Clones are one of the most used methods growing indoors. Some growers use clone thecniques to improve garden's yielding (multiplying number of plants per square meter). In this chapter we will detail, step by step, how to clone marijuana plants. Tricks and tips to get 100% of success doing clones.
What is a marijuana cutting?
It is known as a cutting of a plant, the cut made root of another. A clone is a copy of the mother plant where it comes from, so has the same ADN (sex, morfology and qualities). Cutting thecnique consist in cut a section from a plant, and make it root, to then have another plant equal to the first.
Clone thecnique is useful indoors (where differences between seeds complicate growers life), and outdoors (to multiply plants number per garden).
Best clones come always form the top parts of the plant (where we find healthyest branches who recieve more light and energy too).
How to do cuttings?
To do some cuttings (no matter if the plant is male or female) we need a mother plant big enough to cut it some branches (keeping it alive to repeat the process in the future). The size of each cutting should be closer to a normal pencil or pen (it should have 5 to 7 nodes all along). The clonning technique is based on doing a cut to the branch with the size and necessary nodes (cut must be done in a 45º to avoid embolism). To let mother plants, and clones too, continue with its cycle properly we should proceed to do the cut leaving some nodes just under the cut (to let them grow and give new shots of clones).
What size is necessary for a plant before cut some cuttings?
Once the plant has developed, and reached a minimum size, could be cloned with high ratios of success. As an average size we could say a plant heighter than 40-50 cm will be able to practice some cuttings. Bigger the mother plant is, more options the cuttings have to success.
How long does a cutting take to start rooting?
The size of a clone, as well as the mother plant's (specially outdoors where the plants are bigger and have wider trunks) can make a huge difference in how long it takes to root, as well on the future capacities of the plant. Those plants that take longer to root (usual is from 12-15 days) probably will develope slowly and less vigorous than other ones that root faster (due from the stress during rooting).
Wich is the perfect temperature to root some cuttings?
Cuttings (same way as adults) react negative to extreme climates. A high temperature will trend to dehydrate plants and may cause its death fast. It can also be affected by an extrem cold causing its vital functions to stop. Best temperature to cut some clones is from 22ºC to 26ºC.
Will cuttings suffer once cut from the mother plant?
Cut a branch, and make it root becomes and stress for the plant (relative but a stress). Best way to avoid an excessive stress in a clone is to make it root as fast as it can. Grower should understand that the longer it takes the more stress it will suffer.
What conditions favour a faster rooting without stress?
It is important to know that enviromental conditions may cause a huge difference and also can help the process. Once the branch is cut it is important to give it as much humidity as possible. The explanation is easy: With higher humidities plant will uptake water by its leaves and keep with the rooting process. Humidities rounding 80% are recommendable. Greenhouses are so useful for this point (is much easier to control this parameter). Many growers also use hormones for rooting once cut before sticking it to the substrate (in order to favour a faster rooting).
Marijuana cutting indoors
To use cuttings indoors, the mother plant must be at 18/6 photoperiod. Clones will keep same photoperiod minimum unti the early roots appear. Once those roots appear every grower will be able to decide, depending on the growing methods he uses, if they should keep on growing or changed to flowering (12/12).
Marijuana cuttings outdoors
It is also possible to use cutt8ings outdoor. It doesn't matter if the come from an indoor mother plant or an outdoor plant with previous growth given. Some growers do clones until the mother plant starts to flower, but even in case those cuttings will create new roots it is not recommendable to use them due to stress of going back from flowering to growth in a short period of time, So it is possible to use them but not recommendable if there is any other option.
Check other thecniques and marijuana growth manuals
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