|

Cloning Cannabis Plants 101

ByBC

Cloning is a technique used to create new plants by taking a branch from a thriving plant and propagating it through vegetative propagation. The resulting “daughter” plants are genetically identical to the original “mother” plant. Cloning cannabis plants is an excellent way to preserve your favorite strains and save money on seeds. However, mastering the skill of cloning can be challenging, requiring knowledge, care, and patience to ensure successful root establishment. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to clone cannabis plants, covering the basics, necessary equipment and supplies, and our fast-cloning method that yields rooted plants within 7-10 days.

Cannabis Cloning Basics

Understanding Cannabis Cloning Basics Before delving into the cloning process, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of climate and care for cannabis clones. This understanding will help you better prepare for and manage the cloning process effectively.

Temperature: 72°F – 75°F (22°C – 24°C)

Maintaining an optimal temperature is crucial for facilitating root development in cuttings. While mature and growing plants require controlled temperatures to support productive photosynthesis, cuttings have minimal photosynthetic activity. Instead, temperature control in cuttings primarily influences healthy respiration, which plays a vital role in various metabolic processes, including rooting. Excessive heat forces the plant to transpire, depleting valuable water stores in the cuttings. On the other hand, low temperatures slow respiration rates, delaying rooting. Maintaining a temperature range of 72°F – 75°F (22°C – 24°C) is ideal. If additional heat is needed, it is best applied from the bottom to provide warmth to the media, as it is usually cooler than the ambient air. However, in warmer climates, caution should be exercised to prevent temperatures from exceeding 75°F (24°C) even with heating mats.

Humidity: Over 95% Relative Humidity

Clones require high relative humidity throughout the rooting process. Since cuttings lack active root systems, they cannot effectively take up water from the media. Therefore, maintaining high humidity levels prevents transpiration, allowing the cuttings to preserve water for essential functions like photosynthesis and root development. Some growers trim fan leaves to further reduce transpiration, but this is not a regular practice. Maintaining high humidity mitigates water losses, and keeping the leaves intact facilitates faster development once the roots are established.

For more information on creating an ideal climate for cannabis cultivation, read our article: “The Optimal Environmental Conditions for Growing Cannabis”

Light: 24/0 with T-5 Fluorescent or Low-watt LED

Rooting clones require a steady supply of low-intensity light. To encourage plants to remain or transition into a vegetative state, a 24/0 light schedule is recommended, meaning the lights remain on continuously throughout the rooting process. This lighting regimen provides more energy for faster rooting and ensures a consistent and stable climate during this sensitive phase. However, since cuttings lack active root systems, exposing them to high-intensity light can lead to plant exhaustion. Providing just enough light to meet the plant’s CO2 compensation point is crucial. The ideal light level ranges between 60-75 umols (5000-6000 lux), although up to 100 umols (8000 lux) can be acceptable under optimal conditions. In practical terms, low-wattage fluorescent or LED lights work best.

To learn more about the light requirements of cannabis plants, refer to our article: : “Cannabis Light Cycle Fundamentals”.

Media: Various Options

There are several media choices available for rooting clones. The selected medium should have ample air space to ensure oxygen availability for respiration. For example, Rockwool Cubes maintain a balanced ratio of air to water, with at least 15% air, 80% water-holding capacity, and 5% fibers. This composition promotes vigorous root growth without oxygen deprivation due to overhydration. Rockwool Cubes are popular among cultivators for these properties.

While several options exist, it’s important to consider the medium you intend to grow your plants in when choosing a cloning medium. If you are using a water-based hydroponic system like Deep Water Culture, Rockwool Cubes are recommended. Rockwool is also suitable for coco or soil grows, but in those cases, you also have the option of using peat-based media like Jiffy Pellets and Rapid Rooters.

Water:

Water is crucial for supporting root formation once it begins. However, excess water in the medium can displace oxygen and suffocate the roots. Maintaining a balanced moisture level is key. While misting the environment raises humidity and provides some water through leaf osmosis, it is important not to overwater the medium. The type of water used is not critical, and tap or well water is generally acceptable. However, it is advisable to avoid hard water, as it contains solutes that can hinder water absorption through osmosis. Filtered water obtained through reverse osmosis is an option, but pH adjustment may be more challenging without buffering elements present.

The Mother Plant

The cloning process begins with the mother plant. How you care for the mother and the genetics you select will influence the success of the rooting process. Optimal results are typically achieved when cuttings are taken from vegetative growth rather than flowering plants. However, it is possible to take cuttings from flowering plants using a technique known as “monster-cropping,” which we will cover in a future tutorial. In this tutorial, we focus on taking clones from vegetating mother plants.

