Clean Clones

Azos -vs- Recharge applied to cuttings in rapid rooters: At the 3 week mark I have roots showing on all the Azos cuttings. Both the Azos and Recharge cuttings look totally healthy, no yellowing or wilting. I think maybe part of what's going on is the extra boost of nitrogen the Azos cuttings are getting so I pulled a Recharge cutting out and there are roots, they just haven't made it to the outside of the cube yet so there's an obvious benefit to using the Azos.

I could just use Azos but because of the price and it being a single species that's not specifically being used as a defensive mechanism I'd like to keep using the Recharge. So maybe Recharge/50ppm grow formula fert. I could do a mix of Azos and Recharge but it's hard to know how these different products interact. That's something that could perhaps be determined via testing, but more importantly I'd like to use fewer products so it makes sense to start the Recharge with a small nitrogen boost. I'll probably throw a couple other things in on the next test.

The roots were a few days quicker this time around. Scraped -vs- unscraped stems, it didn't seem to make a difference but I'm working with low number of samples so I don't feel like I've proven anything in that regard. I did keep the vents in the dome only half open this time as opposed to opening them all the way after the first couple days.

Not sure if I mentioned it but I'm using 2 5w LED bulbs over 3 domes. Very low light levels. In terms of PPFD it's probably averaging about 35-40. I'll pull the meter out soon and get some actual numbers. It might help to add another bulb or two. I think at this point I can improve things but can already expect near 100% success and 3 week cutting to root times along with near zero chance of root rot... so mission accomplished. I spoke with someone recently who told me they're getting roots in about 10 days using a soilless mix, so that might be something to play with. The idea being that it would be a simple matter to wash the soilless mix off the roots prior to placing them in a hydro chamber.

When I do a cloning bin I use cool white tubes for lighting. the light is fixed above and outside the bin.I place the air/drain hole in the lowest corner of the bin. I do F&D so I use rock wool for suspension. I choose a nice thick clear plastic garbage bag to make the bin out of. The bin gets a single layer of rock, Hydroton or lava grow pellets to protect roots that come through the bottom from suffocating. I prefer #2 Stimroot powder for semi hardwood. Any rooting agent used should be for semi hard wood. I don't scrape the stalk and I use surgical scissors to make the snip. Avoid touching the stalk of snips. The oil and salt from fingers can cause problems. Use gloves if you can't handle it by the leaves. I soak the cubes in spent res water. After the cubes get set into the bin, the cubes are topped up with a pump up sprayer with spent res water then misted with fresh water and close the door. I cut the rock wool cubes from slab, 2" x 2" x h. When roots appear the clone goes into a stand by trough in the mother room if there is not yet room in the budding table and they are hand watered with a pump up sprayer and spent res water. Anything not done in a week gets a top up with more spent res water and misted with fresh water. Clones have to be removed or the door opened on the bin when roots appear. Extra hole(s) can be made if the drain/air hole isn't large enough, in the lower side or front, etc..

In some places where they have rainy seasons, no humidity dome is necessary, so air flow really depends on where you live. I'd start with a 2"-3" Drain/air hole to start on such a bin.

I like to shelf level my bins with plywood and hang the light to the ceiling. That way the door is right in my face and no bending over

Here's where nails come into the picture. I use a 3.25" with a 3/16" diameter framing spike to make the hole in the rock wool cube for the clone to go into. Some people "think" the nail goes into the plant some how

Did you have any luck with southern ag? Gff

Really, I wouldn't recommend any bennies that come as a liquid. If they get hot in storage, or sit on the shelf too long they're no good. Powdered bennies used to inoculate clones is the way to go.