Grow Guide . first 72 hours . G-02
unbox carefully,
first 72 hours.
Clone care on arrival is the difference between a thriving plant and a stalled-out cut. Most clone failures happen in the first 72 hours, not on the way through shipping. The plant just spent 1 to 3 days in a sealed box. It needs gentle reintroduction to light, controlled humidity, and minimal stress.
When the box arrives, open it. Do not let it sit on the porch. The insulated cooler protects from temperature shock but does not provide light or fresh air. Carry the box inside and lift the cooler out gently.
Healthy clones arrive perky or slightly droopy with crisp green leaves. Slight wilting is normal. Look for visible white roots at the bottom of the plug. Mushy stem or powdery white film is a problem.
Pre-water your medium so it is moist but not soaking. Make a hole the size of the plug. Place the plug flush with the medium surface. Do not bury the stem. Tamp lightly to seal.
A humidity dome maintains the humidity the clone is used to. Without a dome, ambient RH around 50 percent will pull moisture out of the leaves faster than the small root system can replace it.
Set lighting to 18 hours on, 6 hours off. Use a low-intensity light source: T5 fluorescent at 12 inches, or a dimmable LED set to 25 percent. Aim for 200 to 300 PPFD at canopy.
Soil temperature matters more than air temperature. Cold soil stalls root growth. A heating mat under the tray is the standard fix for cold rooms. Aim for 75 degrees at the root zone.
Probably not. Slight wilting in the first 24 hours is normal. Put the dome on, lower the light intensity, mist the leaves once with plain water.
The plug should already be moist from packaging. If damp, do not water. If dry, give 30 mL of plain pH 6 water around the plug.
No. Rooting hormone is for unrooted cuttings. Our clones ship rooted.
You can, but it is not ideal. The small root system cannot drink down a 5 gallon volume.
About 5 to 10 days. Watch for new top growth as the signal that roots have established.