How To Propagate Cannabis By Cuttings

Fully Rooted Cannabis Cutting at Few True Seeds

How do you clone cannabis?

Cannabis is a very adaptive and vigorous plant. With proper direction anyone can clone cannabis. Cloning allows the cultivator to keep backup copies of select cultivars or expand a single plant into a field of identical plants.

Plant propagation whether by air layering, cutting, or in vitro micro propagation, the parameters and conditions needed for success depend greatly on procedural method. That being said there are many creative ways to propagate plants. Discovering and adapting a system that fits your needs, is the adventure that is so great about gardening.

Callus Tissue Forming on a Node on a Forsythia Cutting at Few True Seeds

Plants adapt by producing cells and cell structures. For example plants stretch towards the sun by producing cells on the dark side of its stems to

elongate and tilt in a process called photomorphogenesis. In the event of damage a plant produces callus cells in the form of parenchyma cells. These cells have the essential function as the building blocks for almost all plant tissues. It is this adaptability that we are taking advantage of when we are propagating plants. When we take a cutting we are encouraging the plant to callus over and with the help of plant hormones called auxins produce roots.

Fool Proof Clones Every Time

In order to take cutting you will need clean hands a container of cold water and sterilized clippers. I personally use flagging tape to label and bundle cuttings together as they are taken.

1. Cannabis cuttings should be taken from a healthy and well watered plant. New growth is always

preferable as it is healthier and less likely to cary pathogens, fungi and especially bacteria. Evenings are the best time to take cuttings as prolonged heat of the day puts unnecessary stress on fresh cuttings.

Remove internode from cutting

Cut above a node

2. Cuts should be taken above a node on a branch and then the internode of the cutting removed. Cuttings can be anywhere between seven and fifteen inches in length. Nodes are not hollow, are less likely to become infected by bacteria and are more likely to produce callus cells. Scarfing this bottom portion of the cutting with clean trimmers can encourage callus formation in those sites.

3. Cleanly remove all bottom branching and leaves with trimmers and cut back large leaves slightly. This process "hardens off" the plant ensuring it does not spend extra energy on maintaining cells it cannot support without roots.

4. Clearly label each bundle of cuts and keep in cold water. A small amount of hydrogen peroxide can be added to the water to ensure the cuts are kept clean. Each cut should be dipped in clean rooting hormone. I prefer to use powdered hormone. Always keep the hormone cap on and keep very dry. there are many vectors by which bacteria can infect your cuttings. Old root hormone is one of them.

5. Deep well draining pots should be filled with pearlite and soaked well. After rooting hormone is applied each cutting can be buried at-least two inches below the surface of the pearlite but not so deep that it is within an inch of the bottom of the pot.

6. The cuts should be housed in an area with good airflow and lots of light. The more evaporation the more the pearlite will have to be watered. Cold town water is best as it contains antibacterial chemicals in it, keeping the bacteria at bay. Well water can be treated with a small amount of bleach or hydrogen peroxide for watering. 5% or lower. Mister systems can also be used to keep a carefree and constant moisture.

7. After a week or more cuts should have developed enough roots to transfer into soil. After several days they can be fertilized. If within the first week you are loosing cuts to bacteria, remove the contaminated material and wash your hands before touching any other cuts. If widespread failure occurs look back on your method and determine the vector by which bacteria spread. The cleaner the better.