DIY AeroCloner - EzCloner - U name it.

Thanks for the advice. I will keep that in mind. I have looked at a few of the designs and could certainly convert the pump I have to work in an ebb and flow system. I really enjoy the propagation, but my wife really loves herbs and tomatoes.

As I removed some of the cuttings from the aeropropagator where I am pumping oxygen, I noticed they were a much brighter green than the ones I have been propagating other ways. Any idea why? I have moved them to dirt, but wish I had left at least one in the aeropropagator to see how it would do compared to others.

Oxygen has certainly made a big difference in my aeropropagator. I was bubbling oxygen instead of just air in the tub and the cuttings responded very well. I also noticed a significant reduction in the algae that had already started to build up on the cuttings. I am convinced is beneficial, but Dad left yesterday and took his oxygen concentrator with him. I looked around and there is no way I could afford one for plants. Unfortunately, I don't expect him back for a long time so I will be back to regular air now.

Bill, What type plants are you rooting in your aeropropagator? I am interested in doing some camellia and azalea cuttings and just wondered if they would fare as well as some of the other plants. Thanks, Linda

I haven't tried either of those plants. I have only had it operational for a little while. I have been rooting roses, hibiscus, a few verbena, snow ball bush, red twig dogwood, clematis. I made some mistakes along the way. I didn't have a top over the cuttings at first and lost a few that way. Since I was working with all hardwood cuttings they are taking much longer than softwood cuttings, but I have enjoyed the journey and the learning. I can't wait until I can take some softwood cuttings. I can stick about 35 plants at once.

Thanks Bill, I think I am going to set up a system this weekend and give it a try. I am sure I can find other things to root as well.LOL
Linda

Good luck and let us know how it goes. Since I no longer have the oxygen to bubble in the water, I have put in a regular aquarium bubbler with a stone to keep fresh air inside. I purchased a misting timer and set it where it only sprays every 15 minutes and it seems to be working fine. I can't wait to try it on some green cuttings instead of the hardwood cuttings I have been working with. I am sure they will root much faster.

It doesn't appear that anyone else is doing a aeropropagator at this time, but I am enjoying the journey. Last night I pulled 4 plants that were ready to pot. I am constantly amazed at the results. I am on the lookout for other hardwood cuttings to practice on. (watch out neighbors)

Billy, I have an EZ Cloner that I purchased used about a month or so ago, and I LOVE it.
I am amazed at how quickly and easily it roots the cuttings. Mine does 120 cuttings at a time, so I am waiting until next week to start a new batch. I put a cloning solution in the water and dip the cutting in Biogel. I bought some GA, but I haven't tried it yet. The instructions says to empty and clean after each batch, but I did a couple of batches because (I am cheap) and the water appeared to be clean with no algea.

I was successful with: Petunia, Pineapple Sage, Hydrangea
Unsuccessful: Lavender, Rosemary, Inpatient I am going to retry.

I also popped in a cutting of a Rhody, and it was just starting to get a root. I put it in water while I am waiting to start a new batch. I just couldn't justify running it until I can fill it up.

Do you put a solution in your water?

Can you send a picture? 120 at a time is overwhelming. I haven't been putting anything in the water or on the cuttings. Perhaps they would root quicker with those additions. Does the Biogel stay on the cuttings or wash off? What is GA?

I did a search on biogel and didn't find it. Where can I find info on it?

Billy, I went out to the GH and took these pictures for you. Here is the Biogel and Clonex. The people at the Hydroponic store recommended these to me.

Here is a picture of the EZ Cloner showing roots after a few days. The roots grew even more in the next couple days. I didn't take a picture, and now I am kicking myself.

Here is a picture of the topside showing the cuttings.

Now, here is a picture of some of the little petunias that were in the cloner after I potted them up.

A DG member recommended this site to get the GA (Gibberellic Acid).
I ordered several things from them, but I haven't tried it yet. I ordered the small sample sizes. www.super-grow.biz

I assumed the water would spray off the biogel or a powder, but I used it anyway. I will have to try a batch without the rooting hormone also.

This is all so new to me. I feel like I want to try everything.

There are smaller versions of the EZ Cloner. For my use (now, anyway), the smaller size would work better for me, but this was the size that I found used here locally. I would rather have overkill than too small (like my 8x12 Greenhouse, waaaay too small)

I now want to try an Earthbox if I can find a cheap used one, or try to make my own. I am also highy interested in Hydroponic growing using the ebb and flow. (Again, I need to make my own.) We bought some gutters to make an ebb and flow type shelving system in the GH, but DH hasn't started it yet, and I have the GH too full for anything else. Gosh, you got me going!

Thanks for the pictures and info Lynn. It is so nice to be able to learn from others rather than trying to invent the wheel each time. That is the beauty of the internet. Based on your comments, I looked into Earthboxes and find that a very interesting alternative. We bought an acre of ground I am anxious to put in a garden this Spring. I will be working in the dirt once the weather breaks and will have plenty to do. I watched several videos on youtube about earthboxes and think the product looks very sound.

Keep me posted on progress with your ezy cloner.

The "Self Contained Box Garden" forum is mostly for the discussion of earthboxes and has a lot of links with instructions on how to build your own and how to have success with these. Go on over and take a look. :^)

Thanks!

Wow, I'm shocked that this thread is still running since i have been missing. but im back again for
another year and hopefully more. my plant room has turned into a storage room over the last 2 years,
but hopefully it will be back running this spring.

I came across this thread when I got interested in building an aerocloner and your instructions were great. I am out of space and need to build another one. I am thinking about having the one pump spray two tubs of cuttings. I am not sure it will have enough pressure though. I will have to test it. You can pay a lot of money for an aerocloner, but your design works great.

I am having so much fun with this thing that I went out and took a bunch of cuttings today after it stopped snowing. I want to try more hardwood cuttings. We shall see how it does.

Have you come up with any new designs lately?

no new designs as of yet .. about the only thing i could think of changing would be the tote itself for something that seals better.

I am having problems with mine leaking where the wire and tubes come through the wall. I have had to set it inside a larger tub to catch the leaking water. Have you been able to solve that problem?

Bill,

What about plumber's putty or some kind of silicone caulk? Do you think that would help with the leaks?

I have put a strip of weather strip around the top and it has taken care of everything except where the hoses go through the hole I cut in the wall of the tub. I can't use silicone because I have to take the tubes out when I clean the tub and replace the water. Perhaps I just need to set them in permanently with silicone and not remove them.