Cloning Demystified

This grower has chosen a 3rd generation White Widow Mother as shown in the above photo to take cuttings for cloning.

The White Widow Mother shown on the previous page, is in a hydro tub with 4 other similar plants. She averages 2-1/2' at harvest with kick ass dry weight buds @ 1-1/2oz. Her genetics are very desirable. This plant was originally grown from seed obtained from Laughing Moon Seed Bank. [See Chapter One]

After the harvest and you reset light cycles, healthy new growth will begin on your regenerated plants and soon you may begin to take clones.

Identify the healthy deep green new growth and cut here. Usually the stem is softer and the upper leaves are a bit lighter green, indicating new, more compacted growth. Take care not to dig into the PRIMARY stem as you can open the plant to virus and bacterial problems.

Always make sure your tools have been cleaned with alcohol before cutting for clones.

Dip the cutting IMMEDIATELY into a rooting or cloning solution. The 5" cutting in the photo above, has had the bottom leaves snipped and the very bottom of the stem was recut before dipping into Olivia's Gel. This will prevent an air bubble [embolism] from forming in the stem where the cut has been made. Select a branch for cutting that has 2 or 3 sets of leaves.

Olivia's Cloning Gel works very well to stimulate root growth on the cannabis cuttings by sealing the cut to prevent fungus and disease.

Olivia's is just one of many "rooting" agents used to propagate clones. Most of these products have all the nutrients and trace elements to stimulate root growth. They also have anti-microbial agents to prevent disease and discourage damp off problems.

Another good product that growers have had success with is Rootone Rooting Hormone. This powder also has growth regulators and fungicide.

Both Olivia's and Rootone are fairly inexpensive and easy to use. With the gel product, the stem cut seems to be better protected since you have to insert the freshly cut stem into some type of medium to allow the roots to develop and anchor.

The cutting shown previously dipped into the gel is featured again on the next page being gently inserted into the slightly enlarged hole in the seed sponge. The sponge has been pre-soaked in pH-adjusted water to 6.0. The sponge pH is actually neutral, so unlike Rockwool where the pH is high in alkaline [8.0-8.5] the level will be easier to adjust.

By using the seed sponges, the possibility of pH problems will be one less thing to worry about until you are ready to transplant the newly rooted clone.

There are many different mediums to start the clones. The seed sponge has the highest success rate as it does with germinating seeds.

There are 3 reasons the sponges seem to work best:

1. They have a neutral pH.
2. The moisture is absorbed through the base of the sponge so you can avoid excess watering. Over watering will cause cuttings to wilt or cause stem rot.
3. The sponges are sterilized and disease free.

So armed with all this information, determine if your endeavor is "SPONGEWORTHY"

The next photo shows 6 cuttings that were dipped into the gel and gently inserted into the sponges and then placed into the styrofoam holder.

The cuttings were taken one at a time so the stem cut area did not dry out. When using Olivia's, transferring time is not as critical as the gel will seal the stem.

The tray with the cuttings is placed into a simple humidity tent with lightweight plastic that can be folded down over the front.

High humidity aids in rooting the cuttings. If the cuttings do not show signs of wilting, lift the front plastic panel or cut holes in the top of the plastic tent to allow more air to circulate.

Keep the sponges moist by watering into the bottom of the tray. Do not over water!!!

The clone tent can be placed on a bench next to the regenerating Mothers about 2-3' from the lamps. They should be kept in the 20/4 or 18/6 lighting cycle for about 10 days, at which time there will be fine white root hairs throughout the sponge edges. It is easy to pop the sponges up above the styrofoam for the occasional peek to see how they are doing.

Water the clones with plain pH adjusted water for the first 4-5 days. There are enough nutrients in the gel for the cuttings to begin good root development. After that you can go to General Hydroponics rooting strength formula. The recipe is on all of the 3 bottle ingredients.

Temperature is a huge factor in the success of the rooting process. In this grow room, average temperatures were 80*-85* and this did not seem to be too warm for the clones. The bottom heat which is the most critical, stays in the 78* range. Many growers use heat mats to help cuttings root faster. Unless the room temperature is really on the cool side [below 70*], leave the cuttings at room temperature without the mat as too much heat or water will really damage the clones.

As soon as your clones show signs of new root development around the edges of the sponge, gently place them into the 4"x4" Rockwool cubes [which have been soaked, rinsed and pH adjusted]. The hole in the cube must be slightly enlarged to accommodate the seed sponge. Once again, a melon baller is a great tool for this.

The cubes with new clones are placed into the grow tub [5 per] in about 4" of Geolite pellets. The Rockwool cubes are set about 1-1/2" into the pellets so the cube does not become too saturated. It is very important as the new root balls are forming, that they do not sit in water, as they will rot. The newly rooted clones in the photo above are 2-1/2' from lamps on a 20/4 cycle.

Many newbies getting started have a few cuttings in water that they want to start cloning and only have shop lights [fluorescence] before they invest in HID lighting. Fluorescents are fine for starting clones. Place the lights within 6" from the top of the plants, as these lights will not burn them. To make sure, place your hand at the same distance and if it is not too hot for you, your plants will be fine. The fluorescents are also a good idea for starting clones if you have limited space inside the grow room and want to root them elsewhere on the 20/4 light cycle.