Need cloning advice from experienced grower...

Well, after dozens of attempts without results, I've rooted my first clones...lol. But I noticed today that the tips of the leaves are barely turning slightly crispy, and brown, with the outer edges of the leaves turning only slightly yellow. I took these cuttings about a week into flower but they still rooted in 6 days, but the "root bumps" are very small right now. I don't intend to go off topic here, but I'd like to explain how I was finally successful, even If only by dumb luck lol. First I watered my "mother" plants late one evening, and took the cuttings very early the next morning. I then placed them in rapid rooter plugs, not bothering with a dome, and only misted the foliage twice, the first two days. Now the funny part. I had these clones under my desk under a fluorescent and my dog pulls one out of the tray and eats the plug, but leaves the plant unharmed on the ground. I was feeling impatient so I said screw it I'm gonna throw all these cuttings in a cup of water and see what happens. I just couldn't stand not knowing if they were rooting or not. The rooting hormone on their stem created a solution I guess you could say, in the tap water. Then after a couple more days I changed the water as I was advised and just put in regular tap water. Today I changed the water again and stirred in a little Schultz rooting hormone. They aren't very far along right now, with only almost microscopic little bumps along the bottom and main stem. This was just peculiar to me b/c they were in plugs for three days, then in water, and started roots on day 6. I couldn't believe it! Some were pulled out of plugs for hours, with tremendous wilting, yet they still rooted. I had taken cuttings before and "babied" them for weeks with no results. I guess these little plants are much more rugged than one would think. I'm sorry for this long description, so here is my question.....I know that these cuttings will soon need diluted nutes, but I don't know if I should wait until the roots are about an inch long or what. I was going to put a drop of "Superthrive" into a gallon of water and use this for the water that my clones are in, to help them green up a little. I just need to know if using superthrive at this point is advisable or not, and should I clip the browning leave tips or what? Sorry for such a long post I'm just really excited, and needed to "vent", lol. Thanks.

superthrive is not food ! its for stress so its not a bad idea to use it just go easy on it.
when you have enough roots out of a cube its ready for veg !
sounds funny but i had a cutting take after id binned it ! i find it best to just lightly mist with water and not to touch until roots have exploded out. keep checking them can damage the sensitive roots, you know what i mean keep picking them up to check ten times a day ! its a newb mistake usually over worry or just too eager beaver !

forgot to say, dont feed at all until you have roots and their ready for veg then jus easy on the nutes.
hope ive helped a bit ?

This is day 10 now and the roots are about an inch long, and some are starting to "spider" or branch off. I was gonna wait about two days and transplant. Do you guys think it would be okay to plant in miracle grow potting soil, already containing nutrients?

BlueBud1000 said:

This is day 10 now and the roots are about an inch long, and some are starting to "spider" or branch off. I was gonna wait about two days and transplant. Do you guys think it would be okay to plant in miracle grow potting soil, already containing nutrients?

Click to expand...

Say bye to your clones.

Just kidding

I do not use soil but if seeds can germinate and grow in MG I do not see why your clone (no matter how small the roots) are could not survive, now with that being said I have read many threads regarding the MG soil burning up plants.

regards,

do not use super thrive in a water than will be sitting! it will cause bad bacteria to form.I dont use it in hydro anymore period.you also dont need to feed cuttings for a couple weeks because they will suck the nutes from the leaves(thats why they wilt and yellow) and if the roots get to an inch and a half long then its time to plant them in soil or hydro.the easiest way to take cuttings is cut them at 45 degrees with a razor then dip into water immediately then take root hormone then into a rockwool cube.then mist only the blocks once a day not the dome (as it will cause bacteria) and after 3-4 days i run the cube under cool water strait from the faucet.and then i only do that every other day and dont mist them anymore and my clones are 23 days old right now still in my humiddome with 3 inch roots.

and ye MG soil is garbage abd so is their nutes.use a mild soil and no nutes or it will kill them

Okay, glad you folks could help. I've decided to do a perlite/vermiculite mix until they become root bound in 16 oz. cups, and use 1/3 strength nutes during this time, then transplant and treat like any other plant. Thanks for the replies everyone.

can you post a pic please. the soil is usually blamed when not used properly