What is wrong with my clones

[bucksid8]

I just put these clones in my aeroponic system last week. Running 2x 240w LED panels 56" above the plants (7k-10k lux). In the past I've run my set-up the exact same way with great success but for some reason this time the clones look like they're dying. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ponky]

Did you mechanically damage the roots? And what you have in there for your water mix?

 

[bucksid8]

Did you mechanically damage the roots? And what you have in there for your water mix?

The clones came in rockwool with no exposed roots so there's no way I could have damaged them. Also I've just been giving them straight RO water until they start to grow roots. A few of them have started to pop some roots and look ok but then others look like they're dying. And they're all in the same system getting the same water

 

[LexLuthor]

It looks like they are drying up, what is the RH in the room? I would decrease the light intensity until they recover.

 

[bucksid8]

It looks like they are drying up, what is the RH in the room? I would decrease the light intensity until they recover.

RH is about 50%. Ill back the lights off a bit

 

[GreenMtnGuru]

Dial that light waaaaay back. One panel is prob too much light until they have established roots.

I use 100w full spectrum 36” - 40” above my fresh clones until they are happy campers. I try to keep RH at least 65%. Then under the veg lights they go.

 

[Ponky]

It could very well be light burn. Or the water has some kind of fungus or virus in it. Clones need a very minimal amount of light.

 

[bucksid8]

Dial that light waaaaay back. One panel is prob too much light until they have established roots.

I use 100w full spectrum 36” - 40” above my fresh clones until they are happy campers. I try to keep RH at least 65%. Then under the veg lights they go.

I'm using 2 panels for 18 plants but yea I backed them off to like 60"

 

[bucksid8]

It could very well be light burn. Or the water has some kind of fungus or virus in it. Clones need a very minimal amount of light.

I ran bleach thru the whole system then flushed it with fresh water before putting plants in. Also I use a UV sterilizer to kill any bacteria in the water. Do you think maybe there was some virus still living in the water lines or would all that kill it?

 

[Ponky]

I ran bleach thru the whole system then flushed it with fresh water before putting plants in. Also I use a UV sterilizer to kill any bacteria in the water. Do you think maybe there was some virus still living in the water lines or would all that kill it?

I've had very little experience with viruses. But if they're in the plant they can't be removed without some science lab level steps. If you have a plant virus it's part of that plant forever.
Sometimes the pumps or air tubes leach some toxic stuff. Like a lubricant or heavy metal. I had a clone tub foul because the magnetic impeller on the pump had some weird lube on it. And it leached into the water.

 

[OldManRiver]

Also I've just been giving them straight RO water until they start to grow roots.

I see potentially multiple, fairly minor problems. The meta thing that may be going on is that this strain is more sensitive to some things that prior plants were more resistant to for you. In particular, being clones, they came from some different setup than yours, and may be just shocking out a bit. Things to ponder:

• RO water is so mineral deficient that it can leach nitrogen, etc, back out of the plant, I think you may have some of that. I'd give them some light nutes, like 1/4 or 1/8 recommended strength. Having some minor amounts of nutes will be safe. Or you could use tap water, which will likely have some mineral load. People worship RO water, but it can cause some problems.

• A couple of the pics look like overwatering, where the leaves are curling down and under. Are they getting and staying too wet?

• Then the one pic, with the burned top leaves looks like maybe too much light? Perhaps they were rooted under a weaker light (common for cloning), and yours are more than they are used to. Maybe dial the lights back, if they allow that, or raise them a foot until everyone is happy again.

My two cents.

 

[LexLuthor]

I agree with adding 1/8-1/10 nutrients, specifically bloom nutes with high P (phosphorus). This is because P is beneficial for root development.

Recap: Decrease light intensity

Increase RH to 60+%

Add 1/8-1/10 strength nutrients high in P

Monitor for a few days and see if they better.

 

[bucksid8]

I see potentially multiple, fairly minor problems. The meta thing that may be going on is that this strain is more sensitive to some things that prior plants were more resistant to for you. In particular, being clones, they came from some different setup than yours, and may be just shocking out a bit. Things to ponder:

• RO water is so mineral deficient that it can leach nitrogen, etc, back out of the plant, I think you may have some of that. I'd give them some light nutes, like 1/4 or 1/8 recommended strength. Having some minor amounts of nutes will be safe. Or you could use tap water, which will likely have some mineral load. People worship RO water, but it can cause some problems.

• A couple of the pics look like overwatering, where the leaves are curling down and under. Are they getting and staying too wet?

• Then the one pic, with the burned top leaves looks like maybe too much light? Perhaps they were rooted under a weaker light (common for cloning), and yours are more than they are used to. Maybe dial the lights back, if they allow that, or raise them a foot until everyone is happy again.

My two cents.

Thank you, I'll try those things