Cloning fail(s)! Halp pls.

Hey all,


So I'm attempting to root a third batch of clones from a Pineapple Chunk mom. I've had no success on my first two rounds. Initially I was taking cuttings with a clippers and also using rockwool. The space around the stem was too large with rockwool, and obviously fresh razor blades would be preferable for cloning, so I switched both of these factors out.

This round I (thought I) did pretty meticulously.. I leeched my mom for over a week until her nitrogen levels were obviously pretty low. I took my cuttings with a new razor blade, between the 3rd and 4th nodes for most of them. I dipped immediately in AN 'juicy roots' rooting gel; any that didn't get dipped super-quick got cut again after and re-dipped to avoid an embolism. I stripped the bottom 1/8" or so of the stem (just the bark on both sides, just enough to show the inside and promote some lateral rooting. I also split a stem on one or two instead of stripping to see if my stripping was causing clone failure.

This time I used GH RapidRooter plugs, also. (soaked in mild b/clone fert solution) All these clones had at least a node under the surface of the medium, and I made sure they were stuck in there, and that there wasn't a bunch of space around the stems again.

Everyone went under my prop dome for a week (6 1/2 days) of high humidity. I'm home a lot so I left the vents open and kept spraying the dome to keep up humidity while allowing air exchange somewhat.

All clones were alive at this point. I removed the dome, started hand watering plugs (just keeping them moist, not wet) at the bottom. Significant yellowing (most had happened before removing dome), a couple seemed shriveled yesterday so I tossed them, they had no developing roots.

All my other clones seem to be alive, but I'm getting a little concerned that they aren't rooting after 10 days. As far as I can tell:

-water is good
-pH is good
-temperature is alright, root zone is probably around 70-72 given proximity to cfl and black prop tray
-gel isn't too old (probably 6-7 months, that's ok right?)


What am I doing wrong? Should I just try to wait it out? I don't understand how I've taken 30+ clones and haven't gotten one to root.

Second week and the clones are still alive, but no roots outside the plugs yet. Any ideas?

id say that so long as they are healthy and alive, your doing ok and they may just be slow to root.. and just because your not seeing any roots outside of the plugs just yet, doesn't mean there aren't small roots inside of the plug.. ime, if they don't die fairly quickly, and have made it a week thus far, you should be ok.. i'd give them some more time..

I ROOT IN MY HOME MADE AERO TUB. I GET ROOT NODES AT 7 DAYS. TRANSPLANT THEM INTO SOIL AT 14. BEFORE THAT, I SIMPLY CUT AND STUCK IN LIGHTLY MOIST SOIL, UNDER A DOOM. BEFORE THAT I USED SUBCOOL'S METHOD OF CLONING. TRY IT.
https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/50073-cloning-subcool-redundant-explanation-pictures.html



REMEMBER TO MIST THE TOP DOME ONLY, NOT THE ROOTERS. KEEP THEM MOIST, BUT NOT WET. IF THEY ARE TOO WET, THEY WILL DAMP OFF AND ROT. ALSO, I NEVER USE POWDERS OR GELS.

Next time, try starting a few, without scraping off the 'bark', 'cause you might be getting a bit carried away, and doing more harm, than good. I used to close without scraping of any kind, or having a node below ground, and still had excellent results. Actually, my guess is that your temps are a bit low, slowing things down. Get a heat mat and a thermostat, set to 78-80*. I don't use a thermostat, but have a heat pad set to kick on for 15 minutes per hour, 24/7, and it works perfectly, with 75* ambient temp in the room. Also, go with 18/6 lighting, if your using 24/0, because I believe the dark period helps to trigger rooting faster. That's my opinion, anyway.

Also, I always throw my cuttings in a glass of water for at least 1/2 hour, before putting into the root plugs, making sure they're fully hydrated. I never tried leeching the mother first, but have always had excellent results with nice healthy, well-fed mothers,(not overfed) and rooting times of 8 days, usually less. Keep at it bro, it sounds like you just about have it, and it's just a simple tweak, to your road to success.

i dont know what your doin wrong next time try to take cuttings about 2 hrs after you fed mothers get some soil seed starting and 1 " clone trays
get a cup of ph'ed water 5.6 ad a few drops of hydrogen peroxide for sterilization
now your goin to use 2 razors one for takin cuttings off plant other for trimming and final cuts

now that you have taken cutting trim your leafs then recut ur angle cut on your stem then on one side do like 4 or 5 minor cuts on the stem workin ur way up not cutting right through like them cuts should look like a fish hook then dip it in your rooting gel / or powder then crefully place them in soil packin it in fairly good
i would try useing seedling soil add water so it is very dense with water as you squeeze soil drops of water should come out
then ur good to go use a pencil to make your holes