Looking for effective and time-saving ways to take care of a clone to maintain its health and get a bountiful harvest? Here is a step-by-step guide to ensure the weed clones grow healthy and active.

Cannabis cultivators usually prefer growing clones to any other method of cultivating marijuana. Cloning is quicker and cheaper hence a more effective way of getting genetically identical buds. A vegetative cutting ensures you get similar yields from the mother plant. 

Even though cloning is cost effective and a smooth process it is tedious, and wrong handling can result in loss.

Marijuana plants are so sensitive in the early stages that special care is vital in ensuring the clones grow healthy.

Ensure you inspect the cuttings before leaving the store and report any issue to the retail staff. 

Contents

1. Caring for Clones – A Step-by-Step Guide
2. FAQs about Clone Care
3. Conclusion

1. Caring for Clones – A Step-by-Step Guide

Below are some practical tips to ensure the health maximum yield of marijuana clones.

1.1. Lighting

A Step by Step Guide on How to Take Care of a Clone

Clones must be under 24 hours of light in the dispensaries. More light makes the roots grow faster. They mostly use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or LED lighting. Artificial lighting ensures that the lighting is not as powerful as the heat and light from the sunlight. However, you should go for high-intensity discharge (HID) light bulbs. 

Position the light bulbs about 8 inches (20 cm) above your cloned plants. Ensure the lighting schedule provides 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness within a 24-hour period for the weed clones.

Clones should never be taken directly to intense sunlight because they are likely to suffer from shock. Clones can only be introduced to the sunlight gradually after transplant. First, you can start with the partial shade and indirect sunlight. The shade ensures the heat is moderate to prevent the clones from going into shock.

1.2. Moisture

The first two weeks after transplanting checking the humidity level is crucial. Your precious plants may be too dry to support growth.

You need to maintain a consistent level of moisture in the soil. Check the soil daily to assess if your plants require watering. It is important to keep the soil humid, but avoid oversaturation.

It is preferable to provide small amounts of water more frequently rather than infrequent heavy watering. Additionally, you can use a mister or spray bottle to keep the leaves moist.

Ensure you water the clones a couple of times a day, so they do not dry out.  In two weeks, the plant will start developing its robust roots system, and moisture will not be an issue.

In case you are using a humidity dome, it is essential to be extra cautious to ensure the molds do not develop. Most domes have ventilation, which you can open when it starts being too misty.

1.3. Optimum Temperature

Maintain a temperature range of 22 to 25 °C (72 to 77 °F) to provide an optimal environment for healthy clone growth. Clones thrive in warm conditions, so you should use a heater or cooling system in your grow room if needed to achieve the favorable temperature range.

Ensure temperature consistency, as fluctuations can weaken your marijuana plant.

1.4. Rooting Hormone

Rooting powders or gels are available in the grow shops.  They contain hormones that assist in the growth of the clone roots. The gel is mostly preferred than the powder because it evenly coats the plant better. Always store the powder or gel in a cool, dry place.

Check the sealing of the package before purchasing.  The product comes with a useful applicator tip, which makes it easy to handle and avoid contamination.

1.5. Nutrients

When the plant is in the vegetative stage, feeding the plant with the right nutrients is essential. Feed the cuttings with high-quality nitrogen fertilizer.

However, one week when rooting, reduce the nitrogen level and increase the phosphorus amount. The lower quantity of nitrogen in this stage help promote rooting in clones.  Too much nitrogen inhibits the growth of roots in the mother clone.

1.6. Use of willow tree water

It is a trick that has been adopted by many marijuana growers.  Willow tree water can produce incredible, vigorous root growth within a shorter period. It applies when willow water mixes with commercial growth hormone.

It is possible to make your willow water by merely visiting the closest willow tree. Locate the branches, remove the leaves and cut the stem. The stem is later chopped and placed inside a jar and soaked overnight.  The soaking water hence acts as a root growth hormone.

1.7. Little to No Breeze for Cloned Plants

It’s essential to check your ventilation system before planting clones and adjust it as needed. as cloned plants are young and weak, too much of a breeze will dry out your marijuana clones.

