Looking for help with my cloning

[whitebb2727]

Ok I'm definitely going to try putting some straight in coco. Do you still mist the leaves for a few days?

Not coco. That dries too fast. You want something that holds moisture. Potting soil or something. Works great. I don't mist the leaves. I have them in a small cabinet that is sealed and holds humidity. I open it a few times a day for fresh air.

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Thanks growing jables and shmoejoe!

I seem to have bad luck with rock wool and kinda want to stop using it. I also don't like that it doesn't biodegrade.

Maybe I'll try to find those down to earth cubes, rapid rooters were next on my list to try.

Another thing about rockwool is that it isn't sustainable. Some claim it is but there's just no way that the rock it's made from forms at the same rate or faster than we're using it.

The Down To Earth plugs are the same type of plug as the Rapid Rooters and Root Riot plugs. They're all made using materials from trees. Even the binding agent is a natural and renewable forest product. I don't know what the difference in their manufacturing process is but the Rapid Rooters and Root Riot plugs are both bricks compared to the porosity of the DTE plugs. I've never got the same succes rate or the rate of root development or health and quality of roots from anything else.

 

[dubble Js]

Wow that's great, almost 100% success rate. That's what I'm shooting for!!

I've been trying to keep the tent temp around 24C... What temp do you use?

I've got them under a T5, about 18" below...But, I did recently add an led as well for a couple mothers I've got going. The clones are probably getting a bit of the red light from the led, but it's pretty far away and hasn't always been in there for my other clone duds. Hmmm

 

[growin-Jables]

Thanks growing jables and shmoejoe!

I seem to have bad luck with rock wool and kinda want to stop using it. I also don't like that it doesn't biodegrade.

Maybe I'll try to find those down to earth cubes, rapid rooters were next on my list to try.

For sure. I've continued using rock wool because i bought a trays worth and only take 4 or 5 clones at a time when I do. I've learned to make my success rate over 75% easily. Usually I throw away the weaker 3 and keep the 2 strongest. Then about 2 more weeks in I toss the next weakest link, then flower the remaining best clone

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Not coco. That dries too fast. You want something that holds moisture. Potting soil or something. Works great. I don't mist the leaves. I have them in a small cabinet that is sealed and holds humidity. I open it a few times a day for fresh air.
View attachment 4028980

Looks a lot like mine. I'll post a pic later once I can get to it. This time of year I year I have to convert spaces to drying areas for the outdoor

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Wow that's great, almost 100% success rate. That's what I'm shooting for!!

I've been trying to keep the tent temp around 24C... What temp do you use?

I've got them under a T5, about 18" below...But, I did recently add an led as well for a couple mothers I've got going. The clones are probably getting a bit of the red light from the led, but it's pretty far away and hasn't always been in there for my other clone duds. Hmmm

I cool the space to 68 and run the heat mats at 72-74.

 

[SchmoeJoe]

I cool the space to 68 and run the heat mats at 72-74.

For sure. I've continued using rock wool because i bought a trays worth and only take 4 or 5 clones at a time when I do. I've learned to make my success rate over 75% easily. Usually I throw away the weaker 3 and keep the 2 strongest. Then about 2 more weeks in I toss the next weakest link, then flower the remaining best clone

Yeah, there's always a few weak ones. I also always make a point to keep the best one or two from each set to take my next set from.

 

[nurrgle]

Now days I just use an ezcloner. No worries ever.

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Now days I just use an ezcloner. No worries ever.

Except for what that particular company calls SMS or sick manifold syndrome. There is no product on the market that can save an aerocloner from it.

 

[nurrgle]

Except for what that particular company calls SMS or sick manifold syndrome. There is no product on the market that can save an aerocloner from it.

I wasn't aware of SMS although I have had a areocloner that seemed to stop working many moons ago. When the new model came out that prevents leaking I picked it up.

I follow the instructions about using bleach and haven't had any issues.

 

[dubble Js]

I cool the space to 68 and run the heat mats at 72-74.

Just 68f? Is slightly cooler temps better for clones?

Do you guys not bother with a mother plants? Just grab clones from your grown up clones?

I also had been looking around for an Ez cloner or something but haven't been able to justify the cost yet.

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Just 68f? Is slightly cooler temps better for clones?

Do you guys not bother with a mother plants? Just grab clones from your grown up clones?

I also had been looking around for an Ez cloner or something but haven't been able to justify the cost yet.

I keep my cloning room cool to maintain a consistent temp and to be sure that the heat mats come on regularly to keep a consistent temp at the rooting zone. Since they're heated and have trays with humidity domes they'll still be a little warmer than the ambient room temp. Keeping the tips a little cooler also helps to lower transpiration too.

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Just 68f? Is slightly cooler temps better for clones?

Do you guys not bother with a mother plants? Just grab clones from your grown up clones?

I also had been looking around for an Ez cloner or something but haven't been able to justify the cost yet.

You can build your own clover for a fraction of the cost of the store bought ones without a water pump and manifold to get infected.

Use a Rubbermaid roughneck container. Anything else will leak. Use the smallest one that you can fit the number of cuttings you want in. Get the neoprene inserts that the clones go in and the right size net pot that the insert will fit snugly inside of. Cut off the entire net part of the insert so that you have a solid plastic ring with a lip around it to set in the wholes that you'll cut out of the lid of the container. Use just an air pump that's big enough to power enough airstones gir even coverage or multiple smaller ones. Either way the idea is that the bubbles popping will splash plenty of water on the stems to keep them wet. Since we're using these small air bubbles popping to splash the stems with water we want the water within just a few inches of the cuttings so you have to fill the container most of the way. Because of this it works best to use one of the shallower tubs.

