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?Mr. HIGHway?s Cloning Method In
Rockwool?
Contributed by: Mr. HIGHway
The first picture are the supplies needed. I use
round RW cutting plugs with a slit down the side.
Items:
1: Rockwool cutting plugs.
2:
Plastic tray with dome.
3: Sterile sharp scissors.
4: Rootech gel (comes in 2, 4, and 8oz bottles).
5: General hydroponics nutrients
I premix a
solution of tsp/gallon GH G-M-B nutrients and adjust
the pH to 5.5. I fill a tray with the solution " deep.
I then
take the cutting, making sure I cut it at a 45 degree
angle, using a sterile sharp pair of scissors. Cutting
right above the node. Making a second cut under water is
optional, I did not, but is highly recommended. And
after making the cut, it is a good idea, to gently move
the cutting back and forth in the water/cloning
solution, to dislodge any air bubbles that might still
be lodged in the stem.
I then dip the
cutting into the rooting gel, I use Rootech (It is a
good idea to use a separate container, and not dip
directly into the rooting gel bottle, as this can lead
to bacteria, and or viruses, contaminating the bottle
for future use). The next step is to put the cutting in
the RW cutting plug. Ok, now that you have taken the
cutting, you need to dip it "-1" in the rooting gel.
Then you open the plug along the seam, and carefully
place the cutting in the plug.
At this point, the
plug is still dry.
After you have placed the cutting
in the plug, then set it in the tray with the solution.
Capillary action acts to pull the nutrient solution up
the cube.
After you have taken all of the cuttings
you need, you then need to mist the dome, covering it
thoroughly and finally placing it on top of the
cuttings.
BTW, the dome in the picture was used for
the purpose of clarity of what was under it, and was
replaced with a 2" tall dome after the picture.
You're done! Now
comes the truly hard part, the waiting. I have 100%
survival rates using this method.
Here some
notes that are not in the pictures:
? I cut above
the node.
? I did not make a second cut under water.
? I did not use an anti wilt spray.
? All the
cuttings were taken from two plants. Each stem was 1" or
less in length from the cut to the first node.
Additional notes:
? I use General
Hydroponics Nutrients (last picture).
? Humidity
stays above 80% under the dome.
? I have
successfully cloned Blueberry, Cinderella-99, Blue
Shamana, and my own strain that I developed.
? Loss
rate for all clones taken using this method are less
than 1%(the only one I ever lost was dropped, and never
recovered).
? The lighting used is Grolux florescent
tubes from 4 Lights of America 24" single tube lights.
80W total.
? Shelving is adjustable in 1"
increments, materials may be found in any Home center.
 >
More
additional information:
It has been my
experience that the cuts taken below the top -1/3 of
the plant have a higher chance of survival. This has to
do with a hormone that the top-most growing tips release
that hinders growth of lower stems. If you top, and then
take clones from the mid part of the plant, you will get
a good balance of less hormone/vigorous cuttings that
have good stem structure. The lower down you go, the
less hormone, but the less strength the stem has,
depending on the strain, and how full the canopy above
it is. I learned this last bit as I was developing the
above technique.
The process of viable selection
before you make the cuts, IMO, makes the difference
between a good success rate and an outstanding success
rate. Make sure that your prospective cut has a clear
shot to the light, as this will mean it is more viable
than one that is taken from a shaded spot on the plant.
That alone probably gives me an extra 25%+ added to my
success rate. I've taken well over 200+ clones using the
above method.
Highway
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