Rahz
Well-Known Member
So I've had mixed success off and on with clones/cloners and think I have addressed every concern with this design.
Items needed:
Black 1 gallon bucket
Air pump
Air tubing
Air stone (2" round black or 4" blue)
Neoprene inserts
Azos powder
PH down
Each bucket should be able to support 5 clone sites. A hole saw can be used to get close to the necessary diameter for the neoprene discs to fit snugly, then carefully cut to expand as needed. These black bucket lids have both inner about outer lips so they won't leak from splash and don't need to be sealed down on the buckets. A single hole in the center of the lid is drilled to snuggly fit the air tubing. Any air stone can be used with the caveat that they are heavy enough so they sink down and straighten the air tubing. It's important that the stone be centered so all the clones get water. Using the one gallon buckets means all clone sites get bubbles from a single stone.
Pic to show the bucket and insert spacing. Note the nipple in the center of the lid, drill air tube hole from the bottom to get it dead center.
That covers the build. Simple right? So why? The airstone and tubing are replaced with each batch of clones and the buckets are easily scrubbed with soap/bleach. No worries about latent bacteria/fungi/pythium buildup or having to soak equipment in bleach solution. Every time you use it it's like brand new.
A couple years back I did a test with a variety of beneficial bacteria products, as well as products meant to sterilize. The Azos was the best product out of everything I tried. It will guard against infection as well as produce nitrogen for the newly forming roots and it promoted root production faster than any of the other products.
How to use: I fill the buckets to about 1.5-2 inches below the bucket lip. It doesn't seem to matter if the stem extends below the water surface. More stem in the bucket means more surface area for water absorption, but even an inch of stem below the inserts is fine. After adding water I add about 1/3-1/2 teaspoon Azos and PH adjust down to 5.8 (only takes a drop or three). Insert air tubing and push an airstone on the end. You want the stone submerged but not touching the bottom where it might tilt. Hole should be snug enough the tubing cannot slip down. Snip tubing long enough to reach the air pump. Place cuttings in the inserts and place inserts in the lid. There should be no need for a humidity dome.
I use 2 buckets with a single dual port air pump for a total of 10 sites, but more or less can be used.
I think by cleaning the buckets between batches and switching out the stones and tubing, along with the addition of Azos, it's possible to never get any sign of infection. I wash the inserts in soap water and pour a little alcohol on them and let them dry. As long as a humidity dome isn't used I don't think growth on the inserts will be a concern. For the more paranoid, soak the inserts in a bleach solution for several days. If cuttings are reasonably healthy you should get first roots in about 7 days and ready for transplant in 10-14 days.
Azos is a bit pricey for the size bag you get, but it will last a very long time with the small amounts used. When the clones are transplanted I use another product called Recharge for the first week or two to insure infection never develops. Recharge will discolor the roots, but it's all healthy. Recharge is a somewhat strong base so be sure to adjust PH after nutes and Recharge have been added. After the culture has been inoculated a couple times no more bennies will be necessary for the duration of the grow. Recharge does provide the protection I want and is cheaper than Azos which is why I use it post-clone, but the Azos powder gets the roots going faster which is why I use it in the cloner.
So there you go. If you've ever struggled with contaminants in your cloning process, give it a try. It's cheap and get's the job done right.
Items needed:
Black 1 gallon bucket
Air pump
Air tubing
Air stone (2" round black or 4" blue)
Neoprene inserts
Azos powder
PH down
Each bucket should be able to support 5 clone sites. A hole saw can be used to get close to the necessary diameter for the neoprene discs to fit snugly, then carefully cut to expand as needed. These black bucket lids have both inner about outer lips so they won't leak from splash and don't need to be sealed down on the buckets. A single hole in the center of the lid is drilled to snuggly fit the air tubing. Any air stone can be used with the caveat that they are heavy enough so they sink down and straighten the air tubing. It's important that the stone be centered so all the clones get water. Using the one gallon buckets means all clone sites get bubbles from a single stone.
Pic to show the bucket and insert spacing. Note the nipple in the center of the lid, drill air tube hole from the bottom to get it dead center.
That covers the build. Simple right? So why? The airstone and tubing are replaced with each batch of clones and the buckets are easily scrubbed with soap/bleach. No worries about latent bacteria/fungi/pythium buildup or having to soak equipment in bleach solution. Every time you use it it's like brand new.
A couple years back I did a test with a variety of beneficial bacteria products, as well as products meant to sterilize. The Azos was the best product out of everything I tried. It will guard against infection as well as produce nitrogen for the newly forming roots and it promoted root production faster than any of the other products.
How to use: I fill the buckets to about 1.5-2 inches below the bucket lip. It doesn't seem to matter if the stem extends below the water surface. More stem in the bucket means more surface area for water absorption, but even an inch of stem below the inserts is fine. After adding water I add about 1/3-1/2 teaspoon Azos and PH adjust down to 5.8 (only takes a drop or three). Insert air tubing and push an airstone on the end. You want the stone submerged but not touching the bottom where it might tilt. Hole should be snug enough the tubing cannot slip down. Snip tubing long enough to reach the air pump. Place cuttings in the inserts and place inserts in the lid. There should be no need for a humidity dome.
I use 2 buckets with a single dual port air pump for a total of 10 sites, but more or less can be used.
I think by cleaning the buckets between batches and switching out the stones and tubing, along with the addition of Azos, it's possible to never get any sign of infection. I wash the inserts in soap water and pour a little alcohol on them and let them dry. As long as a humidity dome isn't used I don't think growth on the inserts will be a concern. For the more paranoid, soak the inserts in a bleach solution for several days. If cuttings are reasonably healthy you should get first roots in about 7 days and ready for transplant in 10-14 days.
Azos is a bit pricey for the size bag you get, but it will last a very long time with the small amounts used. When the clones are transplanted I use another product called Recharge for the first week or two to insure infection never develops. Recharge will discolor the roots, but it's all healthy. Recharge is a somewhat strong base so be sure to adjust PH after nutes and Recharge have been added. After the culture has been inoculated a couple times no more bennies will be necessary for the duration of the grow. Recharge does provide the protection I want and is cheaper than Azos which is why I use it post-clone, but the Azos powder gets the roots going faster which is why I use it in the cloner.
So there you go. If you've ever struggled with contaminants in your cloning process, give it a try. It's cheap and get's the job done right.
Last edited:
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... I need more clones tho