I started this blog in part because I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to learn some new things and actually get them checked off my bucket list. Plant cloning has always been near the top. But until I met up with the Greenhouse Catalog company, I had no real plan set. For serious gardeners, the Greenhouse Catalog keeps your thumb green year-round. So I’m thrilled to introduce to you today to a product of theirs, the Daisy Cloner. We had the opportunity to fire away our own cloning questions to Laurie from The Greenhouse Catalog who has 20 plus years of experience in the nursery industry. I hope you learn as much from her as we did. And you’ll have the chance to win the Daisy Cloner shown above in a future post in which I give my own review of the product in a few days. Stay tuned!
What is cloning?
Making an exact duplicate of a plant by rooting a cutting to reproduce it.
Why clone?
Cloning is the simplest way to increase your amount of plants. You start with one plant take 8 cuttings and voila in a week or so you now have 9 plants.
What type of people are interested in cloning?
Anyone who wants to increase their plant population or to save a treasured cutting from a loved one. Also great if a friend has something you want, take several cuttings (with permission please) and try cloning to make you own. It is quicker than growing from a seed and it’s free plant!
Can you clone year round?
Yes indeed, as long as you have a growing plant with live buds to take a cutting from. Could succulents be cloned in winter for example? Unsure about succulents, never tried.
Cuttings dipped in clonex rooting compound
Is there a season to cloning?
You clone plants when they are active. Summer is the best time when everything is blooming and healthy. House plants can be cloned year round.
What is an easy plant to clone and what’s more difficult?
Tomatoes are super easy and so are cucumbers. I have also done kiwi’s, hibiscus and even a ficus. No luck on rhodies.
kiwi clone
Do nurseries clone to get all their plants?
Large nurseries/garden centers do not propagate this way, they use misting houses to mass produce
How hard is it to clone? How much time does it take?
Depends on variety, I can get 4-6” roots on tomatoes in a week using the Daisy cloner
Can I save money by cloning?
Absolutely if you buy one plant you can get cuttings and fill your cloner… it doesn’t take long to have too many plants (believe me).
Can you clone year after year with the Daisy Cloner?
YES, I have used the same cloner for 4 years and if the head clogs you can buy spare parts
Cloner with Clonex Clone Solution – It’s awesome!
What supplies are needed and what’s involved in maintaining it?
We use Clonex Solution which is basically a fertilizer so the cutting is getting nutrients sprayed on it to nourish the developing roots plus anti-microbial agents to protect against fungal contamination. The Clonex Rooting (liquid) Compound is a thick gel that helps to aid in root development. What type of maintenance is involved? Keep water and pump free of debris and that is all, this is a super and when you are done, wash it up and store until you find something else you want to try to get cuttings from
One week pumpkin cutting
Tell me about the Daisy Cloner. What makes cloner so special and unique?
The clone machines work by spraying an aeroponic mist application to the roots 24 hours a day. This process speeds normal root development. It is very easy to set up. Just add water to the fill line and a few tablespoons of Clonex solution. Insert your cuttings and plug it in.
Does the quality of plants matter when cloning? Does organic matter?
Yes, healthy is better than sickly. Avoid diseased plants. For cloning purposes it doesn’t matter if it’s organic or not
One week tomato cutting
Do some plants take longer to clone than others?
Yes. Plants with soft stems like tomatoes clone much faster than plants with hardword stems. If the cutting has nodules or nubs it will root fairly quickly, otherwise it will take longer.
I’m in. I want to clone. How do I get started?
Your best choice of plants are a softwood cuttings with 3 eyes and stems that have nodules (nubs). Remove the lower leaf gently and make sure one bud is in the net pot and two are above the top cap, I also take the top leaves and cut off half. We want the energy to go to developing roots!
Are you ready to take the plunge and clone for yourself? What would you like to clone first?
Are you ready to take the plunge and clone for yourself? What would you like to clone first?
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