How to Clone Female Cannabis Plants. An Experts Guide to the Best Roots

Discussion in 'Advanced Growing Techniques' started by The_Real_OG_Kush, Jan 16, 2015.

  1. Introduction: Many cannabis variety's respond different while cloning. While some clone better than others this guide is for honing in on cloning both sativa and Indica cannabis for proper root expansion from the cut. Cloning has gotten a poor rep from clones that wanted to grow but lacked vigor because the clone never recovers from the poor cut.
     
    The mother plant: Water the mamma 45 minutes before you take the first clone. This will ensure proper water content in the cloned stem and keeps it healthy until it has a chance to make roots of its own. The mother plant should be healthy and vigorous before cloning.
     
    Clone Sites: The best cloning site is the top. This will be the best clone. But it comes at a price. Its the hardest to clone and some leaves may die. The middle is fair game but the bottom hold old branches that are "tough". These will be the easiest to clone because the roots shoot out faster. It common practice to be selective and "prune" the tops of no more than 3 nodes at a time. Some strains produce more clones than others. 
    [​IMG]
    The medium: Rockwool is recommended here. Pre-soak wool in 5.8 PH'd water for an acidic base to ward off disease. Drain medium, place into an air tight dome and set the vents closed. This will be the dome to house the plant while it builds roots. The humidity is needed to keep the leaves moist until roots are developed.
    [​IMG]
    Prep: Clean surface, alcohol, sharp new razor, rooting hormone, shallow dish with bottled water, joint, comfortable place to sit with music.
     
    The Cut: Hands down the most important part. Cut 10 clones with blade quickly without a diagnal cut. After cutting each clone place into a cup of water as soon as possible. Open the dome of the rockwool(Should be really humid and luke warm). Take one clone at a time and place it in a shallow dish of water. Make a clean 45 degree cut in one motion. If you didnt get it in one motion cut highier and try again. After the plant is cut carefully pull it out of the water. You will notice a small bead of water that seals the cut. Make sure you leave the "bead" of water on the cut until you dip it into your cloning solution which seals the cut.
    [​IMG]
     
    Placing into rockwool: Take the fresh cut and poke it 1mm past the bottom of the wool cube. This allows a nice tap root to have oxygen while the rooting solution eats away the plants sidewalls allowing it to grow roots into the medium later on. You need to fill up a tray of rockwool even if you don't use all the cubes. This will make a nice dark, humid, cooler zone for the roots.
     
    The Nutrients: None! Roots are desperately growing to find food. That is a good thing. Only feed them water before the cubes start to get dry.
     
     
    Time: The roots will be visible in about 9-28 days and be ready for transplanting into soil or other mediums.
     [​IMG]
     
    Acclamation: After 1-2 weeks begin opening the vents on the dome to allow the plants to slowly get use to the new atmosphere. This will prevent from having to cut leaves tips during the rooting stage.
    [​IMG]
    ***The fastest cloning is not the best. The best cloning is the best. Do not forget a plant will NEVER recover from a poor clone job.

     
  2. I recommend 24HR light cycle of high output T5's. Place 16 inches or lower on plant canopy.
     
  3. I just saw your thread after posting my own.
    Good tips.
    So you poke the stem through the bottom of the rockwool?
     
  4.  
    Why?  Light only promotes photosynthetic growth. 
     
    Isn't it a better idea to use the nutrients stored within the leaves to produce root structure?
     
  5. Plants wilt when they have no light. So I found 24HR lighting best for bigger roots on new clones.
     
  6. Yes the moist Environment below the cubes promotes faster healthier roots. The part inside the cube takes longer to root and doesn't act the same. I found this out when i poked a few through on accident. Now I just do it because it works better.
     
  7. Nice. I'll try that next time with a few.
     
  8. How much h20 do you leave in the tray?
     
  9. Little as possible without drying out the cube to promote root growth. (No water sitting in tray)
     
  10. i personally ever so slightly leave each vent open for fresh air. I then open them fully at day 8. With vents open at day I have roots by day 12, then they're ready for transplant. I've had better luck with rapid roots over grodan block.

     
  11. 1\\8th inch. It will evaporate into your medium and keep it moist

     

Share This Page