Growing cannabis plants is a very rewarding process, but cannabis growers agree that growing from cannabis seeds can get challenging and more time-consuming.
This being said, there are alternative options to speed up the overall growing process, and one of these options is using cannabis clones, which are small cuttings taken from the mother plant that, under the right care, grow to reach maturity.
There are many different benefits of using cannabis clones, including the opportunity to promote root growth and greater genetic consistency, while using cannabis clones is also considered more time efficient.
How to clone cannabis using a different growing medium, what are the best cloning cannabis practices, and how to select a mother weed plant are some of the many other answers regarding cloning weed, which will be answered in the later sections, so make sure you stick around.
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What Is a Cannabis Clone?
Before we get to the basics behind cloning marijuana plants, let’s first go over the basics behind cannabis clones.
In the simplest terms, a cannabis clone is a small cutting taken from a mother plant that can be easily rooted to grow into a new cannabis plant with the help of rooting hormone and a high-quality rooting medium.
When you clone cannabis plants, new weed plants that grow are genetically identical to their mother plants, meaning they share the same genetic makeup.
This is why many experienced individuals invested in growing weed rely on marijuana cloning to replicate the desirable effects of cannabis mother plants, such as their flavor profile, expected yield, cannabinoid profile, and potency.
For successful cloning of healthy mother plants, you gently cut off a small section, typically a stem or branch that has one or more nodes. You plant the cutting into a potting soil or rooting medium to encourage speedier root development.
For weed clones to keep growing, it is crucial to ensure optimal growing conditions, which means ensuring adequate temperature and humidity levels.
Why Clone Cannabis Plants?
This leads us to some of the major benefits of using marijuana clones in your growing cannabis adventure, and these different benefits are discussed below.
Cannabis Seeds Have Variations In DNA
Marijuana seeds are known to have many different DNA variations that are inherited from the parent plant, while cannabis clones do not have any DNA variations as their entire genetic profile is inherited from the mother weed plant.
While this may not sound like an important factor, it is since this level of uniformity ensures that every cannabis clone has the exactly same genetic makeup as its mother plant, including sharing the same flavor, potency, growth pattern, and other important characteristics.
Preserving Genetics
Cloning cannabis plants is also very important when it comes to preserving the genetics of marijuana strains that have desirable characteristics or preserving rare marijuana strains.
When growers get an amazing marijuana plant that has many different desirable qualities, they want to make sure that these desirable traits are preserved, and by growing a cannabis plant by cloning, they get the exact same weed strain.
Marijuana Clones Require Smaller Growing Space
It is also not a secret that dealing with a marijuana clone typically requires smaller growing space, which is especially beneficial for growers who have a smaller indoor space for their cannabis garden.
With marijuana clones, you do not have to worry about the initial germination stage, and as you bypass this stage, you have plants that require less space for the majority of their growth cycle, including during the vegetative and flowering stages.
Best Solution to Avoiding Hermaphrodite or Male Marijuana Plants
Creating marijuana clones is also considered the best solution to avoid growing male plants, which are not as desirable as female plants due to the fact that they do not produce smokable buds.
Cloned cannabis plants share the same genetic profile as their mother plants, so if you use a female mother weed plant for the process of cloning, you are guaranteed to get female marijuana clones without exceptions.
Cloning Helps Cannabis Farmers Breed New Crosses and Hybrids
Many individuals invested in growing clones are also interested in breeding new hybrids, and here, cloning is one of the best tools they have.
Cannabis cloning done the right way enables breeders to get stable hybrids with desirable traits. With cloning, cannabis breeders can also refine and perfect their hybrid strains so their essential traits are even more desirable.
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What Is a Cannabis Mother Plant?
When it comes to the process of cloning marijuana, a mother plant is the foundation of everything that will go on later on. In other words, a mother plant is the main genetic source for propagating clones of identical copies of the mother plant.
As for selecting the mother plant, the process usually involves examining several important factors, including cannabis plant cannabinoid profile, potency, yield, and resistance to common diseases and pests.
No matter which mother plant you choose, you maintain it in its vegetative stage, meaning the mother weed plant will not enter the flowering stage. This being said, a mother plant is not a flowering plant.
To make sure mother plants remain stuck in the vegetative stage, you make some changes to your light cycle with the main goal of ensuring that your mother plant gets more than eighteen hours of light a day.
