cloning with peat pellets question

ok, so my first cloning experience has gone well. i took 36 clones from my mother, and about 3/4 of them are doing well after almost a month...however...

i didnt cut the screening around the peat when i planted them in their party cups. and the growth rate is very slow. they have maybe doubled in almost a month since cutting them off the mother.

it seemed like it would be hard for the roots to penetrate that screening. are you guys removing the screen when you plant your newly rooting clones?

aslo just curious. do you think 1/2 strengh nutes would be ok to start with after 1 month of the clones being taken from the mother? so far ive given them no nutrients (they are in pro mix) but the mother always gets 1/2 strength, so shouln't i be able to give the clones 1/2 strength?

thanks guys, always a help.

I don't remove the screens. Did the first time, not since and haven't noticed any difference.

Feed some of them and see how it works out.

Wet

thanks for the reply. about how much do your clones grow about a month after cutting?

i cut the netting off,makes it easier for the roots to grow out personally i put clones right in the soil in the cup i used pellets twice and didn't have much luck,it also helps to shave the stems w/razor blade take off the first layer of skin..as far as nutes 1/4 to start until they root good...

i never cut the netting off roots will get through

would you guys say for clones averaging 3-4 inches when cut, should they be more than double the size 1 month after cutting?

seems kind of slow to me. (im growing them under cfl's)

have to consider no growing is going on when they are rooting, so the 1st 2 weeks really don't count. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Hello,

How are you? Hope you are having a nice days.

First of all, removing or not the screen change nothing unless we never figured that it did.

There some reasons that would justify why the the growing rate is slow;

-Temperature ; (Always be sure the temperature in your clone box is around 77-82) usually people will say around 77, but i found out with trials and errors through time that around 80-82s is working very well due to the extra heat that clone love.

-Humidity ; Anything around 55-75% is needed to have them at their maximum. Letting them get dry will hurt them more than help in a early stage.

-Air flow ; Its always useful to have a good air flow either by removing the screen every once in a while during the day (i tend to remove it 2-3 time a day (every 4-5 hours for 10-15minutes)) Adding a mini rotating fan also help with air flow

-Nutrients ; Usually waiting few weeks (2-3) after cloning to add nutrients is always a good option. Avoid stressing them. What you could add (once or twice during that 2-3 weeks) is low dosage of Powerclone + Cloning dip product. If you decide to add nutrients. 1/4 of the strength would be a good option at mid clone stage. then every 2 weeks diminish the dilution to 1/2

-Leaf ; Yes leaf! Usually removing the big leaf on your clone will help the clone work on his roots instead focusing on his leaf (Do not remove all leaves) Only remove the big one and leave the small ones) **This step can be avoided** I get good result with it but its not the same for everyone. Husband friend tried the same and had trouble with it. You never know!

-Environment ; Be sure your environment is clean. VERY IMPORTANT -- ALSO CLEAN YOUR HANDS & TOOLS BEFORE HANDLING THEM

Lastly do not try too much.. Sometime doing less will help them more than someone who try to help them every minutes to be sure everything work well. Nature does it thing by itself mostly . You are there to assist

Wish everyone a nice day and feel free to add tips if i forgot something which is possible

thank you

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thanks alot for the tips. i did pretty much exactly what you mentioned. however...

i made a single angled cut on the stem of each clone with the razor...about 1/2 cm or a little more....29 of my 36 cuttings rooted fine, but when i pulled the stems out of the ones that didn't take off so well out of the peat pellet, i noticed the roots were not coming from the angled cut area on the stem, but just above it.

are you stripping any of the skin off the stem? or does anyone have a tried and true method of getting them to root asap by either making slits, angled cuts, or just stripping the skin off?

Roots have no problem breaking through the mesh netting.

kepitgrn said:

i cut the netting off,makes it easier for the roots to grow out personally i put clones right in the soil in the cup i used pellets twice and didn't have much luck,it also helps to shave the stems w/razor blade take off the first layer of skin..as far as nutes 1/4 to start until they root good...

Click to expand...

Im with my man,the scoring works a treat.you see loads of roots come from the score rather then the actual cut.
1/4 nutes now or babby nutes.Usual start growing with in 2 week but I can advise on your pebbles as I have no idea what they are.I use clay pebbls/balls

I did some reaserch on the peat pellets last year after my tomatoes and peppers didnt do as good as I thought they should have. Cutting the netting is a good idea,some of the netting on pellets,depending on brand,dont break down well and cause root restriction in the pellet. Yes roots will grow out/through but they wont be as good as if you cut the netting.When I pulled my plants at end of year I noticed a very tight ball of roots where the pellet was with only a few roots spreading out, on a few plants where the pellet netting was ripped before planting the root growth was exponentially better. From now on I will either remove the netting or at least slice it open in a few places.