How do you plant clones?

[Help_Needed]

Don't think I've actually seen this before. There have been lots of posts talking about how to take the cuttings, and how to get them to root. But once you do that, what's the best way to plant them in your system.

I'm using hydrotron in net pots in a DWC. Think I didn't do it right, cause even after 10 days, they don't seem very stable.

Help_Needed Reviewed by Help_Needed on 03-07-2008. How do you plant clones? Don't think I've actually seen this before. There have been lots of posts talking about how to take the cuttings, and how to get them to root. But once you do that, what's the best way to plant them in your system. I'm using hydrotron in net pots in a DWC. Think I didn't do it right, cause even after 10 days, they don't seem very stable. Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

It depends largely on what your clones look like.
You are going into hydroton, so I think it is safe to assume you cloned into RW or RRs, or in a bubble/aero cloner.

Okay here's what ya do, and let me tell ya I seriously FUCKED UP my most recent hydroton grow putting the clones in! So I did what I should have done all along and asked the helpful grow-shop keeper, lol...

He told me this:
Get a nice big pot- even a spaghetti pot- that is about 4/5 full of water at room temperature. If you want to be fancy, put the pH at 6.0. Make sure that the hydroton in your system has already been treated to stabilize the pH at 6.0 as well.
Now, fill your net pot almost completely full of hydroton.
Dunk it in the spaghetti pot so that the hydroton floats freely... seriously! This is the trick!
Now, with your other hand around the RR or RW plug, somewhat protecting the roots, plunge your clone into the hydroton as it floats in the pot. Gently lift the whole net-pot out of the water, supporting the clone upright as the HT settles around the plug. You probably will have lost some pebbles, but you can add a handful to the net=pot and voila, your clones are 'seated' with minimal root damage.

[Help_Needed]

Wow! That's a really good idea. In addition to getting them planted with minimal root damage, it would spread the roots through they hydrotron, which would stabilize the plant better.

I used an aero-cloner for mine. Left them in there way too long so they had really long roots. Getting them out of the cloner was a bit of a pain because they were all tangled up with each other. But I just coiled the roots up in the bottom of the net pot and then carefully added they hydrotron around the plant stem. It worked....the roots have grown down into the DWC res and the plants are growing nicely. But they don't seem to be anchored in there very well.

Ah well....maybe next time lol.