|
|
|
| PROPAGATION |
| Starting Seeds In Rockwool |
| Take any hydroponic nutrient solution and mix up at one-quarter
strength. pH
balance to around 5.0 to 5.5, and soak for 24 hours. Put your rockwool
cubes into your propagation tray. Pour your solution over the cubes and
into the tray.
Allow to sit until the cubes have taken up as much solution as possible.
Drain off and discard excess. Cover your tray with a humidity dome. This
dome should show a fine mist of humidity on the top. If you see big
droplets, it is too wet. Take off your dome and dry it off, then replace
it. Place tray in warm place or on a heat mat to set to around 78 degrees
F. Place under fluorescents, mounted about 12" above the top of the dome.
If using a halide or sodium grow light, place 3 to 4 feet from the light.
For germinating in sunny windows, place in slightly diffused light. Remove
your humidity dome when you see about 50% germination. Do not let your
rockwool dry out! Bottom water with _ strength nutrient solution when
necessary. Do not allow your rockwool to sit in solution.
Drain off excess. (Tip: a turkey baster works well for pulling off excess
solution.)
When you see roots popping out the bottom of your cubes, you are ready to
transplant. |
| top |
| Quick & Easy Cloning |
Select a plant branch or stem with at least 2 or 3 sets of leaves.
Using a clean single edged razor or knife, cut at a 45 degree angle
approximately a 2" to 4"; portion of the plant.
Be gentle! Don't smash or damage the plant when you are cutting or
handling
it. Carefully remove the lower 1 or 2 sets of stems and leaves. This part
of the
stem will go below the growing medium. Trim off any flowers or buds.
Immediately dip your cutting into your rooting gel or liquid. Move
quickly,
an air bubble can form at the cut and could prevent your cutting from
rooting.
Keep your soil, rockwool or other medium moist and warm. Use
fluorescent lights, diffused HID light or a sunny window sill to keep your
plants
moderately lit!
Your clone will replicate the plant you took it from. Make sure you cut
from
a healthy plant! Do not leave solution at the bottom of your tray. Too
much moisture will cause damping off.
You should keep a humidity dome on your cuttings until they are rooted.
This
will prevent the leaves from transpiring moisture. If you do not use a
humidity dome, cloning "waxes"; are available to spray on cuttings which
will keep your cuttings from overdrying or becoming stressed. Cloning
waxes work well for large areas of cuttings that are difficult to dome.
You should see a fine mist of moisture on your humidity dome. If you are
seeing large droplets of water, dry off your dome and replace. Your
cuttings need to be warm. Keep your air temperature in the 70's. Bottom
heat in the 75 to 80 degree F range will greatly enhance rooting.
A little yellowing of the leaves may indicate you need a bit more air.
Prop
up the dome just a bit and see if things don't green up.
We recommend rockwool for best rooting success. Be patient! Cuttings may
take anywhere from one week to 4 weeks to root, depending on the plant. |
| top |
| |
|
|