Indoors, you can use grow lights to achieve this. As your mother plant gets ample light every day, the chances of it entering the flowering phase are slim to none, which is the goal.
How to Clone a Cannabis Plant?
This leads us to our handy step-by-step guide on creating marijuana clones, and the entire process is discussed in the section below.
Step 1: Identify the Ideal Mother Plant
You start by identifying a robust and healthy mother weed plant. When choosing a marijuana plant, pick one that is resilient and grows strong. You also want to pick a marijuana plant that produces high yields.
In addition, no matter which marijuana plant you choose, make sure it is in the vegetative phase, simply because plants that have already started to flower do not develop the best root systems when cloned.
Step 2: Take a Cutting from the Mother Plant
The next step is to take a small cutting from the mother plant and make sure you use a clean razor or scissors. You want to cut a four-to-six-inch branch, and make sure you make a cut at a 45° angle.
Cutting at this angle increases the surface are for the upcoming rooting process. It is also important to note that you want to cut off a branch that has two or more nodes.
Once you are done, place your cutting in water so that the cutting can grow its own roots speedier and to prevent the formation of air bubbles.
Step 3: Prepare the Clone for Rooting
To prepare the cutting you have just taken for producing roots, we recommend you use some form of rooting hormone.
As for the best rooting hormones, you can use a liquid form, powder, or gel.
When it comes to applying rooting hormone to your fresh cutting, you simply dip the cut end of the branch or stem into the rooting hormone, and as you do so, make sure the nodes are also well-coated.
Step 4: Place the Cutting into Growth Medium
Once you have applied a rooting hormone this is the right time to place your cutting into the chosen growing medium.
You can use any standard soil medium variety, such as coco coir or rockwool cubes.
Any standard non-nutrient growing medium may also work great when it coming to holding moisture and providing necessary support for cuttings that will eventually have their own robust and strong root system.
Step 5: Water and Place the Clone Under the Light
Once you have planted your cutting, you immediately want to provide some source of light. If you will be using grow lights, make sure you set them on low to medium intensity.
Avoiding direct sunlight is also recommended.
At this stage of the cloning procedure, gentle fluorescent grow lights are the best choice, as you want to avoid stressing your cuttings by exposing them to overly intense lights.
Step 6: Monitor and Care for Your Clones
In the days that follow since you have planted your cuttings, you monitor and care for your growing plants, but watering when necessary.
Speaking of watering, avoid excessive watering to reduce the risk of root rot.
At the same time, you want to keep humidity levels higher to encourage the development of strong roots. To keep humidity levels higher, you can mist the area regularly. As the roots grow later on, you can slightly reduce humidity levels and introduce more intense light.
Transplanting Your Cloned Weed
Transplanting plants is another essential step in the overall cultivation process which will ensure the healthy development and growth of cutting plants.
Before you start with the transplantation process, make sure you gather all the necessary tools and materials you will need, including a new pot or a new growing space that has a good drainage system, a watering system of some sort, a growing medium, and a rooting hormone (optional).
When it comes to transplanting clones, timing is essential. This being said, the right time to transplant your cloned plants is when the root system has developed, but the situation is not too crowded.
This usually happens several weeks after you have started the cloning process. Once you have figured out the right time to transplant your cloned plants, you need to prepare their new home.
In other words, fill the new growing space or pot with high-quality soil, making sure you leave enough space to accommodate the clone’s root ball. Good drainage is key to preventing waterlogging.
As for the process of transplanting, you gently remove the cloned plant from its container by supporting its root ball and stem. You make a whole in the center of the new soil or pot and place the cloned plant in it.
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Best Practices for Cloning
This leads us to the best practices for cloning a particular marijuana plant that has different desirable treats you want to pass on other plants in your cannabis garden or grow more plants with the same desirable plant material.
Choosing the right mother plant is crucial to get healthy plants from the cuttings you take. This being said, you want to choose one plant you know is resistant to pests and diseases, as new plants you grow will also exhibit high resistance.
During the cloning process, sterilization of the workspace is essential. Sterilizing the tools you will be using is also crucial to reduce the risk of infection, so always use sterile razors or scissors you need to make cuttings.
