Soil grower, thinking about buying airoponic cloner, questions?

So as the title says, I've been a soil grower for a bit over a year, and Some plant's that i have cloned in the past (cup of water method) just did not want to clone, and got lost to the caveman method.
I'm going to be falling into some new strain's shortly, and want a high success rate. Since mine has been about 50/50, some clone wayyyy easy, others don't do so hot in a simple cup of water. So I
Bought rooting powder from home depot just to see what that crap is all about, and have not got to use it yet, but have some lovelies in veg right now waiting to mature a bit, and figured if i am to change
method's at all, the time is right, right about now. So I been searching around Ebay and other various places, looking at "cloners", and see some for the 60-80 $ range, that are "airoponic, with sprinkler heads n shit."
I've been leaning towards actually getting one, and have a few questions...

#1, PH/PPM Is this vital for a cloner? Should i be PH'ing the water for hydro down in the 5's, or for soil in the 6's or does it even matter? Also, how vital is PPM? I have never even measured my PPM as a soil grower, with
only a year in.

#2, Temperature, Is this vital for the "cloner/Res" Like it would be with a straight up hydro grow? I've gathered its important to keep the res 70-80F in hydro set up's, and not to let it get too hot, in which case if its the
same for a cloner, I will most likely have to use ice cubes periodically to keep temps low, in my hot ass grow area's lol. (Florida is a mother fucker in the summer, seriously, 100 deg F serious...)

Just inform, FYI, I am fixing most of the heat issue this year, after next crop, by insulating, adding drywall, moving the air conditioner, and adding another, and some other random ass shit.

If you guy's can throw me advice / answers, I'll love you forever... haha

- TheSnake

An aero is incredibly easy and cheap to build. From a 5gal bucket for 5-7 cuttings to a 40gal 70 site, I have built many and out of thousands of cuttings from many different strains I have only lost 2, and that was from incorrect nozzle direction on a new one. You can build one in an hour for less than $25, pump included.
With an aero cloner only tap water is needed, as nutes can only be absorbed via roots and cuttings have no roots. As for pH, it doesn't matter, ph affects
nute uptake via the roots and with no nutes or roots its a waste. I use tap water straight into the cloner, take cuttings straight from the plant and into cloner. No gels or voodoo compounds needed and in 8-12 days all are rooted.

once you go hydro clone you will no go back . cut the clone place it into the cloner ph water @ 5 . and give it 2 to 3 weeks temps under 70 so 60 to 70 never have a problem get almost 100 % success rate . if temps go over 75 then you get stem or root rot. toss them into the trash . in the summer you may have to leave the ac on to keep the water cool. I don't add nutrients or clone solutions. a clone company I suggest best I have seen besides my home made on is the http://www.ebay.com/itm/EZ-Clone-Classic-Cutting-System-16-Site-aeroponic-cloner-machine-hydroponics-/200999531044?pt=US_Hydroponics&hash=item2ecc817224 easy cloner . there pumps don't heat up like some . and good quality. it will last a life time. the guys that sell clones use these cloners . the directions are very good . highly rec one of these . yes costly . but well worth it . all clones do I spray water onto the stems , so you could go cheap , I personally suggest easy cloner .

for got to mention in hydro DO NOT USE A DOME. it will slow the rooting down ! no need for domes in hydro only soil . yes they sell the domes with cloners because they don't know how to grow .

The key to control is a proper cycle timer. I run 80sec on, 8mins off.

If temps are in high range, would it be ok to use blocks of ICE into the res to cool the water colder than room temp? Can it get too cold? I figure a half gallon block of ice frozen over night will last a whole day in the water or around that, to which i can just drop another one in, and just ph the water i freeze so it doesn't change?

It is best to use frozen water bottles, not blocks of ice. And again, adjusting pH is useless. Aero cloners actually like a warmer temp, 74-77, is perfect. I have never worried about cloner temps, just put cuttings in and in two weeks pull them out, never even looking at water.

For once i agree with superstoner. Aero cloning is so easy, no need to over think it.

SS is right built my aerocloner for like $40 and have enough PVC to build 2 more- ppm is a nonissue -just run straight water til they root out and and ph isn't really a factor either until you are vegging in it- look into to the Stinkbud single systems too if you want to grow a couple huge plants in a small space- aero only looks complicated- love growing aero/NFT rails too and built the whole shit for less than $100

I use a aerocloner with an aquarium heater to keep temps at 75-78 degrees. Straight water and a couple ml of bleach every few days.

- Jiji

I just built one, It will do 9 at a time. I used tap water with a little rooting hormone and dipped cutting sing cloning gel, AND AFTER ONLY 4 days I can see the formation of tiny roots. I plan on leaving them in the closer till they have inch long roots. I won't ever use anything else for my cloning. I leave it running24/7

I found that but letting the roots get 6-8" the plants took off faster in veg.

Good to know!

where does one find a timer that can be set to such intervals superstoner?

They are called recycle timers and are available at all hydro shops.

my local hydro shop is slacking... all they have is 15 min interval. ill grab one online

Found mechanical cycle timers on eBay with 55 sec intervals- 40 min total cycle for $14 ea; perfect for aerocloner or rail systems been using them for 2 months now without issues

ahh very nice!

midnitetoak said:

Found mechanical cycle timers on eBay with 55 sec intervals- 40 min total cycle for $14 ea; perfect for aerocloner or rail systems been using them for 2 months now without issues

Click to expand...

These are modified 15min interval timers and it really is luck of the draw with them. If you plan on continuing to grow hydro the proper tools will make life easier and you will spend less buying the correct stuff first. Try plantlightinghydroponics.com.

You are right SS and I agree but these timers are fine for now though I know I will be looking to upgrade soon...saving up my pennies for an ART-DNE; seeing them around for like $70 or less