Using cannabis clones instead of seeds to grow your weed is a lot more efficient because for one, you already know the sex of the plant (you would use female clones if you just want to grow bud). Secondly, clones grow a lot faster than seeds, especially if you use cloning gel.
How to take a cutting and plant it
First, it is important to prep the mother plant to make sure its stems have lots of carbohydrates and growth hormones. Do this by heavily watering the mother plant a few days before taking the cuttings so as to reduce nitrogen levels and thereby increase carbohydrates.
You will then need sharp, sterilized razor blades to make a clean cut and to avoid infecting the clones with the disease. Aim to cut close to the main stem, as there will be a higher concentration of root growth hormones there. If you plan on cutting several clones, then make sure you have a clean container of water to hold your cuttings to make sure they don’t dry out.
Cover the ends of the cuttings in cloning gel. This will help protect them from illness, as well as provide them with growth hormones and nutrients to help them sprout roots faster. Then place the clones in your rooting containers filled with substrate (such as Rockwool) and keep them moist for the first couple of days.
As the cuttings won’t have roots yet they will be drinking through their leaves, so it is important to spray the leaves regularly and keep humidity levels between 80 and 90 percent. You will also want to keep your soil slightly acidic (pH 5 – 5.5) as this helps promote root growth.
Don’t worry too much about light at this stage, as the clones can’t handle too much light. You could use fluorescent lamps for 18 to 24 hours each day if you want. Clones also do well when their soil is warm, so you could place a heating mat underneath them too.
One week after you have planted your clones, check to see if any have wilted and remove these. Once the roots of your clones are about 1.5 inches long (roughly two to three weeks after planting) it is time to transplant them to your regular growing setup. Then you can gradually increase light exposure as your plants mature.
Onto the reviews!
Clonex Rooting Compound Gel Packets 15ml
Clonex is one of, if not the most well-known cloning gel brand. They have been developing their formulas for a long time, and it shows. Clonex gel is chock full of vitamins, mineral nutrients and root growth hormones, and is designed to stick to the stem, protecting it from infection whilst feeding it at the same time. The active ingredient in this Clonex formula is Indole-3-Butyric Acid at 0.31%.
Clonex Rooting Compound Gel is sold in small packets of 15ml which doesn’t seem very much, but it will suffice if you are only planning on taking a few cuttings at a time. Even when used generously, this gel packet will be enough for growing a small number of clones.
HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel 100ml
From the same company as above, this cloning gel is highly effective and this time comes in larger quantities. Clonex also sell their rooting gel in bottles of 500ml or 1litre, which ends up cheaper in the long run, especially if you have lots of clones to plant.
Technaflora Rootech Gel for Plants 7 Grams
Like Clonex gels, Rootech Gel is water based and can be diluted with more water if you need it to go further. The active ingredient in this gel is similar to Indole-3-Butyric acid, but has a higher concentration of 0.55%, which makes it a powerful feeding gel even when diluted. This container of 7 grams is the smallest size you can buy; they also sell their gel in containers of 56, 112 and 224 grams if you need a larger supply.
Grodan 1.5 inch Rockwool / Stonewool Cubes plus Rootech Cloning Gel
This kit contains rooting cubes as well as cloning gel, which will save you a little money as you start out cloning your marijuana plants. It contains 45 1.5-inch rooting cubes and a 0.25-ounce container of cloning gel.
A word of caution: Rockwool and Stonewool are great for cultivating seedlings and clones, but be careful when handling them. It is recommended to wear gloves and a dust mask to prevent the fibres from entering your body, as they are potentially harmful.
General Hydroponics Rapid Rooter Replacement Plugs 50 count
These Rapid Rooter Plugs are highly affordable and full of nutrients for your clones. They are slightly different from cloning gel but are very effective if you plan on growing your weed hydroponically.
Quick Clone Gel 75ml
Quick Clone Gel does not use the active ingredient found in Rootech and Clonex, but instead is made from entirely organic ingredients containing vitamins, amino acids and of course rooting hormones. It comes in two sizes: 75ml for small operations, and 250ml for more serious growers. It is a little on the expensive side, but all the ingredients are natural, so if you prefer to grow your weed organically and you have the extra cash, this one’s for you.
Conclusion
When raising clones, it is important to use a good cloning gel to help give them the best start possible. Any of these products would make a good addition to your clone growing kit. As long as you buy the correct amount, any of these will work well. Happy growing!