DWC Raft Cloner G.A.P.E. (steps/notes for results)

Another setback for what is now the previous run.I observed continued stalling.I pulled them,and saw they were trying to grow leafy chutes inside the foam collar.The introduction of nutes was a no no for preroot bump formation.They got comfy,and started vegetative growth from the nodes inside the foam collar.I think I got away with the non res change runs because I added nutes post bump formation (like I normaly do),and it was able to deal with the nute uptake thru seeker roots instead of instant comfy roots.The next runs had a lower dilution of nutes from the previous run,so no instant comfy roots.I saved the clones with barely past bumps for other experiments,and reset up a new run.

I am just going to use tap with 1 ml of KLN (I am behind schedule),and when bumps show,I am going to use just a small amount of the Maxibloom.I am thinking at a strength of 1/8-1/4 Tsp (.5-1.25 ml) to my 4 gal res is sufficient for my desired seeker roots.I am thinking I can add 1/8 Tsp of the Maxi right away,and PH correct when roots form,but this is just judgement observed from previous runs.I am better off with the standard tap.Then when Bumps form.Lightly nute,and PH 6 the res.What actualy works in other words....lol!

The thing with experimenting for me is trying to change a little at a time because other effects come into play,and hinders trouble shooting.

Cloning is easy with the basics,but it pays to know your plants for a more rate of success.

Took a long stemmed clone,Did the cut/scrapes,and wrapped in a Polyurethane collar.
Placed in a 6 oz Hempy cup,with stem in res below drain hole,and wedged Poly above drain hole.
Ph'ed watered lightly daily in moderate 18/6 veg light.
In one week The lowers yellowed,and then fed lite 1/4'ish strength nutes.
3 days later she was put into 12/12 with 1/2 strength nute.
1 wk 12/12,and I giving her 3/4 strength nute.


*100% strength nute is for my setup.

^This is a modern spin on the Granny cloner,or clone in a cup of water.Only thing touching the res is the bottom of the stem.

I am currently running another test on stem poking out of the bottom of Polyurethane collar,and above the res (nothing in res),with some directly to 12/12 no roots.

I am also testing partial roots in poly collars.

Dalek Supreme said:

^This is a modern spin on the Granny cloner,or clone in a cup of water.Only thing touching the res is the bottom of the stem.

I am currently running another test on stem poking out of the bottom of Polyurethane collar,and above the res (nothing in res),with some directly to 12/12 no roots.

I am also testing partial roots in poly collars.

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Dalek this is the coolest shit I've seen in some time!!!

So now you're in flower, are you going to fill rez with perlite or hydroton??? Or are you goin' dwc on us with a foam net pot???

WattSaver said:

Dalek this is the coolest shit I've seen in some time!!!

So now you're in flower, are you going to fill rez with perlite or hydroton??? Or are you goin' dwc on us with a foam net pot???

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Thks Wattsaver.

Yes it is pretty cool.I am goin to leave be.as long she does not collapse into lower zones she should be fine in theory.
LOL! on the foam net pot,but yes I beleive she is easily transplantable.

I can ditch the raft cloner,and just clone like this.No air pump is needed with passive airflow in drain hole zone,and moist/aerated taproot till feeder roots hit res.I am going to add medium next time just to ensure to hold plant up.The Polyurethane holds enough
moisture/air when compressed no more than 50% of the foam strips volume.You can see the roots coming out are in a healthy state,with the conditions inside the collar providing for them.

BTW I grew plants in this size cup before with proper methods.From the look so far it looks allready bigger than previously grown plants in same size container with full medium at same growth stage.I believe as long taproot has proper conditions,and a readily available res between an aerated zone,then medium is not needed.

Hempy Zones

A:Taproot keep moist,and aerated till roots hit res.

B:Air Roots seek res and take up extra oxygen.Keep from light,and heavy airflow to fight off callous woodyness (lower oxygen uptake).

C:Feeder roots seek watertable/res to support plants needs with water,and food.

I germed a seed in 50% compressed Polyurethane foam.No more need for Rockwool for me.I just kept moist with PH'ed tap,and now giving it a very lite early feed.Stretchy stem due to seed husk stuck on it keeping the 1st leafset closed.I wet/soaked the stuck husk,then let sit a couple minutes,and then gently tweezed off.

The unrooted cuttings put directly in 12/12 did very poorly as I expected,and will not bother with pics.

The Black Queen cutting (with cut stem entirely in foam collar) I kept foam moist (PH'ed tap) in mom chamber with indirect lighting (6.5K).When lowers started to die off I gave a lite feed,and it took 3 wks for it to drop a root into the Hempy cup res.The BQ in the purple 12oz cup was put into 12/12 last night.

The TGA Space Queen in the 6oz blue cup is doing great.There is no medium besides the foam collar holding it up.You can see thru the cup,and see the root mass halfway into res.

I am going to put aside the raft cloner,and just do cuttings in foam collars with medium or mediumless Hempy cups.Taking away the Bubbler adds a little extra stealth to boot.I can deal with 3wks or under clones,and as I go along I will follow the methods previously outlined to shorten the wait up some.

Granny cloner modified,will be my choice looks like so far?

Very good info Dalek. It shows the shear will to live that this plant has. And if all the basic elements are met it will thrive.

Now the ??? is can this be taken mainstream?

Do you think it is possible to veg for 60 days then throw into flower to build some 1/4 pounder's? That might be too much for the foam to hold down, but then again proportionally you are most likely creating the same leverage in a smaller container.

