Restore infested root riot plugs

Dtw coco grower.

They came with white mites. How do I kill them? Are they holding back rooting results, spreading bacteria? Will they wonder into other pots or infest the planted pot? (most likely)

Are grow stores better to buy them? Any suggestions to find locally? I get certain stuff locally to avoid bugs and other discrepencies. Or specific amazon dealer.

I've never gotten a bag of root riots from a grow store that had bugs in them. Not to say it couldn't happen, but I try to by from reputable places to avoid issues. Buying things from the restore seems scketchy because you don't know where they've been. They might have been in a grow room that was totally infested with bugs and mold and powdery mildew. I wouldn't even want that in my house let alone my grow room. I wouldn't keep that bag or use them, I like to keep my grows as clean and sterile as possible. Knowingly introducing pests into the environment is asking for trouble. Even if they are just moisture gnats they are annoying, but there are many bugs that are much worse then annoying.

I went ahead and did that and theyre clean. Got to see they have almost everything too, nice store. How do they stay fresh moist like that? How does it not mold in a closed bag. Do you just keep it closed?

Since this relates to cloning and because thread is bound to be short.. What are cuttings doing during the ten days its not rooting? Why suddenly pop large healthy white roots after just sitting there?

Some can pop roots in few days given strains differ but just have no answers on this. I havent tried looking it up just seems like one those things I probably wont find a easy answer for.

I recently tried root plugs from Amazon that came with mites. I liked the idea but it’s back to light soil for me.

How does this root riot setup look? First time trying water in tray to set and forget as I shoot for warmer temps the rh gets lower and some times simply is. So it tends to dry overnight and limp over.

Just happened to me again starting out after a while forgetting how it goes so I made a new batch. Simply add some water when low but not too high so it dont drown it, just wicking.

Could you microwave them?

Of course I'd rather replace them, but if that's not be an option when they're needed a microwave would kill any living creature and the eggs

H2o2 soak should do it.

medidedicated said:

Since this relates to cloning and because thread is bound to be short.. What are cuttings doing during the ten days its not rooting? Why suddenly pop large healthy white roots after just sitting there?

Some can pop roots in few days given strains differ but just have no answers on this. I havent tried looking it up just seems like one those things I probably wont find a easy answer for.

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They're not just sitting there, there is hormonal changes and chemical signaling going on that you can't necessarily see. They have to completely rearrange what they're doing (to grow roots instead of leaves). Similar to when the dark/light intervals change to initiate flowering - it takes time to respond to environmental changes, and some plants take more or less time than others to respond.

Regarding the mites, are you sure they aren't hypoaspis miles (harmless and actually beneficial in soil)?

You might want to invest in a propagation dome to keep the RH high. Less work monitoring the water level too, since it would evaporate much slower.

Afiak they'll naturally grow roots if there's moisture, that's it.

it's the plant doing what it does.

medidedicated said:

Since this relates to cloning and because thread is bound to be short.. What are cuttings doing during the ten days its not rooting? Why suddenly pop large healthy white roots after just sitting there?

Some can pop roots in few days given strains differ but just have no answers on this. I havent tried looking it up just seems like one those things I probably wont find a easy answer for.

Click to expand...

weedstoner420 said:

They're not just sitting there, there is hormonal changes and chemical signaling going on that you can't necessarily see. They have to completely rearrange what they're doing (to grow roots instead of leaves). Similar to when the dark/light intervals change to initiate flowering - it takes time to respond to environmental changes, and some plants take more or less time than others to respond.

Regarding the mites, are you sure they aren't hypoaspis miles (harmless and actually beneficial in soil)?

You might want to invest in a propagation dome to keep the RH high. Less work monitoring the water level too, since it would evaporate much slower.

Click to expand...

Its in fact exactly that, I forget the spelling, just call them H miles lol. Yea I used to put into a cut off bottom of a cup with bag around it nearly completely shut.

