Clones in DWC system getting brown "gunk" on lowest part of cuttings

Meast21

Well-Known Member
I do clones in the dewey mister and sometimes they take a good 2 weeks to see a root pop out. I sanitize everything, but get the part of the cutting that is in the moving water (ppm 675) under the gasket get like a brownish gunk on it. How can I keep this gunk away bc I think it slows up the rooting process?? …. I also use a anti bacteria solution in the water too help. Temps or the water are about 65 degrees.
 

memoponics

Active Member
I would say no nutes should be needed until they have some roots going. They don't really absorb it without roots, especially not at 675ppm, its kind of a waste. I use straight pH adjusted tap water in my cloner, 5-7 days and I've got some root action, no slime, no sanitizers. Save the nutes for the roots. Also, do you have the pump on a timer? They might need a drying period, it also helps to keep the water temp down. I use a cycle timer set to 5 minutes on 10 off 24-7. I also try to keep the cut ends of the stems up out of the drink.
 

Meast21

Well-Known Member
The bottom 1.5 inches of the cutting (which is below the rubber neoprene thing) is in water which has a lot of water circulation 24/7... The roots are are to pop through, but today is day 17 of the clones.... I never have this prob as my clones start to root around 12-14 depending on the strain, only when I get this brown gunk.
 

Meast21

Well-Known Member
I would say no nutes should be needed until they have some roots going. They don't really absorb it without roots, especially not at 675ppm, its kind of a waste. I use straight pH adjusted tap water in my cloner, 5-7 days and I've got some root action, no slime, no sanitizers. Save the nutes for the roots. Also, do you have the pump on a timer? They might need a drying period, it also helps to keep the water temp down. I use a cycle timer set to 5 minutes on 10 off 24-7. I also try to keep the cut ends of the stems up out of the drink.
" I also try to keep the cut ends of the stems up out of the drink".

My bottom 1.5 inches of cutting are emerged in water. Every part of the cutting below the neoprene insert. I get 95%-98% rooted clones, but they just take around 12 days to get a few roots on each one.... NO Idea where the "gunk came this time.
 
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