i know you're trying several methods in search of one that works for you and i hope you find one, unfortunately, if it is something like your water or out-gassing as you suggested, no method will work until you find the cause of your problem.

peace, SOG

 

[flyer]

i finally brought one of these and trying it right now.
i poke a few holes in the bottom of the blue caps and fill up with vermiculite, filled water up to about inch, set for 24+ hrs for the vermiculite to soak up.
took cut today and stick it in the cloner, with cloning gel.

my problem is... my clone is wilting after a few hours, so i misted it.
i dont think thats healthy for clones. anyone else got any tips?

 

[Budley Doright]

Your clones should not wilt....

Normally the set up is a little wrong....

either ....

the holes are big enough...

or the vermiculite isnt wicking .... normally caused by not pressing down the vermiculite after filling.....

you may have to compress each tube 2 or 3 times firmly to establish the wick.....


When using dry materials you should be able to see a disctinct color difference as the vermiculite wets normally within an hour certainly....


the verm should feel damp at this point.....

 

[someotherguy]

Your clones should not wilt....

Normally the set up is a little wrong....

either ....

the holes are big enough...

or the vermiculite isnt wicking .... normally caused by not pressing down the vermiculite after filling.....

you may have to compress each tube 2 or 3 times firmly to establish the wick.....


When using dry materials you should be able to see a disctinct color difference as the vermiculite wets normally within an hour certainly....


the verm should feel damp at this point.....

right on man, i dry-fill all the cells then i stuff a finger into
each, then i fill the cells again after which i pour the water into
the bin/reservoir the cloners reside in.

then, like you said i wait, maybe like a half hour, until i see
that color change you speak of, the vermiculite changes
from a tan color to a slightly darker shade of tan, lol.

anyway, after i see that color change i again stuff my finger
down into each of the cells, usually i'm able to get my finger
buried past the first knuckle, an inch, inch and a half maybe.

after that i dry fill the cloner again with more vermiculite,
pushing it down until i have each cell filled with wet, somewhat
compacted vermiculite to start with.

then, when it comes time to put the cuts in i take a 6 penny
nail and poke a hole down into the compacted vermiculite
going about an inch deep. (usually i'm taking cuts from several
moms so i'll take about 6 cuts and place them in a cup of
water to rest while i poke 6 holes)

anyway, lol, then i take each cut, dip the wet end into a vial
i've filled with 1/8 teaspoon of rooting powder and swish the
end around until coated with the powder after which i put the
stem into the next empty cell, pushing down until i feel it
bottom out and then maybe an inch more.

then i tamp down the vermiculite around the base of the
stem until i'm sure i will get good wicking all the way up.

to you and i this seems obvious and overstated i know
but to all you others who read this, you really do need to
tamp the vermiculite down tight enough so that after you
put a cut into it, you get good wicking all the way up each
cell to ensure an even moisture level surrounding each
stem, otherwise you won't get roots, you'll get willted cuts.

anyway, that's my story and i'm sticking to it!

peace, and stay safe, SOG

 

[flyer]

thanks, i guess i missed the part where you have to press down the vermiculite,
guess i have to take out the clones and try agian

 

[Herborizer]

I have never had wilt after taking cuttings. Like never.

Though, I have been reanalyzing everything and noticed my Relative Humidity is between 28-37%. Since I have never had wilt, I never worried about it. I notice that most of the people in cloning threads have RH of 60-95%. I am wondering if my RH is so low that the cuttings won't root.

Anyway, just bouncing this idea off you guys to see what you think.

Thanks!

 

[fourandtwenty]

just finished reading this thread.....burp.

I have been having trouble with my bubble cloner which is why I needed a new method.

I used the first method (in beginning of thread) two tupperwares sitting in each other with 25mm (1") rez and used 50/50 perlite/vermiculite mix. cotton tea towel for seven wicks in total. did not tamp down mix as this is not needed with cloth wick method according to this thread.....will let you know how it goes

...after building this I finished reading this thread and realized the latest and greatest craze is these "ICE TUBE TRAYS" filled with pure vermiculite (preferably fine grade) so as to simplify it even more by removing the wicks and using vermiculite itself as the wicking agent!!..brilliant really..

So now I'm off to order these from the link provided a page or so ago..and will let everyone know how well it works for me.

grow, grow, grow yer dope gently down the time stream, verily,verily,verily, life is but a dream.

 

[fourandtwenty]

fuck it!! amazon wont ship the 'ice cube trays to oz' dickheads...hey!! and it would have been my first order with the ozzie dollar worth more than the U.S. dollar!!

anyone know if they are sold in australia?....might have to use those popsicle style ones..i know they are in the local shops....mutter mutter...grumble..grumble...

 

[someotherguy]

fuck it!! amazon wont ship the 'ice cube trays to oz' dickheads...hey!! and it would have been my first order with the ozzie dollar worth more than the U.S. dollar!!

anyone know if they are sold in australia?....might have to use those popsicle style ones..i know they are in the local shops....mutter mutter...grumble..grumble...

here's a link to a seller on ebay who has 8 of them, i'd imagine he'd be willing to ship to oz brother.
ice-tube-trays

peace, SOG