What’s the Best Way of Cloning Cannabis?

Cloning cannabis is awesome — you get an exact replica of your best plant without the guesswork of seeds. Think of it as nature’s copy-paste function. The clone grows just like its mother, keeping the same potency, flavor, and overall quality. 

Best of all? It’s practically free! Once you have a healthy mother plant, you can create as many clones as you want without spending a dime on seeds. However, not all cloning methods are created equal — some work better than others.

In this guide, you’ll learn the best ways to clone cannabis and maximize your plant count. We’ll cover different cloning techniques, the best rooting mediums, and exactly how to ensure those new roots take off. 

Benefits of Cloning Vs. Growing from Seeds 

• Genetic Consistency

Cloning is the best way to provide genetic stability. Clones are genetic copies of the mother plant, ensuring they will all share the same size, cannabinoid content, and flowering characteristics.

With cloning, every new plant is a replica of the mother plant. This guarantees uniformity including:

• Clones grow at the same pace and share a similar physical structure.
• If the mother plant has a high level of THC or CBD, each clone has the same level.
• The aroma and taste of the clones will be the same as the aroma and taste of the mother plant.
• If the mother plant has robust and dense buds, its clones will share this characteristic as well.
• It is important for commercial growers and dispensaries to ensure consistency for branding and customer satisfaction, so clones work very well for this purpose. 

• Faster Growth Cycle

Seed-grown plants take time to germinate, sprout, and establish stems and roots before entering the vegetative stage, which can take several weeks in the overall growing cycle.

Cloning, on the other hand, skips the germination stage. Because the cutting is a part of a grown plant, it doesn’t have to worry about germinating. It can concentrate on growing roots and entering the vegetative stage quickly.

This faster growth cycle allows growers to harvest more often since it cuts down on the total amount of time the plant is growing and the flowering phase.

This will also take up less space indoors by shortening the turnaround. Clones take around 2 to 4 weeks less than growing from seeds, on average.

• Guaranteed Female Plants

You can grow both male and female plants although only female cannabis plants produce the resinous buds that users want.

When growing from regular seeds, in 50/50 cases you obtain male plants that don’t produce smokable buds. In these cases, you can still have some sort of accidental male or hermaphrodite plants.

However, when growers take a cutting from a known female mother plant, the chances of getting a male plant become 0%. This saves a grower valuable time and resources that would go to identifying and removing males before they pollinate the crop.

For growers, this has more efficiency, no wasted space, and no risk of accidental pollination that would ruin an entire grow by seeding it out.

• Cost Efficiency

Cloning dramatically cuts costs for cultivation, especially for larger growers.

You won’t have to buy costly seeds all the time: The price of high-quality cannabis seeds can run up to $10 to $20 or more for a single seed for premium weed. Having a single mother plant produce many clones is more affordable than using seeds, especially for large-scale cultivators. 

Cloning also ensures female plants and avoids time-consuming germination. This means growers can utilize their space and resources better. 

Cloning allows growers to develop setups that can create the highest yield possible with genetically stable clones that grow fast and do not threaten to hermie like seeds.

For hobby growers, this means being able to grow superior quality cannabis without having to purchase seeds continuously, while commercial growers can scale up their operations affordably and easily.

• Preservation of Elite Genetics

Some strains of cannabis have rare or special characteristics that are not easy to breed for. These traits could include.

• Exceptionally high THC or CBD levels.
• Unique terpene profiles and flavors.
• Strong disease and pest resistance.
• High yield and dense bud structure.

Growers can keep taking cuttings from the mother plant, preserving elite genetics indefinitely with cloning.

This is particularly critical for breeders, dispensaries, and cannabis brands that wish to promote strain consistency for medical patients or recreational consumers. They can expect the same high-quality results every time instead of taking a chance with a new seed producing the same results.

• Reduced Risk of Unwanted Traits

Even with a reputable breeder, the seeds purchased wouldn’t be exactly the same, meaning some plants may show undesirable traits like.

• Lower cannabinoid content.
• Poor bud structure.
• Susceptibility to mold or pests.
• Longer flowering times.

