Cannabis Propagation

Cloning

While it always sounds far more extravagant and complex than it really it, cloning is just the art of taking a cutting and rooting it so as to create another plant genetically identical to the originating plant. This can be as simple as taking a cutting and placing it in a fresh glass of water everyday or using a complex cloning machine. The latter being a very worth while investment as it speeds up the process as well as the success rate tremendously.

I use the EZ-Cloner-16 and it has more than paid off the investment.

Part of what you will have to establish in Hawaii is a growing closet or tent. This only need be a very simple lighting system; regular "shop light" (daylight) T-12 fluorescents will do the job just fine.

The idea is to move the plants still in the vegetative state to a lit and ventilated closet/tent for the nighttime hours.

To save on electricity you can have a timer turn off the lights (keep the ventilation going) within 4 hours of when you plan to move them back outside. This will be a daily morning and evening chore that cannot be avoided, however, nothing is better than pulling oversized harvest in the middle of the summer to make your mainland friends jealous! If you don't do this all the plants will start to flower and then preserving the genetic line becomes much more difficult.

To clone remove a growing shoot, anywhere from 4-8 inches in length. You'll want to trim all but the upper nodes and strip the lower 3-4 inches of stem bare.

Trim the outer edges of the fan leaves. The plant will purge these regions herself so giving her a head start helps reduce stress and also speeds up the process. The idea is to expose the lower trimmed stem to oxygenated water 24x7 for about two weeks until roots appear. At this point the cutting can be placed in a starter pot with a mild soil blend.