How to Make the Most Effective use of your Rooting Gel

The modern hydroponics gardener has an endless assortment of tools at their disposal, most of which, if used properly, can lead to healthier plants, more productive growing seasons, and bigger yields. But a tool is only as valuable as the knowledge that is used to wield it. That is why before you use any hydroponics equipment or fertilizer, you should look everything you can to get the most out of these products. The time spent educating yourself will greatly increase the value of your investment. Nowhere is this more true than in using rooting gel, where improper use can essentially render the product useless. If you want to make sure that you are getting everything you can out of your rooting gel while cloning your plants, follow these simple steps.

Wound the End of the Stem - "Wounding" the stem is how gardeners used to increase the odds of creating a successful clone before the advent of cloning gel, and it can still be used today if you are attempting to clone a plant that does not propagate easily. Simply take the razor blade you used to make the cutting and scrape off the skin on the bottom quarter inch of the stem. Make certain that you do this step before you apply the rooting gel. By removing a part of the epidermis and applying the rooting gel directly to the "inner" part of the stem, you increase your chances of quick root formation.

Apply Generously - When you invest in something perishable that can help your hydroponics garden, like rooting gel, there is sometimes a frugal instinct to stretch out each container by using as little as possible on each stem. Applying a very fine layer of gel to your stem will probably still result in root formation, especially if you are using a particularly high quality or potent gel, but it might result in weak clones once your stems form roots. In addition to hormones that stimulate root formation, most cloning gels also have vitamins designed to support the young plant as it begins developing. So applying a fairly thick layer to the very end of the stem will help create much healthier clones, which will lead to healthier plants and a faster harvest.

However, you should also make sure that you only use the gel on the bottom part of the stem. Using it on the middle section may cause stem rot and decrease the odds of cloning success.

Make Your Leaves Moist - Leaving your cuttings in an environment too dry can be disastrous for the cut stems. The amount of water that a stem receives is cut down dramatically after it has cut from the plant, but the amount of water that leaves the plant remains the same, because the stem transpires at the exact same rate. Make sure to increase the humidity in your grow room while making clones, or else simply place a "humidity dome" over the cuttings. To make your own inexpensive humidity dome, you can simple cover the cloning tray with plastic. Many also choose to keep their cuttings moist by regularly misting them with a spray bottle.