Too much thinking got to get back to trimming... my fingers aren't sticky enough

Keep up the science.

jela10 said:

Day 10 of Pineapple Express in in Rapid Rooter's/mapito hempy cups. I'm really disappointed...not in the medium but the seeds. These were the smallest sprouts I've ever seen pop from seed and they were very flimsy even though introduced to light and fan early in life. My typical 10day sprouts in coco hempy cups are wider than they are tall (spanning the cup) and usually looking much "fatter" in the stems. I'm getting decent root development but upstairs they look twisted like blades of a propeller and just plain weak. I have another 5 in a separate breeder pack that I want to start in coco cups and should they prove to be my typical fat sprouts I'll transplant those to the bigger mapito buckets.

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A transplant to a bigger container will make them take off imho.They look great for my micro set up from what I see.I would hold off judgement for now.

jela10 said:

Cinderella 99's just saw 5 weeks flower in 2g hempy's....one is a 6 footer. Look at those thin leaves....a nice departure from my usual Indy-dom girls.
View attachment 2403530View attachment 2403538

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Wow!They look like spiders that carry woven egg sacks on there backs,but hell of alot sweeter.Did you overshoot the WOH thread with this post?LOL!

WattSaver said:

Very good info Dalek. It shows the shear will to live that this plant has. And if all the basic elements are met it will thrive.

Now the ??? is can this be taken mainstream?

Do you think it is possible to veg for 60 days then throw into flower to build some 1/4 pounder's? That might be too much for the foam to hold down, but then again proportionally you are most likely creating the same leverage in a smaller container.

Too much thinking got to get back to trimming... my fingers aren't sticky enough

Keep up the science.

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Thks.
Right on with the basic elements met.

I have ideas on mainstream.

Transplanting poses risks to the roots.Larger plants cannot be supported from what I have seen.I reserve the method for my micro setup,but like I said "I have ideas". http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-6in-Bucket-Lid.asp

Rember iso cures sticky fingers.

I wonder if MR. Wizard grew?

Dalek Supreme said:

Wow!They look like spiders that carry woven egg sacks on there backs,but hell of alot sweeter.Did you overshoot the WOH thread with this post?LOL!

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Wow, totally blew that one didn't I...somehow I was on the WOH thread, followed your link over here and got stuck..didn't mean to pollute your thread....sorry bro...I just deleted them from your thread. BTW, awesome ideas you are cultivating here. I'm looking at the WOH thread this morning wondering where my 2 posts were. Duhhhh.

jela10 said:

Wow, totally blew that one didn't I...somehow I was on the WOH thread, followed your link over here and got stuck..didn't mean to pollute your thread....sorry bro...I just deleted them from your thread. BTW, awesome ideas you are cultivating here. I'm looking at the WOH thread this morning wondering where my 2 posts were. Duhhhh.

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Ganja,and tech is a bumpy road. LOL!

Dalek, where would one find the foam you use? Am I correct to assume it's an open cell type polyurethane? Knowing the density would be great too...I'd seriously like to try your technique since my Turbo-clone is consistent slime generator with my temperatures.

jela10 said:

Dalek, where would one find the foam you use? Am I correct to assume it's an open cell type polyurethane? Knowing the density would be great too...I'd seriously like to try your technique since my Turbo-clone is consistent slime generator with my temperatures.

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It is the Polyurethane foam you find in common furniture cushining.It is not stiff but pliable with bounce back,and has open cells.Light turns it yellow,but it is usualy white when first manufactured.It has air/water retaining properties,but more so,and needed when slightly compressed (check pic).

Well 2 cuttings of TGA Spacequeen that I put in 12/12 unrooted came back from the dead in a delightfull way.After 3.5 weeks,and slowly raising them to the light they shot out roots then greened up.They will yield low from the direct 12/12,but now I know it works with the right plant that clones well to begin with.I was going to throw them out but let them be.


The rooted then put into 12/12 SQ is lookin great with no medium in zone A,and B to take up space.

BTW I have not transplanted with this method.I do see how delicate one needs to be with transplanting ,because of the foam collar.Care must be taken with the taproot,and roots.I would pinch the open end to keep it closed,and gently wrap it in Polyfil to the size of the next medium filled container.The foam collar needs to be compressed for air/water retension,and protect roots.

I transplanted the SQ a couple weeks back.She was allways thirsty in that small cup.She is looking great now,
No more raft cloner for me.

The 2nd pic is right after transplant,and she is looking hot as of now.

I would only use it as a small starter cube (1"-2" square, max) as it looks to hold too much water + IMO too much resistance beyond that. Now, you could cut the rest up into 1/4" - 1/2" cubes. I use lava rock. All the nooks and crannies also support root development

As you can see I water from the top using low pressure mist heads. Use less than 4oz per plant/feeding. LR also allows for super feeding. Once the plant gets ~ 8" tall I feed every 30 minutes. Growth is explosive. If interested, google My DIY 21st Century Flood & Drain for my grow thread

This is G2 version over a single plant. If doing multiple plants run pvc along the perimeter, or make a T

PetFlora said:

I would only use it as a small starter cube (1"-2" square, max) as it looks to hold too much water + IMO too much resistance beyond that. Now, you could cut the rest up into 1/4" - 1/2" cubes. I use lava rock. All the nooks and crannies also support root development

As you can see I water from the top using low pressure mist heads. Use less than 4oz per plant/feeding. LR also allows for super feeding. Once the plant gets ~ 8" tall I feed every 30 minutes. Growth is explosive. If interested, google My DIY 21st Century Flood & Drain for my grow thread

This is G2 version over a single plant. If doing multiple plants run pvc along the perimeter, or make a T

View attachment 2443163View attachment 2443172

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I do not know what you are getting at,but I have adopted something more simple.

http://www.highgrade-seeds.com/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.cgi?board=04;action=display;num=1356672832