I may buy an EZ Clone machine for rooting Hibiscus!

Hello friends! I have been paying on my car for years, and September will be the last payment. I NEVER treat myself, and am thinking of buying myself an EZ CLONE machine to root hibiscus cuttings. There are many brands of cuttings clone machines on the market, some cheaper, but EZ Clone seems to be the best all round. There are also a million threads for making your own cheaply out of Rubbermaid tubs, but neither I or my husband are real mechanical....They come in quite a few sizes....30 cuttings slots for about $225.00, 60 slots, and even 120 slots for upwards $350.00. I am only wanting the small, 30 cutting one.

http://www.ezclone.com/products/30-unit-cloning-system/

I have really studied up on these and they practically guarantee fast results, so I'm very excited. I found an old thread on DG from a lady who bought one to do Hibiscus cuttings. Basically the cuttings hang down loosely into the air in an enclosed vat that sprays nutrients filled water onto the exposed cuttings with little spray heads. Here is the old thread so you can see her rooted Hibiscus hanging down in the machine.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/669745/?hl=EZClone

So, now I am really hoping that my lovely friends here on the Hibiscus forum will part with some cuttings in the Fall for me to play and experiment with, lol! Perhaps ya'll could make or buy clone machines and we could all play and have a mass cloning experiment, hahaha! What winter fun we could have! Love, Karen

edited to add: I have detailed instructions and photos for building the EZ Clone yourself for about $60.00...if any of you would like the plans just Dmail me. I will not post them here as most cloning information comes from Marijuana growing websites.

This message was edited Aug 4, 2010 2:02 PM

You're on...

The cheapest I found for a 30 slot with free shipping was this 100% seller on Ebay: $229.90

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190322519301&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT



The last information I will add is this.....

From my studies I have found that water temp. is important in these cloning machines, it should be kept at around 71-75 degrees. The pump action will heat it up to around 78 or more sometimes. Most people that use these EZ Clone machines buy an inexpensive 24 hour 15 min on 15 min off timer to keep the water temperature cool and regulated..Here is the one I am buying, the first one on the page for $16.95

http://homeharvest.com/hydroponictimers.htm


Also, WormsLuvSharon, who recently acquired an EZ Clone has had much success dipping cuttings in Clonex Rooting Gel and adding a little Clonex Cloning Solution to the water itself. I researched prices and found the best from this dealer at Amazon...first two items on the page

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_garden?ie=UTF8&search-alias=outdoor&field-brandtextbin=HydroDynamics

I only wanted to make this information available to anyone who might take an interest in it, and hope it has been helpful to some. I guess that's all there is for me to say, I'll look forward to getting my machine and having fun with it!





This message was edited Aug 5, 2010 11:32 AM

OK now. Let's try making our own Clone machine. There has to be someone who's tried it before.

check out the propagation forum Peg, a real handy bunch over there :-)

I compared the prices on Amazon but I think my supplier in Las Vegas when you take into consideration the shipping. I will check my prices. I have never used a heater but with winter coming, I will get one. I just took a bunch of cuttings on hardy hibiscus and lantanas. Going to take cuttings on fruit bearing mulberry later in the week.

I'lll have to head over to the propagation forum. I had some luck (better than plain container) using a small fish tank with bubbler using vermiculite (sterilized with boiling water) and a couple drops of bleach in the water. I dip cuttings in rooting hormone and put them in the tank with the aerator on. It is a "barbie" fish tank, discarded by a neighbor. I used it with rose and begonia cuttings. I just set it up with hibiscus cuttings.

Wow! That is great. Would be wonderful for so many things.

I can send some cuttings of H.m. 'Luna Pink Swirl' if you want. You sent me so many nice seeds. My Hib hasn't dropped it's leaves yet here in TN.

GardenQuilts,

Can you post a picture of your setup?

Mike

I'll try to remember to take a picture. It is a small triangular "fish tank" much smaller than a regular fish tank. The footprint is about 6" x6"x 8" and it is less than a foot tall. It came with a bubbler and a perforated base and plug in pump. I left off the light/lid because my cuttings are taller than the tank. They probably sell the tanks at big box stores, but I got mine on bulk trash day. I had to buy a new bubbler stone for less than $1. It fits in my spare bathroom, bubbling away. (The same bathroom overwinters bulbs and amaryllis)

I originally thought it would be a cute terrarium, but I think I will keep using it for cuttings. I looked at the rubbermaid cutting setups, but I don't have room for anything that extensive.

Sorry i more of a see person.. I'm trying to visualize this and i know the small corner tanks, so i'm sure its the same type.. Now do you just put the cutting in the water?? do you have something made to hold them up?? or does the vermiculite keep them standing.. since the vermiculite isn't clear how do you know when its rooted?? Sorry for all the questions I just love this idea and would like to try it, givin that nothing i ever do with cutting work i need all the help i could get...
jen

I tried a tip from another list member. I leave at least one small leaf on the top of the cutting. If it wilts, the cutting is probably dying. I still haven't had much success with rose cuttings, but I'll keep trying various methods. The cuttings either stand or lean a bit in the vermiculite, I don't worry about it. I try to wait until I see the roots, but sometimes I slide a couple of cuttings out for a peak. I also change the water once or twice a week, depending on the temperature and how long it takes the cutting to root. I tried some cuttings side by side in a vase and in the tank. The ones in the tank rooted better and I had to change the water less often. I think the bubbler helps. Butting a fish tank bubbler in a regular container may work just as well.

