How to Clone Cannabis Plants: Steps, Methods, Mistakes to Avoid

Compared to growing cannabis from seeds, cloning cannabis can help in getting mature plants at least 50% more quickly. Cloning cannabis plants of different strains can help in getting similar copies of the plants.

From cultivators to home growers, cannabis cloning has been a rather effective way to maintain genetic evenness. To know the exact cannabis cloning methods, understand the root growth, and comply with the best practices is highly essential. But how is cannabis cloning done? Read on to learn more about it.

What Is Cannabis Cloning?

A cannabis clone is the process of growing cannabis plants from a branch or stem cut from a mother plant. This cutting stem or branch has identical genetics to the mother plants. Resultantly, you will definitely observe the same traits of the mother plant in the newly grown plants. Using the right cannabis cloning methods, you can expect similar results.

Typically, growing cannabis clones needs very specific weather conditions, such as specific humidity and climate, which help the cannabis roots to grow.

Why Clone Instead of Growing from Seeds?

One of the major benefits of cloning cannabis is that it is easier to grow it from the seeds, and it typically grows faster from a cutting rather than from the seeds. Another key advantage of growing cannabis from cutting cannabis stems or branches is its cost-effectiveness, rather than growing the plants from the seeds.

Here are some factors that make cannabis cloning beneficial than growing from seeds:

Table 1: Difference Between Growing Cannabis From Seeds vs Cannabis Cloning

Now, let’s look at the step-by-step process of cloning cannabis plants.

A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clone Cannabis Plants

The cloning method of cannabis is relatively easier. However, it is important to know how to take care of the cannabis plant to make it grow into a well-nourished plant.

Use a sterilised cannabis cloning kit, which can include scissors, razors, and a rooting setup like a tray. It is also important to provide a proper rooting medium and the right fertilizers, which can help the roots grow.

And now, we get into the details!

Step 1: Select a Healthy Mother Plant

It is preferred to choose a mother plant that is in its vegetative stage. Consider taking a plant that is female, healthy, and sturdy to get a stronger cloning result. The plant should be four to six months old at a minimum.

Step 2: Make the Cut

After choosing the mother plant, observe it to identify the ideal spot to make the cut. The perfect place to cut is above the nodes (the adjoining point of the branch and stem). Make sure to cut a 4 to 8-inch-long cutting from the lower branch. This way, you will get the best result while cloning a cannabis plant.

Step 3: Trim and Prepare the Cutting by Soaking in the Rooting Medium

After immediately cutting the clones, it is soaked in hormone-like aloe powder. Furthermore, you can put your clones in a water-based solution and a rooting medium. Rooting cubes, rockwool, and foam are some very good rooting media.

It is very effective to remove the lower leaves and the extra foliage to place properly in the water-holding tray. This extra trimming can help the cutting develop and improve the condition of the clones.

Step 4: Maintain Humidity & Light

After the clone is properly set up in one of the effective growing media, it is important to provide the perfect weather conditions for the growth of the cannabis plant. While cloning a cannabis plant, it will require a high humidity level for at least the first two days. After this period is over, the plants can be kept at an 80 to 85% humidity level for the rest of the days of their growth.

Furthermore, consider giving it proper lighting. Natural lighting can be too powerful for these cannabis clones. So, it is perfect to provide artificial lighting to the cannabis plants. Lighting from an LED light for 18 to 24 hours every day will help the plant to grow even better.

Do not overwater the plant. Instead, you can use a spray through a water gun.

Step 5: Wait and Monitor

Monitoring is a crucial phase in developing cannabis cloning. Therefore, you have to monitor the clone and make sure you have prevented the dead clones from reaching the branches in good condition. Remove the dead clones as soon as you observe them.

You can see the roots growing from the third to the 14th day. This is a sign that shows you the readiness of the plants to be transplanted. Do not water the plants much.

Step 6: Transplant the Cannabis Clones

A cloned cannabis plant requires proper care as the plant becomes stressed after being detached from the mother plant. The plant now goes into a state of homeostasis, as it can help to survive and develop its roots.

Once the development phase of these plants starts, they start capturing moisture and natural nutrients. From this stage, the plants will start to grow on their own.

Top Cloning Methods Compared

Here is a table that comprises some of the key cloning methods:

Table 2: Different Types of Cloning Methods

Common Cloning Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

It is important to maintain the balance between the climate conditions to ensure proper cannabis cloning success. Make sure you are aware of the potential mistakes. Even if mistakes happen, you must know the solution to them.

Here are some common cannabis cloning problems and how to avoid them:

Mistake #1: Failing to Keep the Plants in the Right Environment

Clones can stay in perfect condition if the environment is right. The right warmth and humidity can produce the best results.

Mistake #2: Not Developing the Right Watering Strategy

Maintaining the balance is crucial, as the medium should be moist but not soggy or too soaked. On the other hand, do not let the medium dry.

Mistake #3: Skipping the Rooting Hormone

The rooting hormone helps in the growth of the cannabis plants. Using the right rooting hormone increases the success rate massively.

Final Words

Cloning cannabis is an effective method to get the best cannabis plants. You can get rapid results by maintaining the best genetics across the crops. With proper tools and the right climate setup, even a beginner can successfully clone cannabis plants.

Choose the Right type of Mother Plant for Cloning Cannabis!

Want to grow cannabis plants like a pro? Choose the right mother plant and rooting medium to properly clone cannabis plants.