I just get tired of watering them daily or every other day, this way it just is left be. Ever since aerocloning Ive found domes are only good for slowing dry back of root riots. Not needed but helps.

Just a quick setup, its not that good, I thought I had cloning in a bag with aerocloner but its struggling now so ought to upgrade the root riot method with domes and/or planter tray.

Do the obvious - pee on them.

medidedicated said:

Its in fact exactly that, I forget the spelling, just call them H miles lol. Yea I used to put into a cut off bottom of a cup with bag around it nearly completely shut.

I just get tired of watering them daily or every other day, this way it just is left be. Ever since aerocloning Ive found domes are only good for slowing dry back of root riots. Not needed but helps.

Just a quick setup, its not that good, I thought I had cloning in a bag with aerocloner but its struggling now so ought to upgrade the root riot method with domes and/or planter tray.

Click to expand...

I tried the root riots and was not a fan, had trouble keeping the moisture level right. I went back to my previous method of 50/50 potting soil/perlite in tall seedling cells (think like 1" square by 2-3" tall that come in a 4 or 6-pack).

In a dome with a heat mat (I put a folded towel between the mat and the dome), all the vents closed, get the mix good and saturated and fill the slots in the tray with water. You basically don't have to touch anything until they root (7-14 days) and no moving parts to worry about.

It seems like if the cuttings are in anything other than water (potting soil, root riots, perlite, etc) they need a dome or something to keep the humidity in. No idea why you can stick them in a cup of water and they don't wilt as easily vs saturated potting soil, but it is what it is...

I use little home made aero cloners with a 1 gallon zip lock over the top and I put them on a heat mat set at 82 degrees. I use a light solution of Fox farm Big Bloom and recharge with 5.5ph water. I also use root boost rooting powder. They run under a 50 watt light with the same 18-6 schedule as the mother. It's a set it and forget it type deal. Depending on strain roots in 5 days to 2 weeks. Works every time.

I did try just putting a cutting in a jar and just leaving it on the heat mat and after a month it did start growing roots lol!!! I planted it but should have acclimated it cause it died faster than I have ever seen something give up on life lol. The pic is the next morning after planting in the evening.

Yea I never succeeded with jiffy pallets or water cup. The high dissolved oxygen I think is what keeps it sharp. The limpest cuttings convincingly dead on arrival perk straight up over night in aero.

So I put a fan facing in to make a wave to get same effect. Fan likes to go out though, might not stay on unless it was related to something else where it was last plugged in. Doubt it though.

I just squeeze a large syringe to refill so its done all at once. That way the water dont drown it as the cuts sit low in the plug.

The aero clone has instructions trying to follow basically water temp 70-75F and dont stop the mister until its rooted. Doesnt say to sterilize water or refresh water with fresh water.

Does it hurt them to check on them or stop the misters even for less than a minute? Does pool shock harm them? I got browned roots almost died and the rest turned to dying mush.

So this next run has me on edge. I started at 68F and fresh tap only to replace every 5 days but re-read owners manual. Decided to just follow that. People say warmer temps is the secret.

Im growing perpetual clone and luckily only need 4 at a time but I must have them and under estimated the challenge.

Its possible the pool shock just went bad, my main reservoir for the whole garden was doing fine shocking once a week then 6 days, then 5 but now 4? Its related to heat for sure but the aero runs similar temps or higher.

Pic of it going fine, next pic is when something went wrong. Trying not to repeat and lose time and the garden fall behind. So Im just constantly attempting clones basically in advance.

If you're growing in coco anyway, why not just clone in 50/50 coco/perlite under a dome? It might take a bit longer but way less moving parts to worry about...

weedstoner420 said:

If you're growing in coco anyway, why not just clone in 50/50 coco/perlite under a dome? It might take a bit longer but way less moving parts to worry about...

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I thought about that but already found clean root plugs and usually try to stick with what worked before and build upon that.

I cant see the moment it roots without conforming it to be pretty much a root riot plug anyway.