Cloning Cannabis Plants: Best Mediums And Practices

Before we get into the nitty gritty of cloning cannabis, let’s get the basics right, starting with what exactly it means to clone cannabis. Essentially, cloning is a method of creating genetically identical copies of a specific cannabis plant. 

Cloning is accomplished using cuttings from what is referred to as the mother plant; these cuttings are then allowed to form their own roots, and eventually grown as regular plants. This method can be used for a variety of plants, including cannabis. 

Unlike seed-grown cannabis plants that tend to have genetic variations, cloning does not. Clones are identical to the mother plant. So, if you have a favorite plant that is just the right height, sweet enough, and has the right kind of kick for you — clone it. 

With this process, you’ll be able to make multiple identical copies of your favorite cannabis plant, which will be easier to maintain and predictable to grow. 

Benefits of Cloning Cannabis

Many growers prefer growing clones over seeds because it allows them to grow identical cannabis plants without compromising on preferential phenotypes like taste, THC levels, and other aspects of the plant. 

But that’s not the only reason why you’d want to clone your cannabis plant. Cloning offers various other benefits, as discussed below. 

1. High-Quality Plants 

If you germinate seeds for growing cannabis, you don’t really know what you will get with the seed. Yes, the seed bank will give you some information but seeds always have some level of genetic variation within them — some seeds can even grow into plants that barely produce a yield.

To avoid this problem, you should consider cloning your cannabis plant, especially if you’ve found your holy grail cannabis plant. Cloning lets you duplicate the mother cannabis without any variation, so you don’t have to worry about growing something you wouldn’t like in the first place. 

2. A Familiar Experience 

This brings us to another benefit of cloning that mostly benefits beginner growers, and it is the familiarity of growing cannabis. If you clone cannabis, you don’t need to learn new techniques out of force; you can do it at leisure. 

Since the clone will be almost identical to the mother plant, you can get away with whatever methods and techniques you were using for the mother plant, which makes the process much less daunting and complex for beginner growers. 

3. Faster Plant Growth 

If you are cloning your cannabis plant, you no longer have to waste time germinating the seeds, which can often take a couple of weeks. On the contrary, if you clone cannabis, your cuttings will technically be as old as the mother plant itself.

As a result, growing clones is quicker than germinating seeds and can help you save a couple of weeks during the entire growing season.

4. Numerous Harvests Per Season

Since clones grow quicker than germinated plants, if you play your cards right, you can grow multiple batches of cannabis plants in the same season. Usually, you’ll be able to get two harvests per season but sometimes you can even squeeze in one more, depending on the strain you grow and the local climate. 

5. Cheap Way of Growing Cannabis 

For beginner growers, growing cannabis using certain methods is not recommended as it can get really expensive. But a popular method recommended for beginners is cloning as it can be a really affordable way of growing cannabis. 

All you need is access to a reliable mother plant — it can even be your friend’s plant. Take a cutting out of it and start growing your own cannabis plant. 

6. Guaranteed Female Plants

A significant benefit of cloning cannabis plants is that you don’t have to worry about your cannabis plant turning out to be a male and pollinating all the other plants in your garden. 

Since clones retain the same characteristics as the mother plant, they will only grow into female plants. Yes, you can also get feminized seeds but those are expensive and not readily available. So, if you want to guarantee the sex of your cannabis plant, you should consider cloning as an option. 

The Best Way of Cloning Cannabis: Rooting Mediums 

The process of cloning cannabis is fairly basic, as you will learn later in the article, but when we talk about the best way of cloning cannabis, the context lies in the rooting medium used. There are various rooting mediums you can use, depending on your preferences and goals. 

1. Cloning With Rockwool Cubes

Rockwool is a popular grow medium for cannabis plants, especially if you are growing them hydroponically. Rockwool is made from molten volcanic rock, which is then spun at high rates — like cotton candy — which gives its fluffy, fiberglass-like texture. 

As a result of its fibrous nature, rockwool cubes are excellent for cannabis plants. They hold a lot of air and water, which comes in handy when you want to root the clone cuttings (or germinate seedlings). But don’t worry, it does not pool water; it drains easily, too. 

Along with that, rockwool cubes also bring many other advantages. They are strong enough to hold the clone cuttings upright, and they are lightweight and sterile. Plus, rockwool has grown a lot in popularity and is cheap and available at most gardening stores in the country. 

Rockwool is also very easy to use, regardless of the setup you have, which makes it perfect for beginner growers who are cloning their cannabis plant for the first time. And when the clones are ready, rockwool allows for easy transplanting, too. 

For the purpose of cloning cannabis, you’ll be relying on rockwool cubes that are larger than conventional germination cubes, and they will be plastic-wrapped except for the topside, which will contain a tiny indentation to hold the cutting. 

