DikkiBrd

well, i got to the hydro store today, got some olivia's gel (12.00), some rockwool cubes, and a tray.
now i can't remember what they told me -- do i soak the cubes in water overnight?? didn't they say that?? did they say soak it in a weak solution (the same stuff i'll be rooting them in)?
anybody PLEASE tell me what i should do. i thought i'd already be into it, but now i've reached a roadblock -- and i think what they told me (water soak) conflicts with the Growers Guide (weak 5-50-17).
I've started soaking ONE cube in tap water.
thank you!
DikkiBrd, frazzled farmer

[This message has been edited by DikkiBrd (edited October 19, 2000).]

still rollin

well DikkiBrd,

i do believe you may have been stoned at the store.oh well,it happens.
you are right on the path of what the person was telling you.
you do have to soak the cubes for atleast 24hrs because of the alkiline level.you can soak the cubes in a weak solution of whatever cloning fert. you use.I use the same as you listed above.

keep on rollin.........

DikkiBrd

thanks, still rollin -- not stoned, just frustrated from a big day, and now I can't remember.
the stuff i bought was cloning gel. are you saying i shouldn't be soaking the empty cubes in water, but should be soaking in some kinda fert solution???
thnx 4 your help

still rollin

im saying that the best way to proceed using rockwool cubes is to YES soak the in a light fert. mix of you olivias cloning solution.do not mix rooting powders,gel or anything of that nature.if you do not have any fert solution it is fine.but you do have to soak the cubes for atleast 24hrs to lower the alkaline level of the rockwool.plain old tap water is just fine.

here is my cloning tip for you.....unless you are attempting to grow hydroponically i would suggest you go to cloning in dirt.i too started the cloning in rockwool cubes and found out all the cons that are associated with cons.i suggest mixing 50lbs of potting soil with 2lbs perlite and 2lbs vermiculite and placing your cuttins in 3in. square pots under 175wts MH at 4ft away.the light can be substituted by flous. but you must move them closer.

hope it helps
keep on rollin................

wolfman

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by still rollin:
im saying that the best way to proceed using rockwool cubes is to YES soak the in a light fert. mix of you olivias cloning solution.do not mix rooting powders,gel or anything of that nature.if you do not have any fert solution it is fine.but you do have to soak the cubes for atleast 24hrs to lower the alkaline level of the rockwool.plain old tap water is just fine.

here is my cloning tip for you.....unless you are attempting to grow hydroponically i would suggest you go to cloning in dirt.i too started the cloning in rockwool cubes and found out all the cons that are associated with cons.i suggest mixing 50lbs of potting soil with 2lbs perlite and 2lbs vermiculite and placing your cuttins in 3in. square pots under 175wts MH at 4ft away.the light can be substituted by flous. but you must move them closer.

hope it helps
keep on rollin................<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>~


You should not use ALL ferts wile cloning; the only ones that will serve the purpose are the bloom ones.
Nitrogen inibits rooting and therefore if you use a veg fert on the solution it will only make your task harder...

I cannot comment the Olivia's cause i never tryed but any gell should have already all vitamins and nutes to promote rooting and feed the cuting for a few days and so no need for a soft solution inicially...

TIP: Starv your females of nitrogen BEFORE cloning


wolf

DikkiBrd

Hey guys -
1) Would it "starve" my mother of N by just leaching for a week? She requires h20 2x/wk, and I've been feeding diluted ferts in one of those. So, just feeding h2o both times would leach out the N, eh?
2) I already have some Flowering Plant food that's 19-26-16. Whatcha think that for lite fert solution?
3) And after a coupla weeks when the roots grow, it's okay to plant them into soil, right?
Thanx!!



[This message has been edited by DikkiBrd (edited October 20, 2000).]

wolfman

DikkiBrd...

1- yes, more is beter...

2- I use 1.5-2.5-1.5, you wanna use 19-26-16...

3- yes it's OK


wolf

BC HYDRO

the best way to clone i have found is in rockwol.soak your cubes in vitimin b1 only a weak solution.use a rooting gel high in iba content(the active rooting property)and start cutting using a clean sharp blade.make sure that your cuts are from 2-4 inches in length.foil feeding your plants for a week or two before cloning will greatly help bring up the auxins in the plant helping clones root faster.keep the cubes fairly dry as this will encourage root growth

DikkiBrd

the Schultz root stimulator called Starter Plus has B1 in it. That's what I have my clone soaking in now.
I went ahead and did the deed, sliced nicely, dipped in Olivia's gel, poked her into rockwool, and she's sitting in an open bowl (no dome) next to her Mom-sister-twin under 24-hr fluoros. After 24 hrs she looks perky and happy to be here.
Thanks, everybody -- still rollin, wolfman, BC Hydro, lilbuddie, and InsaneK9 -- for helping me thru this.

[This message has been edited by DikkiBrd (edited October 21, 2000).]