daburningkush

Thanks Komet ur very helpful and sorry if I posted in the wrong forum

Dr. Funkenstein

Hey Lou, dig the thread. I'm getting ready to try my hand at taking cuttings, and I have some questions.

I've read of people spreading infections by useing brand new razor blades, right out of the package. Is there something I should do to treat them before useing them?

I notice people who use cloning powder, take their cuttings and store them in a glass of pH'd water before rolling them in the powder. Would this be done if you're useing cloning gel? Would it affect things either way, say if I just wanted to store the cuttings in water as I get them ready for their plugs?

Oh, and a heat mat. I do not have one, although my prop tray and dome sit ontop of a styrofoam sheet. Would this be sufficient enough? If not, are there any other home remedies to substitute this heat mat? I may have an old heating pad for muscle aches and the like. Can this be safely used, maybe with a towel for protection?

Thanks for the help.

__________________
Dr. Funkenstein

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Lou Cypher

Hey Dr.Funkenstein

Sterilizing old or new blades with alcohol or hot water before use is always a good idea, but infecting a clone with just a cut is a rare thing, we do have more germs on our hands so I wouldn't worry so much about that.

Using a powder or gel wont make any difference to the cloning process, cuttings have to go straight in water after the cut so they don't suck air through the exposed stem, which can be really bad.

Ph level of the water is not something I'm concerned with, as I have cloned in rain water with 5.6 ph and tap water at 7.5, no difference at all.
That tells me that ph level is not an important factor in rooting at this time of their lives.

I'm sure you noticed by the first few posts that I'm not a "heat mat" fan and that is, cause my average room temp year round is 85-87F, the floor that my tub sits it stays 70-75f through the day, good enough to create high levels of humidity in the dome.

If you don't live in a very cold place, anything under the tub that will keep it off the floor it will do.
Heat mats is just another thing to worry about.

And [you know me], always keeping things as simple they can be.

Welcome to the club buddy.
Happy cloning.

CamperDon

Good morning,

I've mentioned several times in posts about using "heat mat" to keep my "LCChamber" (a little contribution to Lou for the tub idea" because my floor temp doesn't hover anywhere near 70-75* lol, as mentioned in a very early posting in this thread:
"If my floor temps were as high as yours I wouldn't need to wear multiple pairs of socks and/or slippers during the winter months here on the NW coast of Oregon"
That said, I use the heat mat to help keep the tub warmer and encourage root growth.

There is no need to use water when using liquid or gel rooting hormones, when powder is used, water might help the powder stick better. Although i've always found that much of that powder would get rubbed off when the cutting was inserted into soil staying on the surface

When I cut clones, i've always made all my final cuts while submerged under a saucer of lukewarm water to help prevent the clone from sealing the cut site which would prevent root fibers from forming at that spot. For me the process goes from the saucer to the lil cup of Dip n Gro liquid rooting hormone to a pre-moistened FFLW filled 16oz Solo cup

Does air suck in maybe, I think its more the healing of the wound the plant does. Am I correct Lou ?

Have a Great day and good seeing you Lou
don

CamperDon

Salutations,

An update on the what i'm hoping are F1 Trainwrecks from seed sowed 7.16 sprouted 7.19
Now growing under an Sun Blaze 24" 6500K HOT5 - note ruler on resting on soil surface showing height of seedling.
God I love them Fox Farm products ie: Grow Big + Big Bloom, I understand the use of GB but why the addition of Bloom nute at such an early stage of life?
They are crusing right along, according to the Fox Farm Soil schedule this next feeding (tomorrow) they should go into a flower cycle. Wow, that young in flower already.. I am not going to send them in just yet and I moved back to week 2 of the soil schedule for feeding omitting the bloom nute for several more weeks. Besides not having room in my flower cab at this time with my LST Project 2 finishing thier last (9th) week/flush flower and LST Project 3 (4 clones) put in on Thursday starting there 8+ week flower cycle there just isn't any room for even the 16oz Solo cup
Anyway, here is a pic taken just a few minutes ago enjoy

Have a Great day and Thank you Lou for allowing me to post my updates here in your thread.

your friend don

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Lou Cypher

Hey Don
you're right, the part of the world that you live definitely you need a mat.
Good to see you guys, I did get the chance to drop in and read few posts while I was gone but not enough time to reply to all of them.

Back to norm now though, getting used to the new place and of course setting the new room.

Healthy looking seedlings you got there my friend, and yes I agree, FF trio is awesome, plants love those nutes.
(just make sure you shake the BB well before use).

Be back to check on you guys later.

DREAMNT

Hey LOU,

first of all great thread. after the first initial two days everything is going great, and still going great 6 days later. my questions is after the first two days they were able to survive without the dome with no problem, should i remove dome and let them be ? And if so what would i need to focus on untill they start showing some roots ; keepin rockwool cubes moist,mist,let them dry, etc,,,what do you recommend i do?

CamperDon

Hey Lou, you were missing for a short time there eh...? Well, WELCOME back my friend and WELCOME into your new home..! Hope you and the Mrs will be as happy as you were in the old place, maybe even a lil more. Hoping you get the grow back up and running with little to no issues.. Keepin ya in my prays my friend. Good luck

your far away friend
don

Lou Cypher

Hey Manny
thanks for the good words buddy, very much appreciated.

Definitely if the cuttings can stand more than few hrs without wilting out of the dome are ready to be out of it.
Not ready for transplant though if roots are not out of the cubes yet.

Keeping the cubes half way moist is a must, misting will discourage root growth, so no misting.

Remember that clones are ready to eat as soon as they root so when you moist the cube do so with light nute solution, don't let the leaves get yellow.
After transplant few misting's with Epsom Salts will keep it green.

Good luck and happy cloning.

Lou Cypher

Thank you Don

Love the new place, not as fancy as the previews but very comfortable and with a perfect space for another GR, (yes,yes and another journal starting soon ).

I have been checking on you guys every time I got a chance, and I'm seeing fields of clones what happened to the # allowed?

Happy for you fellas, some of you became cloning masters before the school year finished.

Keep on cloning my friend,
and stay well.