Mastering the Art of Cloning
Mastering the art of cloning gives you the power to create multiple plants out of one single plant, eliminating the cost of buying plants season after season.
Cloning can be tricky, and like anything else, it takes some practice to dial in your technique. However, we at Guerrilla Grow Hydroponics have a few tips to help you become a clone master.
1) Make sure everything sterile
When it comes to cloning, diseases can spread quickly, so be sure to sanitize your tools, tables carefully, and equipment, along with the cuttings from your mother plant.
2) Choose the correct cannabis clones
Know what varieties you want to grow before choosing your mother plant. Important vital factors to consider are yield, flavor, quality, and aroma.
3) Carefully cut your cannabis clones
Use a sterilized sharp blade to cut a branch or sub-branch that is strong and healthy with no discoloration, toxicities, or deficiencies. Ideally, the size should be about 5-in. long. Next, trim away any extra leaves and cut right after the node at a 45-degree angle, so you are left with 1-2 terminal nodes at the top of the stalk. Lastly, score your cuts to 1in off the stem to promote faster rooting.
4) Use the right cloning products
If you are not putting your clones in a cloning tray right away, it is essential to preserve them by placing the fresh cuts in sealed bags and keeping them in the refrigerator. Do not keep your cuttings in the fridge for more than 48 hours.
When you are ready to move your clones to the cloning tray, dip the end of the cutting in a cloning gel to stimulate rooting.
Suggestions:
Once the clones are dipped, place the clones into a medium or an automated cloning system. The clones should be soaked in a particular nutrient solution if you’re using a growing media. Cloning media include coco coir and peat plugs and 1-in. stone wool cubes, which will need to be filled with this cloning nutrient solution.
The cloning solution should be mixed with water and adjusted to a pH level of 5.5 using either a potassium hydroxide pH product to raise the pH level or a phosphoric acid product to lower the pH. There are several suitable products on the market; ask one of our knowledgeable staff for recommendations.
5) Use a Cloning Machine
Using an aeroponic system when cloning can help avoid immersing your clones in water because this can create root disease problems and provide oxygen to the root system.
Suggestions:
TurboKlone Elite 144 Klone Machine
TurboKlone T48 Klone Machine w/ Humidity Dome
Still, have questions? We’re here to help!