lilbuddie

Hey Epicurus,

I had a few questions on your aero system.

1) Could you fix / repost the link to the HTML page you created on its description?

2) What is the average age of the cuttings you are putting into the system.

3) Are you using regular hydro ferts? Or would you recommend a B1 root starter solution?

4) Is there a recommend temp? Solution and area?

I thought I would built one and give it a try but when I came back to your links they were broken.

LB

Epicurus

1 - http://www.wilter.com/epicurus/.ppic...eroponics.html

2 - age of the cuttings? I don't understand. I simply snip a part off a 'mother' plant and use the aero system to get it rooted.

3 - hydro ferts, keep the N low or they'll take too long to root...and a rooting hormone (and/or B1) is always a good idea.

4 - I don't worry about the temp, it's just sitting on the floor in a bedroom, so it doesn't get too hot or cold.

lilbuddie

Hey thx Epicurus

You answered number 2 for me. I was thinking that the clone to be taken had a either a soft stem or a more woody one which is why I asked about the age... But I picture a nice green shoot I would think the more woody it is the harder it would be too root.

Well I got everything already so I'll throw it together and see what happens.

Thx again
LB

ozi-grower

G'day-Epicurus,I have just built 1 & was wondering if it continues to bubble all the time or only when lights are on & do the bubbles actully touch the tip of the clone?
I did 3 clonesbut was worried that the cutting powder would be washed off==the next day 2 were dead 1 just hanging on Temp=24degrees celcius in a weak fert solution withsuper thrive added/but had them under 18hrs of light(maybe should have been 24hrs light???)Also have you sexed plants under 12hrs using this method???I'll get it happening soon I think cheers 4 any feed-back

Epicurus

lights should be on 24 hours for cuttings, I've never had much success w/ less than that. as far as sexing, you're probably better off sexing the mothers first, so that you don't waste your time rooting a bunch of males. I leave the pump on 24 hours, just like the lights. I try to keep the water at least 1/2" from the bottom of the cuttings, but they seem to root/grow just fine if they're in the water.

lilbuddie

Well, here's the update ...

I made the cheapo-est setup I could think of based on Epicurus's and 10k's areo cloner and I must say that was way easy!

The cuttings were woody (oh well) but I stuck one in my contraption about the same day of the post and I am happy to report I say my first roots last night

They are about 1/8"-1/4" long I have no idea how I missed them but it was a welcome sight last night

Here's what I did. I got a 1 qt rubbermaid container. I had an old crappy air pump that is of medium size but since the area is small and the pump was old it balanced out a larger container and I would have used a larger pump. I used old air house as the supports for the clones I put 4 holes all together in the top one hole in the side of the container for the air hose from the pump to go through and lastly I bought a 24" bubble curtain for about $10. It is flexible so I placed as a big horseshoe in it to ensure maximum bubbles. I first filled it with 1/5 strength B-1 root starting solution about 1/2" from the bottom of the cuttings (I used Root Tone on the cuttings) then changed to straight water after 5 days. The pump was run 90 minutes on / 30 minutes off.

Temp was 78-88 and lights were 24/0 and 6" from the cutting. I put the cutting in and that was it! No misting, no foliar feeding, no dome.

I know this was about 2 weeks to see roots but I am thinking it will be much faster with a green actively growing shoot. Next round

Thanks Epicurus and 10K for the new idea. It worked just awesome IMHO

Gimme Me the Good Stuff Baby
LB



[This message has been edited by lilbuddie (edited July 23, 2000).]

Epicurus

two weeks seems like an awefully long time, but you said the cutting was woody, that probably accounted for a week of it...what effect do you think having the pump on a timer had? did it stay (very) humid in there when the pump was off? the way I always figured it the pump uses so little electricity it'd cost more for a timer than for the electricity I'd save (you're saving 25%, w/o the elec the timer is taking to run)...good luck w/ your new babies.
E

lilbuddie

Yea, It was a long time ... I had started to think something was not right. But I think the woodiness was the factor I wasn't even sure if it would work at all with them being so old

No problem with the ON/OFF cycle it stayed very moist at all times. I even used a clear tupperware which I think may also played on a slower root development since they were getting light as well. But it was moist all the time on or off ... I used your directions and 10ks (from OG) and he suggested ON/OFF cycles for the pump I just improvised on both designs

His was complex and yours was way simple so I figured it wasn't THAT hard and just used them as guidlines

I really wasn't concerned about saving electricity at all just that 10k suggested it to let the stem dry slightly but reamin moist to encourage the roots to seek more water. But I think it would work fine either way

Next time will be green shoots


LB

Epicurus

about the clear container, I don't think it had anything to do w/ it, I've had my aero setup both ways and it didn't seem to make a difference...a lot of people think that light slows/stops root development (and some even say it makes leaves show up on the roots, heh), but I've never had a problem with it...think about it, how did your mom/grandmother root cuttings? in a clear glass on the windowsill, that's hardly keeping the light away...

lilbuddie

Yep that is exactly what I thought about as well Glad to hear you did it both ways I was wondering if there was a difference.

And I think I did see the ones I treated with rootone root faster then one or two that I put in with out it, That did make a big difference.

LB