Among the best cloning practices is also cutting a clone at a 45-degree simply because this significantly increases the surface area for all the roots that will eventually develop. Speaking of cutting, always take a cut between four and six inches long.
Another common cloning practice refers to using rooting hormones which can significantly speed up the root development process. While using a rooting hormone is not mandatory, this practice has many benefits.
When planting your clone, we recommend you use peat pellets, rooting cubes, or standard soil. Whichever choice you make, make sure the growing medium you use is pH-balanced and pre-moistened to encourage speedier root growth.
During every step of the cloning process, it is crucial to ensure optimal condition, meaning keeping temperature levels between 72-77°F (22-25°C) and higher humidity levels with the use of daily misting of the growing area.
You should be able to see the very first roots from the cuttings between seven and fourteen days of starting the process. When the first roots appear, less humid conditions are introduced by using a dehumidifier or opening vents.
Finally, advanced breeders understand the importance of constant monitoring and regular inspection of the cuttings to look for signs of pests and diseases. Look for unusual discoloration or other signs of distress and act accordingly.
How to Nurture Cannabis Clones?
Taking cuttings is the first step in the cloning procedure and the easiest step, while taking care of weed clones requires more knowledge and the process can get time-consuming, but it is necessary.
To nurture clones, we recommend you use a cloning gel or cloning solution on the freshly taken cutting to encourage root growth once you plant your cutting into a suitable medium. Speaking of growing medium, make sure you use loose soil.
As the growing process starts, make sure you maintain higher humidity levels around 75% to make sure your cuttings do not dry out. To retain moisture around your cuttings, you can use a plastic cover or set up a humidity dome. Using a spray bottle also helps.
Fresh cuttings grow the best in areas with temperatures ranging from 72-77°F (22-25°C). Consistently higher temperatures are essential to encourage root development and for your cutting to grow vegetation in the later stages of its life cycle.
To nurture your clones, it is also essential to provide low to medium-intensity lightning, especially during the initial phase of cloning. We recommend using LED or fluorescent lights that do not emit overly excessive amounts of heat.
When it comes to watering, you want to keep the growing medium moist but avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to a range of root issues, including root rot. At the same time, underwatering puts extra stress on young plants, hindering their growth.
During the first stage of cloning, young cuttings do not require extra nutrients until the first roots appear. When your cuttings develop their first roots, you want to use an organic nutrient solution in very small amounts to prevent nutrient burn.
Tips to Help You Grow Healthy Cannabis Clones
As for the best cannabis cloning tips, we included a few of them, which we strongly believe will make a huge difference in your cloning procedure if you take them into account.
Sterilize the Humidity Dome and Propagation Tray Before Rooting the Clones
Before you introduce your clones to their new environment, make sure you take the steps to sterilize both the propagation tray and humidity dome if you will be using one.
This sterilization step is crucial if you want to reduce the risk of diseases and different pathogens hindering the cloning procedure and negatively affecting the health of your clones.
To sterilize, we recommend you use a solution based on water and bleach. To sterilize different areas, you can also use a solution with isopropyl alcohol. In addition to sterilizing the propagation tray and humidity dome, we also recommend you sterilize the entire workspace.
Stick to One Reliable Source of Information
During the cloning procedure, it is highly recommended to stick to a single reliable source of information. Online, you will find a dozen articles on making weed clones, and not all of them are as reliable as you have hoped.
To avoid any extra confusion, we recommend you find one expert and trustworthy source on all things related to cloning and turn to this source.
Your reliable source of cloning information could be an expert book, an article written by a seasoned breeder, or a website.
Avoid Cutting Clones from Sick Mother Plants
Finally, you should avoid taking cuttings from sick or infected mother plants. The health of the mother plant is inherited by plants grown from cuttings, and you do not want to end up with sick new plants.
A sick marijuana clone may produce buds, but they do not have the desirable traits you are looking for. Sick marijuana clones also tend to grow at a much slower rate, once again, something you do not want.
Benefits of Cloning Cannabis Plants
This leads us to some of the major benefits of producing clones and some of the main benefits are mentioned below if you are interested in learning more.
Genetic Consistency: One of the major benefits of producing weed clones is the ability to preserve desirable genetic traits and ensure genetic stability across different crops, and when growing weed from seeds, this is not as likely.
Speedier Growth: Due to the fact that clones have mature plant tissue, growing with the use of clones is usually a speedier process compared to the length of the process when using seedlings or growing from seeds.
