So, my DIY HPA cloner failed utterly. Advice?

[maltberg]

My DIY HPA aero setup for my mother plant was a success. So I thought I'd use spare parts to built an HPA aero cloner, which has basically the same structure, with timers, pumps, HP cans, nozzles and RO water.

But the cloner was an utter failure. In 1 week, most cuttings' stem had become black, which then rotted, became mushy. One in ten cuttings develops very short roots (three roots, half an inch at most) after a month. The rest drys. A typical cutting would be dried aboveboard where mist doesn't touch the cutting, and rotten underneath, where mist touches the cutting.

I read somewhere that the problem is too much moisture, or damping off. I am not so sure myself.

Does HPA cloner even work? or should I just stick to low pressure cloner like so many do?

 

[SnapsProvolone]

Damp off.

Reduce frequency and possibly duration of spray bigtime.

 

[maltberg]

Damp off.

Reduce frequency and possibly duration of spray bigtime.

I am at 1s on, 60s off. I am not sure how much lower I'd want to go.

Does cuttings require constant water pouring over their stems, or just humidity, like mother plant's root do?

 

[Magic M]

hey Maltburg, I had the same problem you did, i used ro water in my diy cloner & after 10days i had no roots and slime in the rez & on the stems where the roots were supposed to be! i started asking around & this is what i found.... calcium hypoclorite(poolshock)! I couldnt believe what I was reading but it made sense! city water has trace amounts of chlorine in it to combat bacteria while ro water has none which makes it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria! makes sense! i went from 0% success on my first round to 100% after using the pool shock treatment! here is the formula - 1 gram shock into 1gallon of ro water--- that is the solution...then 1 fluid oz per 5 gallons of rez water. this is the same concentration of chlorine that ezcloner's rez clear uses for there machines!!only difference is pool shock costs $5 for a lb. & rez clear costs $25per ltr. i hope this helps you as much as it did for me

 

[Magic M]

oh ya i also put my pump on a timer 30min on 30min off and ihave had no problems since!seems like the roots like that time to breathe! go figure lol anyways good luck & good growing 10days full roots

 

[maltberg]

hey Maltburg, I had the same problem you did, i used ro water in my diy cloner & after 10days i had no roots and slime in the rez & on the stems where the roots were supposed to be! i started asking around & this is what i found.... calcium hypoclorite(poolshock)! I couldnt believe what I was reading but it made sense! city water has trace amounts of chlorine in it to combat bacteria while ro water has none which makes it the perfect breeding ground for bacteria! makes sense! i went from 0% success on my first round to 100% after using the pool shock treatment! here is the formula - 1 gram shock into 1gallon of ro water--- that is the solution...then 1 fluid oz per 5 gallons of rez water. this is the same concentration of chlorine that ezcloner's rez clear uses for there machines!!only difference is pool shock costs $5 for a lb. & rez clear costs $25per ltr. i hope this helps you as much as it did for me

Appreciate the help!
Did you use the same setup as I did(HPA cloner)?
I read somewhere that my stems turning black is a fungal issue, not a bacteria issue like yours, since I don't have slimes.

 

[SnapsProvolone]

I am at 1s on, 60s off. I am not sure how much lower I'd want to go.

Does cuttings require constant water pouring over their stems, or just humidity, like mother plant's root do?

If they are getting damp off your too wet and may lack sterile cutting procedures.

A mist is fine, perhaps 30 sec every 30 minutes ish. If your sprayers are too big or too close your too wet. Just mist to moisten and stop for a period as is required to almost dry.

I never used this type setup as its too finicky for use on large scale. Can they work? Sure. When you can take a cutting and root it in a chunk of rockwool that's hit with water once a day why bother with added complications. If you want automation, try a bubble cloner, but don't bother with a weak air pump. build your own.

 

[Magic M]

mine is homemade aerocloner 35site 10 misters attached to a diaphram, the fungus or bacteria will not be a problem. i also run my pump on a timer 30min on 30min off .keeps my temp @ 72 & gives the rooting area time to breathe