clone tips turning black?

So I took about 15 cutting three days ago and put them in my new semi-do it yourself aero-cloning bucket. I used rooting hormone dip and the guys at the hydro shop suggested some water additives that are basically some trace nutrients. Total ppm is 250.

Open the bucket to change the water and noticed some of the cutting tips are turning black. Is that a fungus? Should I throw some mycorhizal spores I have in the bucket in an attempt to induce healthy roots.

The plants are standing stiff and show no other problems. HO t5's about 14" from them. pump on aerocloner running 12 on 12 off, PH 5.9, water tep hovering around 71.

Thanks guys!!

No thats your root structure rotting instead of producing. If you would like to take the hassle and price out of cloning. Just buy a humidome from either your local hydro store or ace hardware/lowes/Homedepot/wally. they're cheap. Also try switching to peat starters instead of rockwool plugs (grodan). I have problems with too much water retension in rockwool plugs in the past and its the extra water thats most likely rotting your clone tips. I also dont use a rooting solution, just the rooting gel and water. Ive had problem with nutrients in young cutting/seeding stage plants and the rooting gel is more than enough

damn!!! I thought that was what it was. That is a bummer as this was the first attempt at using that cloner. Could I make a fresh cut above the rotted area and try again or is that just nonsense?

Thanks,
B

legallyflying said:

Could I make a fresh cut above the rotted area and try again or is that just nonsense?

Thanks,
B

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It's worked for me before. Only tried it once though. Give it a shot.

Just make sure you cut under a new clean node.

I would try if I didnt have any clones or seeds left. If you do throw have anyleft id throw it away so your plants wont grow at different intervals. Although I wouldnt get my hopes up because a cuttings new growth is determined by the node its attached to (which is the bottom piece of the cutting). Just get a humidome.

I just recut all the stems (still below the node), bleached the bucket and pump, and put ph tap water in the bucket. No disrespect or anything, but I don't want to use a humidor. I've used them in the past and yeah, they work but they are kind if a PIA in terms of when to decide they is enough o2, when to take it off, when to put it back on. There is that, plus my rooted cuttings are going straight into hydroton so I don't want to mess with rock wool or jiffy peats.

Anyways, I figured I only set myself back a few days so we'll see how it goes.

Well. I respect your decision but i think you will eventually go back to a humidome. Your right in wanting to put your roots straight into hydroton. But you can still develop your roots in peat, and remove the peat off the roots once its done. The only difference is grodan holds too much water. Especially in a deep water culture cloning system. You will not risk screwing up your cloning machine by using peat. If your stuck on the grodan though. Id suggest screwing sprayers onto a pvc pipe from a water pump inside your cloner. rather than putting airstones in a small resevoir bacause submerging rockwool (grodan) into water will rot your starts. Also. I find it hard to screw up a humidome, even the Mondi ones with the adjustable vents. All I do is this: 1. Take my cuttings and spray the tops and sides not getting the bottom too wet. 2. Dip the bottoms into cloning gel (not cloning solution) and 3. Slip them inside my peat tray inside my humidome. 7-10 days later.... a mini freakin garden. I personally close the vents until there is less than a 1/4 open on each vent or completely closed. A heat meat isnt needed but if you can find one around the house it helps.

oooh wait, maybe I described what I am currently using incorrectly. Its a 3.5 gallon bucket with a pump that pumps water into a little pvc pipe with 5 sprayers in it. The clones are placed in neoprene disks that fit into holes on the bucket cover. so the cuttings are just hanging in space being sprayed by the water.

Get 2 1/8" ID rubber grommets, 2 - 2ft 1/8" airlines, 1 dual line air pump. This may be your best solution. Your roots are not properly aerated so they rot.. Even with that being said you will still get better results with humidomes IMO.

I put an airstone in there. Anyone else have any comments or had this happen to them?