Cloning guarantees that the plants will have the same characteristics as the mother plant removing any unpredictability. This allows growers to concentrate on improving their methods and enhancing the well-being of their plants rather than having to manage an unexpected plant.

So, as you can understand, although cloning takes a lot of technique and environmental control, it is a very efficient way to guarantee the same cannabis production of great quality at all times. Whether you are a small-time home grower or a commercial seller, learning how to clone can take your growing to the next level and improve your yields.

How to Clone Cannabis?

Cloning might sound like some high-tech lab experiment, but it’s actually a straightforward process. That said, the details matter — a sloppy approach can lead to weak clones that struggle to survive. Here’s how to do it right.

1. Choosing the Right Mother Plant

Your clones are only as good as the plant they come from, so picking a strong mother plant is step one. Since clones share the same DNA as their parent, any weaknesses in the mother will carry over.

Here’s what to look for:

• The plant should be vibrant, healthy, and free of stress, pests, or nutrient deficiencies.
• It should be in the vegetative stage — not flowering. A plant that’s already producing buds is past its prime for cloning.
• Younger mother plants (under two months old) tend to produce stronger clones.
• Avoid any plant showing signs of pistils or stigma — these are early signs of flowering, meaning it’s too late for cloning.

Most importantly, pick a mother plant with traits you love. If the strain isn’t up to your standards in terms of potency, aroma, or yield, cloning won’t magically improve it.

2. Prepping for the Cloning Process

Once you’ve found the perfect mother plant, it’s time to set up for cloning. Having the right tools on hand will make the process smoother and improve the chances of success.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A sharp razor blade 
• Sterile gloves 
• A rooting medium 
• Rooting hormone
• Low-intensity grow lights
• A humidity dome 

3. Taking the Cutting

Now comes the crucial step — snipping off your clones. To give them the best chance of survival, you’ll need to be picky about which branches you cut.

• Always go for branches on the lower part of the plant. These have higher levels of rooting hormones, which means they’ll establish roots faster.
• Pick branches that are sturdy, healthy, and free of stress — any weakness in the mother will carry over to the clone.
• Look for two nodes (those knobby joints where leaves and buds grow) and make your cut just below one of them. This is where roots will sprout.

Use a sharp razor or scissors and cut at a 45-degree angle. This maximizes the rooting surface area, giving the clone a better shot at taking off. Your cutting should be at least five inches long.

As soon as you cut, place the clone in water immediately. This prevents air bubbles from getting into the stem, which can mess with the plant’s ability to absorb water.

Keep the clones in a dark, humid place to kickstart the rooting process. If needed, trim large fan leaves to prevent the clone from wasting energy on photosynthesis. The goal is to get it to focus on root development first.

4. Rooting the Clone

Once you’ve got your cuttings, it’s time to get those roots growing, and here’s how.

• Take the clone out of the water and dip the cut end into a rooting hormone — either a powder or gel. This boosts root development while sealing off the cut to prevent air exposure.
• Make sure your rooting hormone is sterile. Any contamination can stunt the clone’s growth or even kill it before it gets started.
• Next, plant the cutting into your chosen rooting medium. Whatever you use, it should allow for some passive aeration since clones struggle to breathe properly in their first few weeks.
• Spray the clones with water (lightly infused with nutrients) a few times a day. Since they don’t have roots yet, they’ll absorb moisture through their leaves.

Over time, you’ll notice a dense cluster of roots forming at the base. That’s your sign that the clone is ready to move on to its next phase.

5. Provide the Ideal Environment

Cannabis clones are tender and must be conditioned to produce strong roots. As they don’t have roots, they use their leaves to feed and maintain themselves. If clones do not have the right humidity, temperature, lighting, and airflow, they can wilt, dry out, or fail to root. Thus, if these things are optimized, you will clone the plants successfully. 

Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Humidity: 75–85% for Optimal Rooting

High humidity is key because cannabis clones depend on moisture in the air for their hydration until their roots have developed. A relative humidity (RH) of 75–85% is ideal, as it prevents excessive water loss through the leaves while encouraging root formation.

