Clones not rooting after long time. Looking good

I have had cutting in my botonicare 25 since dec 17. There still about 90% green bot no signs of roots and the "stalks" going into the cloner look good. I have PH at 5.8-6 I used clonex and a few drops of GH Rapid Start. PPM is at 170. water temps are 70 pretty stable. room temps is 75 ish. I have an airestone in the water 24/7 and water pump is 15 on 15 off.

I use RO water


I had a problem with the clones wilting and truning black, for a few runs. I put a fan on low and there looking good now...

socalledchad said:

I have had cutting in my botonicare 25 since dec 17. There still about 90% green bot no signs of roots and the "stalks" going into the cloner look good. I have PH at 5.8-6 I used clonex and a few drops of GH Rapid Start. PPM is at 170. water temps are 70 pretty stable. room temps is 75 ish. I have an airestone in the water 24/7 and water pump is 15 on 15 off.

I use RO water


I had a problem with the clones wilting and truning black, for a few runs. I put a fan on low and there looking good now...

Click to expand...

Keep it simple. There's mo need to ph your water. There's really no need for clonex (optional) and gh rapid start. Just tap water will be fine. You didn't mention what kind of light you have nor your humidity. Also there's no need for a airstones. I'm assuming your are cloning via aeroponic style?

humidity is key

Most important number is 100. That's what you want the humidity to be -- 100%.
In the dome I expect to see condensation on the inside of the dome every time I
check. Any time humidity falls much below 100% my rooting percent is decimated.
If you aren't using an enclosed dome with a seedling (heating) mat underneath,
you are missing 2 important, easy-to-fix things that greatly enhance your chance of seeing
roots.

I slogged in the wilderness of cloning ineptitude for many months before I did some research
and got back to basics -- use large clones, permanent 100% RH, heat mat, 2-inch jiffy pellets and
patience. No one "gets" cloning right off the bat. You have to keep at it and keep refining your
technique. The first peek at tender white virgin roots will make your labor worthwhile, eh?

Good luck, BigSteve.

3 weeks with no roots is sort of a long time.

If you have been consistently having problems with your aero cloner, I would move over to the tried and true. Humidity dome, spray bottle, oasis cubes. It just works...
If you want to cut a few days off of your rooting time, get yourself a heat mat. 1 tray dome setup easily fits 12-15 clones. You can pack em' in if you need more...

I use Dip-N-Grow... I use water when I run out and haven't been to store recently or short on cash... it roots a little faster with the DNG, but water alone works. I ph it to 7.

I have tried a few different lighting options... my favorite is the T5 single bulb with reflector... A 2 ft goes over a dome, or a 4 ft, inline, for 2 domes... sit the light directly on top of the dome and put a paper towel between the light and the dome... it makes for the perfect lighting and acts as a little air filter for your dome. As far as lighting, nothing has worked as well as the T5 paper towel thing.

I also like large clones... bonzai mothers... if your need more than 8 clones of one strain then make multiple mothers or do some LST.. multiple mums is easier, imo.... big healthy top clones... no little side bullshit. This cuts a couple weeks off of your veg times.

As to what is wrong with your cloner, not sure. Some genetics are just stubborn with rooting. I have never had anything that took longer than maybe 18 days. And that was roots breaking out of an oasis cube, not first site of roots with an aero. Like I said, if you have been having problems, go pickup a dome and some oasis cubes. It's so easy..,. I have had 100% rooting consistently for a long long time. Not sure how long... maybe 2 years... But I do cut a couple extra per dozen needed and throw out those that are behind the pack.

I have never checked the humidity in the domes... just keep the oasis cubes wet and they will keep the dome plenty humid... If they are not wilting then it is humid enough. This is with a dome though. I do not know about aero.

The whole aero cloner thing seems like an over complicated system to me.

I have a homemade cloner that mists from the bottom,use 25ml of botanicare cal-mag per 4 gallons of R.O. water and get 100 percent success..not all get planted as some are smaller..look up "60 site cloner" on ebay,its cheep and simple but works wonders for me using this method..and I find I can keep the extras alive till the next rotation,so I don't have to clone as often!