PRODUCT: EZ-CLONE
TESTED: Winter 2009
OVERALL SCORE: 90%
ELIAB’S SCORE: 85%

GROWER BASIC DATA

What’s the starting pH, EC and source of your water?
pH: 6.5; EC: 215μS. After additives: pH: 6.3; EC: 343μS (@ a testing temp of 75.4°F).

What’s your normal cloning method? How many days does it usually take for your clones to root?
Cut with sterile scalpel at a 90-degree angle near a node, then dip in Rootech rooting gel. Place in a rockwool or Rapid Rooter plug. 10-12 days.

What were the min/max temperatures of your cloning environment?
Min: 70°F; max: 82°F, but this was brought down by floating a 2-liter soda bottle full of ice. Then corrected to 68-76°F.

Which cloning product(s) did you use? Did you use any other nutrients/additives in the cloning process?
EZ-Clone rooting gel (included with the system), Dyna-Gro’s K-L-N & PyroSol.

FEEDBACK

Did the EZ-CLONE root cuttings quicker? If so, how much quicker?
About the same as conventional “rockwool & cloche” method (5-12 days, depending on plant species).

Was the EZ-CLONE easy to set up and use?
Yes!

Were the instructions adequate? Anything you’d add?
Yes. A cloning guide was also available at the manufacturer’s website.

Did the cuttings go limp in the EZ-CLONE? Any observations over the first few hours?
Limpness on some species but didn’t last more than 35 mins after being placed in the EZ-Clone. Stem & leaf turgor promptly returned.

How vigorous (or otherwise) was the root development? Did the roots look healthy? Airy? Nice and white? How prolific were they?
More prolific than what you could initially expect from a rockwool plug; I’ve counted 30-40 root sprouts on a clone.

What did you transfer the clones into? Soil/hydro? What sort of system? Media?
First to 2” tray cells, then to 3” starters & finally to 5 1/2” pots. Botanicare’s Microgarden system with mixed coir, perlite, kenaf chaff (3:1:1) & a dash of fortified reptile sand (3 tbs/coir brick).

What base nutrients did you use to grow the clone on?
GH Maxi Grow for the first 10 days after transplant, then General Organics Bio Thrive Bloom, Bio Root, Bio Weed, & Bio Marine.

What lighting did you use (for rooting and for early veg)?
A 42-W full-spectrum CFL.

Did the clones take easily to their new veg environment? Any signs of transplant shock?
Yes, they did. No signs of transplant shock whatsoever.

How do the regular cuttings compare with the EZ-CLONE cuttings in veg?
EZ-Clone cuttings exhibited vertical growth before the regular cuttings. Initial growth observed 36 hours post-transplant.

Did you take any steps to harden the cuttings up? If so, what?
I removed the cuttings as soon as I saw them develop 2-3” root heads along the cut stem and put them in the medium.

SUMMARY

What do you think of the EZ-CLONE’s build quality? Is it built to last?
Top-of-the-line. It’s built to last.

What maintenance did the clones require inside the EZ-CLONE?
Temp control was difficult to maintain. The solution tends to heat up past the 82°F quite easily, which will bring problems to the rooting zone.

Do you think the EZ-CLONE is good value for money?
Absolutely, it’s good value. It rocks!

ELIAB RATES THE EZ-CLONE: 85%

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