Need help with my aero cloner!

I'm running a homemade tote with a 400gph pump and red 360 ez sprayers, using 10 gal of RO water with 150ml clonex and a teaspoon of pond zyme. My water temps are usually around 70f, ambient air temps are around the same and I try to keep the tent RH around 65%. I have the pump turning on for 30 sec then off for 10 mins.

I have no problems when I place rooted seedlings in the cloner, they will grow just fine. But when I tried clones I was unsuccessful. I tried cloning some alaskan purple and black sugar but after 3 weeks and no roots I gave up. I just put 6 gelat O.G. clones in there 5 days ago and I'm not seeing any progress and although I know some strains can take a long time to root I'm still worried that something is wrong.

I've watched videos and read directions enough that I'm pretty sure I'm cutting them right. One thing I've noticed is that everytime I lift a net pot to check the stem there is always a droplet of water hanging on the bottom of the stem covering the 45 degree cut. I dont know if that might be the problem but I'm running out of ideas and could use some help.

Try bumping up the temperature in the reservoir. I find clones root best in my aero cloner when I set my res temp to ~78F and keep the cloner tent a bit cooler, at around 65-70F.

I keep my pump running 24/0, but I'm unsure if that makes any difference or not as I've never tried any other schedule.

spek9 said:

Try bumping up the temperature in the reservoir. I find clones root best in my aero cloner when I set my res temp to ~78F and keep the cloner tent a bit cooler, at around 65-70F.

I keep my pump running 24/0, but I'm unsure if that makes any difference or not as I've never tried any other schedule.

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Yeah I was reading that warmer rez water can help with cloning but plenty of people are cloning just fine around 72f and I dont want to risk root rot by raising the temps too high. I will definitely try it though to see if it makes a difference but I'm still thinking there's gotta be a different reason its failing.

You're not spraying enough. Try 5 on 5 off if anything. Most of us just use the push tab analog timers at 15on/15off.

Jtatum2701 said:

Yeah I was reading that warmer rez water can help with cloning but plenty of people are cloning just fine around 72f and I dont want to risk root rot by raising the temps too high. I will definitely try it though to see if it makes a difference but I'm still thinking there's gotta be a different reason its failing.

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I literally just fill the res with water straight from the tap (between 70-150 PPM and Chlorinated), let it stabilize at my desired temp (78F), and put my clones in. No rooting gel, nothing.

Since you can't root a clone after three weeks, I'd say you've got nothing to lose by trying things. I suggest one thing at a time so you know what fixed things.

If your donor isn't healthy as can be, bug free and vigorous, cloning is impossible BTW.

Airwalker16 said:

You're not spraying enough. Try 5 on 5 off if anything. Most of us just use the push tab analog timers at 15on/15off.

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Does this just apply to the clone tub? My veg tub is on the same timer and the roots grow like crazy in there!

spek9 said:

I literally just fill the res with water straight from the tap (between 70-150 PPM and Chlorinated), let it stabilize at my desired temp (78F), and put my clones in. No rooting gel, nothing.

Since you can't root a clone after three weeks, I'd say you've got nothing to lose by trying things. I suggest one thing at a time so you know what fixed things.

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So I'm going to set the pump to be on nonstop, which should raise the water temp and probably keep the stems from getting the hanging water blob. I'll let it go for a week and see what happens. If still nothing then I'll probably refill the rez with just straight RO water without the clonex.

15 on 15 off for me as water temps sky rocketed when on all the time,get roots in 7 days.

spek9 said:

Since you can't root a clone after three weeks, I'd say you've got nothing to lose by trying things. I suggest one thing at a time so you know what fixed things.

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Thats not true. I have had cuts that took over a month to root in an aero cloner. Cuts taken from plants in dirt will often take a long time. I just leave them in there till they root. I will change out the water every couple of weeks, but other than that, just leave em. They'll root.


Leave your pump on 24/7. I usually get 100% in an ez clone 128. I add 1ml per gallon of Orca, 150ml of clonex

Jtatum2701 said:

So I'm going to set the pump to be on nonstop, which should raise the water temp and probably keep the stems from getting the hanging water blob. I'll let it go for a week and see what happens. If still nothing then I'll probably refill the rez with just straight RO water without the clonex.

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Honestly I have the best luck when I just run normal tap water and don't worry about anything else. My tap water is usually a high ph of 9 and ppm of 300. I don't PH it or anything and have had pretty much 100% success. When I first started I kept worrying about the PH, temps, ppms ect and ended up just consistently stunting root growth until I just stuck with using plain old tap water. Like you I had clones taking 3+ weeks to show roots.

I do use clonex gel now because it seems to shoot out roots a little faster and doesn't wilt as bad but thats it. I think I remember reading someone posting on here that they only feed their clones when they finally show roots. And if the plants want food they better grow roots! So I've basically lived by that code ever since. Once they show roots I'll spray them with a little calmag solution and hit them with about 200-300 ppm of nutes in RO water and off they go.