Root Hormone Question

[TheConstantGardner]

Is rooting gel better than rooting powder? Any recommendations from the voices of experience here?

I've got a bottle of Green Light Rooting Hormone. The active ingredient is Indole-3-butyric acid 0.1%. I need to make some clones ASAP and don't want to waste my time with dead cuttings that won't root.

 

[SHOOT2KILL66]

never used powder but the gel seems to work every time hasent let me down once i just slice up the center of the steam with a blade an let it soak up before planting i havent needed to compair results are 100%

 

[mo201320]

CLONEX is what i hear

 

[UserFriendly]

powder is fine but it can wash off easily.

 

[skunkushybrid]

I've heard and read that the powder blocks up the stems. Not sure, I've used both with success. Likewise I've had 100%success without using any hormone whatsoever.

With clones it's about the environment you put them in.

Young cuttings have a lot of work to do as their system for gathering water (the roots) is gone. Heat, low humidity and intense light all create demands on the cutting's water supplies. When the demands are greater than the stems capacity to cope the leaves wilt, although once you get the environment right even wilted clones can pick back up again after a few hours.

The amount of leaf you leave on your cutting is also very important. Less leaf, the faster it is to root. If you have a large fan leaf, and you don't want to remove it entirely then you can just break bits off it, giving it the appearance that a voracious caterpillar had been at work.

Light is also very important in regards to how long you have it on for and intensity. On an 18/6 schedule your clones will only produce 75% of the sugars, the tissue building blocks, than it would under 24 hour light. For fastest root growth it's recommended you have the light on them continuously.

 

[TheConstantGardner]

I've heard and read that the powder blocks up the stems. Not sure, I've used both with success. Likewise I've had 100%success without using any hormone whatsoever.

With clones it's about the environment you put them in.

Young cuttings have a lot of work to do as their system for gathering water (the roots) is gone. Heat, low humidity and intense light all create demands on the cutting's water supplies. When the demands are greater than the stems capacity to cope the leaves wilt, although once you get the environment right even wilted clones can pick back up again after a few hours.

The amount of leaf you leave on your cutting is also very important. Less leaf, the faster it is to root. If you have a large fan leaf, and you don't want to remove it entirely then you can just break bits off it, giving it the appearance that a voracious caterpillar had been at work.

Light is also very important in regards to how long you have it on for and intensity. On an 18/6 schedule your clones will only produce 75% of the sugars, the tissue building blocks, than it would under 24 hour light. For fastest root growth it's recommended you have the light on them continuously.

Hey, thanks! Thanks for all the replies peeps.

I've built my wick system cloner and humidity tent today. I'm using vermiculite/perlite mixture at a 1/1 ratio. Water reservoir holds a gallon of water and I put in a couple drops of superthrive. I'll be using the powder as that's all I've been able to find. I'll be attempting 15 clones, but am planting 20 beans tonight as a backup in the event the clones fail.

I worked 7 years in a greenhouse and have done countless clones from ornamental trees like ficas (weeping fig), but that was a different process, different plant, and different environment...

 

[nongreenthumb]

I tried the powder and didnt get on with it, i use clonex every time and get the desired results now, although i recently fucked a batch up because i used a heated propagator, the heat was too much for them and made them want to take more water than they could which stressed the stem out and killed it.

 

[TheConstantGardner]

Here's my new clone setup. I hope it works...

The blue wicks are cut from a fresh mop head; 4 per compartment. It's a blend and is supposed to be twice as absorbent as cotton. I tested it with a cup of water and it wicked until the whole yarn was saturated with water. The reservoir is the same kind of box (walmart $4.85 in the fishing section). I put holes in the dividers so I can simply lift one side and fill the whole thing.

The humidity tent is 1/2" PVC frame covered with painters drop cloth (2 mil plastic sheet). It's also collapsible for easy storage when not in use. The whole setup cost around $27 to make.

 

[skunkushybrid]

You should be fine, although you're going to find it difficult to tell when they root or not. Most people clone using rock or oasis cubes.

NGT, I'm the same as you. I cloned fine until I bought the heated prop', I think it just comes down to what you're used to.

 

[nongreenthumb]

I think the humidity is still at a decent level, maybe in fact its just right by not being too much.

 

[TheConstantGardner]

You should be fine, although you're going to find it difficult to tell when they root or not. Most people clone using rock or oasis cubes.

NGT, I'm the same as you. I cloned fine until I bought the heated prop', I think it just comes down to what you're used to.

There are no hydro shops around here within a half days driving distance... I'll probably change setups next grow around when I can order off the internet. Time was of the essence with this batch.

 

[skunkushybrid]

There are no hydro shops around here within a half days driving distance... I'll probably change setups next grow around when I can order off the internet. Time was of the essence with this batch.

Ah, I keep forgetting how hard it is for a lot of you guys to get supplies. I've done it in soil, perlite mix before. Same thing really, only you can't tell when they've rooted.

I see why rollitup doesn't want us to delete pic's now. I had a load of pic's that i deleted off the site, I've since got a new computer and smashed up the hard drive from the old one. I like to keep secure, you give the old bill as little as possible. Don't even talk to them except to tell them your name, address and to ask for a brief. anyway, I digress.

The point in that last paragraph was that I would have been able to show you pic's of my soil clones but i can't now, they are gone forever. sorry, mega stoned at the moment.

Anyway, give them two weeks to root, keep them humid and you should be fine.