When you first start gardening, germinating seeds and cloning plants can be very discouraging. Whether your seeds aren’t popping or your clones aren’t rooting, either can be frustrating. However, with the proper technique you should be a pro in no time!
“Always Remember to Grow with the Flow”
One of the first things to note is that cannabis is a dioecious plant, meaning it contains only a male or female plant. The male produces the pollen and the female produces the seed. Of course, the female will only produce her seed if she is pollinated by the male. As patients, we want the female plant because the flower is what produces the medicine. For the highest quality flower we want what they call, “sinsemilla” flowers, meaning “without seeds.” Absolutely NO males allowed. This is a women’s den! So which one do you start with the clone or the seed? Let me explain.
Creating Marijauna Clones
A clone is a genetically identical cutting from a ‘mother’ plant. All offspring will be the same as the mother they were cut from because the clones are identical to their mothers, this means they have a 100% chance of being female. This will save stress and labor for you because you won’t have to constantly check for males that will pollinate your room. Also, considering that the cuts are from matured, developed plants, this will set you a couple weeks in advance.
However, like everything there are also disadvantages to using clones. For instance, because you are cutting from another plant that could have health issues this increases the chances of getting pests and pathogens. Additionally, when you first start growing, finding clones can be difficult considering you do not have a mother to begin the process. If you have a mother to clone, the recipe below will explain how to clone the mother:
How To Clone Cannabis Plants
Tools Needed:
- Clone Solution
- Razor Blade
- Sanitized Gloves
- Clone Dome
- Purified Water
- Rock Wool Cubes
- Mother Plant
- Spray Bottle
- Start by wearing gloves and sanitizing all tools and the work station to decrease your chances of getting pests or pathogens.
- Next, sit your rock wool cubes in the water. The rock wool is what your clone will sit in after it’s cut.
- Once all the rock wool cubes are nice and wet, not soaked, it’s time to choose a healthy mother plant to cut. Remember she is going to supply your whole crop so she should be as healthy as possible.
- Now that your work area is prepped you are ready to cut your clones. When cutting the clones remember to cut at a 45 degree angle to create a point in the stem. I suggest taking from the top of the plant (the newest growth) because they are less prone to pests and pathogens. The cut should be at least 5″ tall.
- Once you have taken your cut, clean off all growth with the razor until you have only two nodes (sections of growth) left at the top.
- From here simply dip your cut into your choice of clone solution and then gently place the stem in the pre-poked hole of the rock wool cube about 1″-2″ deep.
- Lastly, place your finished cutting into the clone dome.
- Before you seal the dome be sure to spray the tray, lid, and plants with purified water to create a humid environment. An adequate humidity is approximately 60%-80% with a temperature of 80 degrees. This will promote fast root development within 7-10 days.
- Be sure to spray everyday at least twice a day and check cubes for moisture.
- After clones have fully rooted, you can now plant your clones into your choice of soil and start growing.
Seeds
These days the average grower will use clones for convenience but if done properly, growing from seed can have a great number of advantages. One of the biggest advantages in using seeds is that they have a primary root called taproot, which makes them more vigorous growers. This can result in a healthier plant with a higher yield. Another advantage to using seeds over clones is that it is more natural to the plant itself because cannabis is an annual plant (grows for only one season) so it’s just simply not genetically engineered to have such a prolonged life like clones. Just like the clones, seeds have their fair share of disadvantages as well. For example, because you don’t have any growth to start with, like the clones, you don’t have a jumpstart. Also, if you don’t purchase feminized seeds (99% female dominant) 50% of your plants will be males. Not only will you have wasted half of your money but this also means you will have to rummage through and and kill all males. Below is a recipe and instructions on how to germinate your seed.
How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds
Tools Needed:
- Seeds
- Paper towels
- Purified Water
- Two Paper Plates
- Gloves
- Start with sanitizing all tools and work station to decrease you chance of pests or pathogens. Once your work area is sanitized, you will want to overlap two paper towels, fold them down three times and then open them back up.
- Now, place the seeds, separated, in the middle of the two overlapped, unfolded, paper towels and then fold them back up. Be sure the seeds don’t fall out.
- After your seeds are nice and secure, it’s time to wet the paper towels and seeds with the purified water. The paper towels should be wet but not dripping.
- Lastly, place the wet paper towels on one of the paper plates and place the other plate on top, upside down to create a dark dome. Store plates in a dark, room temperature area.
- After 2-4 days your seeds should have a baby white tale popping out; this will be the taproot.
- Finally, while wearing gloves, gently put one of the seeds in your pot of soil and repeat with the rest of the seeds. After a couple days you should see growth popping out of the soil.
In the end, no matter what you choose, as long as you have an adequate environment, neither clone nor seed should give you any problem. So now that you have the proper tools and knowledge it’s time to get those hands dirty!
