Cloning Question

So I have been having a great time with everything. Started out with 27 plants, narrowed it down to 13 lovely ladies. Problem is, I had to sex my plants in order to find out which ones to clone from (obviously lol).

Work/life balance is sometimes a bit much and needless to say, the clones were taken as i had time.

Some were taken as late as 3 weeks into flowering.

They are currently sitting on empty pots, in rockwool cylinders, in a humidity tray (tray with the clear dome) about 8 inches off the ground. They are about 4 feet below a 400 watt MH.

I have read it can take as long as 5 weeks, is this really the norm!? Also, what are the suggestions on removing the dome for 10 mins a day vs. "holes" in the dome?

I'm finding all kinds of various answers out there but was hoping for something directly for my application.

They have been in the humidity tray/dome now for 8 days. i got impatient with it and decided to pull the weakest one to see if any root development had began AT ALL. I didn't see a thing, and tossed it.

my flowering girls will be done in about 6 more weeks, and if my clones take 5 weeks just to root, I might aswell start another batch of see as i had tremendous growth (basically germinated to sexed and 12 inches in about 6 weeks)

Any input would be awesome!!

cheers

I use Clonex gel, then feed clonex solution for a week. I will usually see the roots start to peek after a week, then I feed GH nutes at the clone strength and they go from there. 5 weeks waiting for roots seems like a while, but there are some strains out there that can take a little longer to develop roots- I just don't think 5 weeks would be an accurate number if the clones are fed lightly.

I used the gel and powder rooting hormone, and a mist maybe twice a week with water solution mixed with B1 thrive alive..

5 weeks I "read" is due to them being cut from flowering plants. some even have a nice amount of pistils that smell tasty when i open the dome!

Be patient, especially since its your first time cloning. You used rooting hormone, right? Your method should work fine and give you decent roots in about two weeks, maybe 3 if you want a big root system and plan on potting the clones in soil. Soil likes to suck the water out of rockwool, and if the clone hasn't developed a big enough root system to dig into the soil right away this can stress or kill it.

If your dome is just dripping with water all the time, it will need the holes. You want it nice and humid under there, but not dripping wet. Using a heat pad/source under your tray will speed the process up quite a bit, but make sure it isn't too hot, just warm. Also, if you use a heat pad, make sure the rockwool stays moist. It will dry out more quickly with the heat.

Don't give up on the clones altogether. Once you've got it down it's a great skill to have.

I guess I'll try some holes because you are right, the dome is covered in perspiration non-stop. I will look around for a heat pad and give it more time.

Thanks for the input!

I would keep them under the dome until you see roots, then they can be out like normal. I also like to mist the top of the plants and dome a few times a day, keep them moist. Remove the lid of the dome for about 5 minutes 2 times a day and they should be fine. I usually see drooping clones for about a week and then they perk up all nice.

randk21 said:

Some were taken as late as 3 weeks into flowering.

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I didn't notice that you had taken them during flowering, sorry. I would do everything the same like I said in post but in your case it is normal for them to take extra long, they are trying to change cycles back and get root growth at the same time...hard thing for a clone to do.

randk21 said:

They have been in the humidity tray/dome now for 8 days.

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Is a dome really necessary for cloning? Is it feasible to do it without one?

Mel O'Cheddar said:

Is a dome really necessary for cloning? Is it feasible to do it without one?

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It depends on your environment and methods. Some people using aero-cloners sometimes don't seem to need one. Others use a humidifier in their cloning area to keep the moisture way up. I find it safest and easiest to use the dome, then after a week or so, start exposing them to gradually lengthening periods without the dome to prepare them for the real world.

I use a aerocloner and have NEVER used a dome. Rockwool.

Cuttings taken from a flowering plant are going to take much much longer to get roots growing, but don't worry its still feasible. Droopy cuttings should go away after a few days and perk back up.

haven't had any problems with drooping. They stay moist, get the lid taken off a few times a day but only for a minute. I'd like to get a heating pad but i've invested well over 1500 into the total setup and not looking to spend anymore..

I guess I'll wait it out, but i think I'll get some seeds goin too.