GROWING

How to Clone Cannabis: Taking Cuttings Step by Step

A clone is a genetically identical cutting from a mother plant. Here's where to cut, when to do it and how to get it to root.

BY CosechaLibre Editorial6 MIN READ

Cannabis cuttings, explained

To clone cannabis, you cut a healthy branch from a mother plant that's still in veg, strip the lower leaves, dip the stem in rooting hormone and keep it in a warm, humid spot under gentle light until it roots, usually in one to three weeks. The result is a new plant that's a genetic copy of the mother. Whether you grow for medical use, as an adult consumer or just for fun, it's one of the most useful skills you can pick up.

A lot of plants take forever to show signs of new life, but cannabis, grown right, can shoot up fast and change from one day to the next. And if you're growing to smoke, there's obviously a sweet reward in the form of cannabis flower once the harvest is in. Before you get there, though, you have to start at the beginning.

Starting from seed is a good idea if you've grown other plants from seed and/or have the time to let a seed germinate and grow big enough to transplant. If you want to speed things up, a cannabis clone is probably the better option. It's also a much surer way to make sure your plant is female.

Cannabis mother plant used for taking clones

What is a cannabis clone?

If you're new to growing, a cannabis "clone" is a genetically identical cutting taken from a mother plant.

You cut a small branch off a cannabis plant that's already grown, usually called the "mother plant," so it can grow its own root system and become a plant in its own right. Beginners should understand how cloning works so that when they get a clone, they know what they're dealing with.

It's also a great way to share the genetics of a specific strain. If you find a strain you love and never want to stop growing, cloning lets you run it again as many times as you want.

How does cloning a cannabis plant work?

Step one is picking a healthy mother plant. Keep in mind that clones should be taken from a mother in the vegetative stage, not one that's already flowering.

Next, find a branch that's a good candidate for cloning. Specifically, you're looking for a branch with new growth and at least a few side shoots coming off it.

You don't want a piece that's too big and woody, because it probably won't root. You don't want a tiny one either, since you want the rooted clone to be strong enough to become a big, healthy plant. Ideally, look for a branch segment about 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) long.

Cuttings are super sensitive to bacteria, so disinfect your cutting tools thoroughly. You can make the cut two ways: straight across or at a 45° angle. As soon as you take the cutting, drop it in a glass of water so air bubbles don't get into the stem. If there are big fan leaves at the bottom of the cutting, trim them off so the plant's energy goes into making roots.

Rooting hormone is your best friend when you're taking cuttings, and most growers swear by it. It comes as a gel or a powder and it's easy to use: dip a small brush in the product and paint it onto the stem of the cutting.

You'll need a clone tray, and each one comes with its own instructions. Set the clone in your growing medium of choice and put it under low-intensity grow lights until you see a solid root base, usually within 1 to 3 weeks.

Where do you cut a cannabis clone?

To take a cannabis cutting, cut just below a node. Nodes are the points on the stem where leaves attach. Cutting below a node gives the cutting good rooting potential. Use a sterilized tool, like a sharp razor blade or clean pruning shears, and make a clean cut at a 45-degree angle. Remember to strip the lower leaves, leaving only a few up top to cut down on water loss through transpiration.

When is the best time to take clones?

The best time to take cannabis clones is while the mother plant is in vegetative growth. In this phase the plant is growing vigorously and healthily, which helps cuttings put out roots and survive. Ideally, wait until the mother has at least 2 or 3 pairs of well-developed leaves before taking cuttings. That way the cuttings carry enough stored energy and nutrients to root and get going. It's also a good idea to take cuttings early in the day, to avoid heat stress and give them enough time to settle in before dark.

How to take a cannabis cutting, step by step

Here are the basic steps for cloning cannabis:

Prep: Gather everything you need: a healthy mother plant, a sterilized cutting tool, rooting hormone (optional), a container of lukewarm water and a rooting medium (like vermiculite, perlite or rockwool).
Pick your branch: Choose a strong, healthy side branch on the mother plant. Look for a section with at least one pair of well-developed leaves.
Cut: With your sterilized tool, make a clean cut just below a node at a 45-degree angle. Be quick and precise to keep stress on both the mother and the cutting to a minimum.
Prep the cutting: Remove the lower leaves, leaving just a few at the top. This cuts down on transpiration and focuses the plant's energy on rooting.
Rooting hormone (optional): If you want, dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone to help it root faster and more reliably. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Plant it: Set the cutting in your rooting medium of choice, making sure it's well covered and stable. You can go straight into the medium or root it in a glass of water first and transplant later.
Care and rooting: Keep the cutting somewhere warm and humid with indirect light. Keep the rooting medium lightly moist, but don't overwater or you'll risk root rot. Within a few weeks, you should see new roots.
Transplant: Once the roots are well developed, move the clone into a bigger container with growing medium so it can keep growing.