Short Answer
A cannabis clone is a stem cutting from a mother plant held in the vegetative stage. The cutting grows roots and becomes a plant with the same genotype as the mother. Most cuttings root in 7 to 21 days at 68 to 77°F, 70 to 80 percent relative humidity, and 18 hours of light each day.
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Why Growers Clone
Seeds from one cultivar carry mixed genetics. Two plants from the same seed pack can differ in height, flower time, cannabinoid ratio, and terpene profile. A cutting copies the mother plant's genotype, so the next harvest matches the last.
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Clones also skip germination. A rooted cutting enters the vegetative room at a known size, node spacing, and stretch pattern.
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Mother Plant Care
Keep mothers in vegetation with 18 hours of light and 6 hours of dark, or 24 hours of light. Feed nitrogen at a moderate rate. Prune the top third each 4 to 8 weeks to keep the canopy low and to push new growth for cuttings.
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Replace a mother plant after 6 to 12 months. Long-held mothers lose vigor, produce thinner stems, and collect pests, powdery mildew, and viruses such as hop latent viroid. Start a new mother from a clean cutting before the old plant declines.
Tools
- Scissors or a scalpel, sterilized with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol
- Rooting cubes: rockwool, peat plug, or coco plug
- Clone gel or powder with IBA at 0.1 to 0.3 percent
- Humidity dome and tray
- pH meter and a pH range of 5.5 to 6.0 for cubes
- Low-intensity light, 100 to 200 µmol/m²/s
How to Take a Cutting
- Pick a lower branch with 2 to 3 nodes and a stem 4 to 6 inches long.
- Cut at a 45-degree angle, 1/4 inch below a node.
- Strip the lowest leaves. Leave 2 to 3 leaves at the top. Trim leaf tips if the leaves are large.
- Dip the cut stem in rooting gel or powder. Cover the bottom 1/2 inch.
- Place the stem 1 to 2 inches into a moist cube. Firm the medium around the stem.
- Mist the dome, close the vents, and set the tray under low light, 18 hours on and 6 hours off.
Rooting Environment
Air temperature: 72 to 78°F. Medium temperature: 68 to 74°F. Relative humidity: 70 to 80 percent for the first 5 days, then open the dome vents to 60 to 70 percent. Light: 100 to 200 µmol/m²/s, at least 12 inches from the canopy. Water: keep the medium moist, not soaked. Root rot starts in standing water.
Roots show at the cube edges in 7 to 14 days for most cultivars. Slow cultivars take 3 weeks.
After Roots Appear
Move rooted cuttings to a light vegetative feed at 1.0 to 1.4 EC. Open the dome vents over 3 to 4 days, then remove the dome. Raise light intensity over one week. Wait 5 to 7 days after transplant before you top or train the plant.
Common Problems
- Wilting: humidity too low or stem not in contact with the medium
- Yellow leaves: normal in week 1, a sign of low light or a cold medium after that
- No roots at 21 days: medium too wet, temperature below 65°F, or a woody stem
- Stem rot at the cut: contaminated blade or saturated cube
- Mites and mildew: carried from the mother, so inspect before you cut
Legal Note for US Growers
Cannabis is a Schedule I substance under federal law. Cloning rules follow state law. Home grow plant counts, possession caps, and license rules differ by state. Confirm state statutes before you take cuttings. This is not legal advice.