I spent a few months and a hundreds of dollars experimenting building my own out of every storage run you can imagine and building my own sprayer manifolds from scratch then threading them to use the power clones spray heads from the grow store. I got all if the one and outs worked out for myself. Then High Times came out with an article with everything I'd just spent all of that time and money figuring out. Except for the trick about how to build a clones with no water pump or manifold. That's the game changer. Come to think of it the one really important thing from that article was that the Roughneck tubs from Rubbermaid are the only thing that won't leak.

 

[dubble Js]

Wow, awesome. Thanks for the write up! Looks like I've got some research and parts shopping to do.

 

[Philip-O]

Excellent post, thanks.

Considering that this DIY needs to source parts, and spend time figuring it out and building, do you think its worth it for someone that will only keep a single cloner (i.e. not a commercial or larger grow, where you might need dozens of clones)? For example, what about this 36 site "clone king" for US$79? https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLONE-KING-36-SITE-CLONER-CLONING-MACHINE-75-INSERTS-25-BLACK-25-BLUE-25-RED/171850933946?epid=1662820946&hash=item28031d26ba:g:R0wAAOSwPcVVnHWb#rwid

You can build your own clover for a fraction of the cost of the store bought ones without a water pump and manifold to get infected.

Use a Rubbermaid roughneck container. Anything else will leak. Use the smallest one that you can fit the number of cuttings you want in. Get the neoprene inserts that the clones go in and the right size net pot that the insert will fit snugly inside of. Cut off the entire net part of the insert so that you have a solid plastic ring with a lip around it to set in the wholes that you'll cut out of the lid of the container. Use just an air pump that's big enough to power enough airstones gir even coverage or multiple smaller ones. Either way the idea is that the bubbles popping will splash plenty of water on the stems to keep them wet. Since we're using these small air bubbles popping to splash the stems with water we want the water within just a few inches of the cuttings so you have to fill the container most of the way. Because of this it works best to use one of the shallower tubs.

I spent a few months and a hundreds of dollars experimenting building my own out of every storage run you can imagine and building my own sprayer manifolds from scratch then threading them to use the power clones spray heads from the grow store. I got all if the one and outs worked out for myself. Then High Times came out with an article with everything I'd just spent all of that time and money figuring out. Except for the trick about how to build a clones with no water pump or manifold. That's the game changer. Come to think of it the one really important thing from that article was that the Roughneck tubs from Rubbermaid are the only thing that won't leak.

 

[SchmoeJoe]

Excellent post, thanks.

Considering that this DIY needs to source parts, and spend time figuring it out and building, do you think its worth it for someone that will only keep a single cloner (i.e. not a commercial or larger grow, where you might need dozens of clones)? For example, what about this 36 site "clone king" for US$79? https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLONE-KING-36-SITE-CLONER-CLONING-MACHINE-75-INSERTS-25-BLACK-25-BLUE-25-RED/171850933946?epid=1662820946&hash=item28031d26ba:g:R0wAAOSwPcVVnHWb#rwid

The cost would probably be about the same if you used a good quality pump. The biggest difference is that you'd be getting rid of the manifold that gets the infections and the water pump that heats your reservoir.

 

[natureboygrower]

Excellent post, thanks.

Considering that this DIY needs to source parts, and spend time figuring it out and building, do you think its worth it for someone that will only keep a single cloner (i.e. not a commercial or larger grow, where you might need dozens of clones)? For example, what about this 36 site "clone king" for US$79? https://www.ebay.com/itm/CLONE-KING-36-SITE-CLONER-CLONING-MACHINE-75-INSERTS-25-BLACK-25-BLUE-25-RED/171850933946?epid=1662820946&hash=item28031d26ba:g:R0wAAOSwPcVVnHWb#rwid

that is a good goddamn deal right there!
the hydro store near me had that same model at twice the cost so i did build my own based around those dimensions.the most expensive part was the the ecoplus 396 submersible pump for $20-25.i pretty much had everything else plumbing wise except the sprayers and collars.i didnt go nearly as many sights and had to use that blueboard insulation on top to keep it water tight,i didnt buy rubbermaid and it leaked bad.first few clones ive ever attempted are ugly af but in promix now and still alive! ive used a humidity dome since day 1,mist twice a day and keep the vents open on top.no problems so far...
total cost was around $40,but i did have a lot of material laying around i didnt have to buy. thats a great price on that clone king tho,hard to dispute

 

[SchmoeJoe]

that is a good goddamn deal right there!
the hydro store near me had that same model at twice the cost so i did build my own based around those dimensions.the most expensive part was the the ecoplus 396 submersible pump for $20-25.i pretty much had everything else plumbing wise except the sprayers and collars.i didnt go nearly as many sights and had to use that blueboard insulation on top to keep it water tight,i didnt buy rubbermaid and it leaked bad.first few clones ive ever attempted are ugly af but in promix now and still alive! ive used a humidity dome since day 1,mist twice a day and keep the vents open on top.no problems so far...
total cost was around $40,but i did have a lot of material laying around i didnt have to buy. thats a great price on that clone king tho,hard to dispute

Yeah, it's been awhile. I've never seen a price like that. At that price you could just but it and run it without the water pump.

 

[natureboygrower]

Yeah, it's been awhile. I've never seen a price like that. At that price you could just but it and run it without the water pump.

so youre just running an airline to stones now? i think i saw that HT article.i have all the rigging to make one of those too i believe.a side by side would be a cool experiment

 

[SchmoeJoe]

so youre just running an airline to stones now? i think i saw that HT article.i have all the rigging to make one of those too i believe.a side by side would be a cool experiment

The article showed how to build the cloner with the manifold for the water pump with sprayers. The problem is that it's the manifold and water pump that get the sms infection.