Do you own an EZ-Clone machine?

Hi,

Am considering buying an EZ-Clone machine. I need some feedback from those that have one, especially if you have had it several years.

Has it held up? Have you had any problems with it?
How often do you need to replace the Neoprene collars?
What other products do I need to buy with it and what do you use to clean it?
Where did you buy it from and would you do it again? Or would you buy a different brand?

I saw article on making it. I know hubby could do it...but I've got 3 other projects I need him to do.

Is this the one you saw? http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=40055

It looks easy enough for someone who is handy.

There is a link on this website somewhere that provides plans for a similar propagation unit. I made one last fall and rooted lots of plants over the winter. I had a good time watching things grow, but had a few problems I will mention. First of all, I got aphids on one of the plants that spread to others before I realized it. I would highly recommend you soak all cuttings in an alcohol/water (10%) to hopefully kill these pests. I also had some problems with fungus on some of the cuttings and had to throw them away. I just bought cheep spray heads for drip irrigation that screwed into the pvc. They worked great except one that I didn't get screwed in good and it came off. Unfortunately, it was a while before I noticed that some of the plants were not getting watered. I didn't glue my pvc pipe and I had another time when the pvc pipe came apart and again no water to the cuttings. I have also had problems with my unit leaking around the lid and could never solve that one so I had to put it in a larger container to catch the water leaking out. I plan to use a different type of container next time with a better designed lid that hopefully won't leak. If you are doing this outside, the leaks are no problem, but I was doing it on a light stand in the basement.

Inside, you have to have some type of light and you need to keep the humidity up. I put a clear plastic tub over the top and had it sitting under a 4 bulb florescent light.

Good luck and happy cloning!

You can't see it good from this angle, but it is the bottom left corner.

I ordered an EZ Clone machine. I just wanted to get the real thing instead of trying to make my own. When it comes in this week, I will take cuttings of as many plants as possible so I can see how it works. I can't wait!

I bought the EZ Cloner 120 last January, used Craig's List find. I LOVE IT! I didn't have a lot of luck with hardwood cuttings, but I just discovered that I wasn't using enough of the Clonex solution in the tank. I did have great success with petunias, hydrangeas, Black Laceleaf Sambucus, Sarcococca, verbena.
I read that you should change the neoprene collars with every batch, but I don't. (I am too cheap). I have some that should be replaced now because I put big cuttings in them and now they have big holes. (California Lilac). I learned NOT to try to put a huge cutting in it, after I got smart and cut the ceanothus (what was now left of it) into smaller cuttings, they rooted.
Have fun!!! Let me know how you do, as this is a learning curve for me.

I'm not having good luck so far. I've already lost 3 cuttings. The collars that hold the cuttings in are choking them. I might try to make my own collars or cut a hole in these.

Update: Called EZ Clone and they said not to press the neoprene collars down into the machine all the way.

Update2: I'm still not having much luck with these. The marketing made it sound like these were fail-proof and could root 100% of cuttings in 5-7 days. I still see no signs of roots on anything after 5 days. I've already lost all my Hydrangea cuttings because this thing either rotted them or choked them to death! Seriously. This thing is not working.

This message was edited Jun 17, 2009 8:46 AM

If you are not having luck with it does it seem to be one type of cuttings more than others? Are you dipping cuttings in rooting hormone first? Some of you said it has worked. What are you doing before putting cuttings in machine? When you did hardwood cuttings did you take new soft spring growth? Anybody tried Lantana in spring...it's great for St. Louis humidity/heat LOL

I'm having better luck now. The key is not to push the neoprene collars down too far. They can just barely be in the holes. Otherwise, they choke the cuttings. They are coming out with some softer neoprene collars this fall. I got a rose cutting to root. Yay.

I built my own from an 18 gal tub and a pond pump. Yesterday was day 4 and my confederate rose (hibiscus) had roots already dangling! I will get some pictures today!

Penstemon root in this thing in just a couple of days. I'm also having some luck with Echinacea cuttings. I think I'll try my Hardy Hibiscus!

Bairie:

I loved those directions; seems very simple, will have to try!

Then I noticed what they were growing ;>)

Tom from Seventhstreetcottage.com made his own and there's not anything that this fella hasn't propagated. He has some nifty ideas and he shares his knowledge willingly. Check his blog out. I don't know where those collars are that you spoke of, but I'm sure Tom can answer that question for you.

He uses the foam tubes from foam hair curlers.

BTW, Tom is token on GardenWeb. Some of you may know him from there.

Karen

What are the neoprene collars for? To hold the plant? Tom uses foam hair curlers from the $1 store. Hey, it's works, don't knock it! Don't quote me but I think I read once that he doesn't use anything in the water.

I don't have one, but a friend of mine does and he _loves_ it. He's had a 2 or 3 years now, in constant use, and has had 99.9% success with it.

Bump