Sickly Clone

ejh805

Member
Hey everyone.

I know this is probably posted all over the place, but the pictures on here don't work for me for some reason.
Anyways, I am totally new to this so any help is appreciated.
I just received a small clone from a friend about 4-5 days ago, and it doesn't seem to be doing so well :/

When I first got it, the bottom leaves were yellowing and said friend told me it was from the stress of growing new roots after being cut off from the mother plant.
It's been 4-5 days now, I've moved it to its permanent container and it doesn't look like it's improving. Leaves are turning yellow working their way up from the bottom and the top leaves are very droopy. The first day I had them, my dogs knocked the enclosure and the hanging lights got too close (actually touching) and burned off one of the leaves. She is under 4 6500k CFLs that hang about 2-3 inches away from the top. The soil is Miracle Grow Orchid potting mix, mixed with lime to lower the acidity, with added nutes such as fish emulsion and bone meal. I've been watering her about once every other day with bottled spring water. The temps in the grow area consistently stay between 78-85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a light cycle of 18/6. I open it pretty often, so the air circulation isn't an issue.

Am I doing anything wrong? What can I do to improve her with out spending a lot more money?
HELP!
 

Attachments

lordjin

Well-Known Member
I'm not a soil grower, but every time I see a clone or a cutting struggling like that, it's a tiny thing planted in an ocean of soil... Just like that.
 

ejh805

Member
Lordjin,

I moved it into that soil earlier this morning. Up until that point, it was in a small styrofoam cup.
 

lordjin

Well-Known Member
Oh, then never mind. But don't be surprised if the larger amount of soil makes things worse. All that crap in the soil is gonna lock it up. And I've heard nothing but bad things about Miracle Grow.
 

Timewalk

Well-Known Member
ive seen this issue a few times with using miracle grow soil as there
soil is most of the time packed with fungus gnats and larve ive used
mg soil when i first started growing years back stay away from these
 

bdt1981

Well-Known Member
how old is the clone? was it rooted when you got it? it takes at least ten days to root a cutting in a clone machine. a cutting shouldnt have that many leaves until after roots start. it should be able to make it though keep it damp until you notice good growth.. all imo and expirence thanks
 

ejh805

Member
BDT1981,

I believe the clone is a few weeks old. I'm not 100% sure, unfortunately. Yes, when I got it, it had a nice rootball formed.
I'll try to keep humidity up, if that's what you're saying. If you just mean keeping the soil slightly moist, I can do that too.

Thank you everyone for your responses. They're much appreciated.
 

stonyhaze

Member
Clone issues not to hard to fix... Take a plastic bag and make it moist by spraying it with a fine mist from a trusty spray bottle. Also would not hurt to add just a drop (just 1 DROP) of hydro peroxide to the mist. Cut back on watering the soil (remember there are no roots yet). It's living now on leaf only at this point in time. When you do water the soil water just enough to most the dirt and maybe add a little root hormone to help promote root growth. Take that plastic bag and cover the plant (rubber bands help to hold bag over your clones). Put back under a good light source but not a hot one. Less heat the better. Leave this way for a few days and you will be off and running in know time.

if you already have a good root ball then your PH has got to be way off or the type of soil used is to rich with it's own ferts. Flush it with good clean water. Store bought is about 6.0 - 6.1 on the ph scale. I would still use a bag over it for a few days as well. Watch it take off like a rocket... Also would not hurt to cut away any dead or dieing veg as this does no good to the plant to keep. Rule of thumb the plant will use most of it's energy trying to revive the dieing leaf when there just is no saving it. So get rid of it it makes for a healthier plant in the end.
 
Top