Plants are cloned for a number of reasons; cannabis is a plant. It can be cloned. Cloning cannabis offers some serious benefits. The best thing about it is that it is so easily doable. Cloning, a.k.a, asexual reproduction uses rooted cuttings that carry the same genes from the original plant. Cloning can save you money and gives you a chance to create a sustainable and very stable cannabis garden.
Cloning offers you an advantage of being able to create an exact replica of your best plants because of genetic sameness. If there are plants that you really like because of their flavor, yield, and effects, then cloning is the way to ensure continuity.
With a razor for obtaining cuttings, water, rooting medium, and a rooting hormone, you have all the necessary materials to get started with cloning. As a rule of thumb, select plants that are healthy and already at least two months into the vegetative cycle. This will give you cuttings with the best chance of catching roots.
Do not fertilize the mother plant for a few days before taking the cutting. This will deplete the nitrogen in the plant and the new cutting will then have to perforce strike roots to get nitrogen instead of using the nutrient for sprouting leaves. Go for the lower branches as these are likelier to be sturdier. The cuttings should have a few nodes present. The cutting should be close to the central stem and at an angle of 45 degrees. Transfer the cutting to water as soon as possible. This will prevent air bubbles from forming in the stem. Air bubbles can prevent water from being absorbed by the stem, once it has been rooted.
Manicure the stem by clipping leaves so that you get a more sanitary environment for the clipping. Once done, you can treat the stem to a rooting hormone, such as a rooting gel or powder. A little reading online will educate you on the choices available. Dip the stem in the rooting hormone and then it’s ready to be transferred to the rooting medium. Root the stem in rockwool, soil, or water. Each has its own advantages. Rockwool offers excellent permeability; soil is a natural environment; and water lets you observe the growth process, also with water you do not require any growth hormones.
You may want to give each of these methods a try before you arrive at a technique best suited for your plants. Whichever technique you choose to go with, make sure that the new cutting gets at least 18 hours of humidity and light.
Once the clones begin to sprout vegetative growth, they are ready to be transplanted into a larger container or the garden. Exercise care, be gentle and ensure sanitation. The process of being uprooted is stressful for the new plant and you want to eliminate stress to the extent possible.
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