after a couple of failures while trying to clone in rockwool i decided to try the water cloning method while i did some research on why i was failing with rockwool. I have now found out what my mistakes were and i was wondering if the clones that i currently have in water could be transfered to finish off their development in rockwool. They have only been in the water that i have added some cloning gel to for 4 days and i cant see any root growth yet but then i wouldnt expect to at this early stage.
I did try using rockwool on one of my new clones and i seem to have success so i have definetly sorted my probs out i think.

Also one more quick question which is better cloning gel or the powder in your experiences, like i said i would be hoping to use rockwool when cloning.

Thanks everyone
D

If you are cloning into Rockwool make sure you soak it in the ph'd water for 24 hours prior to transplanting - as for the rooting gel/powder i'm using gel & works well for me so far...

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"..a friend with weed is friend indeed.."

i had soaked the rockwool so that wasnt the problem, what i think happened which i eventually sorted out was that the clones were too small for the hole that i made and so there was little contact with the rockwool itself and also i think the actual rockwool cubes i was using were too big i was using the 1 inch cubes were i should of been using the 1/2 inch cubes.
The new clones that i have include some blueberry which i dont want to lose because its supposed to be good for my pain so i really want to get them into rockwool from the water that i have them in now if possible so would it still be possible to transplant them into the rockwool?

Yes.
Just make sure the rockwool envelops the stem and roots.

hiya dharmagirl

I doubt very much if it was the size of cubes or the hole that caused your first clones to fail. Personally I wouldn't bother with rockwool for clones, I think it's crap, if you're growing in soil and not hydro I'd be looking for some Fleximix cubes or some Root Riot cubes if you can get them where you are - far far better than nasty rockwool. You'd be better off just using seedling potting soil to be honest than rockwool.

I use Root Riot cubes and get 100% success rate with my clones.

There's a number of tips for clones:

1) make sure you take a 'meristem' growing tip as a clone source
2) make sure you drop it straight into water as soon as you've taken the clone
3) make sure you dip it into rooting hormone like Clonex before putting into the cubes
4) make sure you keep the soil/Fleximix cube/rockwool moist but not wet
5) make sure your clones are kept in a propagator with the lid on and mist them at least twice a day

Clones are delicate and need nurturing. They require a little light, warmth and moisture to keep them alive whilst they develop a root system for uptaking water and nutrients. IF you don't look after them carefully and watch them closely they'll die.

Regarding cloning hormones I don't think it matters, just select one that works for you. I use Clonex cloning gel, it works for me so I stick with it.

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Mandala Seeds Kalichakra and Satori Grow
Holefillers 0.6gram per watt 64w Micro Grow

i havent heard of these before and i hdn't read anything about anybody using them on this site before but i have had a look to see if i can get them in england which i can so when i run out of my current supply of rockwool i will try some i think. I had read somewhere that using jiffy cubes or anything like it isnt good for the plants but i suppose i have to try these things for myself.
I have planted my water clones in the rockwool this morning and hopefully they should take.

I've yet to see root riot cubes in the US...or flex mix...so i think you might be in luck if yer in the UK. Made by the same folks that make Ionic...which we *can* get...

over here the same company offer cubes with rooting gel already in em but I've never tried em.

good luck

bt dt

And it has now all gone wrong!!!!!

I transplanted the clones that i put in water into the rockwool and all but 1 have died

When i transplanted them i was so very careful, i dipped them in some more cloning gel and very gently put them in some rockwool, 6 days later and the stalks had withered and died except the one that survived where there is no sign at all of withering, although i shouldnt hold my breath i suppose.

So where did i go wrong

Its still going wrong!!!

When i checked the 1 remaining clone this morning i nticed that the leaves are turning muddy brown colour from the stem towards the tips, although it is not all the leaves yet, Thinking back i have noticed this happening on the other clones before they died, the leaves that are doing this seem to be the same as what happened to the stems of the other clones that died

I must be doing something so wrong for this to happen, so does anybody have any idea what is happening

What light are you using ?

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Mandala Seeds Kalichakra and Satori Grow
Holefillers 0.6gram per watt 64w Micro Grow