More Cost-Efficient: Working on your cannabis garden with the use of clones is also known to be more cost-effective compared to alternative methods. This factor is attributed to the fact that a single mother plant can produce many clones.
Safeguarding Superior Genetics: With different cloning methods, breeders are able to preserve desirable or superior genetics of marijuana strains that exhibit high yields, high potency, and strains that are rarely available on the market.
Lowered Risk: When growing marijuana, there is also a factor of unpredictability, and this is especially true when growing from seeds. With cloning, the risk of getting a crop with undesirable traits is significantly reduced.
Can a Clone Be a Mother Plant?
You will be happy to learn that a clone can become a mother plant but it has to meet specific criteria.
Under the optimal growing conditions, rooted and fully grown clown that reaches a sufficient level of maturing will start developing its own cuttings, and you can remove these cuttings following the cloning steps we have already discussed and plant them into soil to grow new cannabis plants.
To speed the root development process, you want to dip the bottom of the cutting into a rooting gel or powder. In this case, your clone has become a mother plant.
If you plan to take cuttings from your clone, make sure you wait for the cloned weed plant to mature, as only mature plants can develop viable cuttings.
Once again, for your cloned weed plants to reach maturity, it is important to keep them well-nourished and to make sure optimal growing conditions are provided, including appropriate lightning, humidity, and temperature levels.
How Do You Select a Mother Plant?
When it comes to selecting mother plants for the cloning procedure, there are a few important factors to take into consideration, as briefly discussed down below.
High Yield Producer
One of the main considerations when choosing a mother plant is the plant’s ability to produce a big yield. A plant that has the capacity to produce a significant amount of buds during a single season is the best candidate for cloning.
The high-yield trait from the mother weed plant ensures that this genetic potential is replicated in clones, so you are more likely to enjoy the bountiful crops you are aiming for.
High Level of Adaptability to External Environment
The chosen mother plant should also exhibit a high level of adaptability to varying growing and environmental conditions. This means it should have a higher tolerance to changes in humidity, temperature, and light, as well as resilience against diseases and pests.
A weed plant with strong adaptability characteristics makes sure that the clones you grow will also be robust and capable of doing well in less-than-ideal growing conditions.
Age
The age of the mother weed plant is also an important factor. It is highly recommended to choose a plant that is in the veg stage but has already fully matured.
This is simply because less mature plants may not have fully shown their genetic potential, which makes it difficult to assess their suitability accurately.
At the same time, a plant that is too mature may have already accumulated mutations or be nearing the end of its lifecycle, hence these plants do not make good candidates for cloning.
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Do Cannabis Clones Lose Potency?
As we discussed in the previous sections, clones inherit all of their genetic traits from the mother plant, including their potency level. In theory, there is no basis for clones losing potency, but the situation is not that simple.
More specifically, there are different factors that may lead to a small decline in clones’ potency, including environmental conditions.
Changes in temperature, light, water, and nutrients may affect the plant’s development while also affecting its potency. Ensuring optimal growing conditions throughout every stage will reduce the risk of developmental issues.
There is also a possibility for genetic drifts or mutations happening over time. While mutations are very minimal and typically do not impact the plant that much, these changes over many generations can lead to a small decline in clones’ potency.
What can also lead to a small decline in potency in clones is clonal degeneration. While clonal degeneration is not a definite factor negatively impacting clones’ potency, some breeders believe its impact is greater.
How to Clone in Rockwool or Root Cubes?
To clone in rockwool or root cubes, select a healthy plant without many fan leaves, and prepare sharp and sterilized razor blades or scissors.
You will also need a rooting hormone, a spray bottle with water, and a propagation tray with a dome.
The first step is to pre-soak root cubes or rockwool in water with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.0 for around an hour.
The next step is to sterilize all the tools you will be using your scissors or razor blade to prevent the spread of contaminants and pathogens.
Next, you select a health branch or stem and cut. Choose branches or stems that are eight to ten inches long and make a cut at a 45-degree angle.
Now, you remove the leaves around the cutting. If you are using a rooting hormone, dip the bottom of the cutting into a rooting gel or powder.
Now, you insert the cutting end into the root cube or pre-soaked rockwool. Make sure the cube has high humidity without being waterlogged.
