Cloning cannabis is a very efficient and quick way to extend the desired characteristics of the plant. In this article you will find a step-by-step guide on how to clone cannabis in a practical way. From selecting the mother plant to creating cannabis cuttings and caring for them properly.
What is cannabis cloning
Cannabis cloning is propagation by cuttings. This process produces a plant that is identical to the parent plant. If you want to know more about how cloning works and its benefits, read this article.
Cloning cannabis virtually
And now you can roll up your sleeves and get down to cloning in practice.
Making the cuttings
First, choose the mother plant. Since the clones will have the same characteristics, select one that is resistant, produces many buds, and grows to the desired height. If it has not yet flowered, choose the one with the fullest foliage. Also, consider the content of active substances, aroma, and other properties that are important to you.
Take cuttings in the vegetative stage, which begins about 3-4 weeks old and lasts up to 16 weeks before the plant starts flowering (cloning during the flowering phase takes weeks or even months longer). Ideally, choose a mother plant that is at least 5 weeks old and has multiple side shoots. If you select a plant that is too young, the cutting will have hollow inner walls and will quickly wilt.
Select straight shoots that have at least 3 nodes, which are the points where new growth (leaves and buds) emerge from the plant. Straight branches will be easier to grow and won’t block light from other cuttings. For a better chance of rooting, take cuttings from the lower part of the plant (where the plant concentrates rooting hormones). Choose cuttings that are approximately 15-25 cm long.
Cut the shoot with a knife at a 45° angle. Make the cut just below the 3rd knot. Remove any leaves growing near the node closest to the base of the cutting (this will allow the plant to retain more water). Knives produce a cleaner cut that damages the shoot less than scissors.
Immediately place the cuttings in a jar of clean water to keep them hydrated. Water also prevents air bubbles from forming inside the stem. They can stay that way for several hours.
Rooting plants
Dip the ends of the cuttings in rooting hormone as soon as possible, just before planting them in their rooting medium. The rooting hormone encourages the plant to start producing root cells instead of normal green plant cells. Be careful not to get the hormone on the leaves, it could damage them.
Prepare a rooting medium, which can be a special planting cube or a substrate. Cover it with mineral water and make a small hole in it. This is so that the cutting stands up straight and has enough space in relation to the thickness of the stem. Place the cutting in the hole and press the soil lightly around the stem of the plant to hold it in place.
Once the plants are in the rooting medium, lightly overgrow them with the spray. Then place the plants under a plastic dome to protect them from drying out for about 48 hours.
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Then keep the plants under low-intensity fluorescent lighting for 18 hours a day. Use T8 or T12 bulbs, as excessive light can cause your plants to “stretch” (grow too fast between nodes). Place the lights about 70-80 cm away from the plants. Leave the cuttings in the rooting cubes until white hairs start to sprout from the cubes.
Replanting
Take pots with a capacity of about 4 litres. Fill them with substrate (a peat or peat-based mix without soil, as this can contain pests and fungi) and grind out any larger pieces. The substrate should extend to a height of about 2,5 cm below the rim. Water it so that it is moist over the entire surface. Then gently press it down so that it is about 4-5 cm from the edge.
Make a hole in each pot the size of the rooting cube. Ideally, the surface of the potting medium will be flush with the top of the root ball. This prevents the roots of the cutting from drying out and also prevents excess moisture from reaching the stem of the cutting. If the rooting cube becomes exposed when you water the plant, add a little more potting medium.
Plant 1 cutting in each pot: squeeze a rooting cube out of the tray and place it in the hole. Place a rooting pot on the root ball and place it on the root ball, and fill in the empty space or gaps with substrate. Water the plant thoroughly to get rid of air bubbles. Now the cuttings are ready to grow and thrive!
Water heavily for the first week after transplanting. Make sure that the original cube is moist over the entire surface. Each time you water, you should see 20% of the water run off as runoff. Keep the water temperature below 21 °C.