But one thing you must remember when using rockwool for cannabis cloning is that you need to treat it before you use it. It has a high pH, so you need to bring the pH down and load it up with some nutrients. 

You can do this by soaking the cubes in diluted nutrient water that has a pH level of approx. 5.2. Soak the cubes overnight in that water and the next day, soak them in a 6.0 pH-balanced solution to stabilize the cubes. 

And no matter what anyone says, do not squeeze those cubes. The fibers are fragile and if they are squeezed, they will lose their ability to retain air and water. 

2. Cloning Cannabis with Water

The next most popular method of cloning cannabis is using good ol’ water. This is for growers who don’t want to bother with rockwool cubes et al., instead, you can simply use a glass of water here. This is also the reason why cloning cannabis with water is the cheapest method of cloning cannabis. 

All you need to do is add mild nutrients to 16 ounces of water — use a bottle of the same volume for best results. Ensure the bottle has a narrow opening, which will help hold the plant upright. You must also check the pH of the solution — it should be around 5.8. 

Then, you need to place the cutting in the bottle and it will start growing roots. You can keep the bottle in a dark place to avoid algae from growing in the water due to direct sunlight. And this is highly recommended as algae then block your cuttings’ capillaries, reducing root growth. You should also change the water every few days to keep it fresh. 

After a couple of weeks, your cannabis cutting will have developed a root ball. 

3. Cloning Cannabis with Soil 

If rockwool is too much and water is too little, you can take the middle ground and use soil — it’s the classic way of cloning cannabis, much older than rockwool and much more reliable than water. 

This is also a relatively simple method of cloning cannabis. You just need pH-balanced soil that is well-hydrated and neither too compacted nor too fluffy — it must be the right consistency to hold the plant up while allowing the water to run off easily. 

Then, you need to place the clone cutting in the soil and let it go from there. Keep an eye on the soil — water it when the top inch of it is dry — and give it enough light and diluted nutrients. That’s all you need to do and the clone cutting will quickly grow into a cannabis plant. 

The Best Way of Cloning Cannabis: Rooting Hormone

Another aspect of cloning cannabis is using the right kind of rooting hormone. So, in this section, we’ll take a look at what a rooting hormone is and which is the best one for you. 

So, what is the rooting hormone? It is essentially any compound that improves the growth of roots on the cut area of the cuttings. These compounds are rich in enzymes and vitamins and possess an ideal auxins to cytokinins ratio. 

What a rooting hormone does is help convert stem cells into root cells, which leads to fast growth of the roots. This is why you will find many growers refer to these hormones as root juice. 

Here are some common methods of rooting cannabis clones with different rooting hormones. 

1. Rooting Powder

This is a store-bought rooting hormone that comes in the form of a powder and is by far the most effective one to use since you only need a pinch of it for your cuttings. Plus, this powder lasts a long time, making it ideal for serious cannabis cloners who want to clone many plants. 

To use rooting powder, you need to take a bit of it, add some water to it, and dip the clone cuttings into it — that’s it. We recommend using rooting hormones from Clonex and Hormex, but you can try other well-known brands, too. 

2. Rooting Liquid

You can also choose rooting liquid if you are looking for something versatile. This liquid can be modified as you like it, and many cloners gravitate towards this over powder because it is easier for your plants to absorb as it offers better coverage. 

You can use rooting liquid in two ways, depending on your preferences. You can either dilute it with pH 6.0 water or use it as is — both methods work well. 

3. Rooting Gel 

Finally, you can also purchase rooting hormones in the form of a gel, but this is mostly suited for hobby growers. It is easy to use but does not have the versatility or long shelf-life of liquid or powder hormones, respectively. 

To use rooting gel, you simply need to dip your cuttings into the gel and place it in the growing medium. It’s as easy as it can get. 

4. Natural Rooting Hormones

While rooting hormones are cheap and easy to purchase, you do need to be careful while choosing them. Some may not be eco-friendly in nature, pun intended, and others may not be as effective. 

Some rooting hormones are also notorious for containing many additives that may not be healthy for the soil or your cannabis clone. So, it is recommended that you always use cannabis-specific hormones from reputable suppliers. 

But if you want to ensure whatever you use is safe and organic, one way to go about it is by preparing a DIY rooting hormone at home. This will also save you a lot of money in the long run. Here are some of the best natural rooting hormones you can make at home.

• Cinnamon 

Cinnamon is often known as an excellent antifungal agent but it can also double up as a great rooting hormone. Here’s the thing — your clone does not need a rooting hormone — it can develop the roots on its own. A rooting hormone only makes the process faster. 

