CLONE COLLAR

Description

Clone collars are the neoprene discs that hold cuttings upright in clone machine sites, deep water culture lids and net pots without crushing the delicate stem tissue. The soft, closed-cell foam grips the stem firmly enough to prevent it from moving while leaving enough give that it won’t damage the epidermis or restrict root development below the collar. They’re sized to fit standard clone machine site openings and come in a range of diameters to match different container types. Replace collars between grows or after any disease issue — neoprene is porous enough to harbour pathogens if not properly disinfected, and contaminated collars can infect fresh cuttings.

Getting the fit right matters more than growers sometimes expect from what looks like a simple accessory. A collar that’s too loose allows the cutting to shift or rotate in the propagation site, which can disturb developing roots just as they’re establishing, while a collar that’s too tight risks compressing the stem enough to restrict the vascular tissue carrying water and nutrients up to the leaves — visible as wilting that doesn’t resolve even though the roots are healthy. Match the collar diameter to the stem thickness of the specific cutting rather than using a single size across a whole batch of varied cutting material. Clone collars work across the main propagation methods — aeroponic cloners, bubble cloners, and rockwool or plug-based systems using a net pot lid — because the collar’s job is the same regardless of what’s happening below it: hold the stem in a fixed, unstressed position at the surface. Disinfect collars between uses with a dilute bleach solution or equivalent, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry fully before reuse — neoprene that isn’t properly cleaned can carry pathogens from one propagation cycle into the next, undermining an otherwise clean setup.

At a glance:

• Neoprene collar for clone machines, DWC lids and net pots
• Firm but gentle grip protects delicate stem tissue
• Fits standard clone machine site openings
• Disinfect and replace between grows