Hydroponic Plant Cloning

Since hydroponic plant cloning implies that the mother plant is going to be replicated, it is imperative that it be of superior quality. It is important therefore to consider the following when choosing a mother plant for cloning:

• It should be well shaped, compact, dense leafed, and comprise of aesthetic features
• It should be capable to bearing plenty of fruits and flowers
• It should be immune from diseases and pests
• It should grow rapidly
• It should afford good plant cloning

The mother plant should be strong and healthy for good hydroponic plant cloning. Cuttings obtained from a weak or stressed mother plant may result in unhealthy cloning, slow growth, and low quality plant replication. It is necessary to bear in mind that the quality of the mother plant of great importance for successful hydroponic plant cloning. As a general rule of the thumb, one should only cut about 20 to 30 percent of the vegetative material from one mother plant.

Stated below is a list of supplies that will enable to successfully carry out hydroponic plant cloning:

• A fluorescent fixture consisting of two full spectrum T5 or T12 tubes
• Drip and seedling trays, and a plastic dome top of 1020 flat size, consisting of 32 or 72 cells.
• Rockwool grow medium blocks, slabs, or cubes.
• A gel based hormone rooting compound
• A 24 volt heating or plant propagation mat.
• An anti-stress plant agent
• A plant root zone or root stimulator to boost the grow of the roots
• Organic or traditional plant nutrient solution, depending on the kind of plants being cloned.
• A thermometer or thermostat designed especially for hydroponic plant cloning
• An adjustable timer to operate and control the fluorescent grow lights, and provide the appropriate day and night time simulation that are required in hydroponic plant cloning.
• A single edge razor blade or a cutting scalpel
• A spray bottle to moisten the hydroponic plant clones.

It would be a good idea to gather all of the above supplies prior to obtaining the plant cuttings. These equipments should be clean and the plant cloning space should be well bleached and sterile.
To ensure that your hydroponic plant cloning activity is successful, you can obtain your plant cutting a night prior to starting the process, and wash the Rockwool grow medium blocks with some of the nutrient solution. The Rockwool may be also be soaked in the Rockwool conditioner for about 10 hours before the plant cloning process is begun. It is important however to ensure that the level of pH is appropriate before the plant cutting s are placed into the Rockwool grow medium

Once all the necessary supplies have been gathered and the Rockwool grow medium has been well soaked, you may begin the hydroponic plant cloning process.