|
After many months of struggling, I finally began having some cloning success. What I learned is, the temperature you keep your clones at has a lot more to do with your success than what kind of cloning gel you use. This is the easiest way I have found to clone successfully...
Soak Rockwool
First step for cloning success, always soak rockwool plugs in tapwater for 24 hours or more before using. You will fail if you do not. You should add Thrive Alive B1 to the water you soak the rockwool in...it will give you an advantage.
Leave Water out Overnight
Also, the water you use for your clones should be set out overnight so it is room temp when you use it. Cold water shock on top of cloning shock just might kill your fresh cuttings.
The Circle of Green
Before you cut anything, choose and prepare your clones. Clones should be 4 to 6 inches tall. I have found that slightly thicker branches have slightly better success rates.
For cloning success, clones should have a circle of green vegatation at the top no bigger than the top of a pop can. Any excess vegatation on top should be trimmed, and any other vegatation along the stem should be removed.
Excess vegatation means excess water loss. If the plants loose more than they can pull up their tiny, rootless stem, than they die.
Containers for Cloning
Next step, gather up some used plastic containers. I prefer plastic half gallon milk jugs. Mix 10 ml of Thrive Alive B1 into a gallon of tap water and fill your containers to the top. B1 is a must have for cloning success.
Scalpal Please
The next part is like surgery on your plant. It is important that you use a sharp razor and it is important that you clean it. Your cloning success depends on it. Do not use scissors.
Wash your hands with soap and water. Pour a little alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the razor blade, and than rinse it with a little tap water. Make sure your cloning gel is open, it's time to take some clones.
Chop Chop
Keeping in mind the perfect 4 to 6 inch length, hold the branch just above where you will make your cut. You will want the cut to be at an angle a little bit.
With the razor, cut the clone from the branch and immediately dip it into the cloning gel. Swish it around two or three times, than put it into your container of tap water and Thrive Alive B1. Each container should hold 3 or 4 clones. I usually begin pre-soaking my rockwool plugs now, so I have them for later.
Humidity, Please
Once a container is full, place it so the plant tops are 4 to 5 inches from your fluorescent light. Do not have a fan on them, they prefer still air at this point. Mist them 2 or 3 times a day with plain water or water and B1. Misting will help greatly with your cloning success.
Shh, the Big Secret
The very most important thing to your cloning success is to keep them at 72 degrees. Keep them this way no less than 48 hours and no more than 4 days. I highly recommend a good thermometer for this step. I use a Sunleaves indoor/outdoor thermometer that I picked up for about 20 dollars.
Sterile Medium Helps
By the time the clones are finished soaking, you should already have your pre-soaked rockwool plugs ready. Pull each clone out and place it in a rockwool plug. You want the stem to be about a 1/2 inch from the bottom of the rockwool plug. I always put a piece of tape around the plug to keep it closed nicely around the clone.
Easiest Way to Water
Keep misting the clones 2 or 3 times a day. I usually keep them on the wet side for two or three days, than I start letting them dry out just a bit in between waterings. The clones get only water and Thrive Alive B1 until they show roots. Whenever they look like they need it, give them a little squirt with a baster.
No Bone, Please
Don't ever let the clones go bone dry, and keep an eye on that temperature. You should see roots in about 7 to 10 days, and you should have nearly a 100% cloning success rate. Happy cloning!
Again, Quick
- All water gets B1
- Sharp, clean razor and clean hands
- Chop dip quick
- Always spray
- Temp always O.K.
- Soak everything two days
- Rockwool plugs taped
- Continue to spray
- Temp still O.K.
- Don't bone them
- They'll be just a few days
Leave the cloning success page for now and
Return to the Plant Life Cycle page
Free- subscribe to The Daily Feeder
my indoor gardening E-zine
Jason's Home Page
|
