Can you help a brother out? Clones are sucking -- NEED HELP!

SlowTwitch

SlowTwitch

Active Member
Hi grow peeps!

I've been cloning for a few years, but just built an aerocloner to try and get better/faster results. It's a Rubbermaid 18 gallon tub with a 400 gph pump, ten spray nozzles and four gallons of water. I cut 32 holes in the lid and put in 2" cups with neoprene collars. As for light, I am using plain old four foot fluorescent tubes, mainly, and I'm trying a 120 watt led now.

I've not changed the pH of the water, but it's at a normal 7 pH. I wasn't heating the tub (air temp is about 70 constant). I used some Olivia's gel, and throw (put) the clones in the collars. I have the pump on a cycle timer (4 min off and 1 min on). I'm cloning several strains for which I have mothers, some clone better than others. I've also tried running an air stone in the tub.

SO, my big question is . . . why do these clones usually suck? I had about a 90% success rate when I was using rockwool cubes and trays (with humidity domes and heat mats), but they take so freaking long to root (+/- 3 weeks).

Show me the way, please.

Slow Twitch
 
H

HSA

Well-Known Member
SlowTwitch said:
Hi grow peeps!

I've been cloning for a few years, but just built an aerocloner to try and get better/faster results. It's a Rubbermaid 18 gallon tub with a 400 gph pump, ten spray nozzles and four gallons of water. I cut 32 holes in the lid and put in 2" cups with neoprene collars. As for light, I am using plain old four foot fluorescent tubes, mainly, and I'm trying a 120 watt led now.

























I've not changed the pH of the water, but it's at a normal 7 pH. I wasn't heating the tub (air temp is about 70 constant). I used some Olivia's gel, and throw (put) the clones in the collars. I have the pump on a cycle timer (4 min off and 1 min on). I'm cloning several strains for which I have mothers, some clone better than others. I've also tried running an air stone in the tub.

SO, my big question is . . . why do these clones usually suck? I had about a 90% success rate when I was using rockwool cubes and trays (with humidity domes and heat mats), but they take so freaking long to root (+/- 3 weeks).

Show me the way, please.

Slow Twitch
Click to expand...
I really think you've probably answered your own problem. They do take about three to four weeks normally and I don't use a heat mat but I do use a humidity dome. If you had success with the rock cubes why did you change? I've tried cloning a couple of different ways and the rock cubes in a fifty place black plastic planting/cloning tray under a single CFL is the one way I've found that works best for me. What I did find a little different is that I use Technflora's cutting and seedlings nutes and cloning gel as well. Are you remembering to trim away a lot of the leaves and foliar feed them two or three times a day? I spray mine with the same nutes because they've been proven to encourage root growth. Also, I'd want my nutes to be between 5.5 and 5.8 pH, not 7 .
 
seanec327

seanec327

Well-Known Member
ya 7ph is to high. bring it to 5.8-6 max. i run pump 24/7 for first 24 hours. then 15 on 15off. i dont use any nute till they show nitro defi which for me is the most common first... then add a small amount of veg nutes. change water every 2 days. good luck
 
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