help with cloning setup

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

Greetings,

I am about to jump in and really get my feet wet at cloning.

I already have an idea of how I am going to build my light box, I will be using a 175w MH lamp for this box.

What I need to know: What IYO is the best system and medium to use on a $100.00 budget, and where to get it from?

Thanks!

[the image reaper]

'OpieYutts' had a post awhile back, how to build a bubble-cloner ... I built one, and LOVE it .. it not only acts as a 'fiddle-free' cloner, it is outstanding for germinating seeds ... 7 days to root clones, and 2-3 days to start a seed, all 'no-touch' ... it uses RapidRooter plugs, whole setup cost me about $25 ... :thumbsup:

[PharmaCan]

Jerry - That's wayyyy too much light for clones. My clone box is 2'deep x 4' wide x 2'tall and I use three 26w cfl's with great success. If you use a bubble cloner like Reaper suggested, you don't even need a box. In either circumstance, a couple of small cfl's is all you need until the cuttings root.

...a couple clone pics for you. These were done in Rapid Rooters - a different technique from the aerocloning.

PC :smokin:

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

Pharmacam,

Thanks for the light advice I was wondering if that was to much light, I will just keep it in my grow box then my babies love the extra light.

I did see a rapid rooter system at HTG for i think $26.00 with that and a dome lid plus 2-26W blue spectrum CFL's will do it?

[dejayou30]

I just had my first success with cloning. I just used a propagation tray with a dome ($3), rockwool cubes ($1 for like 100), and Dip & Grow ($6) because I was on a tight budget. I conditioned the rockwool for a couple hours and then I just took the cutting, dipped it for 5 seconds or so, and put them in the rockwool. Then all you have to do is keep the dome humid and wait. I put them under two 150W equivalent CFLs and I had 3/5 show roots in 9 days. The other two died within the first 5 days, most likely due to being doused with a harsh chemical by mistake. Its probably not as efficient as the bubble cloner, but I'm sure its a lot cheaper! Good luck!

[psychocat]

I stopped using rooting solutions and powders when I found something that works much better.

Natural honey ! Yes that's right ,, honey that you can buy from your local supermarket works brilliantly.
I was extremely sceptical when I first read about it but it works so well and I was amazed at the results and I will be using it every time from now on.

[Doc 007]

I stopped using rooting solutions and powders when I found something that works much better.

Natural honey ! Yes that's right ,, honey that you can buy from your local supermarket works brilliantly.
I was extremely sceptical when I first read about it but it works so well and I was amazed at the results and I will be using it every time from now on.

Makes perfect sence. Good tip.

[PharmaCan]

I use Green Light cloning powder from Lowe's - $3.95
Dome -$8.00
Tray $3.95
Inserts (egg box kinda things to hold the rapid rooters - $3.50
Bag of 50 rapid rooters - $12.95
Liter of Clonex - $20.00

So that's about $53.00 for what I would consider essentials. If you can get most of that stuff, plus two lights, in a kit for $26.00, that sounds like a pretty good deal.

I'm cutting some clones this afternoon. I think maybe I'll do 10 or so with honey and see how that works in a side-by-side comparison.

PC :smokin:

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

Two Lights not included,

I was wrong on the pricing:

Rapid rooter tray and Plugs $16.98

Dome lid $5.95

3- 25watt 6100k cfl's $17.50 (Comes in 3 pak)

Already have root starter

Looked everywhere local and only could find jiffy cubes $0.20 ea, I think I remember reading they are not good for cloning for some reason.

If they do work ok let me know!!

I already have 1"x1" egg create and trays left over from planting summer flowers, I also have a clear plastic rubber made type of container I could use as a cover.

So I may Have everything already except for lights.

[jon.hatcher]

I had success with my setup. I bought a plastic tote (The one that is 2' x 2' x 3') and any dehumidifier that you can direct the flow of moisture with.

I used a plastic kitchen bowl that fit over the exhaust of the humidifier (moisturized air) and directed it through plastic tubing. I put the tubing through a hole I made in the side of the tote and sealed it up with duct tape. Another tube is put out the other side to open fresh and reduce the chance of the plants not getting enough CO2. Once you turn the humidifier on, the humidity inside should peak around 95 -100%. This will help your clones get enough water and flourish (since they can't absorb with roots they don't have).

I also put a layer of pearlite on the bottom of the tote. I put the clones in small jiffy pots and put them halfway down into the pearlite. The pearlite will help moisture for the new roots.

Hopefully this helps. I will try to get a picture up of mine for you to see.

[jon.hatcher]

oh yeah, not a dehumidifier, a humidifier ($20).

[PharmaCan]

I had success with my setup. I bought a plastic tote (The one that is 2' x 2' x 3') and any dehumidifier that you can direct the flow of moisture with.

I used a plastic kitchen bowl that fit over the exhaust of the humidifier (moisturized air) and directed it through plastic tubing. I put the tubing through a hole I made in the side of the tote and sealed it up with duct tape. Another tube is put out the other side to open fresh and reduce the chance of the plants not getting enough CO2. Once you turn the humidifier on, the humidity inside should peak around 95 -100%. This will help your clones get enough water and flourish (since they can't absorb with roots they don't have).

I also put a layer of pearlite on the bottom of the tote. I put the clones in small jiffy pots and put them halfway down into the pearlite. The pearlite will help moisture for the new roots.

Hopefully this helps. I will try to get a picture up of mine for you to see.

Very creative, Jon! :thumbsup:

... and it really goes to show that there's a lot of different ways to skin a cat and not necessarily any particular "right" way. A lot of it is just what you're comfortable with and what works for you.

Jerry, the whole idea behind cloning is to keep a cutting alive long enough for it to grow roots and survive on its own. As jon pointed out, it can't get any sustenance from roots it doesn't have. So, for 5-10 days you need to keep the cutting alive via its leaves, AND you have to keep the lower stem moist enough, to encourage root growth but not so wet that it rots. The leaves will also rot very easily, so you want the environment to be really humid, but you don't want the leaves to be wet. Once you get that concept straight in your head, and familiarize yourself with the basic techniques, you can adapt a whole lot of common household items to fit your purpose.

Re. the jiffy cubes - if you are talking about those peat thingies that expand when you wet them, those suck for cloning.

Re. the lights - one 26w cfl will work fine until the cuttings get some roots, then you can up it to two bulbs.

PC :smokin:

[Jerry Garcia 2007]

I'll take your word on only one CFL.
I am wondering why low lumens in first stages of cloning though,
I like to know just for knowledge.

Thank you everyone, this was all very useful information.

[jon.hatcher]

I'm not talking jiffy cubes. Jiffy pots. The ones that are like cardboard and the root grow through them so when you transplant, you just put the whole pot in and there is no harm to the plant. This helps in cloning because even after they grow some roots, they're still pretty fragile.