JWM2
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I've recently started to clone using a method that's been giving me great results. I will post links to the items I use in this thread and photos showing the step by step guide to obtaining the same results i'm getting. Any questions about this technique feel free to ask.
Some months ago I bought an Oxy Cloner off amazon for about $65. And had decent results initially. Then as time started going on the cuttings would take longer and longer to root and cleaning the res became a hassle. So I started experimenting with making my own Tiny Cloner and ended up stumbling upon this method instead.
It's a really simple setup and takes very little space to perform. So it doesn't use much space in your veg area and I typically see roots in about 7-10 days. There's a humidity dome with a built-in vent so you can control the humidity level inside the unit very easily.
Required Parts:
Our mother plant we are going to take some cuttings from. Ignore the leaf tip burn, that was done intentionally (ok not really).
Identify a node to take your cutting from. I like to have 3-5 nodes on my cutting so I can trim them off leaving just the top node(s) and so when in the Rapid Rooter plugs they have exposed tissue to grow roots from.
Make your cut. Here you can see there is plenty of vegetation on the cutting from which we will prune off the excess in the following step.
Cut off the excess nodes at the stalk with your scissors but leave the top nodes so the cutting has energy to stay alive and grow.
Node has been cut almost flush with the stalk.
Let's keep going, still too much vegetation left.
We're done with the side trimming of the cutting.
Now its time to make our 45 degree angle cut at the bottom. I like to take this cut right below a trimmed off node. The trimmed node will provide exposed tissue that will allow the clonex gel to do it's thang and roots will come out of these nodes eventually.
45 degree cut has been made. Time to dip it into the clonex gel.
Dip your cutting into the clonex gel or use a tool to rub the clonex gel on the stalk. Make sure to cover it with clonex gel above the node that was cut off.
Stick the cutting into the Rapid Rooter plug. I like to prepare the plug just before I stick the cutting in by inserting a tool into the hole to make sure there are no obstructions so the cutting slides right in without any resistance. You don't want to bend the stalk when putting it in or else you'll end up with a knuckle at the bend and it'll take longer to recover and root.
Stick the Rapid Rooter into the propagation tray. I like to number my tray corners so I can keep track of the strain in each hole. I use notepad on my phone to keep track of the date and slot number for each cutting. Example:
March 6
1 - AK47
2 - CNC3
3 - CO2
March 7
4 - AK47
5 - CO2
6 - CO2
I like to put a little bit of water in the bottom of the tray. I also like to wet the Rapid Rooter Plugs with the same water so they are wet. This prevents oxygen from getting to the trimmed node and end cut which would seal it off and make the rooting take much longer.
Every couple of days i'll take the dome lid off and rewet the rapid rooter plugs to keep them moist. Check on them every few days and adjust the humidity as needed with the built in vent.
I like to number my trays so I can keep track in the notepad app on my phone.
There ya have it.
These will root in just a few days to a week or so. My AK47 (AK4) roots in about 4 days, my Cali-O (CO2) takes about 7-10 days. Cookies N Cream (CNC3) takes closer to two weeks.
Just keep the Rapid Rooter Plugs moist and replace the water in the bottom as it evaporates. I've gotten damn near 100% success ratio using this method and i've not had any of the issues i've run into using other cloning methods. It's a simple and cheap option for those who don't already use a cloner and it's easy enough that anyone can do it.
Some months ago I bought an Oxy Cloner off amazon for about $65. And had decent results initially. Then as time started going on the cuttings would take longer and longer to root and cleaning the res became a hassle. So I started experimenting with making my own Tiny Cloner and ended up stumbling upon this method instead.
It's a really simple setup and takes very little space to perform. So it doesn't use much space in your veg area and I typically see roots in about 7-10 days. There's a humidity dome with a built-in vent so you can control the humidity level inside the unit very easily.
Required Parts:
- Clonex Gel - $17 (one bottle lasts hundreds, maybe thousands of clones)
- General Hydro Rapid Rooter Plugs - 50 for $17 (this is the only part that needs to be purchased often, you can buy them in larger qty for less so if you need more the cost savings add up)
- VivoSun Pruning Shears - $5 (any sharp scissors will work)
- Seedling Starting Trays with Dome Lids - Koram - $18 (each tray holds 12 plants and this is a 10 pack so you can do 120 clones at one time, they don't sell them in anything less than 10 packs)
- Optional - Seedling Heat Mat - $12 (Only required if your veg area doesn't stay warm enough or if you want to root in an area that stays cool)
- A Plant to take cuttings from (Duh) - $0+ (Only required if you want this to work)
Our mother plant we are going to take some cuttings from. Ignore the leaf tip burn, that was done intentionally (ok not really).
Identify a node to take your cutting from. I like to have 3-5 nodes on my cutting so I can trim them off leaving just the top node(s) and so when in the Rapid Rooter plugs they have exposed tissue to grow roots from.
Make your cut. Here you can see there is plenty of vegetation on the cutting from which we will prune off the excess in the following step.
Cut off the excess nodes at the stalk with your scissors but leave the top nodes so the cutting has energy to stay alive and grow.
Node has been cut almost flush with the stalk.
Let's keep going, still too much vegetation left.
We're done with the side trimming of the cutting.
Now its time to make our 45 degree angle cut at the bottom. I like to take this cut right below a trimmed off node. The trimmed node will provide exposed tissue that will allow the clonex gel to do it's thang and roots will come out of these nodes eventually.
45 degree cut has been made. Time to dip it into the clonex gel.
Dip your cutting into the clonex gel or use a tool to rub the clonex gel on the stalk. Make sure to cover it with clonex gel above the node that was cut off.
Stick the cutting into the Rapid Rooter plug. I like to prepare the plug just before I stick the cutting in by inserting a tool into the hole to make sure there are no obstructions so the cutting slides right in without any resistance. You don't want to bend the stalk when putting it in or else you'll end up with a knuckle at the bend and it'll take longer to recover and root.
Stick the Rapid Rooter into the propagation tray. I like to number my tray corners so I can keep track of the strain in each hole. I use notepad on my phone to keep track of the date and slot number for each cutting. Example:
March 6
1 - AK47
2 - CNC3
3 - CO2
March 7
4 - AK47
5 - CO2
6 - CO2
I like to put a little bit of water in the bottom of the tray. I also like to wet the Rapid Rooter Plugs with the same water so they are wet. This prevents oxygen from getting to the trimmed node and end cut which would seal it off and make the rooting take much longer.
Every couple of days i'll take the dome lid off and rewet the rapid rooter plugs to keep them moist. Check on them every few days and adjust the humidity as needed with the built in vent.
I like to number my trays so I can keep track in the notepad app on my phone.
There ya have it.
These will root in just a few days to a week or so. My AK47 (AK4) roots in about 4 days, my Cali-O (CO2) takes about 7-10 days. Cookies N Cream (CNC3) takes closer to two weeks.
Just keep the Rapid Rooter Plugs moist and replace the water in the bottom as it evaporates. I've gotten damn near 100% success ratio using this method and i've not had any of the issues i've run into using other cloning methods. It's a simple and cheap option for those who don't already use a cloner and it's easy enough that anyone can do it.