Pepper-Guru
eXtreme
Hows everyone's season going? Hope you all have a great Fourth of July! 
This is a perfect time to think about us as a nation and our current state in how it relates to what our Independence is about. 
Enjoy your families in this time more than ever, and cherish the connections you all have with others in the world. Its all we have on this rock
Now onto some growing info: this is a pm sent to me that I thought would be of use to other growers just passing through the journal this season. I've omitted names for privacy purposes and included the information only. We as growers should always strive to share our information and in turn we all can learn exponentially.
op:
Hi, I have read your post on cuttings numerous times and I think I am ready to get some of my own going for the Fall. I had a couple quick questions if you have a moment to answer them, I did not want to clutter up your grow log.
1. How warm is too warm to keep the tray? Can I keep it outside in ~100 degree weather if it stays in the shade? I have the same tray that you do and it came with a humidity cover if I want to use it.
2. Is there a certain time of day I should start them?
3. If my local soil is nothing special should I use a good potting mix (I have a small bag of Fox Farms Ocean Forrest) instead of the 2 shovels of my soil?
Thank you for your time.
My reply:
No problem dude. I don't mind at all. Honestly, the thread is probably the better place. Then everyone can get a bit of the info! The only way we can become better growers is to share
Answers for ya:
1. I wouldn't keep the tray above 85 if you're rooting indoors. Outdoors is a different story. There is constant fresh air flow, and airborne microbes that help out with disease that oen may experience indoors. With the tray you have, just open the vents and maybe put the dome on half snapped. Ya know? Put it in the shade and check it EVERYDAY. Keep the soil moist but not wet.
2. I would take them in the evening after the plant starts "relaxing". This isn't just for the cuttings sake either. Your mother plant will thank you for not cutting her during the mid day sun.
3. If your soil is not going to be used, then by all means, mix up a great sterile soil. FF is wonderful. Its essentially that mix I made anyway. I just use my soil here in GA as a source of mineral rich sand. To make my mixes more "loamy". A little sand in the grow medium never hurt any plant. It actually increases drainage ability and air exchange. If you're worried about soil borne diseases, you could bring some in and bake it in your oven. Then your all sterile.
Now, having said all that. As a new person to cuttings, I would highly suggest that you get your feet wet in all this cutting business with a cloner (or air layering for that matter). Whether it be aero or just dwc, a simple diy project could get you a MASS of successful clones quite easily and fast. There are many different designs, models, prices, but you could build one for under 10 bucks if you some of the stuff already laying around. I read a lot of you guys here at thehotpepper writing about using rock wool and doing hydro, so that already lets me know the cloning "discussion" can't be too far off in the distant future. Point being, for your first round, cheat a little. Make a cloner, become familiar with the whole process, adapt your habits when using soil to try and mimic what the cloner did. High oxygen, high moisture level, fresh air and water exchange all the time. You'll start to understand what the cuttings "need", and start thinking of them for what they are...Plants without roots...
Some "plants without roots" root and clone faster, like tomatoes, flower varieties, cannabis, woody perenials (peppers) its just nature, but ya gotta be one with your plants and communicate. 
They will tell you what they need.
Hit me up anytime, man.
Hope this can help anyone to a better direction for gaining garden success. And in the future if anyone wants to contribute or ask questions, don't be shy! Chime in, all input is welcome! THEHOTPEPPER ROCKS!
This is a perfect time to think about us as a nation and our current state in how it relates to what our Independence is about. Enjoy your families in this time more than ever, and cherish the connections you all have with others in the world. Its all we have on this rock Now onto some growing info: this is a pm sent to me that I thought would be of use to other growers just passing through the journal this season. I've omitted names for privacy purposes and included the information only. We as growers should always strive to share our information and in turn we all can learn exponentially.
op:
Hi, I have read your post on cuttings numerous times and I think I am ready to get some of my own going for the Fall. I had a couple quick questions if you have a moment to answer them, I did not want to clutter up your grow log.
1. How warm is too warm to keep the tray? Can I keep it outside in ~100 degree weather if it stays in the shade? I have the same tray that you do and it came with a humidity cover if I want to use it.
2. Is there a certain time of day I should start them?
3. If my local soil is nothing special should I use a good potting mix (I have a small bag of Fox Farms Ocean Forrest) instead of the 2 shovels of my soil?
Thank you for your time.
My reply:
No problem dude. I don't mind at all. Honestly, the thread is probably the better place. Then everyone can get a bit of the info!
The only way we can become better growers is to share Answers for ya:
1. I wouldn't keep the tray above 85 if you're rooting indoors. Outdoors is a different story. There is constant fresh air flow, and airborne microbes that help out with disease that oen may experience indoors. With the tray you have, just open the vents and maybe put the dome on half snapped. Ya know? Put it in the shade and check it EVERYDAY. Keep the soil moist but not wet.
2. I would take them in the evening after the plant starts "relaxing". This isn't just for the cuttings sake either. Your mother plant will thank you for not cutting her during the mid day sun.
3. If your soil is not going to be used, then by all means, mix up a great sterile soil. FF is wonderful. Its essentially that mix I made anyway. I just use my soil here in GA as a source of mineral rich sand. To make my mixes more "loamy". A little sand in the grow medium never hurt any plant. It actually increases drainage ability and air exchange. If you're worried about soil borne diseases, you could bring some in and bake it in your oven. Then your all sterile.
Now, having said all that. As a new person to cuttings, I would highly suggest that you get your feet wet in all this cutting business with a cloner (or air layering for that matter). Whether it be aero or just dwc, a simple diy project could get you a MASS of successful clones quite easily and fast. There are many different designs, models, prices, but you could build one for under 10 bucks if you some of the stuff already laying around. I read a lot of you guys here at thehotpepper writing about using rock wool and doing hydro, so that already lets me know the cloning "discussion" can't be too far off in the distant future. Point being, for your first round, cheat a little. Make a cloner, become familiar with the whole process, adapt your habits when using soil to try and mimic what the cloner did. High oxygen, high moisture level, fresh air and water exchange all the time. You'll start to understand what the cuttings "need", and start thinking of them for what they are...Plants without roots...
Some "plants without roots" root and clone faster, like tomatoes, flower varieties, cannabis, woody perenials (peppers) its just nature, but ya gotta be one with your plants and communicate. They will tell you what they need.Hit me up anytime, man.
Hope this can help anyone to a better direction for gaining garden success. And in the future if anyone wants to contribute or ask questions, don't be shy! Chime in, all input is welcome! THEHOTPEPPER ROCKS!
I guess the others are nagas and a couple scorpion from the harvest? Good times ahead for sure.