To maintain high humidity, you can use a humidity dome as it’s a great way to help keep the humidity level consistent for your clones. Placing clones inside a propagation tray with a humidity dome helps trap moisture, keeping humidity levels consistent. Many commercial cloning kits include humidity domes for this reason.

You can also mist the leaves lightly with some water or maybe a diluted seaweed/root stimulant solution once or twice a day to keep them hydrated. But don't go overboard with misting, as too much moisture can cause fungus.

Finally, remember to lower the humidity gradually when the roots are developed (generally 7 to 14 days). Bring the humidity to 60 to 65% to help the clones adjust.

• Make sure the temperature is warm and steady

The temperature is crucial to help the clone develop roots and also for its general health. The optimal temperature range is 70–78°F (21–26°C). When temperatures are too cold, roots will take longer to develop, while extreme temperatures will cause clones to droop or stress.

Your clones will grow roots faster when you place them on a gentle heating mat (set to 75°F) if you are cloning in a cooler environment. Warm temperatures increase plant enzyme activity which is important for root establishment.

However, keep in mind not to shock your clones with temperature swings — a clone that gets shocked by a temperature swing will become sick very fast. Therefore, ensure that the clones are placed away from cold air and heat.

• Low Light: Soft, indirect light for steady growth

Cannabis plants need strong light for vegetative and flowering growth. However, soft, indirect light is best for clones to prevent undue stress and help roots grow.

It is always best to use low-intensity lighting. Fluorescent T5 tubes or cool white LED grow lights work well because they gently light up your clones without burning them and without producing any excessive heat.

Leave your lights on for 18-24 hours per day — clones benefit from constant light exposure to keep photosynthesis active, helping them generate energy until roots form.

Also, avoid direct, intense light — strong HID or high-intensity LED lights can dry out clones quickly. Position the light 18–24 inches away or use a dimmer setting to reduce intensity. 

• Airflow: Gentle flow to avoid mold

Proper airflow is essential to maintain a healthy cloning environment, prevent mold growth, and strengthen young clones as they develop. However, too much airflow can dehydrate clones, making it difficult for them to root.

To start, use an oscillating fan on a low setting as a gentle breeze in the room prevents stagnant air, reducing the risk of mold or fungal infections.

Also, don’t point the fans directly at your clones since strong airflow can dry out leaves and rooting mediums, slowing down or preventing root formation.

6. Daily Assistance and On-going Care

Clones need to be checked and carefully managed for the first 7–14 days to keep them alive and rooting strongly. During this time, it is essential to help the clone avoid wilting/disease/-failure to root.

• Give your plant a light misting or spray. Clones do not have roots so make sure you mist the leaves to maintain hydration, although remember that too much will invite mold. Misting clones with distilled or pH-balanced water is a good practice and it may not even be needed if humidity remains high (75–85%), so stop misting them as it can attract pests and fungi. Remember — the moisture must not drown the rooting medium; keep it damp.
• The rooting medium should be moist but not oversaturated. If it dries out completely, clones can wilt and die. If the medium remains excessively wet, clones may suffocate from insufficient oxygen or contract fungal diseases.
• Make sure to check the medium every day adding water to it whenever it starts drying out. If you are using peat pellets or Rockwool cubes, they should feel a bit moist not soggy.
• Don’t give too much water to your clones or young seedlings as it will create damping off. It is a fungal disease that kills seedlings and clones. 
• Don't disturb clones until they are healthy. The clones are delicate, and too much handling can interfere with their root-building process.
• Do not move clones around frequently. Keep them in the same place with consistent conditions.
• Do not touch or bend the stems because this may harm the cell structures for rooting and be gentle with the humidity dome and misting if you adjust them.

7. Check for Roots

Usually, the clones will start rooting in 7-14 days although some will take longer depending on the strain and conditions.

After 7 – 10 days, gently give the base of the clone a little pull test. If you feel resistance, roots are forming. If you do not see any roots on your clone after 14 days, check your environment as it could be too wet or too dry. 

