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How to Clone Your Plants with Success
from: Jason WillkommAfter struggling for many months with cloning, I finally began
to have some good results. I learned that cloning success has
more to do with temperature than what kind of cloning gel
you use.
Every step here has a reason...either to reduce the stress on
the new clone or to encourage root growth. Every drop of water
you use will be plain water with 10 ml/gallon Thrive Alive B1
added. You will need to start with a sterile medium. If
you use rockwool, you need to soak it for at least 24 hours
(plain water and B1) before you use it, otherwise the ph is too
alkaline.
Clones should be 4 to 6 inches long. You will have much better
success taking your clones from a plant growing in the
vegatative stage. Prepare your clones before you actually
take them. At the top of each clone there should be a circle of
leafy vegatation no larger than the bottom of a pop can. Trim
any excess. Trim away any other vegetation along the stem.
To make the cleanest, least damaging cut on the plant, you want
to use a sharp razor. Do not use scissors, they will do
damage. Wash your hands with soap and water. Pour a little
alcohol onto the razor, than rinse it with a little tap water.
Fill an empty container with water and B1 mix. I find
1/2 gallon milk jugs to be very convenient for this. Open your
cloning gel. Hold the branch firm just above the point of your
cut. At a 45 degree angle, cut and dip the clone
immediately in the gel. Swish it around for a second or two,
and place it in the full milk jug. Each milk jug will fit 3 to 4
clones.
Keep the clones under a single fluorescent light, 4 to 6 inches
beneath the bulbs. Mist the clones two or three times a
day. Do not keep a fan on them, they prefer still, humid air at
this point. The very most important thing is to keep them at 72
degrees. Keep them in the jug soaking for no less than 48 hours,
and no more than 4 days.
After two days, put each clone into its own rockwool
plug or its own container of sterile soilless mix. If using
rockwool plugs, keep the end of the clone in the center of the
plug, a 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the plug. I use a piece
of tape around the center of the plug to keep it closed nicely
around the clone.
Place the clones back under the fluorescent light, and continue
to mist them 2 to 3 times a day. The first few days, keep
them on the wet side. I usually give each one a little squirt
with a turkey baster of water and B1 mix. After that, you can
start letting them dry out just a little between waterings. Be
sure to keep the nice 72 degree temperature.
In 7 to 10 days, you should see roots coming out the sides of
your rockwool plugs. As soon as roots appear transplant
clones into 6 inch containers and begin feeding (mildly). If you
follow all these steps, you should have pretty near a 100%
success rate....happy cloning!
For complete info on cloning success check out
http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-organic-and-hydroponics-gardeni
ng.com/cloning-success.html
About the author:
Hi, my name is Jason. I have ten years experience growing
indoors under lights, not less than two of those years using
hydroponics methods. It is my goal to imrove the results of
every organic and hydroponics gardener through accurate, easy to
understand information.
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