[westhumboldt`]

I have had mixed results about my cloneing methods. any advise on the proper way to take cuttings? I have been using plugs, hydrodome, with a rooting gel, and distilled water. so far my results have not been so successfull. I am very much a newbe to taking cuttings. Please let me know your much need advise.

[been]

My best results are with Rapid Rooters.

[TheMadHatter]

I second that rapid rooters and a dome or a aero cloner bareback

[FastForward]

1. Take 45 degree cut
2. Dip cut in Clonex (or whatever cloning gel you prefer)
3. Put in a cup of coco (coco saturated with formulex and rhizotonic, or plant start, or whatever baby juice/mix you use)
4. Put cup with clone in it in a propagator
5. Spray inside of propagator and clone with baby juice
6. Spray twice daily (gives nutes, maintains humidity, opening adds air) - keep lid holes closed on the propagator
7. About 7-10 days later you should get roots poking out the bottom of the pot.

Voila

I have a very high success rate with this method (about 99% - very little doesn't root - and I take two cuts from each new strain just in case one doesn't take, and I end up giving those plants away to friends every single time).

FF

[TheMadHatter]

also try soaking your clones in a cup full of water for 24 hours before putting them in your cloneing medium.

[Oatmeleon]

I get 100% results every time with Rapid Rooters pre soaked in Olivias cloning solution.

I use Rootech rooting gel and Olivias solution.

The trick is to keep them very moist at first and let them gradually dry out so the roots grow in search of water...To achieve this I leave a decent amount of solution in the rooting tray and mist heavily twice a day after airing them out for 5-10 minutes.

After 3-5 days i drain all solution from the tray and air them for 20- 30 minutes a day. I still mist them heavily as there is no solution in the tray and voila in a few days I have roots. My clones usually have roots within 5-7 days..Temps are 76-80 F...

~Oat

Originally Posted by westhumboldt`

...any advise on the proper way to take cuttings? I have been using plugs, hydrodome, with a rooting gel, and distilled water. so far my results have not been so successfull...

Sounds similar to what I've been usin' WH, and I can offer a word or two...but be warned, you'll see it ain't a fast process in my garden and requires planning ahead. I also use chemicals, so my rooting mix isn't exactly organic. Take whatcha can use...

Ya don't mention a particular brand, but I've been using Jiffy peat plugs m'self. Soaking them in distilled water is fine, and here is where things take a while for me...I soak the plugs overnight to ensure they're completely saturated with no dry air pockets hiding inside. I use a mix of filtered water, Clonex feeding solution (2 tsp/qut), Liquid Karma (1 tsp/qut), and add a coupla drops of Super Thrive to it all. When the plugs come out no surprise they're pretty sodden, so I'll let them sit in the dome (a few days to weeks depending on my schedule...) to lose some of their wetness.

When I'm ready to take cuttings, I first use a 6" pair of tweezers to break up and loosen the plug's insides a bit. I don't distort the plug greatly, I still wanna be able to handle it, and I occasionally find crap like twigs in there. A new hole for the cutting to come, done as FF prescribed (though I like to scarify the stem first...), and I like to let some of the Clonex gel that I use drip off the stem down into the hole first. I'm pretty generous with it, but I try not to get too crazy...

If the plug feels a little light-weight to me after the cutting is in place, I'll give the plug a few misting shots of rooting mix before putting it in the dome. Generally I only mist the dome, and not the plants/plugs, but every once in a while I'll pick them up to check their heft and dryness, and spray 'em as needed. (Which should be rarely unless roots are showin'...)

Also...take a number of cuttings from your best plant, say at least 6 to a dozen, rather than only a few. Whatever turns out to be the best of the lot gets to be your next mother plant...I take cuttings about every 2 weeks here, and results are now 100% after tuning it all in...I got my best rooting results using only 10 watts/square foot.

Peace n' happy growin'.

[Oatmeleon]

*Tip: When using rapid rooters I don't put the cutting in the middle hole provided. I peel the rooter open on one side from top to bottom and clamp the cutting in between the split portions. This way the is more direct contact between the cutting stem and the rapid rooter

Originally Posted by Oatmeleon

...The trick is to keep them very moist at first and let them gradually dry out so the roots grow in search of water...

That's just what I try an' do with the peat plugs too.

[DoctorFungi]

i clone using a cheap homemade DWC bubble cloner....no rooting hormone needed, it doesnt hurt to use "Dip N Grow" liquid rooting hormone tho in the beginning....basically you get an air pump, air stone, then find a container with a suitably sized lid for the amount of clones you intend on taking. The important thing is to then make your container completely opaque. I dont even use a lid tho, just Black/White poly acting as a lid and fastened with tape.....each clone's hole is then cut as needed to minimize any light leaking. U can cut holes for 1" net pots filled with hydroton or just do as i do and suspend the stems by the hole in the black/white poly. About 1-2 weeks later you magically have roots and you dont even need any humidity domes or anything, very cost efficient and a 100% success rating!