This
is a method that was passed on to me by an old grower
friend. I have found this method to work with the most
difficult and stubborn cuttings, including the strains
that are labeled "difficult to clone".
Materials Needed
terrarium/old fishtank (I picked this one up at a
garage sale for $0.25)
waterbed heater w/thermostat (same garage sale,
$2.00)
fluorescent light
peat pellets
spray bottle
saran wrap (not shown)
Optional:
No-Damp
2x4's, plywood, light switch
Hang light to
the desiered area, a 20 watt is reccomended for this
project. Now that my light is hung and ready, the
next step is to lay out the waterbed heating pad. The
pad is laid out so that the terrarium will be sitting
directly ontop of it.
The thermostat is placed near
by for easy access, and it is set at 80deg F for most
cuttings. If rooting tropical varieties, I would suggest
a setting nearer 90deg F.
The next step is preparation
of the terrarium. I took mine down to the laundry sink
and scrubbed it clean using detergent. I would not
recommend using bleach, for bleach leaves a residue
toxic to your plants. Once it is thoroughly cleaned,
and dry, fill the bottom two inches with soil. I prefer
to use Sunshine Mix #4. Once complete, place the
terrarium ontop of the heating pad and beneath the
light.
I mix the required amount of
No-Damp into the water, before moistening the soil
within the terrarium. Dampen the soil, do not leave it
dry and do not make it wet. This will keep the peat
pellet at the correct moisture.
Now is time to take your
freshly cut clones and place them into peat pellets
which have been expanded. The trick here is to bury the
pellets most of the way into the soil, this will keep
the pellets moist, warm, and will allow the roots to
grow into the soil.
The pellet on the right is
sitting ontop of the soil, the pellet on the left is
correctly buried into the soil.
Once you have all the pellets
in place, you are ready to place the temperature probe
from the waterbed heating pad. I like to place the probe
just above the soil, but not touching the soil,
terrarium, or any plants and pellets. This will regulate
the temperature within the terrarium to keep your new
cuttings happy.
Mix up a spray bottle of cold
water and the appropriate amount of No-Damp. Give the
plants, the soil, and the inside walls of the terrarium
a good misting. Mist everything without making the water
bead and runoff.
Cover the terrarium with
saran wrap to maintain humidity and temperature. Ensure
to leave a one inch gap for fresh air.
Now you are all set to get
started. Plug everything in, turn on your light and
waterbed heating pad. The pad will warm your environment
to optimum temperatures, plus you have just made a high
humidity environment for your plants to root. Now,
just watch it go. There is really nothing more to do,
the pellets will moisturize themselves from the soil and
the temperature will remain the same. Check it daily,
and give the inside of the terrarium a light misting, if
needed. As long as there is still moisture on the
terrarium glass, misting is not needed.
As long as your cloning
methods are solid, in seven to ten days you will have
roots running through the soil. The cutting pictured is
shown at day ten, and some roots had to be broken to
remove it from the soil.
