Re: Cloning Machines

Jim and Ceres,
I've understood the same thing about roots developed in water, but I somehow
felt that they adjusted well if moved to a soil or soilless medium when not
very long.  Those I grow in 1:1 vermiculite/perlite are sort of just propped
up by the medium and are pretty much growing in the  moisture, so not that
much different.  In either case, I try to pot up when rooted, but before
they get long roots.

As to sunlight, the machine could sit outside.

The unit I was looking at was $80 and all the magic elixir and miracle
fungicides come with it.  Refills are available; the unit uses an ounce for
a mix and the mix can be reused.

Jim, I appreciate your view, but you have the magic touch, not to mention
the magic environment.  As I said before, I'm not that good at cuttings and
I have a short season.  If they don't take, I can't just take another set.
If these actually are ready to pot in under 21 days, I could do three runs
in a season.  and if they all take, I am way ahead.

However, I'm not going to get one this season.  I'm just looking it over.
Charley's tends to price high so I might find one for less.  I'm going to
try woody cuttings in the 1:1 v/p mix I mentioned in a plastic box that has
worked so well for perennials first rather than the peat/perlite I've been
using for woodies.

I just wanted to know if anyone had seen/used one of these machines before.
It could just be smoke and mirrors, but it's possible it could do a much
better job than I've been doing.

Kitty


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "james singer" <islandjim1@verizon.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Cloning Machines


> I read/heard someplace that roots developed in water were inferior to
> roots developed in soil. I don't know if that's true. In my experience,
> "roots is roots"; basil, rosemary, and begonias--three plants that
> regularly get rooted in water around here--do not seem to do any worse
> than similar cuttings rooted in vermiculite [my medium of choice]. The
> reason we do not root more things in water is we lack additional funny
> little bottles, vases, and jars, not to mention kitchen window sill
> space.
>
> Looking at Charley's catalog [and forgiving the snake-oil spiel about a
> "cloning machine"], the largest unit will hold only 42 cuttings. It's
> 190 pazoolas, plus another $33.00 for all the magic elixir and miracle
> fungicides to make the machine produce rooted cuttings rather than
> rotted vegetation. I can buy an awful lot of vermiculite [or funny
> little bottles, vases, and jars] for that kind of dough.
>
> Another thing cloning machine users will have to deal with is light,
> which is at least as important as the rooting medium. So it needs to be
> used in a location that has full-spectrum light to spare. A couple of
> those Phillips growlights might do it; I don't know.
>
>
>
> On Apr 5, 2005, at 1:33 PM, Chapel Ridge Wal Mart National Hearing
> Center wrote:
>
> > I was just looking through Charley's Greenhouse catalog and they now
> > offer
> > Cloning Machines. I guess I'd heard of cloning but never thought of it
> > as
> > being a system available to the home user.  But they do have a small
> > one
> > that handles 8 cuttings.  Says: "the process involves continuous
> > spraying of
> > a cloning solution (root growth stimulant) onto your stem, root or leaf
> > cutting...process is highly effective.  Roots appear in 3 to 10 days
> > and
> > cuttings ready for transplant in 7-21 days with a healthy,
> > well-developed
> > root system....Practical, easy to use design with true aeroponic
> > (oxygen-rich) mist application to ensure fast rooting and optimum
> > results."
> > Has anyone seen these units?  anyone used anything like this?  (if you
> > have
> > a Charley's catalog, it is on page 81)  I can't access their website
> > from
> > here but the salesperson says the website has more detailed info.
> >
> > I realize simple cuttings done the old fashioned way are a lot
> > cheaper, but
> > I'm not always successful at it - more failures than successes.  Those
> > that
> > do take don't have a really good root system and it's easy to lose
> > them over
> > the first winter.  I plan to try a different rooting medium this
> > season in a
> > closed container which has been ultra successful for tender
> > perennials; I'd
> > like to see if it will work for woodies.  If it doesn't do well, I'm
> > thinking about a cloning unit.
> >
> > Any input would be appreciated.
> > (cross-posting in the hopes of getting any response)
> >
> > Kitty
> >
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> >
> Island Jim
> Southwest Florida
> 27.0 N, 82.4 W
> Hardiness Zone 10
> Heat Zone 10
> Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
> Maximum 100 F [38 C]
>
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