Hi my name is Matthew Silva. I have been growing for more than 8 years now and have been doing clones for at least five. I have my cloning process down pat or at least I thought I did. I went over to help a fellow grower with a greenhouse that he had been tarping and check clones. I cannot get any of the Clones to take, they keep damping off before they root. The stem turns brown and they just fall like slimy stock. I used a Zoe’s and was clean with everything I was doing. I just bought some hydros. I’m going to see if that helps. Can anybody help me with this? I will send pictures once I get home. I don’t know what to do. Thank you so much.
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Pythium, botrytis and fusarium are three types of pathogenic fungi responsible for rot. You’re experiencing stem rot from fusarium. Knowing the conditions they form in can help you prevent these pathogenic fungi. Dark, wet and warm. All three of these conditions come together for too long and it’s over. Clones do best with high humidity (80-100%) for the first 2-3 days with temp between 75-80 F. After three days, if your RH stays above 80%, you risk rot. After the 3rd day, the clone’s stem should be “hardened off” enough to not flop over like tall ones want to do those first few days. Lowering their humidity to between 75-70% will prevent stem rot. 100% humidity for 4 or more days is asking for it. The last variable is lighting. Clones don’t need much, but if leaves shade a stem under dim light with warm air and 100% RH for 4 or more days. Stem rot. Fungi want to grow in the dark. Keep em lite.
What’s a Zoe and hydro? Are these mediums for cloning?
Had this happen to whorrled plant with a hollow stem. Her sisters didn’t catch the fusarium and all were in the same aero cloner and from same soil bed, but her stem just melted. Jmystro is on it with avoiding conditions that allow this fungus to thrive. Maybe a little peroxide or other product to avoid this fungus. Ipm guy talked about a product to help with this as well on podcast the other day.
https://www.dudegrows.com/dgs-marrone-bio-innovations/
Great advice from mystro above.
Another thing I’ll add is to be careful you aren’t crushing the stems when you are making the cuts or sticking the clones into the root cubes.
If you have some cuts with soft stems its not hard to accidentally squish or bend the stems when sticking the cuts into the cubes, and this stem damage can either ruin the cut flat out, or it can be a weak point for pathogens to attack.
Some strains are more susceptible to this than others. Using silica in your grow can help make your stems thicker and stronger. Sometimes it helps to make the holes in the root cubes a little bit bigger. Try sticking a pencil or something in there to widen the hole a little bit before you try sticking a clone in.
And make sure you aren’t using a dull blade. If your cutting tool isn’t sharp enough, it will often squish the stem instead of making a nice clean cut. Having a nice crisp cut from a super sharp blade will help keep the cutting healthy and help the rooting process.