Is There Something Wrong With My Aero-Cloner?

So I always hear people claiming they get roots in 4-5 days using an ez-cloner type aero-cloner. I have 14 cuttings in a 24-site cloner (the 10 sites not in use are covered by neoprine inserts). It's been 6 days and not a single one has roots. My water temp is a constant 74F, air temp is 75-80 day / 70 night. I am using 3 parts RO water for every one part well water. I added 3 drops of Super Thrive per gal, and I also dipped the cuttings in Clonex gel before putting them in the cloner, but the misters almost immediately washed it off into the water. The pH of the water is 6.9. So am I doing something wrong or am I just not being patient enough?

drop your ph to 5.8 and be patient.

dart420 said:

drop your ph to 5.8 and be patient.

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Yep!! DO you see little white bumps yet?

sparkafire said:

Yep!! DO you see little white bumps yet?

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Nope not yet. They look the same as the day I cut them. No roots yet but they do still look very healthy.

I am running the pump 24/7. I've heard people say that it needs to be on a recycle timer 4min on 1 min off. But I've heard just as many people say they run it 24/7, and since my water temps are fine that's what I've been doing.

This probably shouldn't matter but I did cut the base of the stem before putting them in the cloner. It's a method that helps clones root a day or two quicker in soil. I didn't do it to all of them though. 1/3 of the cuttings I split the stem in half about 1/4" up from the bottom. 1/3 of the cuttings I put notches in the side of the stem about 1/4" up. And with the final 1/3 of the cuttings I did nothing to them. Since I see no roots on any of them I am assuming this is not the issue, but in the spirit of full disclosure I thought I'd share.

Thanks for the tips and trying to work through this with me, +Rep for both of ya.

4-5 DAYS in ideal condition 7 to 10 is what I get sometimes longer

i've had it when my moms had a recent feeding.. (veg nutes are high in nitrogen) and then took clones a few days later... high nitrogen causes slow rooting, while high phosphorous and potash help roots... so maybe feed your moms a bloom formula before taking cuttings... i started just givving watter to the moms a week before.. i don't konw your situation.. but my clones 30 days in.. no yellowing... no bumps.. no anything.. .so i trashed em.. flushed the moms... waited a week.... took more and roots in 5 days... so i blamed the nuted moms... so i try to keep em a little less nitrogened... my experience though..

You are fine at 24/7 that's what I do. Don't worry they will come.

Stoner Smurf said:

So I always hear people claiming they get roots in 4-5 days using an ez-cloner type aero-cloner. I have 14 cuttings in a 24-site cloner (the 10 sites not in use are covered by neoprine inserts). It's been 6 days and not a single one has roots. My water temp is a constant 74F, air temp is 75-80 day / 70 night. I am using 3 parts RO water for every one part well water. I added 3 drops of Super Thrive per gal, and I also dipped the cuttings in Clonex gel before putting them in the cloner, but the misters almost immediately washed it off into the water. The pH of the water is 6.9. So am I doing something wrong or am I just not being patient enough?

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No need no clonex gel. If anything use the clonex solution. I personally use tap water with clonex solution , ph adjusted to 5.8.

Make sure you also make a 45 degree cut of thr clones. I myself have a stinkbud clone with a cycle timer 1 minute on 5 minutes off. That way giving the plants oxygen.

Also I never use superthrive for the clone. I just keep it simple.

no need to PH the water @ all !!!

there are no roots yet so what does the PH of th water matter?
PH is when the plant is trying to uptake nutes from the water ect. Just dump in some tap water dip in rooting hormone if you choose and wait it out. Some strains i have root in 6 days ( pineapple express ) some take 10-12 ( Headband ) just wait it out and roots will come. But PHing and such is just a waste of time.

