Clones are dying , used to get 98%

[Rickd]

I have enjoyed the last 2 years successfully cloning everything I stuck in a Jiffy Pellet. I keep it very simple and have had 98% success rate.

That is, the whole time I did this at my shop. Now that I am trying to do a few trays at home, it is a whole different story.

I use Jiffy Pellets.
10x20 trays with 7" domes
sometimes a heat pad if it's cold
Flouros for light ( 18hrs)
Ventilated shop, clean environment.

I believe it is the tap water. My house is plumbed with that crappy vinyl hose instead of copper and one thing I have noticed since I bought it is that orange mildew grows in the sinks, tubs and shower pans faster than any house I have ever had. I think it is because the water sits in the plastic pipes and gets a little light plus it gets warm.

SO every tray i have started has been taken over and decimated by a mildew/mold that sucks the stalks dry till they fall over.

What can I use to prep the water in buckets for watering and soaking the jiffy pellets?

Hydrogen Peroxide 3% or 35% ?
Rubbing alcohol?
Is there a mildew spray?

Or any other ideas?

Here are a few pics..... White mildew attacks the stalks..

 

[vonforne]

Try using rain water. Or filter the water with a carbon filter.

V

 

[Stress_test]

I use Jiffy Pellets.
10x20 trays with 7" domes
sometimes a heat pad if it's cold
Flouros for light ( 18hrs)
Ventilated shop, clean environment.

I believe it is the tap water. My house is plumbed with that crappy vinyl hose instead of copper and one thing I have noticed since I bought it is that orange mildew grows in the sinks, tubs and shower pans faster than any house I have ever had. I think it is because the water sits in the plastic pipes and gets a little light plus it gets warm.

SO every tray i have started has been taken over and decimated by a mildew/mold that sucks the stalks dry till they fall over.

What can I use to prep the water in buckets for watering and soaking the jiffy pellets?

You know for the last 2 years or so I have been hearing a lot about molds, fungi and pests from Jiffy pellets.

Now If you think it is the water then go get a gallon of filtered spring water and try a batch.

Molds and fungi grow when there isn't enough air flow. Period...
Combine that with a fungus to begin with and you will surely grow molds and fungi. Jiffy pellets are made of Peat-MOSS.

I've said it a million times if I've said it once: "Hoods and domes suck".

If you're stuck on using jiffy pellets then chucking the hood and using spring water is the best advice I can offer.

But if you want to clone then check out the Walmart cloner in my signature. Then check out some of the other cloning threads here, there is a wealth of knowledge tucked in these forums.

 

[FreezerBoy]

First I'd sterilize the system with a 5% bleach solution.

Next, I'd "test" the water by doing half the tray in house water and half in shop water. Try a few with rockwool as well and see where this gets you.

The main need for domes comes from excessively large cuts and yours are excessively large. The last shot of the two folded over? The fold is where the cut should go. Supporting such large cuts requires water uptake and... D'OH, someone stole your roots, you have no water uptake.

 

[Rickd]

What about light? That also is different. 4' shop lights with cool blue bulbs at my shop and little 12" single flouro tube in my garage.

Do cuttings need a certain amount of light to produce roots?

 

[Budley Doright]

You know for the last 2 years or so I have been hearing a lot about molds, fungi and pests from Jiffy pellets.

Now If you think it is the water then go get a gallon of filtered spring water and try a batch.

Molds and fungi grow when there isn't enough air flow. Period...
Combine that with a fungus to begin with and you will surely grow molds and fungi. Jiffy pellets are made of Peat-MOSS.

I've said it a million times if I've said it once: "Hoods and domes suck".

If you're stuck on using jiffy pellets then chucking the hood and using spring water is the best advice I can offer.

But if you want to clone then check out the Walmart cloner in my signature. Then check out some of the other cloning threads here, there is a wealth of knowledge tucked in these forums.

I always like when the walmart cloner thing gets a mention from someone who I dont think ever posted there.... nice meeting you....


I wrote that thread.....



The first thing I looked for was .... is there a dome....



The walmart cloner doesnt use a dome and doesnt have those issues....


I should add....normally my clones are quite a bit smaller .....


But then most of your height is stem.....

 

[Stress_test]

What about light? That also is different. 4' shop lights with cool blue bulbs at my shop and little 12" single flouro tube in my garage.

Do cuttings need a certain amount of light to produce roots?

Most of the proficient old-school guys will say to leave em in the dark for the first 24 hours.

I never allow direct light on my clones until they are rooted. I put my cloning shelves either above any lights, (which works sweet because you can take advantage of the radiant heat) or in a closet with only ambient light.

They will usually root under light but it almost always causes deficiencies later.

But look man, you already said that you thought it was the water and most here have agreed that water would cause it.

Fix the water. Then if it doesn't correct it then you "know" it is something else.

 

[MIway]

You really could use a water inoculant... try Roots Excellerator.

 

[ninjacorey]

i use jiffy for tomatoes bell peppers and had no ploblem but once i use for cloning MJ my clones died and molded over night :/

 

[resinryder]

Just curious. Do you have a water softener for the homes water supply?

 

[Stress_test]

i use jiffy for tomatoes bell peppers and had no ploblem but once i use for cloning MJ my clones died and molded over night :/

I've been hearing that a lot lately...

 

[Rickd]

No water softener.

I just flushed everything with bottled water ph'd to 6.5. Cut all the tall ones down to 3"s and redipped. Added a small fan for better circulation and took the domes off. Also added a heating pad to a full trey of White Rhino.

See if I can turn this around