Make sure that there is little to no breeze in the space where your cloned plants are located.

1.8. Planting Clones

It is recommended to plant clones when their roots have reached a length of 3 inches (7.6 cm). While some growers may choose to transplant clones with roots as short as 1 inch (2.5 cm), it is generally advisable to wait until the roots are 3 inches (7.6 cm) or longer.

This helps minimize the risk of transplant shock and ensures a smoother transition for the clones.

1.9. Storing clones in the fridge

Preserving clones in a cold refrigerator is possible. The temperature in the refrigerator should be kept above 4.4 degrees Celsius because anything below may damage the plant cells.

Soak the clone in cold water and transfer it in a zip lock bag. Remember to open the zip bag at least once a week to let fresh air in the bag.

1.10. Treat the Clones as Adults after 6-8 Weeks

After 6 to8 weeks, the clones can be considered as adult marijuana plants. If the roots grow to the bottom of the pot, you can relocate them into larger pots.

Provide the same amount of light, air circulation, fertilizer, and water as you would for other full-grown plants so they can mature and flower.

2. FAQs About Clone Care

2.1. Do clones need light or dark?

Clones need plenty of light to develop their root system and grow. However, you should provide them with a less intense light source compared to what will be used post-transplantation.

T5 and CFL grow lights are good choices as they offer the marijuana clones the required vegging (blue) spectrum without excessive light intensity that could be detrimental.

To maintain the clones in their vegetative state, you need to provide a minimum of 18 hours of light exposure. You can gradually reduce the light duration from 24 to 18 hours over a few days. If you provide less than 18 hours of light, it may induce the flowering response in the clones.

2.2. How do you keep clones healthy?

To keep clones healthy, you need to provide them with optimum temperature, light, humidity, and nutrients. For example, maintaining proper humidity levels is crucial for successful cloning, but excessive wetness can have negative consequences.

When your cloning media is overly wet, it will reduce oxygen levels, which can cause stem rot. Two commonly used media options for cloning are starter plugs and rockwool. Rockwool is particularly preferred for hydroponic systems, but it can also be utilized in soil-based setups.

Clones thrive within a consistent temperature range of 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also essential to protect them from strong winds or air currents, as these can lead to rapid drying of the soil and plant leaves, thereby compromising the optimum conditions needed for future plant growth.

2.3. How often should I mist my clones?

Depending on weather conditions, you may need to mist your clones 3 to 7 times a day to keep the leaves from drying out completely. To provide moisture to the cutting, you can use room temperature water in a spray bottle for misting.

Since the vegetative cutting lacks roots, water absorption becomes more challenging. Misting will allow the plant to absorb water through its leaves. It is advisable to continue misting the cutting on a daily basis for the next few months while the root system is developing.

2.4. How do I take care of my clone?

To take care of your clones, you need to use fresh, clean, pots with drainage holes, fresh soil with high nitrogen content, balanced nutrients, and rooting hormone. In addition, you need to maintain a constant moisture level in the soil, a pH of 6, and a fixed temperature between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. 

3. Conclusion

Cloning has proven to be an effective way of getting a healthy and bountiful harvest by growing the right cannabis strain. It ensures genetically identical buds and consistent yields. However, proper care is essential for the healthy growth and development of clones.

Lighting is essential, with clones requiring 18 hours of light exposure using LED lighting or CFL bulbs. Then you can gradually introduce them to sunlight to avoid shock. Maintaining consistent soil moisture is essential, avoiding oversaturation and using misting to keep leaves moist.

Temperature control within the range of 72 to 77 °F (22 to 25 °C) is vital, as fluctuations can weaken the plants. Using rooting hormones, providing balanced nutrients, and ensuring proper ventilation are also essential factors in clone care. With attention to these guidelines, your cannabis clones can thrive and mature into healthy adult plants.

4. Further Assistance

If you need further assistance with taking care of your clones, reach out to us here at Big Daddy Clones. We can also provide healthy male or female clones of your desired strain. If you want to buy your first batch of clones, just place an order. For any questions, give us a call at  877-262-6192 today!