Cloning Gel and Solution

Here is a great article I stumbled across. It covers cloning gels and solutions. Brought to you by http://growhydroponix.com.   Check out the full article at http://growhydroponix.com/.

From Hydroponix:

What makes a good Cloning Gel or Solution?

There are four main ingredients in a cloning solution: water or dry base, the active ingredient, vitamins/minerals, and antibacterial/antifungal elements.  Each element is an important ingredient and plays a major role in promoting root development.

The water, sometimes gel, combines the active ingredient, vitamins, minerals and antibacterial elements.  For some cloning solutions, the water is replaced with a dry base.  In other solutions, the water is combined to form a gel which helps to remain in place around the plant stem increasing the amount of time the stem remains in contact with the solution.  The water or dry base also helps to seal the end of the cutting preventing water loss and other harmful elements from entering.

The active ingredient is usually a hormone or a group of hormones.  There are several that are commonly used at various strengths.  This ingredient is what initiates root cell formation.  Common hormones are IBA and NAA.

The vitamins and minerals provide essential elements to help feed the newly formed roots as well as keeping the plant nourished.  A common vitamin is B1.

The antibacterial and or antifungal ingredients prevent bacteria and fungus from growing.  Rooting usually takes place in 5 – 10 days which is a sufficient amount of time for bacteria or fungus to enter the cutting and take over.  These ingredients help to neutralize these harmful elements.

Not all cloning solutions are created equal.  A number of them are missing one or more of the essential elements.  Some may have too much or too little of each important element, particularly the active ingredient and antibacterial or antifungal elements.  Always do your homework and talk to others to find out their success with a particular product.