Drooping clones -- NEED advice!

[neceros]

Hey guys,

We just got some baby white widow clones. The clones were cut down the fourth node from the branch, we then cut another node to help sprout roots sooner. Planted into cubes with rooting gel, the $50 kind.

The clones are lying on the ground, though, while planted. We've been misting them when they look dry (We don't have a dome big enough for them right now). I know leaves on the ground can cause root, but I can't seem to make them stand up.

I'm hoping they are still alive. They look healthy, other then the wilting. Vibrant green, strong stems.


Advice??

neceros Reviewed by neceros on 07-13-2010. Drooping clones -- NEED advice! Hey guys, We just got some baby white widow clones. The clones were cut down the fourth node from the branch, we then cut another node to help sprout roots sooner. Planted into cubes with rooting gel, the $50 kind. The clones are lying on the ground, though, while planted. We've been misting them when they look dry (We don't have a dome big enough for them right now). I know leaves on the ground can cause root, but I can't seem to make them stand up. I'm hoping they are still alive. Rating: 5

[neceros]

Anyone at all?

[CovertCarpenter]

...not sure if this will help, but it worked for me, and it might help you:

There is a chance that their state is due to a nute deficiency, but you have to be über-careful about giving little ones any nutrients at all... Some say that Sup3rThr!v3 [or some of its knockoffs] can help an ailing plant (I am one of 'em--they're vitamins, not nutes), but there are many who would disagree with me. I would ask some of the more experienced around here for their expert opinion on this matter.

buuuuut... here's the fix that recently worked for me in my similar situation:

I had six lovely clones (ironically also WW) that I had recently taken from their dear mother, and tho they were standing up ok in my homemade bubble cloner, I put 'em in the direct sunshine before they were ready, and they flopped right down. Weirdest 'wilt' I'd ever seen, because they were still fiercely green, and obviously moist.

I was worrying that I had overstressed 'em, and that I'd have to stake 'em up or something, and then I had an idea. One that couldn't possibly hurt...

I bored a hole in the centre top of my bubblecloner dome (a cake lid from the bakery @ work), and stuck in about a foot-and-a-half of 1/8" tubing. I then spent the next ten minutes or so slowly exhaling into the tubing, and left 'em on the windowsill (in indirect sun).

Within about a half hour, they sprang right up! I kept up breathing into 'em whenever I'd pass by (at least three times a day), and they started showing new growth quite quickly, as well as building the thickest little trunks I've ever seen on a new clone.

They've rooted quite nicely now, after only about 9-10 days, and they're going into hydro tomorry. I'm taking another six or eight babies from mommy as well, and those that won't fit in the bubble cloner will be in their own dome in soil cups... but they're all getting all the cheapie-CO2 enhancement from my lungs that I can give 'em.


Hope this helps! Try to exhale right to the end of your lungs to get the max CO2 levels you can generate

[neceros]

Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a go.

[Rusty Trichome]

They are transpiring the moisture, and there is not enough hydraulic pressure remaining to support it's own weight.
I'd get a couple of chop-stix and a make a 'baggie tent' for each one if you must, but keep 'em covered, which raises the plants ambient humidity.
Quit spraying them directly, as this can clog the pores preventing proper O2:CO2 exchange in the leaves. Spray the soil (cube, puck, whatever is used) and the plastic cover, but not the plants.
Keep lights further away from rooting clones than with rooted clones. The idea is to promote root growth, not foliar growth.
I've found a 18/6 light schedule works better than a 24/0 schedule for rooting clones. Well, actually I think it's better, period.

My well water out of the tap has more vitamins and minerals in it, than a 1 drop per gallon dose of Superthrive. (at one drop per gallon, it's approx. a 50,000:1 ratio) Same with that VF-11 crap. But perhaps the hormones in the Superthrive helps the clones a tad. Just don't overuse the stuff.

I've used Schultz Rooting Hormone powder with great success for many years. Just a light dusting though. More is not better. Same with dipping in the gel rooting stuff. Just a dab will do ya.

[neceros]

Thank you!

I know its because they havent had humidity. I just hope i can save them still. It's been a few days at 40%!

[Rusty Trichome]

Consistent humidity, and fresh air for a few minutes, a couple times daily. (It still needs fresh air once in a while) Prop-up with a skewer or straw or something to help support it. Twist ties if necessary, but use care.

[neceros]

It's been 2 days and they just went limp. I pulled one from it's rockwool carefully and there were no roots. Pretty sure they are toast.

In any case, I put them in a better position and actually increased their humidity to 100%. If they stick cool, if not oh well.

[CovertCarpenter]

...try not to let the rockwool stay totally soaked. The roots need some oxygen along with the moisture.

I had to lower the water level in my bubblecloner a bit to facilitate this. As soon as I did, it took something like seven days for the roots to start showing. I've tried Rap!dR00t3rs too, and I think I like 'em better than rockwool, but rw is cheaper

[Ocotillo]

This friend on mine was doing some clones in those rabid rooter plugs and they were all looking OK for about 10 days but still no roots showing through. Realizing my friend used no superthrive so far they added one drop to the spray bottle.... Well in just a few more days roots started creeping out from everywhere! We attributed the success to the superthrive's millions of molecules of worlds making it #1 grower. My friend is also going to stick with the rabid rooter plugs.

Q: Will the rabid rooters give my garden rabies and if so can you catch rabies from smoking it? :wtf:

Q: Do cloning jells "go bad" not including contamination? I was told if it's a few months old it'll loose it's oompf. Yes? :detective1:

My well water out of the tap has more vitamins and minerals in it, than a 1 drop per gallon dose of Superthrive. (at one drop per gallon, it's approx. a 50,000:1 ratio) Same with that VF-11 crap. But perhaps the hormones in the Superthrive helps the clones a tad. Just don't overuse the stuff.