EverythingHydro.com
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One of the questions I'm asked quite frequently is whether a person should start a plant from seed or through cloning...and if the answer is 'cloning' then what is the best way to clone? Like all other questions I'm asked, my usual answer is 'it depends'.
If the only criterion is to save time then I'd suggest cloning. However, if you're not happy with the plant overall and want something different then cloning wouldn't make any sense.
For this article's purpose, I'm going to assume that the decision has been made to clone, vs. planting new seeds. The first thing to understand is a clone only needs a few things, in the proper amounts, in order to produce roots and grow into an identical plant: water, oxygen, light and proper temperature. The trick is to stay within the proper ranges of each.
With all of the different options on market, from Aeroponic cloning machines, to soil, to Rockwool and other types of cloning devices, how can a person know what's best to do?
A lot of this depends on your experience level along with the amount of time and money you have.
If money is not a problem and you have relatively little cloning experience then a clone machine might be a good choice. I've seen clone machines cost as low as 30 dollars to as high as a few hundred. One of the great advantages of a good clone machine is it acts as a type of 'set it and forget it' like the George Foreman rotisserie.
You put your cuttings into the machine, turn it on and walk away. As long as the conditions are acceptable to the plant, you can buy yourself several days without having to check up on it constantly. If you're time challenged and a somewhat inexperienced gardener then this might be a great choice.
On the other hand, if money is a problem and you're not a cloning virgin then spending a few hundred bucks might not be the best choice. My best advice: ditch the clone machine and consider something like Rockwool.
Rockwool cubes are probably the most popular method of cloning because of the price, ease of use and exceptional growing capabilities. The problem is keeping optimal conditions. It usually requires more frequent supervision and modification. A person who uses Rockwool and walks away for a few days might return to find nothing survived except for the bacteria eating the dead clones.
Of course, there is also soil. However, unless you're extremely experienced (I do not use soil for cloning purposes) I do not suggest going the soil route. It's simply too difficult to maintain the conditions a clone needs in order to grow roots. Sure, soil is cheap or free (do not use soil from the ground as might contain harmful predators) but it's one of the hardest mediums to get a consistent and successful root system from.
For the newbie, it can be a difficult decision to make. They get advice from all sorts of 'professionals' who swear by this or that. That's not how a decision should be made. Ultimately, if you have the money a clone machine might be the best choice. However, if you're money challenged then something more economical (requiring more time and money) may be your best bet.
The bottom line, no matter which choice is made, is a plant needs certain conditions in order to grow a healthy root system and they don't care how it's done. Is a clone machine the best option? Maybe. It depends .
If the only criterion is to save time then I'd suggest cloning. However, if you're not happy with the plant overall and want something different then cloning wouldn't make any sense.
For this article's purpose, I'm going to assume that the decision has been made to clone, vs. planting new seeds. The first thing to understand is a clone only needs a few things, in the proper amounts, in order to produce roots and grow into an identical plant: water, oxygen, light and proper temperature. The trick is to stay within the proper ranges of each.
With all of the different options on market, from Aeroponic cloning machines, to soil, to Rockwool and other types of cloning devices, how can a person know what's best to do?
A lot of this depends on your experience level along with the amount of time and money you have.
If money is not a problem and you have relatively little cloning experience then a clone machine might be a good choice. I've seen clone machines cost as low as 30 dollars to as high as a few hundred. One of the great advantages of a good clone machine is it acts as a type of 'set it and forget it' like the George Foreman rotisserie.
You put your cuttings into the machine, turn it on and walk away. As long as the conditions are acceptable to the plant, you can buy yourself several days without having to check up on it constantly. If you're time challenged and a somewhat inexperienced gardener then this might be a great choice.
On the other hand, if money is a problem and you're not a cloning virgin then spending a few hundred bucks might not be the best choice. My best advice: ditch the clone machine and consider something like Rockwool.
Rockwool cubes are probably the most popular method of cloning because of the price, ease of use and exceptional growing capabilities. The problem is keeping optimal conditions. It usually requires more frequent supervision and modification. A person who uses Rockwool and walks away for a few days might return to find nothing survived except for the bacteria eating the dead clones.
Of course, there is also soil. However, unless you're extremely experienced (I do not use soil for cloning purposes) I do not suggest going the soil route. It's simply too difficult to maintain the conditions a clone needs in order to grow roots. Sure, soil is cheap or free (do not use soil from the ground as might contain harmful predators) but it's one of the hardest mediums to get a consistent and successful root system from.
For the newbie, it can be a difficult decision to make. They get advice from all sorts of 'professionals' who swear by this or that. That's not how a decision should be made. Ultimately, if you have the money a clone machine might be the best choice. However, if you're money challenged then something more economical (requiring more time and money) may be your best bet.
The bottom line, no matter which choice is made, is a plant needs certain conditions in order to grow a healthy root system and they don't care how it's done. Is a clone machine the best option? Maybe. It depends .
to the pebbles, but not so much that the clay pebbles are completly covered this way it wont dry out in there and will still get oxygen to your medium. I then use peat pellets (these are very good). so I soak the peat pellets in ph water also. Then It's just a case of poking a hole in the peat pellets dipping my clones in clonex and putting them in the pellets and then into the propergator and then put the lid on. I leave the vent open slightly also. I put the propergator at the edge of my garden. I then leave them for 4 days, after that I top up the bottom of propergter with more ph water and open the vents more. After another 3 days theres roots every where!