Okay...I'll break it down as best I can...BJ might be able to add some details where I miss...
We took our four biggest ladies...5 weeks into flowering, mind you...and took a couple clippings off each. We made sure each clipping had at least 3 nodes, disinfected some scissors with rubbing alcohol wipes, and cut at a 45 degree angle. We then coated the cut spots on the clippings generously with Clone gel (the brand name I'm blanking on). We then used those squishy square things (sorry, don't know the fancy term), placed in a tray. Gave them a little pinch and then went through and watered each square so they were damp. We couldn't find out plastic dome, and the grow store was closed at this time (BJ's wonderful timing strikes once again) so were stuck using ziplock bags to trap moisture. We then placed the tray under our lights in our veg room.
The issues I noticed that I'm sure caused an issue - we have circulating fans in the veg room, which then blew against the un-secured ziplock bags, which in turn pressed against the clones and stressed them horribly...and even fell off a few. Doubtful this provided anywhere close to the humidity levels they need. The room stays around 80 degrees...not sure if this is warm enough, or even what I could do otherwise if it isn't.
Basically when I woke up every one of the clippings were shriveled, most of them completely hunched over and laying against the tray (except for those that had thicker stems to keep them held up). I went and bought a dome, sprayed it down with mist...dampened the cubes some more, re-covered and said a lil prayer...but I'm pretty sure they're gonna need more than that.
I'm pretty sure all was lost...it's just a bummer. We sacrificed some small branches that had been developing buds in an effort to keep our four original strains in rotation, and it seems all was just lost. I know it's a trial and error period - especially since we're first timers for all of this - but it's a definite downer. We have four incredibly beautiful plants budding up NICE, and it's a damn shame when the last bud gets rolled up that's it for our four original ladies......breaking up with a fine bitch is always hard eh?
I'm stayin hopeful and have been misting the dome, put a glass of water underneath to add humidity, and have been doing my best to keep the squares moist....but here's the issue in my mind. I wake up in the morning and check the veg room, give the lil guys a little drink, and now check on the clones before going to work. Then I'm gone for 9 to 10 hours. I'm not confident I can keep those squares wet enough, OR the humidity of the dome high enough, to ever properly raise up some clones. About how often will they need attention? And for how long at that rate...?
Any help would be appreciated....we're basically at a stand still with the plants we have...right now it's just the waiting game, so it's definitely time for experiments and building experience...basically I'd like to develop a set of tools and tricks for ALL aspects!