The last step is to place the cubes into your propagation tray and maintain high humidity levels using a humidity dome. Use only a gentle light source.
How to Clone in Water?
If you are more interested in cloning in water, we have included a handy step-by-step guide below with all the basics covered and more.
Before you start, gather the tools and materials you will need, including some source of light, a container with distilled water, a sharp razor blade or scissors, and, of course, a healthy mother weed plant.
The first step is to take a cutting from a healthy mother weed plant. Once again, take a cutting that is around 6 inches and cut at a 45-degree angle. Cut right below a node.
Once done, place your cutting in a clean container with water. As you do so, you want to remove leaves that are positioned near the end of the cutting.
If you will be using some form of rooting hormone, this is the stage when you apply it on the end of the cutting.
When you place your cutting into a container with clean water, make sure that one of its nodes is completely submerged as this is the area where the roots will appear.
Place the container with your cutting and clean water in a spot that gets indirect light. Avoid exposing your cuttings to harsh direct sunlight.
You make sure you check your cuttings on a daily basis, making sure the node stays submerged. To prevent fungal and bacterial growth, change water every few days.
What to Look for When Buying a Marijuana Clone?
If you are more interested in buying clones, we have got you covered. Examine the next section, and you will not make the mistake of getting an unhealthy clone that cannot do much for your cannabis garden.
Stem Width
When looking to buy clones, it is essential to examine the stem width. A clone that has a sturdy and thick stem is more likely to exhibit robustness and better overall health.
Clones that have a wider and thicker stem are also more likely to adapt to new growing conditions better which is essential for later stages. At the same time, a clone with a weak and thin stem is probably more susceptible to damage and stress.
Cannabis Pests
You also want to inspect clones for signs of pests before you make your purchase. Some of the most common weed pests include thrips, aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.
When any of these pests are present, they hinder the development of the plant by leaving foliage damage and sometimes even transmitting diseases. To make sure no pests are present, look for the presence of eggs, small webs, and insects on the stems and leaves undersides.
Weed Plant Diseases
Just like pests, different diseases also hinder the development of the plant, so you want to buy clones that are disease-free.
Some of the most common weed diseases include fungal infections, root rot, and powdery mildew. The most common signs of diseases include changes in leaf structure, unusual spots, stunted growth, and leaf decolorization.
FAQs
For more valuable information on the cloning procedure, take a moment to examine our FAQs section.
Can You Clone Cannabis Straight into Soil?
Yes, indeed. You can clone weed straight into the soil. If you go with this method, take a cutting from a healthy weed plant and plant it directly into soil that is moist. To boost success odds, make sure the soil has good drainage and that it stays well-aerated.
At What Stage Do You Clone Cannabis?
You want to clone cannabis during the veg stage or just before your plants enter the flowering phase. Cloning during this stage is recommended, as the plants you use are mature enough to sustain all the stress that comes with cutting.
Can You Clone Cannabis Without Rooting Gel?
Yes, absolutely. For a successful cloning procedure, you do not have to use any form of rooting gel, but using one will significantly boost the root development process. However, using a rooting gel is not mandatory.
Are Cannabis Clones Worth It?
Cannabis clones are considered worth it since they ensure genetic stability and typically introduce a most cost-effective marijuana cultivation adventure. Clones are also invaluable when it comes to preserving superior genetic traits.
How Long Do Clones Take to Grow or Root Out?
Clones usually take around seven to fourteen days to grow roots, but the exact time depends on the cloning method used, provided growing conditions, and of course, the health and robustness of the mother weed plant.
Should You Trim Clones?
Yes, many growers recommend trimming clones as this will reduce the leaf surface the plant needs to put energy into supporting. With trimming, the plant can allocate more energy on more important things, such as developing roots.
The Takeaway
With all the basics and more we discussed in earlier sections, we hope that our comprehensive guide will serve you as a valuable resource for all things related to cloning.
From our detailed step-by-step guide on cloning cannabis to exploring different cloning methods and not forgetting our handy tips, we aim to cover all bases to ensure your cloning journey is as hassle-free as possible.
Cloning marijuana can seem a daunting task at first, but armed with the right knowledge and tools, everyone can become a cloning master.
So, as you delve into the world of cannabis cloning, make sure to have fun, and we wish you happy cloning!
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