ROOTING Cuttings on a Rack T12, T5, LED, Spectrum?

T

Titikshu

Active Member
Hi there y'all,

I've got a rack with 4 levels. 1 level is dedicated to rooting cuttings. Vertical space is very tight so putting a t5 fixture would likely be too strong to root cuttings (if I knew for sure though, I wouldn't be asking you all). I currently have 2, 4-foot T12s but I don't think they're the right spectrum because rooting is taking FOREVER and many, many plants are dying (longer than 2 weeks and 50% dampening off). What spectrum t12 bulbs should they be? Maybe try t5? LED Strips? What are all the cool kids using these days?

NOTE: Rooting on a rack, not a tent so I can't hang lights higher than 5-6" above domes. Medium: peat plugs. Volume: 300 clones/month.

I've been propagating cuttings for almost a year now and HAD everything dialed in. I was getting great roots within 5-7 days on 50% of my cultivars and the other 50% were taking no more than 2 weeks. I was near 95% success rate with very little dampening off. Everything was great... Then I changed something and cannot get back on my game to save my life! I was using ambient light from my CMH over my main veg area, but put contained everything in tents to better control environment so there's no more "ambient light".


Thanks!
 
Max Ehrmann

Max Ehrmann

Well-Known Member
I use a 4 foot 4 bulb T5 to root my cuttings. Right around 6-8 inches from the clones, but I use a bubble cloner so no dome. 6500k bulbs. Works fine.
 
T

Titikshu

Active Member
Max Ehrmann said:
I use a 4 foot 4 bulb T5 to root my cuttings. Right around 6-8 inches from the clones, but I use a bubble cloner so no dome. 6500k bulbs. Works fine.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've heard (at least from the EZ Cloner instruction manual) that aerocloning can use a bit more light during the rooting process. In reality, I've only got about 8" total space so including the width of the fixture would only have 4-6".

What wattage bulbs are you using? I veg my rooted clones under a 4-bulb t5 and find I often have to flip the switch to only use 2 bulbs as 4 causes some light stress so maybe the bulbs I have are too intense...
 
T

Titikshu

Active Member
Max Ehrmann said:
54 watt. Yeah, my T5 also gives me the ability to just power two of the bulbs. I think just two bulbs is plenty of light for cuttings.
These are the bulbs I use... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EQN844U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I don't know if 4-6 inches with just two bulbs lit would work or not. Pretty close...
Click to expand...
I tried last night...nearly fried them. Many had yellowed and others were laying over. At least I can cross T5 off the list! :o) I guess I'll have to try different t12 bulbs or LED options.
 
Monster_of_Au

Monster_of_Au

Active Member
I think I have these
Brand: CASTNOO
4.1 out of 5 stars 8Reviews
T5 Grow Lights Full Spectrum LED Plant Light Tube with 24 LEDs 5PCS Growth Light Bar Strip for Indoors Plant Veg Flower 11.8 Inch

and they are led t5 with no real ballast so super cool and can be super close
 
OneHitDone

OneHitDone

Well-Known Member
Titikshu said:
Hi there y'all,

I've got a rack with 4 levels. 1 level is dedicated to rooting cuttings. Vertical space is very tight so putting a t5 fixture would likely be too strong to root cuttings (if I knew for sure though, I wouldn't be asking you all). I currently have 2, 4-foot T12s but I don't think they're the right spectrum because rooting is taking FOREVER and many, many plants are dying (longer than 2 weeks and 50% dampening off). What spectrum t12 bulbs should they be? Maybe try t5? LED Strips? What are all the cool kids using these days?

NOTE: Rooting on a rack, not a tent so I can't hang lights higher than 5-6" above domes. Medium: peat plugs. Volume: 300 clones/month.

I've been propagating cuttings for almost a year now and HAD everything dialed in. I was getting great roots within 5-7 days on 50% of my cultivars and the other 50% were taking no more than 2 weeks. I was near 95% success rate with very little dampening off. Everything was great... Then I changed something and cannot get back on my game to save my life! I was using ambient light from my CMH over my main veg area, but put contained everything in tents to better control environment so there's no more "ambient light".


Thanks!
Click to expand...
Been down most every road myself. I'd go with whatever Fluorescent lamps you have in 6500K and shoot for no more than 150µmoles. That seems to be a sweet spot for myself and many others :peace:
 
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