DWC users throw out that rockwool and or rooting cubes. Not needed!

[mr. green thumb 01]

Not sure if this has already been stated here or not but...

I have been cloning with great success using a simple dwc (bubbler cloner) with no rooting cubes or rockwool. Saving time and money. I take my cutting and first dip it in rooting gel then carefully place it so about a inch of the stem is hanging out of the bottom of the net pot and then fill it with hydroton. When you put PLAIN water in your bucket fill so the water is just touching the net pot and the stem will be submerged. Make sure you got bubbles and air everywhere you have a clone and within two weeks massive roots. If your clones are droopy mist them and put a clear plastic party cup over them as a humidity dome. Most of the time when I clone this way I dont even need a humidity dome. It also seemed to be a more effective cloning method then rooting cubes as they hold to much moisture and cause damping off frequently.

 

[hotrodharley]

Not sure if this has already been stated here or not but...

I have been cloning with great success using a simple dwc (bubbler cloner) with no rooting cubes or rockwool. Saving time and money. I take my cutting and first dip it in rooting gel then carefully place it so about a inch of the stem is hanging out of the bottom of the net pot and then fill it with hydroton. When you put PLAIN water in your bucket fill so the water is just touching the net pot and the stem will be submerged. Make sure you got bubbles and air everywhere you have a clone and within two weeks massive roots. If your clones are droopy mist them and put a clear plastic party cup over them as a humidity dome. Most of the time when I clone this way I dont even need a humidity dome. It also seemed to be a more effective cloning method then rooting cubes as they hold to much moisture and cause damping off frequently.

I'll buy this dog sight unseen. I clone in a glass of tap water. Tape the glass with gorilla tape and the lid too. My first 2 DWCs are up and I'm building a new one just to try this. Thanks. Makes sense.

 

[gaztron3030]

I've been thinking of trying this method also, rockwool too slow and jiffys get peat in my res so would be ideal. Plus will stop the temptation to pull the RW/jiffy apart to check whats happening which I still impatiently do from time to time lol.

 

[redi jedi]

I've done this and yes it works, but the transplant from the cloner is a royal pita.

 

[superstoner1]

the only time i ever used rockwool or hydroton was my first grow. i use only netpots and collars now and have had well over a thousand clones in my homemade aero cloner and only lost one.

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

I've done this and yes it works, but the transplant from the cloner is a royal pita.

imo your letting them root for to long then.

I also dont really like store bought cloners for the simple fact they still need put in a net pot afterwards. Start them in their normal size net pot and then just move that from tub to tub. But thats just me. kiss

 

[superstoner1]

yeah, i agree. the size of the pot does nothing for plant size in dwc or aero. i use 2" netpots from clone to harvest, no transplanting, straight from one system to the next.

 

[redi jedi]

imo your letting them root for to long then.

I also dont really like store bought cloners for the simple fact they still need put in a net pot afterwards. Start them in their normal size net pot and then just move that from tub to tub. But thats just me. kiss

That would be a great idea if I used tubs, but I use 5gal buckets. To start clones in a 6" netpot that fits on a 5 gal bucket isn't practical. I would need 4 tubs just to accommodate 8 clones.

 

[redi jedi]

yeah, i agree. the size of the pot does nothing for plant size in dwc or aero. i use 2" netpots from clone to harvest, no transplanting, straight from one system to the next.

The size of netpot may not matter in aero,but in DWC it sure does. I've had plants in which the roots have grown so thick they break the netpot. There's no way I could use a 2" pot from clone to harvest.

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

That would be a great idea if I used tubs, but I use 5gal buckets. To start clones in a 6" netpot that fits on a 5 gal bucket isn't practical. I would need 4 tubs just to accommodate 8 clones.

The size of netpot may not matter in aero,but in DWC it sure does. I've had plants in which the roots have grown so thick they break the netpot. There's no way I could use a 2" pot from clone to harvest.

I use 3 inch. Get 18 clones in one tub approx 15 gal size. I fill with 10 gal water. Move them from their cloner to a veg bucket for a couple weeks then to a flower tub. Each tub they get more spread out with less plants as they grow bigger root systems. Ending with 2-4 plants per tub depending on the strain. Stellar results.

Honestly, if your roots are going through the net pot directly to the tub net pot size doesnt matter. If a neoprene collar alone would support a plant we'd never even need net pot either. My roots break the net pots often also but I dont see how that effects the plant. I just dont re-use that net pot.

Im just saying...

 

[tip top toker]

Rockwool costs mere pennies per piece and allows me to pul them out of the bucket and leave them on a try or windowsill or whathave you. Dno't really see any compelling reason to stop using it. Next people will be telling me to save money by skipping on uisng netpots or pebbles.

I use a 2" pot from clone to harvest without an issue whatsoever. Roots will break up stone, a little flexible net pot is childs play for them, it has never had any ill effect.

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

Rockwool costs mere pennies per piece and allows me to pul them out of the bucket and leave them on a try or windowsill or whathave you. Dno't really see any compelling reason to stop using it. Next people will be telling me to save money by skipping on uisng netpots or pebbles.

I use a 2" pot from clone to harvest without an issue whatsoever. Roots will break up stone, a little flexible net pot is childs play for them, it has never had any ill effect.

A penny is a penny to me. 100 of them make a dollar. Everyone counts. They all spend.

 

[tip top toker]

And each penny of rockwool will host a plant that could net me say £2000, i think i can justify that penny

 

[superstoner1]

to me its not the cost of buying it, its the cost of dealing with it. just another not needed problem.

 

[BigBuddahCheese]

Guess these guys only have plants couple feet tall.. if not they are spending those pennies "saved" and time "saved" on rigging them up for support. So.. tomatoe .. tomato... just another pointless argument that the trolls feed on.

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

Guess these guys only have plants couple feet tall.. if not they are spending those pennies "saved" and time "saved" on rigging them up for support. So.. tomatoe .. tomato... just another pointless argument that the trolls feed on.

Please educate me how a rockwool cube offers any more support than a net pot filled with hydroton. Any rockwool cube I would be using in dwc would be 1.5" my stalk quickly makes waste of them and I often am pulling those out of the reservoir anyway. Also my colas always need support regardless of whats going on down stairs.

So in short yes I need extra support so inform me how rockwool would give me the support I desire?

Honestly not trying to be a dick or troll (dumb term imo) or whatever your saying. I just want to learn and share what I have already learned.

 

[SOMEBEECH]

Ty im doing the same as you and my hydrotron supports my plants just fine,But i do have to support the colas from my 4-5ft plants.

BEECH

 

[tip top toker]

If you're pulling bits of RW out of your res then you've got your thing setup wrong. My plant would also make mincemeat of my 1" rockwool cubes but i never once had a fiber of the stuff in the res.

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

2-4 plants in a 15 gal res 10 gal water 3" net cups average 2-4 oz per pant and upwards. Colas size of 2 stacked soda cans. Whats wrong with that?

I was in a congressional debate w. myself when I was deciding 3'netters or 5"netters. I went with 3 to save space for SOG method I am happy with my results.

So tiptop whats your method of growing? Please share.

 

[tip top toker]

You are having to pull rockwool out of your reservoir. That is what is wrong with it.. I never made any mention to your yields, i am talking about how your netpot is setup. If you are getting rockwool in your res then ti's setup wrong lol