Cloning: What are your preferences?

[Ceres420]

Hi everyone,

I'm in charge of providing clones for our 20-light set up and also provide clones for local dispensaries, but I'm having trouble with the consistency of my clone survival rate. I've been experimenting over the last year and testing the pros and cons of using rockwool versus Rapid Rooters. I've also been trying out rooting gels like Juicy Roots and Clonex off and on. I use Super Thrive's Jump Start nutrients, and I always make sure that the pH level is between 5.6-5.9.... we ONLY use RO water and I know for sure that I've been cutting clones the right way.

My only problem is that my clone survival rate is at an average of 80-85%. Is that a good or bad? I cut about 10-15 trays a week, depending on the demand from dispensaries or depending on when our cycle starts, so the higher my survival rate the better, otherwise I'll keep wasting my precious babies......

My question is this: what are your preferences with taking clones in terms of the nutrients you use, if you use rooting gels, and what type of plugs works best for you. Also, what are your clone survival rates?

Thanks :icon220:

[tinytoon]

started out using rw cubes and changed to Rapid Rooters, to much salt in RW for the long run. Using Roottech gel atm and not real impressed with it, looking forward to changing over to Clonex. We use tap water dropped down to 6.0 with a drop or 2 of ST. Tray, heatmat, dome, temp range 75-80 and couple 23w daylight cfl's overtop on 24/7. Survival rate over past year or so about 90% or a point or 2 higher :thumbsup:

[Ceres420]

Thank you for the reply :)

I'm definitely leaning more towards Rapid Rooter, even if it's more expensive than rockwool.... and my experience with Clonex has been very successful, moreso than Juicy Roots. The difference between the two is huge, I cut a tray that had half Clonex and half Juicy Roots, and another tray at the same time using no rooting gels. The Clonex ones had a BUSH of roots protruding in the bottom, while Juicy Roots had a few poking out, and the ones without gel took another few days to root.

I'll give heat mats a try. I haven't used it but from doing further research I think it'll improve my survival rate to 90%.

[tinytoon]

along with the heatmat make sure you get the thermostat that will control it.

Roottech wasn't real bad just seems to take a lil longer. Was using some stuff that came with my original system and it worked better than roottech but cant remember the name of it.

RR's are no doubt better than RW. I show roots 2-3 days faster with RR's over RW and bunches of roots not just 1 or 2.

[stra8outtaWeed]

rapid rooters mat...98 plugs per 1020 tray...one thing that may increase survival rate is to do all cuts under water preventing air embolism....basically a small tray of water doing all finish cuts under the water before dipping in the rooting gel :thumbsup:

[RockyMtnDezL]

The heat mat makes all the difference, I had lots of herps once upon a time, I use rapid rooters some sealed domes and a heat mat. Dont cut them too long, I have had better luck when I keep them 2-4 inches long, leaving only the small leaves. Works for me.Good luck

[Bongojaz]

rockwool versus Rapid Rooters. I've also been trying out rooting gels like Juicy Roots and Clonex off and on. I use Super Thrive's Jump Start nutrients, and I always make sure that the pH level is between 5.6-5.9.... we ONLY use RO water and I know for sure that I've been cutting clones the right way.
My only problem is that my clone survival rate is at an average of 80-85%. Is that a good or bad? I cut about 10-15 trays a week, depending on the demand from dispensaries or depending on when our cycle starts, so the higher my survival rate the better, otherwise I'll keep wasting my precious babies......My question is this: what are your preferences with taking clones in terms of the nutrients you use, if you use rooting gels, and what type of plugs works best for you. Also, what are your clone survival rates?
i don't like rockwool or rapid rooters, try oasis cubes instead. i would avoid super thrive anything! any company that won't allow their products to have an msds, is not something i would use. i know this may cause some skepticism, but with seedlings/clones, ph is a non-issue. remember, ph is important for nutrient uptake. seedlings and clones don't use ph for sustenance, lol. in seedlings, the cotyledons provide needed nutrients/feed. in clones, the foliage provide. until their is a root system to provide a channel for the uptake of water/nutes, ph is not necessary. you ask about clones and nutes. you really don't need any. some folks use a mild foliar feed for clones, which can help, but really isn't necessary. 80-85% survival rate is purdy good! if i pay attention, i get 90+ % survival rate. i always take more cuts than i need so it's never an issue. i use a heat mat (it's actually one of those sore muscle heat pads) under a vented clone dome. i keep temps. around 82 or so. you want a bit of condensation on the walls of the dome, not a huge amount of giant drops. if this happens, you need to either reduce temps. by opening vents wider or reducing heat pad temp. hope this helps.

[tinytoon]

PH is not an issue??? WOW!!! :wtf:

[Brainy]

Aero Cloner! 9 days max, 100% success rate, and I don't use a humidity dome. If the clones you take are big enough to have branches at the nodes it is like adding a week of veg. In soil, just take the neoprene off and plant.

[FlyWithMe]

Started off using Clonex with Root Riot cubes as the medium. 90% success but average of 4 weeks to root. Tried heated dome and unheated. Tried different methods when cutting from scarifying, small slits in the stem, splitting the stem, etc. Success rate varied with each method.

Switched to a DIY bubble cloner, straight tap water at room temp, nothing else... success rate 100%