[Taranthis]

Hi,

I have been having trouble getting my clones to take hold, they seem to die (go all limp and lay down) before they can get a decent root system.

I am using the standard rockwool cubes, clone dome with heat mat positioned directly under a CFL vegetative grow light on 24hrs.

I was thinking of adding Rhizotonic to water them with but am wondering if it is worth the expense, does it work? How long would it be before I noticed a root system growing?

Thanks for your help as always.

[Mudraya]

I would highly suggest reading a cloning how to on this site, there are many...and refresh yourself on all the basic parameters of cloning in rockwool. Rhizo is totally worth it...for rooted plants. I would suggest Clonex gel for dipping them in before putting in the rock wool and make sure you have proper temps and moisture in your dome.

[Taranthis]

Hi Mudraya,

Thanks for your response. I should have provided more detail but yes I do use Clonex and follow the standard instructions. However after reading further into the process I saw some people saying not to dip directly into the clonex jar as the product starts to activate. This is something that I have been doing and maybe this is my issue.

[Smokin Joe]

Are you using a controller on the heat mat? I put the probe in a slot with a cutting so I know what the temp of the space where the roots will form is and try to maintain 75/78. Never dip into the jar unless you plan to use it all in 1 setting. I pour some in a pill bottle lid and use it that way.

[Taranthis]

Hi Smoking Joe,

No I am not using a controller, I will try that out next batch of clones I take, I had been double dipping into the container so maybe that and the heat is my problem.

Thanks for your help.

[t99]

How close and how bright is your light? Too close/intense will slow root growth.

[DocTim420]

Try this--water soaking.

After snipping the cut from it's mama and leafs are trimmed, I re-cut the stem with a razor blade (45 degree angle) about 1/2-3/4" below the node and then place the cutting in plain everyday unfiltered tap water for a few days (yes the water is chlorinated, as you want the chlorine to control bacteria). The xylem will suck up water and distribute it to the leafs (just like cut roses do in a vase with water) resulting in a cutting that will stand tall and usually grows another leaf set.

After a few days (sometimes a week if I get busy) I do the normal process--dip cutting in rooting solution (1 minute in undiluted Hormex here, cheaper than all other alternatives I have tested) then insert in a rooting cube, and cover the tray with a clear plastic dome. In about 10-14 days there are roots galore and it is transplant time. Time between snip to transplant seldom exceeds 3 weeks and 100% success is the norm here.

Say goodbye to wilting.

[DocTim420]

Oh yeah, I used to use Rhizotonic for both foliar spraying the cuttings and plant feeding, but no more. IMO, if the plant is healthy and the microherd in the grow medium is fertile and strong, the algae based goodies in Rhizo seems to be more redundant and unnecessary.

[Mudraya]

Originally Posted by Taranthis

Hi Mudraya,

Thanks for your response. I should have provided more detail but yes I do use Clonex and follow the standard instructions. However after reading further into the process I saw some people saying not to dip directly into the clonex jar as the product starts to activate. This is something that I have been doing and maybe this is my issue.

Oh I see. I've always used the white plastic little mouthwash cups to put the gel in. Many of the classic ad pictures are super misleading with that where they have the hand holding a clone dipped in the bottle lol, they are definitely trying to make you buy more!

[packerfan79]

Ditch the rockwool, coco moistened with 1/4 strength nutes. Ditch the gel 5 dollar boonide at home depot works great. I cut my babies soak in the weak nutes for 24 hours. Scrape, make the 45 cut below a node. Stick in the powder shake off the excess. Less is more with powders and gells Stick it in a plastic shot glass or medicine cup of coco with a small hole in the bottom Watch them after 2-3 days give small amount of water to keep emailing moist not soggy. I Have had fully rooted babies in 7 days. I cut 150 for this run. I ran out of smart pots and wound up tossing clones. This method requires no dome. Just keep the coco moist but not soggy.