I sterilize the vermiculite by pouring boiling water over it in a metal colander. I also clean the cutting in a bleach/water solution and use a paint brush to put the dry rooting powder on the cuttings. I put a few drops of bleach in the water as well. I think that bacterial/mold growth is a major reason for cutting failure.

This is my first time rooting hibiscus, so I'll see how they do. One is starting to form tiny white swollen spots, so I think it is starting to root.

Ok, I did it! I purchased a TurboKlone T24 with Humidity Dome with my Amazon Gift Cards which I have been redeeming but not using. This past Grandpa Day put me over the top. I have two species of Hibiscus cooking and looking for additional plants to clone. In addition to stem clones, I am also planning to try Hibiscus bud cloning which I don’t believe anyone has been crazy enough to try before. I suspect that my Hibiscus Annie J. Hemming (PP835) may be a Chimera and I need to isolate cell lines. Think of it as a poor mans tissue culture.

Then of course, I will try cloning Carnations from cut flowers again. Actually I successfully clone two Carnations last year until I managed to kill them both just before the start of this spring, when both plants decided they didn’t like the conditions in my basement. I should have kept them outside but I was not sure how cold hardy the Carnation stock was!

Here is the TurboKlone T24 with Humidity Dome I ordered together with the CloneX chemicals which Amazon recommends.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00725Y4TE

I looked at the EZ Clone but liked the TurboKnone T24 better because it had more features and was lower in price and for my application, 24 chambers is all I needed. I would like to find a small cloner which I can bring into the field and power from my car 12V auxiliary power plug but that is not critical just yet. I do have bottled water and Ziploc Bags in the car for emergencies collection opportunities.

Mike


This message was edited Jun 23, 2012 9:54 AM

Michael, I have been reading your post on Hibiscus and this thread and Hardy Hibiscus. Enjoyed you writing. I have gotten a obession with the hardy one also. Have three Fireballs in full bloom for the last 10 days. These are two year old plants. Tried to sow several (20+) seeds of Lunas this year with only two coming up. They are about 20" tall now. My question to you is how has the TurboKlone been working with you clones of the hibiscus? Thanks

Let me put off addressing any TurboKlone T24 questions for a few weeks as I am still experimenting with the device,

In the world of commercial Hibiscus growers, where both hardy and tropical named cultivar are typically distributed as clones, the Hibiscus Luna Series are sold to commercial growers and home gardeners as F1 hybrid seeds. The Hibiscus Luna plants you see at your garden centers are grown from these F1 seeds. The Luna seeds are grown by PanAmerican Seed (http://www.panamseed.com/) which is a subsidiary of Ball Horticultural (http://www.ballhort.com/) doing business at 622 Town Road, West Chicago, IL 60185. The aerial view of the facility is impressive: http://goo.gl/maps/tOQI. Here are a few links pertaining to the Hibiscus Luna Series.

Hibiscus Luna
http://www.panamseed.com/series_info.aspx?phid=033102347005863

Hibiscus Luna Benchcard
http://www.panamseed.com/benchcardoptions.aspx?phid=033102347005863

About PanAmerican Seed
http://www.panamseed.com/_AboutPanAmericanSeed.aspx

While PanAmerican Seed doesn’t sell directly to consumers, there are a number of resellers who do carry the Hibiscus Luna Series F1 hybrid seeds. Like Hibiscus clones, the Hibiscus Luna Series F1 hybrid seeds will not breed true. To breed the Hibiscus Luna Series you would need access to PanAmerican Seed’s inbreed parental lines, which are cloned, but those are trade secrets. The original Meehan’s Mallow Marvels, which were first released 110 years ago were also prorogated through seeds, although the exact breeding starting is unknown, it was likely that inbreed parental lines were used because colors were controlled. Ball has some interesting Hibiscus Plant Patents, and one of these days, I will get around to posting what I have on that subject.

What was the source for your Hibiscus Luna Seeds? A 10% germination rate for hardy Hibiscus is low but I start many of my Hibiscus seeds under controlled conditions.

Mike

Mike, thanks for your responce. I got seed from two different sorces. Burpee, and also Swallotail Seeds. I have read quite several articals hear on DG site about Deno Practice and thik I willbe trying this approch next time. These are amazing plants. James

Burpee is a major Ball business partner (http://www.ballhort.com/Retailers/_BurpeeRetailers.aspx) so you can be confident of the source of the Ball seeds they sell. The advice on Hibiscus seed nicking (http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/perennials/hibiscus.html) on the Swallowtail website is not accurate. The Hibiscus seed must be nicked on the side opposite from the hilum where the seed was attached to the ovary wall by the funiculus, otherwise you risk damaging the embryo. I use a very sharp and clean Exacto Knife to nick Hibiscus seeds on a white paper plate. The discussions on the Deno Method in the Hibiscus forum address this issue. The biggest danger with the Deno Method is that you can be too successful and state too many seedlings. Try this link:

Dr. Deno’s Seed Germination Books are now in Public Domain.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1137901/

Remember that the Luna Series are dwarf Hibiscus which only grow to 2 to 3 feet in height. If you purchase the F1 Luna Series seeds in bulk you can economically start enough seedlings to fill a large space. Note that many of the pictures of Luna Hibiscus show fields of Hibiscus in bloom.

Mike