Cloning question - Aeroponics

Just wanted to get some opinions on nutes and clone gel when running an aeroponic cloner. Are any nutes like GH RapidStart necessary? What about a cloning gel? This is my first use with an aeroponic cloner, so I wanted to get some other growers opinions, especially if they have aeoponic cloner experience.

i thought that dipping in gel was unneccessary in aerocloning, but you can use something such as dyna gro's KLN. I know theres also one called rapidstart by gen hydro. also some people use drip clean to keep everything salt free and clean it frequently is the key to success ! dont be afraid of using bleach unless running bennies

Nizza said:

i thought that dipping in gel was unneccessary in aerocloning, but you can use something such as dyna gro's KLN. I know theres also one called rapidstart by gen hydro. also some people use drip clean to keep everything salt free and clean it frequently is the key to success ! dont be afraid of using bleach unless running bennies

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Hey Nizza, thanks! I thought so too with the cloning gel, but then after some research I saw some people using it so I got confused. The same with nutes, some say they use them, others don't. I was looking at the GH Rapid Start, I have heard good things about it. It means a long trip to the hydro store, however!

What about taking clones after they start to flower? I know some people clone within the first week of flowering. I ask because the plan is to set mine to flower tomorrow (Sept. 1st), and if I do NEED the GH Rapid Start I could order it online and have it in before the week is out. This saves me the long trip - I'm lazy!

Thanks again Nizza! I welcome all other opinions, I need to figure this out soon!

i also know that they aren't necessary but they increase your results if that helps, I think the main things to consider are resevoir temperatures and aeration. tap water will have plenty of nutes and those things help with the hormones

I run my ez-cloner with straight tap water. I don't even ph balance or anything. 80%+ is good enough for me. Try a couple both ways and see what works best for you.

I have used cloning gels, superthrive, H202, low doses of nutrients and plain tap water.

Plain tap water works just as well without all the additives and makes things simple. I am all about keeping it simple.

Try a side by side if you can.

Hey Nizza, I said "screw it" and bought some DynoGro KLN online with 2-day shipping which means it'll be here Tuesday. I'll either wait till then or just start off with PH-right tap water with just a tad of the DynoGro Protekt and add the KLN when it comes in. To help with over-heating in the res I plan on running half hour on/half hour off. I will probably change that water every day as well, it is pretty easy with the cloner I bought. My lights are simple, very cool LED blue/white panels, just about ideal for clones. I'm going to be assembling my cloner box soon, I'll take some pics and add them to my Hempy Quest post (link in my signature).

Thanks again!

JonnyAppleSeed420 said:

I run my ez-cloner with straight tap water. I don't even ph balance or anything. 80%+ is good enough for me. Try a couple both ways and see what works best for you.

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Hey Johnny, I'm on a quest to get a new mom starting from bag seed (see link in my sig), so I don't have a lot cuttings to clone so I need an almost 100% success rate! I did decide (mostly do to my laziness!) to start with just PH-right tap water with a touch of DynoGro Protekt. I have the KLN coming in Tuesday, so I'll add that if necessary.

Thanks!!

MYOB said:

I have used cloning gels, superthrive, H202, low doses of nutrients and plain tap water.

Plain tap water works just as well without all the additives and makes things simple. I am all about keeping it simple.

Try a side by side if you can.

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Hey MYOB, as I said to Johnny, I'm kind limited on cuttings! I do have another question - do you run 24/7 or some sort of interval? For heat reasons I was thinking of running half hour on/half hour off. What do you think?

lamopa said:

Hey MYOB, as I said to Johnny, I'm kind limited on cuttings! I do have another question - do you run 24/7 or some sort of interval? For heat reasons I was thinking of running half hour on/half hour off. What do you think?

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I keep my cuttings in the cloner off to the side in my veg room. They get 18/6 of indirect light. Cuts really do not need much light as you want roots not new growth. I wouldnt run intervals, just 18/6 and they dont have to be near direct light.

lamopa said:

To help with over-heating in the res I plan on running half hour on/half hour off. I will probably change that water every day as well, it is pretty easy with the cloner I bought. (link in my signature).

Thanks again!

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Two things... buy a cycle timer and a floating thermometer, it will allow you to dial in your temps in your res. My cycle runs 1 minute on 20 min. off, this cycle keeps my temps at 70-72 degrees. Temps are an important factor using these cloners. The second...don't bother changing your res. Once a week top back up with tap water. I have found that my tap water clones better than R/O and there was no difference using ph balanced either. I'm all about cloning and walking away for a couple weeks, this seems to work best for me. Good Luck Thanks for the reps. How do you give reps?

MYOB said:

I keep my cuttings in the cloner off to the side in my veg room. They get 18/6 of indirect light. Cuts really do not need much light as you want roots not new growth. I wouldnt run intervals, just 18/6 and they dont have to be near direct light.

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Hey MYOB, I meant the intervals running the aeroponic mister. My lights are simple blue/white LED panels - not too harsh and they stay cool. I'll run these 24/7 until I get roots. I was curious about running the mister in intervals...

JonnyAppleSeed420 said:

Two things... buy a cycle timer and a floating thermometer, it will allow you to dial in your temps in your res. My cycle runs 1 minute on 20 min. off, this cycle keeps my temps at 70-72 degrees. Temps are an important factor using these cloners. The second...don't bother changing your res. Once a week top back up with tap water. I have found that my tap water clones better than R/O and there was no difference using ph balanced either. I'm all about cloning and walking away for a couple weeks, this seems to work best for me. Good Luck Thanks for the reps. How do you give reps?

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Hey Johnny thanks for the tips, and no problem on the rep! To add rep to someone else under there avatar to the left and down below you'll see "Journal this Post", a Star, and a Triangle with an exclamation point in it. Click on the Star to add rep to someone.

Thanks again!

Here Johnny, here's a screen shot - the Star is circled with an arrow pointing at it:

I must need more posts or reps or something, the only tabs I have on that line are the triangle one, reply, and reply with a quote...thanks I'll watch for them then.

lemme know how the kln works please i have a bottle and haven't used it yet.

also a lot of people insulate the tub to help keep it from warming up

Nizza said:

lemme know how the kln works please i have a bottle and haven't used it yet.

also a lot of people insulate the tub to help keep it from warming up

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Will do Nizza - check my Thread over in the Drain-To-Waste forum (see the link in my sig), it'll have weekly updates about my grow.

I'm planning on building myself an aeroponic cloner, but instead of using a Rubbermaid tote, I'm going to use a cooler. Do you think this will help or hinder heating the reservoir fluid? I was wondering if the pump heat would be retained more and would eventually get warm? I am going to run a timer. Any opinions on this? Also wondering about distance from mister heads to cuttings? Trying to get an idea on the dimensions I need.