Cloning Question +rep for help

I'm about to put my first batch of clones under the HIDs tommorow and find out which ones are rooted. I made my own "ghetto" cloning station due to low funds and I hope it works.

I have 2 questions.

1 - Is this the best way to check and see if the clippings are rooted?

2 - After 2 weeks, if they're not rooted, will they ever root?

+rep for any good help

if they dont root they will start dying dude, if u dont see any progress after 14 days id thru it out, guess it sorta answers both your questions

What kind of cloning system are we talking about here? Can you give us more info?

smallclosetgrowr said:

if they dont root they will start dying dude, if u dont see any progress after 14 days id thru it out, guess it sorta answers both your questions

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They're all still perky, but I dug one up a couple of days ago because the leaves were getting black (yes, black & perky) and no roots. But that one was an experiment, no nodes underground just the cut and scraping the sides.

I'll know when I take them out of the dome almost immdiately when some start to droop. Just wondering if I should toss the ones that droop of it they're done after 2 weeks.

gcvt420 said:

What kind of cloning system are we talking about here? Can you give us more info?

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I started out with the "Pepsi Domes". I cut the bottoms off of Pepsi 2-litres and used them as individual domes.

The medium is FFOF soil in 16oz cups.

When I ran out of room I added a big red tub from Wal-Mart ($4).

When I ran out of room again I started also using a small styrofoam cooler (not in pics).

For the Pepsi Domes I put them in a 14" saucer and fill the saucer with water and treat the water with Hyrdrogen Peroxide to help combat mold/mildew.

In the Tub & Cooler I put water in the bottom of them, treat it with Hydrogen Peroxide, and put the cups in the bottom of them with saran wrap over them.

In the Pepsi Domes it's a constant 99% humidity and mid 70s temp.

In the Cooler & Tub it's a contant 80% humidity and right at 80 degrees.

And I did't put holes in the bottom of the cups since they're sitting in water. I water with 3/4 cup of water every week or so. The top of the soil never dries out so I don't want to over do it.

I have four 32w 4' fluoro tubes. One 3,000k and three 6,500k

And I think I've seen new growth on most of them. It's hard to tell though since there are soo many of them, plus I've been spending a lot of time with the ones in veg and upgrading the veg/flower room.

Anyone? The main question is when I take them out of the domes tommorow, do I want to toss the ones that droop, or should I give them more time.

I'll be taking them out tommorow, it'll be 2 weeks since I planted them tommorow.

dude those clones wont die for a couple of weeks iv had clones that have taking 4/5 weeks to root so no dont throw them out if the leaves droop then put them back in for an other while, by the way its very hard to clone from the top of a plant almost imposable, so i hope you took them from the bottem

hope this helps bro and good luck

weedpot said:

dude those clones wont die for a couple of weeks iv had clones that have taking 4/5 weeks to root so no dont throw them out if the leaves droop then put them back in for an other while, by the way its very hard to clone from the top of a plant almost imposable, so i hope you took them from the bottem

hope this helps bro and good luck

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Thanks for the info +rep

I think you just saved me an expensive mistake. lol

I didn't use the top of the plant, I took from the bottom. But I did use some grow tips that were on the tops of the branches.

as long as the foliage is ok id probs keep them

Well one that only had one leaf above ground is turning dark brown/black, but she's still perky.

I tried moving them closer to the Fluoros a few days ago and ended up with damaged leaves on others.

Here is some hopefully good advice. I would use rockwool next time you clone. The reasons for this are similar to germinating seeds in a paper towel rather than the medium. Some seeds end up just not developing, and if you planted them all in soil you would have wasted time/soil/a pot. The paper towel method shows you which seeds germinated so you have a higher percentage of success once you actually plant on the soil. Rockwool serves the same purpose. Yes, you must soak rockwool in pH 5.5 water overnight, but after that, it allows you to have a great look at which clones are rooting, thus, which ones you should plant. I never plant my clones directly in soil. Did you use a cloning gel/solution? If not, I recommend Oliva's cloning gel. It is going to take a lot longer for your clones to root. I definitely wouldnt put them under HID's right now. What you have for florescent tubes is fine for rooting. Just be patient.

infdjedi said:

Here is some hopefully good advice. I would use rockwool next time you clone. The reasons for this are similar to germinating seeds in a paper towel rather than the medium. Some seeds end up just not developing, and if you planted them all in soil you would have wasted time/soil/a pot. The paper towel method shows you which seeds germinated so you have a higher percentage of success once you actually plant on the soil. Rockwool serves the same purpose. Yes, you must soak rockwool in pH 5.5 water overnight, but after that, it allows you to have a great look at which clones are rooting, thus, which ones you should plant. I never plant my clones directly in soil. Did you use a cloning gel/solution? If not, I recommend Oliva's cloning gel. It is going to take a lot longer for your clones to root. I definitely wouldnt put them under HID's right now. What you have for florescent tubes is fine for rooting. Just be patient.