Mother plants have different nutritional requirements than plants intended for production. They benefit from a nutrient balance with lower levels of nitrogen and potassium to prevent excessive vegetative growth and increase the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. This nutrient balance allows plants to store more carbohydrates in leaves and stems, aiding in root development during cloning. Excessive nitrogen can deplete carbohydrate stores, leading to thin and weak cell walls. Specialized nutrient formulas are available for mother plants, offering low nitrogen and potassium ratios with elevated phosphorus and calcium levels. These ratios promote high carbohydrate storage and healthy cell walls. Hydrodynamics two-part Mother Plant Fertilizer is recommended for regular cloners.

Cannabis Cloning Equipment and Supplies

For Taking the Cuts

Before taking your cuttings, ensure you have the following items:

  1. Sterile cutting tool: A razor will work, but we recommend these pruning snips
  2. Media of choice: Rockwool, Jiffy pellets, or Rapid Rooters
  3. Cloning Gel: Clonex Rooting Gel
  4. Cloning Powder: Bontone Rooting Powder
  5. pH Meter: BlueLabs pH Meter
  6. pH Adjustment: General Hydroponics pH Control Kit
  7. Large Water Container for soaking your media
  8. Small Water Container for holding cuttings
For The Cloning Process

During the cloning process, you will need the following items:

  1. 7” Humidity Dome and Cloning Light: Super Sprouter Deluxe Propagation Kit. You need a 7” tall humidity dome with vents and a low powered CFL or LED light. This kit includes it all.
  2. Seedling Heat Mat: Vivosun Waterproof Seedling Heat Mat
  3. Heat Mat Controller: Vivosun Heat Mat Thermostat Controller
  4. Spray Bottle (optional): Garden Sprayer

Step By Step Cloning Tutorial:

Step 1: Hydration & Presoaking

Before starting the cloning process, ensure that the mother plant is well hydrated. In the days leading up to taking the cuttings, take extra care to keep the mother plant well-watered. The water stored inside the cuttings will serve as their main source of water.

Additionally, pre-soak the chosen cloning media in pH-adjusted water. Fill a suitable container with enough water to submerge the media and adjust the pH to between 5.5 and 5.8. Soak the media in the water for 12-24 hours before use. Certain rockwool products may require a longer soak to stabilize the pH. Grodan Rockwool Cubes, for example, are pre-prepared and do not require pH adjustment, but a longer soak can still be beneficial. Jiffy Pellets and Rapid Rooters should also be soaked sufficiently to ensure hydration throughout the entire medium.

Use purified or tap water for rehydration, but avoid hard water due to its solute content. Fertilizers are not necessary during the pre-soaking stage as the cuttings are not actively growing and lack a root system. Adding fertilizers can increase the water’s saltiness, reducing water uptake once roots start developing. Instead, consider adding root-stimulating products such as Rapid Start, seaweed extract, B vitamins, and phosphorus.

Step 2: Selecting a Branch to Cut

After gathering all the necessary materials, it’s time to select a branch to cut for cloning. Look for branches with 2-4 nodes, as larger cuttings with mature leaves tend to develop more quickly once rooted. Larger leaves provide a larger surface area for photosynthesis and increased energy production.

Choose branches with stems no thicker than a pencil, as thicker stems take longer to root. The selected clone should be able to stand upright and fit comfortably in a 7″ humidity dome.

Select a healthy and vigorous branch for cutting. When taking a cutting, you are severing the shoot from the main plant, including its root system. Without an active root system, the cutting relies on the stored resources within itself for successful root development. To increase the chances of root development, the cutting should be healthy and contain sufficient resources.

The best cuttings are typically taken from the bottom of mature mother plants. Bottom cuttings tend to root faster, and a mature mother plant usually has higher carbohydrate storage and stronger stems, which are more suitable for cloning.

Step 3: Take Cuttings from the Mother Plant

After selecting the branch to be cut, use a sharp, sterile cutting tool to make a clean amputation. Ideally, cut through a node at a 45-degree angle rather than near the branch attachment to the main stem. Cutting through a node allows access to higher concentrations of rooting hormones, which aid in the rooting process. A 45-degree angle increases the surface area of the cut, enhancing rooting potential and water absorption during development.

Ensure the cutting tool is sterile and clean to prevent bacterial infection on the exposed tissues of the clone and the mother plant. Clean, sharp tools are preferable to make clean cuts instead of crushing the stems, which can cause embolisms and hinder rooting.

Immediately after taking each cutting, place it in a cup of water to prevent air embolisms. If multiple cuttings are taken, have a cup of water ready and place each cutting into the water immediately after removing it from the mother plant. This prevents air embolisms and ensures the cuttings remain hydrated.

Step 4: Prepare the Cuttings

After taking all the cuttings, prepare them for planting in the pre-soaked rooting media. For optimal results, use both a gel and a powder rooting hormone. Apply the rooting gel to the cut end of each cutting, then dip it into the rooting powder to increase adherence and maximize success rates.

