So You Want to Make a Clone?

So You Want to Make a Clone?

Seeds can get expensive! Unless you like seeding your own plants, or have a friend with good genetics they’re willing to give you, you must pay for your seeds. Some feminized seeds can cost anywhere from $20-$30 apiece. Ouch! So, what’s a broke grower to do? Find a strain you like and Clone it!

Just think, instead of planting new seeds, which are fragile and time consuming, you could be spitting out copy after copy of the exact same strains and genetics that you already have on hand. Let’s be honest. If you are using seeds, it’s just not as efficient.

Seeds

With regular seeds, you need to worry about sexing to make sure your plants are female. This takes added time and is waste of otherwise efficient space. Although this is not the case with feminized seeds, there is still a considerable amount of slow growth at the initial seedling stage. Again, this is a waste of both your time and efficiency.

With all seeds, you start with a seedling that grows into a strong, vegetating plant. However, these seedlings are very fragile, and without the proper care, will not survive this initial stage. Some growers plant several seeds at a time to combat this, knowing that they will pick the best seedlings to move forward with the vegetative stage and loss of a few seedlings is not a big deal. This is fine, if you have access to free seeds. But if you don’t, you are spending a lot of money, just to keep planting seeds.

Cloning 101

Bring on the Clones! We are not kidding, when we say “If you can tie your shoes, you can make a clone!”. Yes! It is that easy! Now, there are several ways to create clones. Some use water with an airline as their medium, just like DWC. Others, may use Rockwool cubes or even just plant directly in to the soil.

We are going to be working with the Rockwool or Root Riot method. Although the other methods are completely acceptable, we have found the best success to be with Rockwool or Root Riot plugs. So, that is the method we will discuss here. Let’s start with the materials.

You will need:

• Rockwool Cubes(1.5” square cubes are a good choice for rooting clones) or Root Riot Plugs
• 10×20 Seedling/Cutting Tray with Dome
• Rooting Hormone(we use Garden Safe TakeRoot, its only $5 and will root up to 500+ clones)
• Distilled Water(Spring or Tap may be ok, depending on your location)
• Lemon or PH Up
• PH Tester(analog, digital, or strip all will work for this purpose)
• Scissors
• Clean Glass
• 2-4qt bowl
• And of course, a vegetating plant, with available branches to take cuttings from

Steps:

1. Ensure that all materials should be clean and sterile, prior to use. This means washing your hands with soap and water too! This will ensure the greatest success rate of your clones and will help prevent pathogens, like the dreaded Root Rot(Plant Deficiencies blog post coming soon).
2. Pour some water into the bowl. The bowl should be filled with enough water to fully submerge your Rockwool cubes, as well as some extra for your glass.
3. Adjust the PH of the water to the 5.5-6.5 range.
4. Pour some of the water from the bowl into your glass. There is no designated amount of water, but you want enough to submerge the clone stem about 2-3 inches into the water.
5. In the bowl, submerge your Rockwool cubes. Stir them around a bit, and let them soak.
6. Take your scissors and choose a branch toward the bottom of the plant. You will want a branch that is roughly as thick as a cellphone power cord. (We choose the bottom, because you will be trimming off the bottom 1/3 of your vegetating plant, prior to moving it to flower. This is done as most indoor lighting is not strong enough to penetrate well to the bottom of the plant and leads to increased top cola production.)
7. Cut the branch at the very base, closest to the main stem of the plant and immediately put the stem of the branch or “cutting” into the water. Some people think that this is done to prevent air bubbles from getting into the stem, which is a myth. Personally, we believe allowing the stem to sit in water, helps prevent contamination during the cloning process. 
8. Now, the cutting will need to be trimmed down to 6-8 inches from base of stem to start of top cola or the leaves where the cola will form. When you are cutting the stem this time, try to keep the scissors in the water and the stem submerged when making the cut. (This isn’t necessary, but helps prevent air bubbles.) Make the cut at roughly a 45 degree angle, followed by scraping or “scarring” the sides of the stem 1-2 inches from the base.(This is done to promote root growth.)
9. Pull your Rockwool cubes from the bowl and give them a light shake. (Do not squeeze or shake vigorously).
10. With your stem still submerged, pull it from the water and give it a quick shake. (You want it damp, but not dripping.)
11. Immediately dip the stem into your root hormone, followed by another light shake to get rid of the excess.
12. Now, poke the stem in to your Rockwool cubes. (Some cubes come with a hole on one side. Don’t use this hole to insert your stem. Instead, force your stem through the opposite side, for a tighter fit and better chance at success.)
13. Take your scissors and remove all “budding sites” from the plant, except the one on the top “cola”. Leave at least a few fan leaves on the plant, as these will be needed to provide nutrients to the clone during it’s rooting stage.
14. The next step is to trim back the leaves that were left on the plant. Trim them each back about half way. (This prevents the plant from sweating too much and gives it a better chance at survival.)
15. Place the newly started clone into your seedling tray and cover it with the dome lid.
16. Place the tray under a lighting source.
17. Every day, remove the dome lid and spray the lid/bottom of tray with water. (This should be whatever water you are providing your vegetating plants, but with NO nutrients. There is no need to spray the plants directly.)
18. Within 7-21 days, you should start to see roots poking out of the sides of the Rockwood cubes. You can now carefully transfer the clone to your choice of growing medium. (DO NOT remove the clone from the Rockwool. Simply plant the entire cube into your new medium.)

Tips:

• Some growers like to add mild nutrients when prepping the Rockwool and watering the seedling tray. This is not necessary if the plant is healthy, as the fan leaves will provide nutrients until rooted.
• Fan leaves will yellow as they age. This is the plant harvesting nutrients from them, without nutrients being replaced. (Unless all your leaves are turning yellow, this is normal, and is no cause for alarm.)
• Some don’t believe it is necessary to adjust PH. Our opinion is to always check your PH. PH fluctuations can prevent root growth and nutrient uptake.
• If you are 100% certain that your tap water contains no chemicals or nasty contaminates, you may use tap water in place of distilled. However, we still suggest distilled for this purpose.
• If your stems become slimy and flimsy, throw them out immediately. This is a sign that the clone did not survive and will surely spread pathogens to the other clones, if not disposed of.

If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to contact us or check out our pricing page. We offer an array of services, from virtual consultations to harvesting assistance, and even how to make feminized seeds! At Vermont Grow Coaching LLC, service is our commitment and plants are our business.

Vermont Grow Coaching LLC

(802)342-5381

Pittsford, VT 05763

Service@VermontGrowCoach.com

Disclaimer: Please note that this article is the opinion of Vermont Grow Coaching LLC and should only be viewed as such. Vermont Grow Coaching LLC takes no responsibility for any damages, or legal concerns regarding the cloning or cultivation of Cannabis. The responsibility to ensure operation within governing law, is placed solely on the person or entity that chooses to cultivate Cannabis. Be smart and remember to keep it legal with your local and state governments.