How To Clone Marijuana Plants
Category: tutorial
Cloning marijuana plants is a common practice for gardeners who want to reproduce a plant with desirable traits without having to start from seeds every time. Cloning involves taking a cutting from a mature plant and allowing it to take root and grow as an independent plant. Here's a basic guide on how to clone marijuana plants:
### Materials Needed:
- Healthy marijuana plant (mother plant)
- Sterile scissors or pruning shears
- Rooting hormone powder or gel
- Rockwool cubes or other growing medium (like peat pellets or cloning plugs)
- Cloning tray with a humidity dome
- Water
- Light source (preferably a fluorescent or LED grow light)
### Steps to Clone Marijuana Plants:
1. **Preparation**:
- Soak your growing medium (e.g., Rockwool cubes) in pH balanced water (around 5.5 to 6.5) for a few hours before starting.
- Ensure your scissors or pruning shears are clean and sterilized to prevent the spread of diseases.
2. **Choosing a Cutting**:
- Select a healthy branch from the mother plant that is about 4-6 inches long. It should have at least two nodes (points where leaves emerge) and some healthy leaves.
- The best cuttings are often taken from the lower branches of the plant.
3. **Taking the Cutting**:
- Make a clean, diagonal cut just below a node using your sterilized scissors or pruning shears.
- Immediately place the cutting in water to prevent air from entering the stem, which can lead to embolism.
4. **Preparing the Cutting**:
- Remove the lower leaves, leaving only a few at the top. This ensures the plant focuses its energy on root development.
- Optionally, you can gently scrape the outside layer of the bottom inch of the stem to expose more surface area to the rooting hormone.
5. **Applying Rooting Hormone**:
- Dip the bottom inch of the cutting into the rooting hormone powder or gel. This helps stimulate root growth.
6. **Planting the Cutting**:
- Insert the hormone-coated end of the cutting into your pre-soaked growing medium. Ensure it's firmly in place but not too deep.
- If using Rockwool cubes, make a small hole with a pen or similar object for the cutting to slide into easily.
7. **Creating a Humid Environment**:
- Place the cuttings in a cloning tray and cover with a humidity dome. This helps maintain high humidity levels, which are crucial for rooting.
- Keep the growing medium moist but not waterlogged.
8. **Light and Temperature**:
- Place the tray under a gentle light source. Avoid intense light as it can stress the cuttings.
- Maintain a temperature around 70-77°F (21-25°C) for optimal growth.
9. **Rooting**:
- Roots should start appearing in 1-2 weeks. During this time, gradually acclimate the cuttings to lower humidity by opening vents on the dome or lifting it for short periods.
10. **Transplanting**:
- Once the cuttings have developed a healthy root system, they can be transplanted into a larger pot or growing system to continue their growth.
Remember, the key to successful cloning is maintaining a clean environment and ensuring the cuttings have the right conditions (humidity, temperature, and light) for rooting. Patience and care will lead to a new generation of plants identical to their desirable mother plant.