Well, I think aero cloning can be effortless until a certain point arrives. The habit of cutting, dipping and sticking in the collar, then waiting… but forgetting the collar can be why no bumbs or slow to surface. Also being looser from grabbing and pinching so water seeps up the stem.
Needless to say I overused my original collars and failed to clean them. I also think in between dry time without aeration the warmer water wasn’t being agitated enough causing a more a favorable environment for slime.
I stupidly thought the solution was to chill the water to keep it from growing not realizing that colder zone of 69-62 would keep the roots from starting or very slowly, but even at cooler temps it was mostly brown and mushy tips, so research has led as it seems every grower finds out, you can add inoculant, fluctuate temps and even start using purified/RO but none of those work if there’s hidden residue inside.
My failure to change and sanitize the res cost me the the TC Xmas clone. It finally damped off. Having others in progress Corn and NL, I’ve cleaned the res w h202 and added some to the res, also UC roots along w a bubble curtain, I think new collars are helping but these sit halfway out and large holes in the center. Good for thicker, but thinner cuts fall through. I’m not sure how to make these holes tighter, any ideas ?
I found one Corn that has rooted slip too low and luckily I caught it before the top stem got too wet. I decided no sense in chancing it, so plant it before more damage happens. I know I’m in need of the bleach cleaning but I’m hoping new collars, aeration, routine change outs and h202 let’s me finish out the rest then I can scour the whole thing. I’m miffed I lost the plant but I realize the mistakes each grower encounters w aero cloning along the way. Anyway I’ve rooted some cuts despite mishaps but 6 in about 2 months. Since I lost it, I decided to pop 3 more original TC A x Xmas. One is coming up now, and 2 still yet. One tip slightly broke being planted. I’m hoping it’s not too much.
The other 3 are doing great. (Left to right and center) Left and center appears Xmas like. The irony of losing the original could mean I find a better pheno. Time will tell but their vigor is stronger than the originals.
One final note, I decided to mix PTK and TC A together and I think this can give an idea of how they might combine as a hybrid. It’s anecdotal so I don’t say anything w certainty. The TC A does greatly help to blend in this floral flavor pronouncement and I get the impression of a powerhouse. I think it could work well surprisingly, but this floral doesn’t fit the true profile of I what I want as the end result. It remains to be seen but I’m curious and cautious. The seeds I’m growing now may be rouge PTK instead of Xmas, but I have what I know is that plant w the PTK cross so I’m keeping that in mind
Here is the NL male. Even though I find it hard to keep him watered enough, I really like what I see. He’s wilting yet again lol