Trouble cloning

Okay, I wasn't sure exactly where to post this but I figured it isn't a newbie task so this part of the forum works.

I had always been successful cloning using the trimmings of plants about to be flowered. Now that I have dedicated mothers to the process I seem to be failing at every turn and I would appreciate some advice/assistance.

Background:
I clone using gloves and a sharp scalpel cutting the stem at a 45deg angle and dipping it in Root-tech gel before placing it in rockwool. It sits below a large plastic dome with t-12 fluorescents above. I use a heat mat below the tray and check them daily.

It used to be that roots would burst out after only four or five days when I used Dip'n'Grow and I had no foliage problems. Now, as my pictures will indicate, I end up with unrooted cuttings that have curled leaves and graying/necrotic tips. WTF? I don't understand why this could be happening all of the sudden given the only change has been the Root-tech. Any advice/opinions as to why these foliage issues might be occurring. As always, appreciate the help!

I think you are leaving to much leaf material on the plant, I would just leave the top leaves only. Also a lot of people will split the stem up the middle to provide more area for roots to grow out of. Some people will even skin the outside of the stem at the base to allow event more surface area for roots to grow from.

I don't know if this is it because you say you were successful in the past, but don't forget to keep it humid in the greenhouse and mist the leaves a few times a day.

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I always [gently] scrape the bottom of the cutting before placing it in the root gel. If it's particularly thick I split it down the middle.

And falloftroy:
I took the pics when the covers where off so as to show the actual plants. Normally they sit under humidity domes and the RH is around 95%.

You should also cut the outter edges of the leaves with some scissors about 1 to 1 1/2 inches from the tips; from what I've read, this will help promote rooting.

lsvtecna said:

You should also cut the outter edges of the leaves with some scissors about 1 to 1 1/2 inches from the tips; from what I've read, this will help promote rooting.

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I do that as well--and it's more to prevent excessive transpiration which could prematurely tax the water intake abilities of the cutting.

spacehund said:

I do that as well--and it's more to prevent excessive transpiration which could prematurely tax the water intake abilities of the cutting.

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that's right on, and that's why I suggest you cut all but the top leaves, unless the top leaves are just super tiny.

First, i noticed that often the quality of the clones depended on the quality of the mother and branch used. Branches should be newer, and if red or hard stemmed, probably some outter coating scraped off before applying hormone.

I stopped using rockwool for the same reasons. I think that it just holds too much water.

Now this is my strategy with 100% success so far:

1) clean blade, 45deg cut just below a stripped budding joint, with 2 solid fan leaves, leaving 1" plus to put in medium.

1a) cut tips off clone fanleaves if you like

2) using rooting gel, dip entire 1" in.

3) place in preconditioned rapid rooter(dip rr first in h2o to confirm max retention)

4) place in domed Rapid Rooter tray(has premade holes for the rr's), with heating mat(make sure tray is flat on mat, which requires that you angle it)

4a) i usually use a paperclip to stab through the rr to 1/4" from bottom, then plant the clones in. This gives a better/closer fit. Also, i use one rr, and break off pieces to place in the hole to firmly hold the clone(hole is rather big for my clones).

5) place under very low bulb(i use a 28watt 6400k cfl that is 2' away)

6) remove dome as quickly as possible. Dome for 1st 2 days, then remove/readd as plants begin to wilt. With RR's, after 4 days, you should no longer need the dome at all.

7) room temperature 70-75 deg

24 hrs of light

9) IMPORTANT: leave 1/8" of water on the bottom of the cloning tray. This water, heated by the mat, is what keeps the RR warm(as water evap tends to cool down the medium). Confirm the RR's stay in contact with the h2o, by pushing them down. If you feel the water it should feel neither warm nor cold. Stupid mats have a raised part where the power cable comes in, this creates a hole between. Set the mat diagonal, and place your clones in the middle.

10) clones should show roots 6-10 days, and be ready to plant 2-3 days afterward.

I did much testing with gels/liquids and between rockwool, coco and rr's. This method worked FAR better than the others, and was more consistent. Temperature and humidity are the most important, as is using low levels of light.