I can relate. I have struggled on cloning for some time I recently bit the bullet and dug in, took notes, tried different things with dozens of cuts. I am probably 80%+ now. I use rapid rooter plugs. I could never figure out the moisture level with rockwool.
Mother plants have to be healthy and watered.
By far, the most important things are temp (75f), moisture (wet but not dripping/soaking wet media) humidity at least 80% to 90% initially and enough light.
Plant tops will root better than lowers. Some say lower cuts are better because there is more auxin in lowers. That has not been my experience. A lower cut will root, just not as fast and vigorous as an upper cut.
Most roots will show at 10 days, sometimes a few days earlier, sometimes up to 15 days. Most are day 10 or 11.
Clonex or
Hormex or root tone clone liquid or powder will work. I use
Clonex liquid at 20ml per gallon. Put a small glob of
Clonex gel in your cut cup along with
Clonex liquid. . I also dip into
Clonex gel or
Hormex powder just before I stick it.
Ph your solution to 6.
I have the best luck with 6-7” cuts.
Put your cuts in the solution and let them sit for 10-15minutes or half a day even. Your cut is just below a node. Cutting at 45 degrees seems to be over rated. I do it but a straight cut works also. Shaving a side of the root often gives me stem rot. I don’t do that anymore.
Cut away any duplicate fan leaves. Leave one set at the top. Trim the leaf tips 40%, mostly for room in your nursery tray.
Soak the plugs in the identical solution as your cuts soak in. Wring excess water from the plugs so they won’t drip but still have solution that would come out easily with more squeezing. Too wet and the stems rot, too dry and they won’t take. It’s a conundrum until you dial it in. It is better to be a bit too wet than a bit too dry.
Dip the cut after soaking into
Clonex,
hormex or root tone liquid, powder or gel and stick it in the plug. You want the end of the cut in the middle of the plug.
Keep temp at 75f to 77f with a seedling mat. Keep humidity 80%+. 90% humidity is probably better for the first couple days. Start to harden your cuts day 5ish by taking the cover off for a few minutes and increasing this daily.
Start to lower humidity daily 85, 80, 75, 70 after 3-5 days with opening vents or propping up the top a little.
After a few days a lower than 90% humidity will help promote root growth. My rig settles in around 75% after a couple days.
I will mist them the first day only unless I see them wilting. I rarely have to mist more than twice. Plain water mist.
I use an
acinfinity controller to monitor this and track data. Not needed but you do want a temp and humidity meter in your setup and you want to stay at those numbers.
Keep the plugs wet enough they won’t drip water but would if you squeezed them. I use a squeeze bottle with
Use your
Clonex solution (mix a gallon at a time) to water the plugs if they get too dry. I probably water them twice in 10 days. The roots will air prune if the outside of the plug is fairly dry and they will never show roots.
I had always heard to keep the lights very low. Too low and the cuts will stall and sit there for weeks until the stem rots. They need enough light to grow but not wilt. You should be able to see plant growth (leaves) after 7 days or your light level is too low. I use 175-200ppfd if you have a light meter.
When you transplant to media, put a bag or large clear cup over the plant for a day to minimize shock wilting. Pull it after a day. If they wilt, give them cover for another day. If they wilt after 2 days your light is too strong or they are weak clones and should be culled.
Water your media well after planting with your
Clonex solution and use it for the next couple weeks. (I use soil).
Then there is the guy that gets 100% roots after 5 days in a plain glass of water on the dashboard of his car. I’m not him.
Practice, keep notes, experiment. It will click soon enough and won’t be a problem again.
Good luck.
