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October 18, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dewpoint Cabinet Propagator 2006

Why did I buy this? Primarily I have no greenhouse and no longer have access to a mist bench (it is relatively expensive, but is only a fraction of the cost of a good greenhouse). Also many plants in this garden are as single specimens. Perhaps I am neurotic, having a few more plants allows one to experiment where to plant these in the garden. It also acts as a buffer if one looses plants. Often the plants in this garden are relatively expensive and loosing them becomes even more expensive! It would be interesting to work out what I have spent on these plants over the years - mmmh! perhaps one should not complain about women and their shoes!
The usual temperature controlled propagator certainly has limitations and the dewpoint cabinet is perfect for my circumstances - there is no room for a greenhouse and the back of the garage is available.
It is not being used for commercial production as as yet I have never sold plants - I just give them away. It may ironically create problems - what am I going to do with 12 spare Stobilanthes attenuata?

dewpoint cabinet propagator Exclusively manufactured at Two Wests & Elliott, the Dewpoint Cabinet is a completely self-contained unit that creates the ideal conditions for easy, rapid propagation & growth of cuttings & germination of seeds.
  • Completely enclosed artificial environment allows propagation at any time of year.
  • Maintenance-free, automatic control - can be left unattended for several weeks.
  • Ideal for most subjects including heathers, orchids, roses, tropicals & rhododendrons (rhododendron seedlings have put on three years growth in 9 months).
  • Revives sickly plants.
  • Easy weaning - plants rooted in 3 weeks can go straight out.
  • Dimensions: 48" (122cm) long, 22½" (57cm) wide (room for 6 standard seed trays) by 51" (129cm) high.
  • Maximum electrical usage is approximately 250 watts.
Comments on assembly        
Fairly straightforward, it is important to have the floor of where it is going to be used absolutely even. Everything must be measured as per instructions, if you don't you will have problems! The 'nuts' used are made of aluminum and it is very easy to strip them. There are no spares if you have an accident! It is worthwhile buying some spares from the Two Wests & Elliott catalogue. They are very helpful if there are problems. There shouldn't be as each cabinet has been individually made. The connectors for the plastic piping from the aquarium pump into the cabinet are not brilliant and can easily come adrift. This means that no air will be bubbled through the layer of water in the bottom of the cabinet - essential for the system to work. Otherwise the company are to be congratulated in producing an excellent and quite different fascinating propagating system.
         
INTRODUCTION (copied from Two Wests & Elliot website)
The Dewpoint Cabinet is a completely self-contained unit only requiring connection to mains electricity. It will provide the ideal environment for the germination of seeds & the fast rooting of cuttings. It can be run continuously - throughout the year if required - & needs only the minimum of maintenance.
The principle of the Dewpoint (which is protected by patent no. 1341958) is that fresh air saturated with water vapour is allowed to cool round the leaves of cuttings & plants, never allowing them to dry out; thus encouraging healthy root growth.
The Dewpoint Cabinet measures approximately 48” long by 24” wide & will accommodate six standard seed trays. A thermostatically controlled heating tray warms a reservoir of water through which is pumped fresh air which becomes saturated. Just above the water reservoir is a mesh onto which the subjects are placed. The thin aluminum sides of the cabinet cool the air producing ‘the dewpoint’ - condensation on the sides runs back into the reservoir. The top of the cabinet is sealed with three pieces of removable acrylic above which are mounted two fluorescent fittings producing some 3000 lumens. All the electrical equipment is run through a time clock that allows you to set ‘artificial nights’ as well as ‘days’. When the clock is off a small amount of power is fed to the heating tray to maintain the dewpoint.
The Dewpoint Cabinet will work anywhere under cover where the temperature does not become excessive - a garage, cellar or box room are quite suitable but NOT a greenhouse or conservatory.
The Dewpoint Cabinet is supplied in kit form with detailed assembly instructions although you may prefer a qualified electrician to make the final electrical connections. The lighting lid simply lifts up allowing clear access - to fill the water reservoir & position your seed trays. Then plug in, set the time clock & leave the rest to the Cabinet. About every two weeks check the water needs - it may be necessary to soak the seed trays.
Maximum power consumption is about 250 watts (approx. 1½p per hour or ¾p on Economy 7).
In the Dewpoint Cabinet plants have no means of telling what season or time of day it is so, for example, heather cuttings frequently flower one or two months after they are taken & seed may be started into rapid growth at any time. For woody plants the lights can be left on 24 hours a day, whereas for soft plants such as Saintpaulias, Orchids & Tomatoes should have at least 8 hours of darkness for best growth.
To sum up, with the Dewpoint Cabinet:
· There is no need for a greenhouse, water supply, sunlight or heat - only an electrical supply.
· Propagation can continue all the year round (Rhododendron seedlings put on 3 years growth in just 9 months).
· Very little ‘weaning’ is required - plants rooted in 3 weeks can be potted up & put outside.
· Winter dormancy can sometimes be broken very quickly (2-3 weeks).
· It can be used to revive flagging plants or for raising specialised species.
· Completely trouble-free to run - no jets to block or solenoids to stick & no build up of alkalinity.
Results        
Species Compost Treatment Time taken to root Problems
Strobilanthes attenuata 3/4 perlite, 1/4 ericaceous compost Clonex 4 days none
Strobilanthes as above Clonex 6 days none
Hydrangea serrata vars. as above Clonex 10 days none
Polystichum proliferum hybrid bulbils
as above none
bulbils start to develop after 12 days
algal development on surface
Leycesteria crocothyrsos as above clonex 2 weeks
a few rot, but otherwise strong root growth
Echium candicans as above clonex 4 days
3 out of 10 still have not rooted
Selaginella uncinata as above none 4 days very easy as one would expect
Gymnocarpium oyamense as above none  
properly established within 2 weeks
Sarcococca balansae as above clonex cuttings root in 4 weeks takes 3 months for apical buds to break and form side shoots
17th October 2006 - aphids noticed! They have not attacked the Polystichum bulbils yet. This was a problem during last winter where aphids which severely attacked these bulbils and had to be removed manually. Last winter the bulbils were grown in a 'normal' traditional thermostatically controlled propagator. Spraying the fern bulbils with insecticide could easily kill them, the risk is too great. They need monitoring on a day to day basis.
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Polystichum proliferum x P. acrostichoides growing bulbils
Polystichum braunii x P. proliferum bulbils
Leycesteria crocothyrsos