My experience with root pruning aero cloner.

For the first couple of weeks I just allowed the roots to grow naturally. During this period they grew predominantly vertically. Though they were growing well there was a total lack of horizontal growth or any root mass at all.

For the last week I've been pruning the roots an inch every two days. Since this period I've seen an explosion of lateral growth. There is much more of a root mass then there was before.

It's possible that this growth might have happened anyways but I'm pretty sure they'd be long and few. Now they are shorter but with a much higher percent of hair roots. Hair roots should be the best version of root growth, no?

I just thought I'd share my personal experience and see what others think.

shawnery said:

For the first couple of weeks I just allowed the roots to grow naturally. During this period they grew predominantly vertically. Though they were growing well there was a total lack of horizontal growth or any root mass at all.

For the last week I've been pruning the roots an inch every two days. Since this period I've seen an explosion of lateral growth. There is much more of a root mass then there was before.

It's possible that this growth might have happened anyways but I'm pretty sure they'd be long and few. Now they are shorter but with a much higher percent of hair roots. Hair roots should be the best version of root growth, no?

I just thought I'd share my personal experience and see what others think.

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Pics please!

This is one day. The first pic is of the whole tray yesterday while the second is the first clone on the left today. The last photo is of the second clone back on the right today. They're just a couple examples of the difference I see not even 12 hours after root pruning.

The definitely look great either way , Man!

Laterals are not the same as root hairs. Zoom the 2nd pic and you can see the beginnings of root hair development but its being hampered by too much water. A zoomed slice of the roots from the 2nd pic is on the left in the pic below. If you compare them to the "too wet" example on the right you can see the issue. You prolly wont be able to match the perfect example due to the type and number of nozzles but you`ll definitely get closer if you can cut back on the water.

I was thinking of running 10 seconds every 5 minutes. In a few seconds all my system is drenched. So if its wet in 10 seconds the same as 1 minute then I should do 10 seconds I assume?

Did not know that. I always thought the smaller roots shooting laterally were hairs, oops!

Use the shortest spray time you can get away with. A lateral can have millions of roothairs. They are short lived so the old ones are constantly replaced by new. They grow at around 1 micron per minute, about 1/16" per day.

So I've been doing a bit of research on what aero clones can and can't take.

Been pruning a 1/5th of the total root mass every day the last couple days and I'm very pleased with the outcome. Each day after pruning the roots have either regained their entire length or are even longer. Not only that but they are more bushy and surprisingly the clones above the pucks are growing quite well also.

Today I decided to FIM them since they have substantial root mass and are growing quickly. I figure since they are doing better than any clones I have ever had I should stress them in the environment they have been doing so well in already.

Top picture is clones yesterday, second is of the clones today and lastly the roots after being 1/5th pruned yesterday. They were a fifth shorter yesterday less than 20hrs ago.

I'm am so amazed at how well these girls are doing in 75 degree water and being stressed regularly by myself.

Usually with dwc and rockwool the plants recover far a few days after FIMing or topping but this time they grew immediately and a considerable amount considering. Plus I root pruned abou a fifth of the root mass at the same time.

I will never go back to using rockwool in hydro NO matter what.

They look healthy to you guys?

Yeah it looks like they'll be alright!

They're starting to get a little crowded so I think it's just about time to transfer them to 5" pucks and net cups.

shawnery said:

They're starting to get a little crowded so I think it's just about time to transfer them to 5" pucks and net cups.

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shawnery are you still active on this website? have a couple questions about the puck setup