Cloning - I think I'm doing it wrong

[Dan Kone]

Ok. Don't know why but I can't seem to cut clones.

Info:

Cutting clones at an angle with a scalpel. Then swirling then around in rootech cloning gel. Then sticking them in rapid rooter plugs. I then spray them with a little bit of water, put my humitity dome on, place the trey on the heat mat and place them under t5 florescence.

This is my second attempt. Both failures. Any idea what could be going wrong?

These clones are 22hrs old.

[chunkdaddyo]

I do it pretty much the same way you're doing it, with a few other steps.......here's a how to I posted a while back, maybe it will help you out.

To be successful cloning, you first need to have the right tools to do the job:

1) Clean NEW single edge razor blade or exacto knife.
2) Heated seedling tray with humidity dome or aeroponic cloner.
3) Cloning gel or powder / hormone supplement like SuperThrive.
4) PH corrected water (6.2-6.8)
5) Mild lighting (40w equivalent CFL is what I use)
6) Rooting media (Rapid Rooters, Rockwool Cubes. Peat Pucks. or just well drained soil in a
plastic cup)

I will tell you what works for me and I have a 95% success with this method. Once in a while there will be a cutting that just does not survive. Others here have similar methods that work for them. My advice is let others weigh in and develop your own style that works for you. I have had clones from plants that were 6-7 weeks into flower grow roots, but they take a long time to transition from bud to veg. Once they grow past the bud though, they tend to develop several main stems/stalks.

Here's what I do:

1) Take my cuttings from lower half of the plant. 45 degree cut with NEW blade, then I
scrape the outer layer of tissue from stem about 1-1/2" from cut.
2) Soak fresh cuttings in luke warm, ph adjusted water with Superthrive hormone added
for 30 minutes. This lets fresh cuttings drink in vitamins and hormones.
3) Apply rooting gel or powder to fresh cut area. I use a gel now, and a little goes a long
way.
4) Insert treated clone into rooting media of choice. I like Rapid Rooters, but the others
will all work. I pre-soak the rooting cubes in same Superthrive solution as above. Make
sure rooting cube is SLIGHTLY DAMP...many a clone die from drowning.
5) Put cubes with clones into seedling tray. Heating mat should keep the seedling tray at
around 80 degrees.
6) Pour a thin layer of ph adjusted water in bottom of tray, about 1/2". Put humidity dome
on and your good to go. Some on here don't use domes, they work for me.
7) I keep my clones on an 18/6 light cycle, others use 24/0. IMO, the 6 hrs rest helps.
Just an opinion though, not a fact.

NEVER let your rooting cubes/media get saturated,they need to stay slightly damp. you want oxygen to be able to get to the root zone for success. There are a lot of ways to get plants to grow roots, this way works for me. Once you get the hang of it, you might want to try to build an aerocloner, but thats a different lesson.

Good Luck to you and I wish you great success.
chunkdaddyo

EDIT: I now use DynaGrow K-L-N instead of SuperThrive.

[MunchiesByProxy]

Looks like they are not staying moist enough. Are you keeping them wet? How about temps inside that dome? Could it be to hot for them? Plugs are nice and wet before you put the cutting in?

I also make sure my final cut is made while the plants stem is submerged in clean spring water using a good sharp sterile razor.

[Dan Kone]

Originally Posted by MunchiesByProxy

I also make sure my final cut is made while the plants stem is submerged in clean spring water using a good sharp sterile razor.

I'll give that a try. ty

As for the heat, I doubt it's an issue. Doesn't feel too hot here. Plugs are wet, but not saturated.

[Dan Kone]

thx man. I appreciate the response. I'll give some of that a try too on the next round.

Pissed that I waisted 100 cuts already

[Dan Kone]

Turns out I was just being a supreme dumbass and forgot to put water in the bottom trey. They've perked right up. Sorry for the time waisting everyone, thx for the responses.