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Thanks for the info +rep

I was thinking of switching to rock wool, but I have to make myself clones and I hate watering plants in rock wool in dirt. I had problems early on telling if they're under or over watered. But after I get the 8 clones I want for myself, I'll switch to cubes if I can't figure out water.

I saw a papercliped thread where someone rooted in water using "indirect" light. If I can figure out what that means I'll go that way so I can disolve the rooting hormone in the water and remove the plant from the rooting hormone water when I plant it. I like the idea of that because the other ways, the rooting hormone could be there for a while.

I used a rooting hormone powder. I'll be getting Gel, if I don't start rooting in water, as soon as I can. The powder's hard to work with. But I put it in a cup and cut the cup in half so I didn't spend too much time out of the water before it went in the dirt.

I was going to just take the domes off under the fluoros. It's only 20% humidity in the house (30% to 40% in veg/flower room). I figured with no high humidity the ones without roots would droop quickly.

I thought they were only going to take 2 weeks, but now I can't remember where I read or heard that. How long will they take before I know how many rooted? (rough average)

I really don't mean to seem impatient, but if I get a bad rooting average then I have to flower the ones in veg now. I'll never make it another 3 months without making some good change off the clones.

bump, bump, bump

FFOF is way too hot for clones. Buy FF Light Warrior if you want to clone in soil. It is specially made for clones and seedlings. Best of luck my friend.

Rapid rooters $10 for 50......you get roots in 4-10 days depending on strain

Yes the starts/clones can live along time before they root.....My sour D strain would sometimes take 4-5 week to root in dirt

Get a Seed germination station from walmart (Jiffy) $5-10

vapedg13 said:

Rapid rooters

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I just bought some of those to try. Any tips you could share would be appreciated. BTW I hear they are the shit.

doc111 said:

FFOF is way too hot for clones. Buy FF Light Warrior if you want to clone in soil. It is specially made for clones and seedlings. Best of luck my friend.

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Thanks for the info +rep.

I was trying to hold off on buying new dirt, but I'll get some when I'm out today.

Can you give a ballpark estimate on how long it takes to root clones?

vapedg13 said:

Rapid rooters $10 for 50......you get roots in 4-10 days depending on strain

Yes the starts/clones can live along time before they root.....My sour D strain would sometimes take 4-5 week to root in dirt

Get a Seed germination station from walmart (Jiffy) $5-10

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Thanks for the info, +rep

Found Rapid Rooter on the net, I'll get that instead of dirt if it's gonna get them rooted that quick.

That's a good price, I assume it's one of those things that kind of look like an ice tray. Use with dirt, cubes, or either?

DannyGreenEyes said:

Thanks for the info +rep.

I was trying to hold off on buying new dirt, but I'll get some when I'm out today.

Can you give a ballpark estimate on how long it takes to root clones?

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On average it takes about 1-2 weeks. Rapid rooters are little plug looking thingies that are made up of composted tree bark. They have a hole in the middle of them to stick the stem of the cutting into. The tray kinda looks like a big ice cube tray. You can just buy bags of the refills when you have used up the ones that come with the tray. They are supposedly innoculated with beneficial bacteria which encourage root development and fend off fungal attack. I can't wait to see how well they work.

doc111 said:

FFOF is way too hot for clones. Buy FF Light Warrior if you want to clone in soil. It is specially made for clones and seedlings. Best of luck my friend.

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...my thought exactly, too hot. I'd use Fox Farms Happy Frog @ this stage.
...I used rapid rooters my first few grows, then I was introduced to the ezcloner...no rooting gel needed, just straight dechlorinized water pH'd @ 6.0, I get 100% success rate in 5-7 days, everytime, always.