Propagation

Two ways to start a plant

Cuttings and seeds need the same three things: steady warmth, high humidity and a clean medium that holds water and air. The equipment differs by which one you start with.

• Cuttings: Cloning Machines hold the stem in a collar over a misted or aerated reservoir and root it in days with no medium at all. Clone Collars, Parts & Solutions covers the collars, inserts, sprayers and solutions that keep a machine running.
• Seeds and plugs: Propagation & Seedling Trays and Starter Plugs & Cubes give each seedling its own cell, and Humidity Domes hold humidity over the tray until roots take hold.

Warmth from below

Root zone temperature matters more than air temperature for rooting. Seedling Heat Mats raise the tray a few degrees above the room, which speeds germination and rooting and evens out results across a cold floor or bench.

Sterile work

Mycology & Tissue Culture covers laminar flow hoods, sterilizers, scalpels and mushroom substrates for tissue culture and mycology, where a clean airstream and sterile tools decide the outcome.

Propagation & Cloning Supplies FAQ

Cloning machine or plugs for cuttings?

A cloning machine roots faster and needs no medium, which suits large batches. Plugs are simpler, need no power and move straight into a pot with the roots undisturbed.

What humidity do clones need?

Around 70 to 80 percent for the first week, then lowered gradually. A dome over a tray or a lid on a cloner holds that range.

Do I need a heat mat?

If the room or floor is below about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, yes. Warm roots germinate and root faster and more evenly.

What size tray is standard?

10 by 20 inch. Inserts, domes and heat mats are all made to fit that footprint.

How clean does propagation equipment need to be?

Very. Sanitize trays, collars and reservoirs between batches, since young plants have no defense against the pathogens that leftover residue carries.