Cloudy Gel-Like Substance on Clones

We have an ez-clone 128 low pro white. Keeping pH between 5.8-6.2. Temp is between 70-75 F. Kept everything sterile, dipped in clonex gel. Using RO water. This is a pic on day 5. We have no roots but have this gel-like substance forming. Doesn't just wipe off. You can actually peel it off in clumps, almost like silicone. This clone seems to be the worst of the bunch. Some don't have it at all. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Really don't want to lose all of these. Thanks!
I'm not an expert but have also just worked thru some similar issues with an aero cloner. What I have found is that it not only needs to be set up sterile, but also KEPT sterile though the whole process by regularly adding something like bleach to the water in order to keep the nasties away. Some people will not have any probs (particularly those who use chlorinated water). But even then it can go bad after a few days if just left to luck.

Best advise I can give is set the cloner up with about 4ppm bleach in the water, using pool test strips to gauge this. Add the bleach at this rate immediately before you put the clones in, and then repeat at 3-4 day intervels.

Based on what I know now, and looking at your pics, if I were you I would either start a fresh batch set as above, or cut the ends off your clones and start them again as above. Because experience has shown me that often when clones scunge up like that the ends get a bit compromised so that they either don't succeed, or take massive amount of time to get roots on them.

This article proved to be the magic bullet for me: https://www.permaclone.com/blogs/news/the-3-reasons-clones-fail

Good luck! I know how frustrating it can be to have these sorts of issues,.....especially if you have had initial trouble free runs!
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Doesn't just wipe off. You can actually peel it off in clumps, almost like silicone.
When it peels off does it take any "skin" with it? I have seen clones develop a whitish callus tissue before roots pop, but I never tried peeling it off and honestly this looks a little different for sure. Just want to eliminate that.
 

FastFreddi

Well-Known Member
When it peels off does it take any "skin" with it? I have seen clones develop a whitish callus tissue before roots pop, but I never tried peeling it off and honestly this looks a little different for sure. Just want to eliminate that.
Very bizarre..interested to know myself. Some kind of buildup from the nutrient solution?
FF
FF
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
When my whole setup got thrips in October, I could not get a single clone to root for the life of me. 3 retries later, I ended up losing the dankest strains ive had yet. Sin Mintz and Rainbow Chip. I'll never get over it. Not even the moms would clone.
 

FastFreddi

Well-Known Member
Pretty sure he's just using RO water and the clonex gel.

I haven't seen anyone use the gel in an aerocloner so I dunno what happens there.
Ahhh could it be the gel building in layers, then drying, then building layers?
FF
 

FastFreddi

Well-Known Member
You put more than 1 layer of cloning gel on the stem? I just dip once before putting in the mister.
What you have looks like fungus growing.
No...I'm just trying to work out may have happened with the op's clone.
I use an entirely different technique.
I also rarely answer with absolutes, unless I'm there to see it for myself.
Too many on here doing that already.
FF
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't use the cloning gel, and if you are using a dome or misting them don't do that either. Make sure the light is a fluoro light 12" or more away on 24/7. When cutting use a steril sharp knife. After cloning let it run a day then swap the water, let it run for a few weeks and you should be fine.

I bet that gunk is the gel

If trying to salvage these maybe take them to the sink and spray them off, replace the water, and do that once every 2-3 days and hopefully itll rinse that crap off
 

FastFreddi

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't use the cloning gel, and if you are using a dome or misting them don't do that either. Make sure the light is a fluoro light 12" or more away on 24/7. When cutting use a steril sharp knife. After cloning let it run a day then swap the water, let it run for a few weeks and you should be fine.

I bet that gunk is the gel

If trying to salvage these maybe take them to the sink and spray them off, replace the water, and do that once every 2-3 days and hopefully itll rinse that crap off
My thought s...thank you.
FF
 

manfredo

Well-Known Member
Ultrasonic mister clone, 8 days from cutting to potting up.

View attachment 4527069
Beautiful. Can I ask what you use in your aerocloner. I have been having issues myself lately, ever since I had powdery mildew. Prior to that I was getting damned near 100% rooting, for several years. My new plants are strong and pm free, but my clone test run a few weeks back proved to be a big fat zero! And I'm about to have a shitload of cuttings for clones. I do disinfect the unit good with bleach in between uses.
 
Pretty sure he's just using RO water and the clonex gel.

I haven't seen anyone use the gel in an aerocloner so I dunno what happens there.
I use the clonex gel in my aero cloner (dip the clone ends in it for a minute or two before putting them in the cloner) even though to be honest I'm not entirely convinced it makes a lot of difference. But I have definitely never seen anything like what the op has on his clones as a result of the clonex gel. Not saying its not possible though.

I am working along the theory that it may be some kind of algal/fungal/bacterial growth. But having said that, it is a serious amount of growth for just four days after cutting. So I definitely would remain open to all the other possibilities.
 

GreenTools

Well-Known Member
We have an ez-clone 128 low pro white. Keeping pH between 5.8-6.2. Temp is between 70-75 F. Kept everything sterile, dipped in clonex gel. Using RO water. This is a pic on day 5. We have no roots but have this gel-like substance forming. Doesn't just wipe off. You can actually peel it off in clumps, almost like silicone. This clone seems to be the worst of the bunch. Some don't have it at all. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Really don't want to lose all of these. Thanks!
Running a warm rez is key to having rooting success, but what I see there is bacteria buildup/algae …my cloner units will get a similar gel if I let the water stay for too long... change the water out every few days, or add HTH pool shock or bleach to sterilize when you do swap the water... for awhile I would add "Orca" beneficial bacteria into my cloners but didn't seem to make any difference....
 

sarahJane211

Well-Known Member
Beautiful. Can I ask what you use in your aerocloner. I have been having issues myself lately, ever since I had powdery mildew. Prior to that I was getting damned near 100% rooting, for several years. My new plants are strong and pm free, but my clone test run a few weeks back proved to be a big fat zero! And I'm about to have a shitload of cuttings for clones. I do disinfect the unit good with bleach in between uses.
I just use tap water.
 
Running a warm rez is key to having rooting success, but what I see there is bacteria buildup/algae …my cloner units will get a similar gel if I let the water stay for too long... change the water out every few days, or add HTH pool shock or bleach to sterilize when you do swap the water... for awhile I would add "Orca" beneficial bacteria into my cloners but didn't seem to make any difference....
When you say warm what temps are you talking about? I was trying to stay under 75 to prevent any algae/bacteria but that clearly didn’t work.
 
When it peels off does it take any "skin" with it? I have seen clones develop a whitish callus tissue before roots pop, but I never tried peeling it off and honestly this looks a little different for sure. Just want to eliminate that.
No it just peels right off the stem. No skin. It’s definitely algae/bacteria of some sort. Not the beginning of roots.
 
Top