Rockwool cloning issues

So I've only ever cloned using rock wool cubes with clones and I grow in dirt. The issue I have always had is when I transplant from clone dome to dirt they always shrivel up to just the main stem then the littlest shoots come out from the base of nodes. I am using no till soil that has actually had been used 2 runs but dumped it all out of the pots into a tote. I am going to try using rapid rooters since there dirt and see if that makes a difference. They do always come through but it just takes longer because they have to basically restart from nothing.

ok, but was there a question you wanted to ask?

polishpollack said:

ok, but was there a question you wanted to ask?

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Haha yes, why does this always happen? Any ideas?

/me gets popcorn

i prefer rapid rooters over rockwool they dont retain as much water your plants sound like there sufercating

I've only used rapid rooters and it's the only thing I'll use. I'm sure people have success with rockwool, but as far as your issue there goes, I have no clue. I'm going to guess that your plants shrivel from a lack of water, but after a bit they find water again in the soil you're using. Maybe this is a kind of transplant shock. If you were to switch to DWC you probably wouldn't see this happening provided you kept the rockwool wet by pouring a water/nute mix over the top several times a day. If you're not doing that in your soil grow, give it a try. Other than that it's hard to say why this shriveling is happening.

Growing inside or going straight outside? Would be best to harden them up if your outside.

BlaZerVille said:

The issue I have always had is when I transplant from clone dome to dirt they always shrivel up to just the main stem then the littlest shoots come out from the base of nodes.

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It's not the medium, it's the grow environment.

Do the clones remain under the dome after they go from the RW-Cube into Soil?

What is the humidity in the dome? What is the humidity out of the dome?

I'm with @Joint Monster on this one. Sounds like a sudden drop in humidity causing loss of fan leaves due to rapid desiccation. Should maybe keep some kind of dome on them until they start showing normal growth.

I tried cubes about 2002 and had no luck with them and just do my clones and seeds in screened soilless ProMix in those 9-hole seed starter pots. Or cups with soilless.

Are you pre-treating your cubes with low pH water as they used to be really high pH but maybe they are ready to go these days?

I've never used rapid rooters but hear good things.

My clones are kept in domes, high humidity. 70-80*F. Roots pop 14 days on the hour everytime. Switched to Coco for medium, very new to it. rockwool clones to coco had no issues. Tried sog flood and drain. Trying hand or drip feed next.