After roots appear, gradually wean the clones off the high humidity environment till they are around 60-65% and prepare for transplant.

8. Transplanting Your Clone

Most clones will be ready for transplantation within two weeks, though this varies depending on the strain and environment. So, you need to do this.

• Prepare your growing medium and give it a good watering so it settles properly. 
• If you’re planting outdoors, dig a 1x1-foot hole. For indoor growing, a 1-2 inch deep hole should do the trick.
• Be gentle with your new roots — handling them too much or exposing them to air for too long can cause transplant shock, which slows growth.
• Carefully place the clone into the hole and cover the roots with soil or your chosen medium.

How to Pick the Right Rooting Medium?

When it comes to cloning cannabis, picking the right rooting medium can make all the difference. Some options are beginner-friendly, while others offer a more high-tech approach. 

As clones start growing without any roots, they need a medium that is supportive enough to retain moisture while allowing good oxygen exchange. The rooting medium is very important to help clones get the conditions they need for the growth of a proper rooting system.

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular choices so you can decide what works best for you.

Rockwool Cubes

Rockwool cubes are a go-to option for many growers, especially those interested in cultivating cannabis hydroponically. Made from spun volcanic rock, this material holds both air and moisture exceptionally well, creating the perfect environment for new roots to thrive. Thus, you don’t have to water too much. 

If you take care, you will even prevent root rot. It is also very light and easy to use, simplifying the cloning process.

Even though Rockwool is pH neutral, you’ll want to pre-soak it in water with a pH of 5.5 to ensure a slightly acidic balance. If clones are not pH-adjusted, they won’t absorb nutrients properly and will develop slowly with weak roots. After soaking, dip your clone in a rooting hormone, stick it into the cube, and place it in a grow tray with a humidity dome. In about two weeks, you should see roots popping out, meaning your clone is ready for transplanting.

One con of using Rockwool cubes, however, is that they are not biodegradable, so they may cause problems. You can reuse it a few times but many growers throw it away after using it, generating a lot of waste that doesn’t break down easily. So, if you choose to use rockwool make sure you reuse it as many times as you can and dispose of it properly. 

Water

If you prefer a simpler, more hands-off approach, you can clone directly in water. It’s a straightforward and low-cost cannabis cloning technique that does not need a firm rooting medium. In water cloning, cut clones are immediately placed in a container with aerated water instead of a solid rooting medium. The cuttings develop roots in the water and are then transplanted into soil or another growing medium.

Just fill a 16-ounce bottle or glass with pH-balanced water (around 5.8) and a dash of mild nutrients, then drop your cutting in. 

Keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent algae buildup. Algae can smother roots before they have a chance to grow. Change the water every few days or immediately if you spot any algae. After about two weeks, the roots should be long enough for transplanting.

One of the biggest benefits of water cloning is that it removes transplant shock as the roots are free to grow and not lodged in a solid medium. This method also requires very little equipment to implement, making it an attractive option for beginner growers or those with limited means.

Water cloning takes longer than solid mediums but roots usually develop in 10 to 14 days. Moreover, roots that grow in water are more fragile and delicate, making them more prone to breakage during transplanting. To encourage more successful rooting, growers will want to change the water every few days to prevent stagnation.

Using an air pump or an air stone to oxygenate the water is another way of helping increase water cloning success. If your water is rich in oxygen, roots will grow faster and the clones won’t drown. Although not the fastest or most dependable method, cloning cannabis using just water can be effective, especially when resources are limited. 

Peat or Jiffy Pellets

Another popular cloning medium, especially for soil-based growing, is peat or jiffy pellets. These compressed peat moss balls soak up water and expand into a soft, aerated medium for your young clones.

A very big benefit of peat pellets is that they are easy to transplant. Once your clone has rooted, the whole pellet can go straight into the soil or other medium so as not to shock it. These are great for inexperienced growers or people who want a simple cloning technique.

Peat pellets, which are made of organic material, can decompose and thus, are a green alternative to Rockwool, which is synthetic. However, peat moss is slightly acidic in nature, with a pH that ranges from 5.2 to 6.2. While this pH range may be acceptable for cannabis, many growers aim to raise the pH just a little in their grow tent.

