Weed Clones Explained: Mother Plants, Cuttings and the Gear You Need

A weed clone is a cutting taken from a female “mother” plant and rooted into a new plant that's genetically identical to her: same flavor, same cannabinoid profile, same yield. There are two main ways to get new cannabis plants. One is seeds: you buy them, make sure they're feminized, germinate them and grow them out. (You can also make your own seeds through pollination, but that's a whole other world.) The other is cloning your plants. Cloning is also known as asexual reproduction. A clone is a cutting that's genetically identical to the plant it came from, known as the mother. Cloning lets you start a new grow with exact replicas of plants you've already grown. Since the genetics are identical, a clone gives you a plant with the same traits as the mother: same phenotype, same flavor, same cannabinoid profile, same yield and so on. So if you're growing a strain or genotype you absolutely love, cloning is the way to go. To make clones you'll need: a mother plant; a razor blade, scissors or box cutter (super important: disinfect it with alcohol); a cloning gel or powder; suitable low-wattage lighting or a dedicated clone light; and a dome or mini greenhouse to keep the cuttings in until they're ready to transplant.

Ideally, clone a mature plant, meaning one with branches growing off other branches, not just off the main stem. Try to cut a branch that grows from another branch and skip the ones coming straight off the stem. To grow, a cutting always needs at least two nodes, a couple of leaves and a main or side growing tip. Water the mother at least a day before taking cuttings so she doesn't get stressed. Cuttings are super vulnerable to bacteria, so disinfect your blade really well. You can make the cut two ways: straight across or at a 45° angle. As soon as you have the cutting, drop it in a glass of water so no air bubbles get into the stem. If there are big fan leaves on the lower part of the cutting, trim them off so the plant pours all its energy into rooting. Rooting hormones are a cloner's best friend and pretty much essential. They come in gel or powder form and they're easy to use: dip a small brush in the product and paint it on the stem of the cutting. You'll need a clone tray, and each one comes with its own instructions. Set the clone in the moistened medium, which can be peat or whatever you prefer. Don't be afraid to experiment and learn by doing: there's no better teacher than the mistakes you make in your own trials. And share whatever you learn that seems valuable, so we can grow as a community and keep improving our grow techniques.

What is a cutting, and what are cuttings used for?

A cutting is a vegetative propagation technique used to reproduce plants asexually. You take a piece of a mother plant and grow it until it develops roots and becomes a new, independent plant. Cuttings are common in horticulture in general and in cannabis growing in particular. Making one usually goes like this:

1. Pick the mother plant: Choose a healthy, vigorous plant to take the cutting from. Make sure the mother has the traits you're after, like a solid yield, aroma, flavor or whatever else matters to you.
2. Prep the cutting: Cut a section from the mother, usually a young, healthy branch, using a sharp, sterilized tool. The cutting should be 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) long and have several nodes or buds.
3. Remove the lower leaves: Strip the lower leaves off the cutting, leaving just a few at the top. This cuts down on moisture loss and helps it root faster.
4. Rooting hormone (optional): If you like, dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone to kick-start root growth. It can noticeably boost your success rate.
5. Plant the cutting: Set the cutting in a rooting medium like peat, vermiculite or water, making sure at least one node is buried or submerged. Keep the medium moist and protect the cutting from direct sunlight.
6. Care and rooting: For the next few weeks, keep the cutting somewhere warm with controlled humidity. Mist it regularly to keep humidity up, but don't overwater, or it may rot. Over time, the cutting will put out roots and start growing as an independent plant.

Keep in mind that rooting success can vary depending on the plant and the growing conditions. It pays to research the specific needs of the plants you want to propagate from cuttings to get the best results.

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