Dirtfinger
Member
Here's a cheap and pretty much idiot proof method that I taught a few friends...
Get a 5gal bucket, some 1/2" thick styrofoam, a fish tank air pump or a little submersible to circulate the water, one of those cheap shop clamp lights and small (9w or 13w) wattage cfl and a terrarium heat mat to put under the bucket in the winter if needed. A regular aquarium heater would work too, I just happened to have a heat mat.
Fill the bucket 1/3 full with any old water, you can pH it if you want but it really doesn't matter.
Cut a piece of styrofoam so it just fits inside the bucket and punch some 1/4" (or so) holes in it. I'd recommend a heated screwdriver for punching the holes. You can number the holes with a marker so you know what is what.
You can use whatever to cut your clones, honestly, a rusty blade or scissors will work just as well as sterilized ones, they don't care. I usually remove all but the top set(s) of leaves.
Throw your pump or airstone in, stuff the cuts in the holes and clamp the light to the top of the bucket so the bulb is a few inches above the rim.
Even the most stubborn clones root this way, no hormones or anything fancy required. The most important factor is the water temp, it should be 70f-80f, the second most important is giving them just enough light to root. You don't want the plants trying to grow with no roots, it's bad for them.
Actually the MOST important thing might be to not make it harder than it is. It's a weed that will clone itself given the chance. I've done them in a quart mason jar without ever changing the water before and I've had the same frustrations as you're having before too.
Once I quit worrying about every little anal detail and just gave them the basics with about as much care as you'd give any other weed, things got a lot easier.
Specifically (I think someone already mentioned it) I think you're giving them way too much light. The plants are likely shriveling up because they're trying to grow w/o any roots.
Get a 5gal bucket, some 1/2" thick styrofoam, a fish tank air pump or a little submersible to circulate the water, one of those cheap shop clamp lights and small (9w or 13w) wattage cfl and a terrarium heat mat to put under the bucket in the winter if needed. A regular aquarium heater would work too, I just happened to have a heat mat.
Fill the bucket 1/3 full with any old water, you can pH it if you want but it really doesn't matter.
Cut a piece of styrofoam so it just fits inside the bucket and punch some 1/4" (or so) holes in it. I'd recommend a heated screwdriver for punching the holes. You can number the holes with a marker so you know what is what.
You can use whatever to cut your clones, honestly, a rusty blade or scissors will work just as well as sterilized ones, they don't care. I usually remove all but the top set(s) of leaves.
Throw your pump or airstone in, stuff the cuts in the holes and clamp the light to the top of the bucket so the bulb is a few inches above the rim.
Even the most stubborn clones root this way, no hormones or anything fancy required. The most important factor is the water temp, it should be 70f-80f, the second most important is giving them just enough light to root. You don't want the plants trying to grow with no roots, it's bad for them.
Actually the MOST important thing might be to not make it harder than it is. It's a weed that will clone itself given the chance. I've done them in a quart mason jar without ever changing the water before and I've had the same frustrations as you're having before too.
Once I quit worrying about every little anal detail and just gave them the basics with about as much care as you'd give any other weed, things got a lot easier.
Specifically (I think someone already mentioned it) I think you're giving them way too much light. The plants are likely shriveling up because they're trying to grow w/o any roots.