A drawback of peat pellets is that they can dry quickly, especially in low-humidity conditions. They also don’t retain moisture as long as Rockwool, so you will need to regulate this material and mist it more often to prevent the clones from drying out. Nonetheless, they are a simple solution that is biodegradable and very effective for cloning cannabis.

Soil

If you like the classic route, soil is another easy choice. Just make sure it’s pH-balanced and has good drainage. Water the soil beforehand so it settles, then dip your clone into the rooting hormone and plant it. 

Compact the soil gently around the base and place your clone under CFL lights for mild, steady illumination. Water as needed, but don’t overdo it — too much moisture can lead to root rot. A diluted nutrient solution once a week will keep things moving along. 

Which Rooting Medium is the Best to Clone Cannabis 

For a grower, various rooting mediums have various advantages. So, the best rooting medium will depend on the grower’s setup, experience, and growing method.

For instance, Rockwool cubes are perfect for hydroponic systems as they hold moisture well and provide good aeration. However, they require pH adjustment before use.

On the other hand, peat-based jiffy pellets are suitable for organic soil growers since they are biodegradable and easily transplanted. However, they may dry out faster than other mediums.

Coco coir plugs are very eco-friendly and have a neutral pH. They help provide good aeration and moisture retention. These are popular among those looking for a disease-free and clean medium.

Finally, water cloning is more affordable and simpler but takes extra patience and more care for transplanting as it can easily damage the soft roots.

As you can understand, all the mediums have their own pros and cons so it's difficult to pinpoint one; however, the final choice of your rooting medium will depend on the grower’s needs. For those who want speed and consistency coco coir may be a better choice, but if that’s not available, you can go for jiffy pellets. Water cloning is another viable option for growers trying to keep it simple and cheap.

If you know what each medium can do or what its limitations are, you can choose the best method for your setup. This ensures better cloning, resulting in healthier plants in the future.

If you’re still doubtful about the growing mediums, just go for coco coir pellets as they hold on to moisture while also giving good aeration and helping to develop healthier longer roots. In addition, they are biodegradable so you don’t have to worry about the environment. 

What’s the Best Rooting Hormone?

Rooting hormones play a crucial role in the cloning process, giving your cuttings the boost they need to transition from stems to thriving root systems. They work by stimulating the production of auxins and cytokinins, the hormones responsible for root development. 

Think of them as a turbo button for your clones, speeding up the rooting process while increasing success rates.

One of the most common options is powder rooting hormone. If you’re cloning multiple plants, this is a great choice because it has a long shelf life and is easy to store. To use it, moisten the cutting slightly, dip the cut end into the powder, and plant it in your chosen medium. 

For a more versatile option, liquid rooting hormones are highly effective. You can use them in two ways — either dilute a small amount in pH 6.0 water and soak the clone before planting, or dip the cutting directly into the concentrated solution for a few seconds. Since liquid hormones are more easily absorbed, they tend to work a little faster than powders.

If you’re only cloning a few plants and want something mess-free, rooting gel is the way to go. It sticks to the cutting better than liquid, ensuring complete coverage while preventing air from getting into the stem. Just dip your clone into the gel and plant it as usual. 

For those who prefer an all-natural approach, there are DIY rooting hormones that work surprisingly well. Cinnamon, honey, and willow water all have antibacterial properties and can help stimulate root growth. They won’t be as potent as commercial options, but if you want a chemical-free alternative, they’re worth trying.

Summary: What’s the Best Way of Cloning Cannabis?

Cloning cannabis is a game-changer — it saves you money, ensures genetic consistency, and lets you grow your favorite strains indefinitely. While the process is simple, success depends on choosing a strong mother plant, handling cuttings with care, and using the right rooting medium and hormone. 

Whether you go with Rockwool, water, or soil, the key is maintaining warmth, humidity, and gentle light to encourage root development. So, use these steps, and you’ll have a steady supply of high-quality cannabis plants without the hassle of seeds.