By using cinnamon, you can let nature take its course so your cuttings can develop the roots naturally. This herb will only ensure your cannabis cutting is protected from pathogens that may harm it. 

To make cinnamon rooting hormone, add some cinnamon powder into a bowl and dip the cannabis cutting into it. 

• Honey

Honey is one of the best and an old-school method of rooting cannabis cuttings, and it has been in use for decades in gardens around the world. This is because honey is rich in enzymes and vitamins that are crucial for rooting; plus, honey is antibacterial and antifungal so that helps, too. 

• Apple Cider Vinegar

Another excellent natural rooting hormone for cloning cannabis plants is apple cider vinegar. But unlike honey, don’t dip your cuttings into it directly as it is too acidic. Instead, you must first dilute it with water — a teaspoon of it in 5-6 cups of water. 

• Willow Water 

Willow water is an ancient cloning technique and it has stood the test of time. You know it’s good. It is rich in indolebutyric acid, which stimulates root development in plants. 

To use willow water to clone your cannabis plants, you need to get your hands on a few branches of willow — enough for two cups. Cut the branches up and place them in a large container. 

Then, boil a gallon of water, add it to the willow container, and let the tea brew for an entire day. The next day, your rooting hormone is ready. Dip your cuttings into it for a few hours. 

How to Clone Your Cannabis the Right Way?

Now that you know what are the best methods of cloning and rooting cannabis cuttings, let’s go over the process so you know exactly what to do. The steps more or less remain the same, regardless of the rooting medium or hormone you choose. 

1. Find the Mother Plant 

The process of cloning cannabis starts with the mother plant, which must be completely healthy and have no issues or diseases. It must also not have any genetic deformities as the clones will be duplicates of it and will carry all the issues the mother plant has. 

The mother plant must also be in its growth stage. If you take the clones from a blooming mother plant, they may not root efficiently and can even turn into hermies if you are not careful enough. Ideally, make sure the mother plant is not older than a couple of months. 

Last but not least, your mother plant should be a female. Look out for hermies — these are female plants that end up developing pistils or male reproductive organs. It’s not a good sign as your clones will also turn out to be hermies. 

And it goes without saying but choose a mother plant that you like. 

2. Gather the Supplies

Next, you need to gather the following things:

• Gardening scissors — ensure they are sharp 
• Gardening gloves
• The rooting medium of your choice, as discussed above
• The rooting hormone of your choice, as discussed above 
• Grow lights — pick CLFs if you are new to this 
• A humidity dome 

3. Take the Cutting 

The next step is to take the cutting from the mother plant. Choose a branch at the lower tier of the mother plant since they are rich in rooting hormones already, and ensure it’s sturdy and healthy without any symptoms of stress. The branch should also be situated two nodes from the bottom and at least five inches long. 

Then, use your gardening scissors to make a 45-degree clean cut so the branch gets a bigger rooting zone. Place the cutting in water without further delay so the air does not hamper capillary function, and then store it in a dark place. You can even cut off some larger fan leaves. 

4. Prepare Your Rooting Medium 

Next, use your rooting medium. If you are using water, you are already there, but if you are using soil, follow the steps mentioned earlier to prepare it. Make sure it is pH-balanced, compact, and loaded with some diluted nutrients. 

As for rockwool, prepare the rockwool a day before so its pH is set to ideal levels and it is loaded with diluted nutrients. Do not squeeze your rockwool cubes under any circumstances. 

5. Apply the Rooting Hormone

Next, dip the clone cuttings into a rooting hormone of your choice. You only need to dip the cut into the hormone and let it sit there for a couple of minutes (or more) depending on the rooting hormone you use. 

6. Place the Cuttings in the Medium

Now take the cuttings and place them in the rooting medium that you prepared two steps ago. Make sure that the rooting medium has passive aeration since clones have difficulty breathing in the first couple of weeks due to a lack of a root network. 

You should also fine-tune the environment accordingly. Clones prefer warm and wet conditions, so set the temperature around 72°F or 22°C and RH to 90%. Place the cuts under a plastic dome to reduce the rate of transpiration. 

Continue spraying the clones with mild nutrient water a few times a day and ensure they get mild light for at least half a day. 

7. Transplant the Cuttings

Once your cannabis cuttings have developed roots after a couple of weeks, you can transplant them to their final growing location. Prepare your growing medium to ensure it is rich in nutrients, and gently move the clones into it. 

Be very careful during the transplanting process so you don’t end up shocking or stressing the clones out. And then continue growing those clones as regular cannabis plants. 

