Pete Pellet Problem

[drumin]

OK, I've had 100% success with pellets until now. :(

My last batch of clones I rooted back in August when it was hot and humid. Now it's cold and dry, could this be the problem?
I've had 1 batch go dead while doing everything the same. So I thought maybe it was the cool dry winter air. I went out and bought a dome setup and placed a heating pad under it. The temps inside the dome are better but not in the upper 70's as it was in the summer. Humidity is very good with the dome.

This batch has been in there for 6 days and 2 have dropped over and none of the rest have even started rooting... What am I doing wrong? Should I keep the pellets soaked or let them dry out a bit? I mist them about 4-5 times a day. :mad:

[drumin]

Here's a couple pics. I misted them a couple minutes before deciding to take the pic so the look very wet in the pic.

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7773&stc=1&d=1166199852

http://www.homegrownbud.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7774&stc=1&d=1166199852

[Cranky]

you got that lid closed tight? only need it closed for first 2-3 days mate then open it up abit to let some air in and humidity drop.

keep pellets moist bro;)

not enough air by the sounds to me...try snipping a few leaves at the tips.this may also help;)

cranky

[jj2ss3o2s]

I agree. It looks a little too humid in there. That level of humidiy may have been good when it was warmer, the heat (at proper levels) seems to stimulate growth, but now that its colder they wouldn't be growing as fast or using as much moisture.

I had problems cloning when I moved to a colder climate. I never used a heating pad before I moved, and had zero luck in the new local. I went out and bought a heating pad and that did it.

[drumin]

How about light? right now I have them off to the side of the veg fluoros so they don't get much usable light.

[CB]

How about light? right now I have them off to the side of the veg fluoros so they don't get much usable light.

say bro... I use 1 23 watt cfl for clones in a dome your size about 6-8 inches above them ;)

[Cranky]

they dont need much light to root mate...just of to the side is plenty like;)

cranky

[Fred Lemonjello]

I've found that if given too much light or if the temps are outside of the 65f-85f degree range the clones will root very slowly or not at all.
Of course keep the pellets damp and open the lid to the dome twice a day to allow fresh air to circulate.

Fred

[LdyLunatic]

been having a few problems with rooting here too....peet pellets are used religiously here ;)

we think our troubles go beyond temps though...the Island is having trouble with our tap water (which is usually BETTER than bottled)

to help maintain moisture levels in the future try lining your tray with some perlite...we have always lined with perlite and have found that even if the pellets are a bit dry the roots shoot out the bottom and seek the water held in the perlite

misting is done one or twce a day for the first couple days...the nothing after that

fingers crossed the problem works itself out

[jj2ss3o2s]

I've wondered about light for clones too actually. I'd say off to the side of a quality veg lamp would be fine. As long as its not something too ghetto. a foot and half away from a flouro seems tops to me.

[Lungus]

Myself I use two, 4ft. 40W flouro tubes for cloning and I slam those lights down on top of the dome. I also find that after a year of using the same tubes the clones don't root as fast. I find when the tubes are new most of the clones root in a week to 10 days but as the lights age that rooting time becomes 10 days to three weeks. Just my 2 cents.

[drumin]

been having a few problems with rooting here too....peet pellets are used religiously here ;)

we think our troubles go beyond temps though...the Island is having trouble with our tap water (which is usually BETTER than bottled)

to help maintain moisture levels in the future try lining your tray with some perlite...we have always lined with perlite and have found that even if the pellets are a bit dry the roots shoot out the bottom and seek the water held in the perlite

misting is done one or twce a day for the first couple days...the nothing after that

fingers crossed the problem works itself out

I put my pellets in individual little cups and keep the pellets moist by keeping water in the cups so the pellets never dry out, maybe it's too wet? Do you have any pics of your setup LL?

[Cranky]

40watts is plenty to root cuttings.no need for more than that IMO;)

cranky

[Lungus]

I put my pellets in individual little cups and keep the pellets moist by keeping water in the cups so the pellets never dry out, maybe it's too wet? Do you have any pics of your setup LL?
The pellets should be moist, but not soaking. In their own little cups is fine but don't add water until the pellet is on the dry side. This helps any small roots grow faster in their search for water and they need to have some air too and if the pellet is too wet there will not be enough air in the pellet to promote healthy root growth.

[Dr.Smitty]

Sort of do the same thing but I put an inch of perilite in the bottom of the cup/pot and water from the top of the peat only until moist.Never over water with peat it will rob your plants oxygen.

[Fing_57]

I put an inch of perilite in the bottom of the cup/pot and water from the top of the peat only until moist.

hadnt thought of that

I kill things in pete pots ..... too wet or too dry try'n not to drown'm

[LdyLunatic]

I put my pellets in individual little cups and keep the pellets moist by keeping water in the cups so the pellets never dry out, maybe it's too wet? Do you have any pics of your setup LL?

heres a couple shots for you :)


the twist ties are only to keep the rows of different clones separate... its not some funky newage rooting trick ;)

these ones are just starting to show roots

[drumin]

Thanks Hon, so in a step by step (not necessarily in this order) you soak the pellet, dip the cuttings in rooting hormone, wet the perlite, cover with the dome for the first 2-3 days then vent and mist regularly.
Questions:
I've never used perlite in this way so do you really soak the perlite, like submerge it in water or just spray it until it stops absorbing?

Do you water the pellets or just let the misting and wicking up from the perlite keep them moist?

What are your temps inside the dome?

[gorilla]

I've never used perlite in this way so do you really soak the perlite, like submerge it in water or just spray it until it stops absorbing? when does perlite start absorbing? :hmmmm:

[wakka]

one of the things we have learned. cold, wet plugs are not a place where roots grow well. shrivel up faster than my hangy down parts at newport beach in february.

[The Hooded Claw]

I only mist the first two days and after that if they want moisture, they need to get their asses in gear and grow roots!
Keeping them moist for too long will slow down root growth IMHO.

Gotta be cruel to be kind an all...... ;)