Once the rooting hormone is applied, place each cutting into the chosen media. If the media does not have pre-made holes, use a tool of similar size to the cuttings to create holes for insertion. Firmly insert the cuttings into the holes, ensuring they are secure but not pushed all the way to the bottom. In the case of Jiffy Pellets, you can mold the media around the stem for a tight fit. For Rapid Rooters, consider lightly squeezing the media around the stem to secure it in place.

Step 5: Follow Our Efficient Cloning Technique

To achieve root development within approximately 7 days and have plants ready for transplanting in less than two weeks, adhere to the following daily instructions.

Our Efficient Cloning Technique:
Day 1:

After successfully taking the cuttings and placing them in the chosen media, it’s crucial to create an environment that supports robust root formation. This environment should have high humidity, low light levels, and ideal root temperatures. To achieve this, utilize a humidity dome, a low-intensity light source, and optionally, a heat mat with a thermostat controller.

Put your cuttings in the humidity dome and close all the vents. You can use a pressure sprayer to mist the dome and cuttings with water if desired, but this is optional. Within a few hours, you should observe the dome misting up, indicating an increase in humidity and the establishment of an ideal climate for your cuttings. Maintaining a media temperature range of 72°F – 75°F (22°C – 24°C) helps expedite root development. Consider using a heating mat with a thermostat controller to precisely control the temperature. As mentioned earlier, opt for a low-wattage CFL or LED light with very low intensity, measuring between 60-75umols (5000-6000 lux). Running the lights continuously (24/0) helps maintain a consistent internal climate and provides more energy for faster root growth.

Day 2 – 5:

During the initial days, it’s crucial to refrain from any intervention. Keep the vents closed to maximize humidity and prevent the cuttings from drying out while roots are forming. Exercise patience and avoid checking for root development within the first few days. Disturbing the fragile roots or excessively drying the plants by removing the lid can be detrimental. Although it may be nerve-racking not knowing the progress, trust the process and exercise patience. Opening the dome to check on the clones during this period significantly reduces their chances of successful rooting.

Day 6:

On day 6, you can lift the lid to inspect the clones and ensure nothing obvious has gone wrong. If the media has dried out, gently squirt water at the bottom until it’s hydrated. Check for any signs of White Powdery Mildew and promptly remove affected areas. Quickly put the lid back on. Day 7: Roots may start to appear on day 7, but it’s best not to handle them yet as they remain fragile. Water the media if it’s dry. On day 7, gradually open the vents on the humidity dome halfway to begin acclimatizing the clones. This adjustment to lower relative humidity allows the cuttings to transpire, pull water, and dry out the media, thereby stimulating further root development. However, be cautious and closely monitor the plants when you first start acclimatizing them. If you notice any signs of wilting, close the vents again. Wilting after opening the vents indicates that the roots may not have developed enough to sustain proper turgor pressure and hydration through transpiration.

Day 8-11:

Around day 8, you should observe root development in some of the clones, enabling you to gradually open the vents further and eventually remove the lid. However, exercise caution and replace the dome if you notice any signs of wilting. Not all clones follow the same timeline, and certain genetic variations may require more or less time with the lid on.

Day 12-14:

By day 12-14, the plants should be fully acclimatized and capable of thriving outside of the humidity dome. Roots should be emerging from the media, indicating readiness for transplanting and main vegetation. While they are prepared for transplanting, they are not yet ready for full-strength light. Allow them to adapt to their new environment by progressively increasing the light intensity.

Congratulations on successfully completing the cloning process. We recommend reading our article “A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Cannabis from a Clone” to gain insights into what to do next!

Product & Equipment Guide

Set-up Your Grow

Growing Cannabis

Want to Receive our weekly Newsletter full of Grow Tips, News and Exclusive Content? Subscribe Below!

About Our Product Recommendations

Here at 420 Grow Help, our primary goal is to assist growers in achieving the utmost success with their cannabis crops by providing accurate scientific information and sharing proven cultivation techniques. The products we recommend are the very ones we have personally chosen to purchase and use ourselves. We maintain a strict policy of not accepting sponsorships or advertising, and we only endorse products that meet our own high standards. For detailed product recommendations, please refer to our Product and Equipment Guide.

Please note that when you make a purchase through the links we provide, we may receive a referral fee. This is the primary source of revenue that supports and sustains 420 Grow Help. By clicking through our links and making purchases, you are directly contributing to our ongoing work. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Disclaimer:

The information presented on 420GrowHelp.com should not be regarded as financial, legal, or medical advice. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with and abide by the local laws and regulations pertaining to the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis. Decisions regarding cannabis cultivation should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor, while decisions regarding cannabis use should be made in consultation with a doctor or medical professional.

Similar Posts