cloning How do you clone?

AJ Drew · May 23, 2018

For cloning, I use mortar trays from Lowes to hold the water. I warm the water with an fish tank heater and aerate with a fish tank bubbler. I use solo cups with holes in the bottom and sterile potting soil. Works great. Costs next to nothing.

Have seen commercial plug and play packages but never goofed with one. Wondering if anyone has any practical experience with the prefab units. If so, what are they other than a way to keep the water warm and airated?

Edmick · May 23, 2018

I use a heated propagation mat with a humidity dome. I clean the tray and dome with diluted bleach first then I take my cutting and score the stem a little with a razor blade or sharp scissors, dip in hormex rooting powder, stick it in soil and put it in the humidity dome with the vents closed. After about a week, they're good to go.

alkhall · May 23, 2018

I dip the cutting in cloning solution, place in a RootRiot plug, put the plug in a shot glass, fill the shot glass with water, set it in a moderately lit location. Refill with water as necessary.

AJ Drew · May 24, 2018

Sounds like maybe airation isnt really needed. I always thought it was because back in the day, read you had to change the water often. Figured it was for airation. Now thinking maybe it is overkill.

Ashen · May 24, 2018

I want to try cloning my Wiri Wiri, it sounds fairly straightforward except all the talk of nodes for the cutting. What exactly is a node?

Edmick · May 24, 2018

Ashen said:
What exactly is a node?

A node is where the leaf stem and ultimately blossom stem meet the main stem.

Ashen · May 25, 2018

Cool thanks.

alkhall · May 27, 2018

Thought I would show my method.

Root Riot plugs:

The clone and the tools:

Cut leaves from bottom of the branch, leaving about and inch or two, cut end of stem at 45°, dip in cloning solution per label instructions:

Place clone in plug:

Place plug with clone in shot glass and fill with water. The plug will absorb a lot of the water at first, wait a few minutes and refill:

Place shot glass with clone in a warm, well-lit (but out of direct sunlight) place, check and refill water every few days. In a week or two, you will see roots coming out of the plug. When there are several roots, plant in potting mix.

Hope this helps anyone.

Bhuter · Jun 3, 2018

I was looking to clone a couple plants last summer, and Rich (Pepper-Guru) suggested that I look into air layering. I knew nothing about it, but I watched one little video (I can't find the exact one now) and had success. You basically cut off the outer layer of a branch, put moist medium around it, Saran Wrap & foil...then the plant uses its own growing power to push out roots where you made the cut.

It was nearing the end of the season, so I only left it on for two weeks. There weren't "roots", really, but a white bulge at the cut. I clipped the branch off the plant and planted it. It looked sad for a while, but I just left it alone like an overwinter...watering occasionally. Here it is as of a month or so ago.

Today.

I have since seen ways of doing it without the pesky Saran Wrap by using a plastic bottle.

The_NorthEast_ChileMan · Jun 3, 2018

`
The above method was used by a long time ChileHead from the Mid-West JohnT/Love2Troll. Here's his air layering method on a red rocoto
.

`

alkhall · Jun 3, 2018

This air layering is interesting, but seems like a lot of work.

Is the advantage that one can get much larger clones?

Here is one I started 15 days ago, ready to pot up:

Bhuter · Jun 3, 2018

alkhall said:
This air layering is interesting, but seems like a lot of work.

Is the advantage that one can get much larger clones?

For me, I can't get a clone to take. I don't have a cloner, nor rooting compound...I'm just unprepared for the standard "snip & dip". I tried just putting a branch in a glass of water...no dice. It'll sit there forever and just not root. So I tried this and it worked without too much effort or supplies. I guess you COULD choose a large clone. I hadn't thought of that.

The_NorthEast_ChileMan · Jun 3, 2018

alkhall said:
This air layering is interesting, but seems like a lot of work.

There is no work in a hobby we love. As an example, how much work was involved in below?

`

Oh, you meant air layering more work than your method..... Never mind!..

`

Edmick · Jun 4, 2018

I like the idea of using the peat pellet to air layer. I wonder if rehydrating it with clonex rooting solution instead of just regular water would speed the process up a little.

