Nightmarecreature
Active Member
At first I had a hard time cloning, I did everything everyone said to a tee and my clones still died! Here are some great tips I have learned on how to improve your odds successfully! There are other ways to clone, I just find this way works the best for me! A tale-tale sign your clones are going to root, is that the stems will become deformed and have bumps growing on them.
1# Get an Aero Cloner or build a cheap bucket cloner! WHY? Aero Cloners seem to root the fastest. The faster you can grow roots, the more likely you will succeed.
2# Try and use the highest output air pump you can find. WHY? This will keep out mold. Mold can't live or grow in high oxygen enviroments. Small aquarium pumps suck, get a high output pump.
3# Use Tap Water only! WHY? I have RO water but I wont use it for cloning. Tap water has chlorine in it, it's a small enough amount that it wont hurt the clones and it will help keep mold and bacteria out.
4# Don't use any nutrients! WHY? Superthrive and Silica are the only thing that's ok. Make sure your bottles are not contaminated or you will have problems. Don't use beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria in aero cloners will still get root slim. I have ran with it and without it. It's better to just be sterile in an aero cloner. No nutrients! You want your roots to search for nutrients. If you feed them, the roots will grow so much slower!
5# PH 5.8-6.2 WHY? I have read clones root best at a PH of 6.2
6# Use low light! Low light for 18-24 hours a day. A sign that you're using too much light, is that your clones will start turning yellow. I just use ambient light from my mother plants.
7# When taking cuts use 70% Iso Alcohol on the razor blade and wipe down the stem of the plant with alcohol before taking the cut. WHY? Being sterile increases success!
8# Use Rootech cloning gel! Get a shotglass and fill it with distilled or RO water. Then mix in a peasized amount of Rootech in to the shotglass and mix it well and PH to 5.8-6.2. Dip your fresh cut into the shotglass ASAP after the cut. Let the cut sit in the solution for 1 hour before putting it in the aero cloner. WHY? Rootech is water soluble and the stem drinks up the hormone easier.
9# Use Clonex solution in your aero cloner. WHY? Hormones allow for faster rooting.
10# The most important! CHANGE YOUR WATER EVERY 3-4 DAYS! WHY? Keeps the baddies out and keeps your stems from rotting!
11# (Optional) ONLY IF THEY WILT! For the first couple of days, use a dome if you can. Don't mist the clones directly. Mist the dome only and then cover your plants. WHY? You want humidity to keep your clones from wilting. Spraying your clones directly can cause fungus or powdery mildew. I have to use a dome because I live in a desert enviroment or my clones will dehydrate. A dome is dependant on where you live, most people wont need it.
12# Inside cloner temperature target should be 75F.
1# Get an Aero Cloner or build a cheap bucket cloner! WHY? Aero Cloners seem to root the fastest. The faster you can grow roots, the more likely you will succeed.
2# Try and use the highest output air pump you can find. WHY? This will keep out mold. Mold can't live or grow in high oxygen enviroments. Small aquarium pumps suck, get a high output pump.
3# Use Tap Water only! WHY? I have RO water but I wont use it for cloning. Tap water has chlorine in it, it's a small enough amount that it wont hurt the clones and it will help keep mold and bacteria out.
4# Don't use any nutrients! WHY? Superthrive and Silica are the only thing that's ok. Make sure your bottles are not contaminated or you will have problems. Don't use beneficial bacteria. Beneficial bacteria in aero cloners will still get root slim. I have ran with it and without it. It's better to just be sterile in an aero cloner. No nutrients! You want your roots to search for nutrients. If you feed them, the roots will grow so much slower!
5# PH 5.8-6.2 WHY? I have read clones root best at a PH of 6.2
6# Use low light! Low light for 18-24 hours a day. A sign that you're using too much light, is that your clones will start turning yellow. I just use ambient light from my mother plants.
7# When taking cuts use 70% Iso Alcohol on the razor blade and wipe down the stem of the plant with alcohol before taking the cut. WHY? Being sterile increases success!
8# Use Rootech cloning gel! Get a shotglass and fill it with distilled or RO water. Then mix in a peasized amount of Rootech in to the shotglass and mix it well and PH to 5.8-6.2. Dip your fresh cut into the shotglass ASAP after the cut. Let the cut sit in the solution for 1 hour before putting it in the aero cloner. WHY? Rootech is water soluble and the stem drinks up the hormone easier.
9# Use Clonex solution in your aero cloner. WHY? Hormones allow for faster rooting.
10# The most important! CHANGE YOUR WATER EVERY 3-4 DAYS! WHY? Keeps the baddies out and keeps your stems from rotting!
11# (Optional) ONLY IF THEY WILT! For the first couple of days, use a dome if you can. Don't mist the clones directly. Mist the dome only and then cover your plants. WHY? You want humidity to keep your clones from wilting. Spraying your clones directly can cause fungus or powdery mildew. I have to use a dome because I live in a desert enviroment or my clones will dehydrate. A dome is dependant on where you live, most people wont need it.
12# Inside cloner temperature target should be 75F.