Mike42Zero said:

no need to PH the water @ all !!!

there are no roots yet so what does the PH of th water matter?
PH is when the plant is trying to uptake nutes from the water ect. Just dump in some tap water dip in rooting hormone if you choose and wait it out. Some strains i have root in 6 days ( pineapple express ) some take 10-12 ( Headband ) just wait it out and roots will come. But PHing and such is just a waste of time.

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and when they pop roots??????? phing is pretty easy, 1 drop of down per gallon to get a perfect 5.8 and only takes 15 seconds longer.

Three days ago I finally got some white bumps or growths on the side of the stem. Still no roots though. How long from white bumps to roots?

Stoner Smurf said:

Three days ago I finally got some white bumps or growths on the side of the stem. Still no roots though. How long from white bumps to roots?

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Minutes!!! LOL

Stoner Smurf said:

So I always hear people claiming they get roots in 4-5 days using an ez-cloner type aero-cloner. I have 14 cuttings in a 24-site cloner (the 10 sites not in use are covered by neoprine inserts). It's been 6 days and not a single one has roots. My water temp is a constant 74F, air temp is 75-80 day / 70 night. I am using 3 parts RO water for every one part well water. I added 3 drops of Super Thrive per gal, and I also dipped the cuttings in Clonex gel before putting them in the cloner, but the misters almost immediately washed it off into the water. The pH of the water is 6.9. So am I doing something wrong or am I just not being patient enough?

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I have done many batches of clones in EZ-Clone machines, and never once seen roots in less than a week. I've found them to be very touchy and often I would never get roots at all or get roots only to see them die later. All these troubles were due to pathogen breakouts. Since adding a little bleach to the water I've had much more consistent results, but am looking into trying beneficial microbes/mycorhizae instead.

Mike42Zero said:

no need to PH the water @ all !!!

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I use regular tap water in my DIY bubbleponics cloner as well with Clonex gel only when I take the cutting and dip it in the gel, I've had about an 80% success rate so far. It also depends on the strain, some strains just won't clone in certain set ups.

As for wanting to see roots in 6 days you'll have to be more patient...

sparkafire said:

Minutes!!! LOL

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Really? I am sure that was an exaggeration for quick. Well I've had the bumps for several days now but no roots, that's not quick and it's especially not minutes Each day I have no roots I get more and more nervous. I am going to be pissed if they die and I have to start over, that will really throw a wrench in my perpetual. I'm already behind schedule. About 75% of them have white/tan growths on the side of the stem.

Stoner Smurf said:

Really? I am sure that was an exaggeration for quick. Well I've had the bumps for several days now but no roots, that's not quick and it's especially not minutes Each day I have no roots I get more and more nervous. I am going to be pissed if they die and I have to start over, that will really throw a wrench in my perpetual. I'm already behind schedule. About 75% of them have white/tan growths on the side of the stem.

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CHILL brother they will come PROMISE. As far as schedule you will have to adjust your clones to fit your grow. I went though the same thing when I started.

Stoner Smurf said:

Really? I am sure that was an exaggeration for quick. Well I've had the bumps for several days now but no roots, that's not quick and it's especially not minutes Each day I have no roots I get more and more nervous. I am going to be pissed if they die and I have to start over, that will really throw a wrench in my perpetual. I'm already behind schedule. About 75% of them have white/tan growths on the side of the stem.

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Yeah, ec-cloning has been a gradual trial and error process for me and far from a sure-thing/plug-and-play experience. I hope it's easier for you but be prepared to play with it. It's a great method once you get it down so I think it's worth it.

Rockwool cubes, a #2 powdered rooting agent, I use Stimroot, a clear plastic garbage bag, to make a mini-greenhouse. Don't forget the single layer of gravel in your mini-greenhouse for proper drainage etc. Place a air/drain hole at the lowest part of the bin. Follow the instuctions and fill your rockwool cubes with water after you place them in the bin. All our ops use these types of bins.

Your doing something wrong. Tap water + Clonex gel + Clonex sloution + cuttings + 6 days =

It is important not to touch the rooting area of the clone with your fingers.