Malarky · Jun 4, 2018

free craigslist aerogarden with Parkseed biodome sponges (cheaper than Aerogarden brand)
i usually snip leaves in half with clean scissors

Bhuter · Jun 4, 2018

Edmick said:
I like the idea of using the peat pellet to air layer. I wonder if rehydrating it with clonex rooting solution instead of just regular water would speed the process up a little.

I agree. And I think that's worth a try. I see that there's no cutting the stem on that particular air layering method...just wrap up at the node. Interesting. I just air layered one of our lilac bushes (trees) using a plastic water bottle because a friend wants a clone. It was easier than Saran Wrap. From what I read, it might take all summer.

Edmick · Jun 4, 2018

Bhuter said:
I agree. And I think that's worth a try. I see that there's no cutting the stem on that particular air layering method...just wrap up at the node. Interesting. I just air layered one of our lilac bushes (trees) using a plastic water bottle because a friend wants a clone. It was easier than Saran Wrap. From what I read, it might take all summer.

I'm sure that just using the node works fine but I imagine that scoring the stem with a razor would work better and produce more roots. Ive done cloning 2 ways. One being just taking a cutting with an angled cut and thats it, and the other, taking a cutting at an angle and also scoring the stem. Scoring the stem has ALWAYS produced more roots with faster results.

solid7 · Jun 4, 2018

Edmick said:
I'm sure that just using the node works fine but I imagine that scoring the stem with a razor would work better and produce more roots. Ive done cloning 2 ways. One being just taking a cutting with an angled cut and thats it, and the other, taking a cutting at an angle and also scoring the stem. Scoring the stem has ALWAYS produced more roots with faster results.

I agree with this. The method for air layering that was shown, with the outer layer stripped, is the basic equivalent of stripping the bark off of a tree, and exposing the cambium layer. At that point, the plant loses the ability to transport xylem sap. So, it's the equivalent of just cutting it off.
.
The method of either scoring, or just roughing up the stem definitely works well for air layering, or cloning.
.
I've not cloned for years, but when I did, I had a tote with holes cut in the top, which I would insert a cut stem, with a foam wrap. (the foam was just to wedge it into the hole) There was a layer of air about 2" under the lid of the tote, to the water reservoir underneath. No nutes, no hormones, just plain ol' tap water. And I bubbled it with an aquarium pump and the finest stone I could find. 100% success rate every time.

alkhall · Jun 4, 2018

Bhuter said:
For me, I can't get a clone to take. I don't have a cloner, nor rooting compound...I'm just unprepared for the standard "snip & dip". I tried just putting a branch in a glass of water...no dice. It'll sit there forever and just not root. So I tried this and it worked without too much effort or supplies. I guess you COULD choose a large clone. I hadn't thought of that.

Adam,

https://www.amazon.com/HydroDynamics-Root-Count-Replacement-Cubes/dp/B00CJIYPI4/ref=sr_1_3/141-3890322-2266950?ie=UTF8&qid=1528158906&sr=8-3&keywords=root+riot

https://www.amazon.com/Clonex-Rooting-Gel-100ml/dp/B06XK1RWJM/ref=sr_1_8/141-3890322-2266950?ie=UTF8&qid=1528158906&sr=8-8&keywords=root+riot

All you need is a small container, I find shot glasses are the perfect size.

It really is incredibly easy.

.

Bhuter · Jun 4, 2018

alkhall said:
Adam,

https://www.amazon.com/HydroDynamics-Root-Count-Replacement-Cubes/dp/B00CJIYPI4/ref=sr_1_3/141-3890322-2266950?ie=UTF8&qid=1528158906&sr=8-3&keywords=root+riot

https://www.amazon.com/Clonex-Rooting-Gel-100ml/dp/B06XK1RWJM/ref=sr_1_8/141-3890322-2266950?ie=UTF8&qid=1528158906&sr=8-8&keywords=root+riot

All you need is a small container, I find shot glasses are the perfect size.

It really is incredibly easy.

.

Thank you, Al! I borrowed a cloner once from a friend...and that worked. But these cubes look simple. How long does it usually take for a clone to root?