Common Problems You May Encounter With Cloning Cannabis

When it comes to cloning cannabis, precision is key since it's a process that involves replicating plants, and like any cultivation method, it can come with its share of challenges. Although you can prevent these problems, they can ruin your efforts if you don’t pay attention. Your work doesn’t stop once you successfully clone the plants; in fact, the process of maintaining them has just begun. Here are a few problems you need to watch out for to ensure the clones are safe. 

1. Identifying Mold and Pest Issues

Mold and pests can threaten your cannabis clones, so early detection is crucial. The clones are still vulnerable, and any stress at this point can hamper their growth. Look out for signs such as discoloration, wilting, or visible pests.

High humidity levels and poor ventilation can welcome pests to make your garden a permanent home since it’s a perfect environment for them to thrive. Also, pests and fungal diseases spread really fast if you’re using contaminated tools, so make sure you clean and sanitize the tools often. 

If you see signs of any pests or diseases, you need to take action. Typically, most problems cause yellowing of leaves. Employ pest control methods to manage infestations effectively as well as prevent future ones.

Check the pH too because an imbalance can resemble deficiencies. Once you determine the problem, take immediate action and wait for the plant to recover to shift it to the flowering stage. 

When introducing new plants, it's important to isolate them for a short period before bringing them into the cloning area. This helps minimize the risk of introducing diseases or pests. Regularly inspect your clones to look for any signs of diseases or pests. Detecting these issues early allows you to take action and intervene effectively. In addition, maintain cleanliness in the cloning area by removing any dead leaves. Sanitize the space as well to minimize breeding grounds for pests and pathogens.

2. Rooting Issues in Cannabis Cloning

For a clone to grow well, it needs to first grow roots. As you can understand, rooting is the most important aspect of cloning. If the roots experience any problems at this stage, it becomes extremely challenging to save the clones. Thus, it becomes equally important to identify any issues during this phase so that you can implement troubleshooting strategies. One common issue is uneven root development, which indicates a delay in establishing a root system.

Root rot can occur when the cloning medium has moisture or insufficient drainage. This fungal infection can harm the health of the roots. Sometimes clones may not show any signs of root development at all, indicating a failure in the rooting process.

Here are some tips to address these issues:

• Use quality rooting hormones; It's important to use top-notch rooting hormones to kickstart and speed up root development. Look for a rooting hormone that has a good formulation to encourage the growth of strong roots.
• Maintain proper environmental conditions: The success of rooting heavily relies on maintaining stable environmental conditions. Make sure you maintain a temperature around 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C) in the cloning area as this promotes root growth. Also, maintain a relative humidity level of 70% and gradually decrease it as the roots develop.
• Monitor proper pH levels in the cloning medium. Check and adjust the levels to create an environment that's favorable for root development. Most cloning mediums will do well if you maintain a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
• You should also pay attention to the lighting conditions during the rooting phase. It's crucial to provide clones with light for photosynthesis and energy production without causing stress.
• Proper aeration in the cloning medium is essential for root development. If you’re unsuccessful with cloning, you might want to aerate the cloning solution or use a cloning system to ensure there's oxygen available. 

Sometimes rooting issues may resolve themselves over time. So, be patient and closely observe the clones for any negative changes. If you're still facing problems despite making adjustments, you should consider different cloning mediums. For instance, you can clone using rockwool cubes too. Also, keep in mind that some strains may not respond well to cloning no matter what you do, so go for strains that are favorable for cloning. 

3. Over and Underwatering

Whether it’s a clone, seedling, or a fully grown cannabis plant, finding a balance in watering is important. While overwatering can lead to root rot and fungal problems, not giving enough water can cause wilting and hinder root development.

Here’s what you can do to address this problem:

• Establish a proper routine by figuring out how often your clones need water, based on their size, conditions, and needs. 
• Ensure proper drainage and make sure the cloning medium is drained well to prevent water from accumulating excessively.
• Regularly check the cloning medium to assess whether it needs more water and adjust your watering routine accordingly. You can pick up the clones to see if they are heavy. If they are light, you can water them; if not, don’t water them. 

Summary: Best Way of Cloning Cannabis

Cloning cannabis is an easy process but there are multiple ways you can go about it, as long as you choose the right rooting medium. Here, you must choose between rockwool, water, or soil. These three mediums offer the best benefits without being too expensive to use — heck, they can even be free of cost sometimes. 

Then, you need to pick the right type of rooting hormone. For beginners, rooting gel is recommended, but if you want to be 100% organic, pick honey or cinnamon for the best results. Willow water works too but you’ll have to spend some time and effort for it, although it is worth it. 

That’s it. Other than that, grow your cannabis clone well, and soon enough you will have a garden of identical cannabis plants — all that smell the same, taste the same, and feel the same when you smoke the buds.