Has anyone cloned in root plugs without a dome before?
I've not much experience with cloning in rapid rooters, but I have always had 100% when I did (I've probably only cloned 50 or so before buying the tray and dome to give it a real shot). What I can say is, I never used a dome or anything, I just popped the clone in and made sure it didn't dry out. I think after 7-10 days they rooted. What I'm finding with using a dome is when the dome is removed, some droop. Not all but some. And the leaves just aren't as crisp as when the clone was cut (like how EzCloner clone leaves stay). Some leaves droop, some cuts droop. They perk back up after spraying them, but I just feel that is unnecessary roughness.
I think that the domes also keep too much rh. The clones shouldn't be used to that much rh imo, though I know it's pretty standard for cloners in plugs with domes.
Ill be making a tent into a dome and using no dome at all over the cuttings. I'll be using a humidifier set to 65-70%. They don't need 100% like a dome provides, imo again. The clones need just a little bit higher rh than what the plant it came off had. When you take a clone, the plant and that clone is used to the rh of the room. So keep it the same and I guarantee the clone will root faster. Changing environment drastically, again imo, stunts the clone and makes it used to am environment that is not the real environment the clone will be grown in.
My idea is this. A mini greenhouse(the ones with plastic sides and a roll up door, like $50 setup) or a grow tent. Put a digital humidifier in the tent, set it to 65%, add a floor, cut your trays of clones, leave them in the tent for a week (but make sure the plugs don't dry out and wet then when needed). Voila. Domes prevent the plugs from drying out fast enough imo. They should need water every 3 days, again imo (I have tons of opinions), and the roots will "search for water" as they say. I used to just put root plugs in an egg carton to hold then up and the cuts would root in 5-7 days. This is before I even knew what a dome or root plug really was because I always clone in ez cloners.
Anyway, long rant right? In conclusion I'll be not using domes but rather making grow tent the dome with the rh that I want by using a humidifier. Not too high, not too low. There will be no acclimation needed for the clones when they are ready to plant, similar to my ez cloner. I'll follow up with a how to tutorial when I get to that point of taking more clones.
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it feel like a real milestone for all the crap I've been through. I couldn't have done it with out my old lady that's for sure! Having a great second half really makes life a lot smoother
I'd go nuts with out it because I hate cable, I can't focus on it and the only show I like is the walking dead that's currently playing (except it's on break for the last few months and doesn't come on again til like October). I just can't do cable, well I lied.. I like the survival shows like Yukon men and the gold shows like gold rush, but I mean, 1x a week it's on for a few months haha
