When it comes to marijuana cultivation, there are numerous things to consider. The first is whether you’ll use seeds, clones, or clone tissue culture as a starting point. Each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and you can either succeed or fail with both. When it comes to the clones vs. seeds issue, here are some things to think about.
Seeds are an easy-to-find and reliable method of cultivating marijuana. Clones, on the other hand, are quick, productive, and identical to their mother plant. Tissue culture clones are nearly identical to traditional clones, however they take up less space and are pest and disease free. Clone tissue culture, seed, and clones, on the other hand, all have drawbacks.
Growing From Clones
Clones are cuttings from an adult marijuana plant that grow into young plants that are identical to the mother plant. A clone is a genetic duplicate of the parent plant, which can be beneficial or harmful. They’re also known as “starts.”
They will inherit all of the qualities and characteristics of their parent plant because they are identical to it. That means that if the parent plant has health problems, the cloned plant would have them as well.
As a result, clones should be derived from strong, healthy plants devoid of pests, pathogens, and visible illness. It’s a good idea to research the parent plant’s ancestors. You’ll know the potential production, height, and flowering time this way.
Pros of Growing From Clone
Here are the pros from growing from clones below:
You Know What You are Getting
You can choose which plants to clone because a clone is a genetic match to the mother plant. You can avoid passing on some of the parent’s faults and health issues to the new cloned plant by choosing a healthy mature plant. Farmers normally select the plants that are the healthiest and yield the most.
Saves Time
When you produce marijuana with clones, you save time that would otherwise be spent waiting for seeds to germinate. Although some gardeners wait for their clones to develop a root system before planting them, you can just root your cutting and wait for it to grow.
Grows Faster
Clones have an advantage over seeds in terms of time. They will develop faster because they are cuttings from a mature plant with a well-established root system. This also means that you’ll be able to harvest sooner.
Always Females
The gender of your plant is unmistakable. Clones are cuttings from a female marijuana plant that are identical to the parent plant. Marijuana farmers have no chance of getting a male plant as long as the mother is female, which is a possibility with seeds.
More Harvests
A marijuana plant that has been cloned develops more quickly. This is due to the fact that the clone bypasses the germination and seedling stages of the plant life cycle, allowing you to harvest multiple times per year. You’ll be able to get multiple extra harvests per year if you cultivate your clones outdoors before winter. Indoor growers, on the other hand, can harvest all year.
Cheaper Option
You’ll never run out of clones if you have a reliable mother plant. It’s much less expensive to make clones from a single plant than it is to buy seeds every season. A single plant can produce several clones, each of which can spawn more clones. In theory, this may result in an infinite number of plants.
Consider growing and maintaining a strong, healthy, and high-yielding mother plant if you want to grow as cheaply as possible. Then, to grow your marijuana, take cuttings from the mother plant.
Cons of Growing Clones
Mother’s Must be Strong
Clones must come from a vigorous plant because they have to work a little harder at first. Your baby plants may endure stunted growth, shock, or death if you use a clone from a mother plant that isn’t well established.
Although clones have numerous advantages, marijuana plants are often developed from seeds. This is the most straightforward and natural technique.
It’s Harder to Grow Clones
Clones are delicate and must be treated with caution. Freshly cut clones must be handled with care since they are light and nutrient sensitive. Your plants may die or remain in shock for a long time if cloned incorrectly, rendering them unusable.
Harder to Find
Finding clones that are stable, healthy, and high-yielding is difficult. You’ll need to know a grower or live in an area where they sell starts, but seeds can be found readily through online seed banks.
New ways are being developed by science, such as micropropagation, however tissue culture clones will not be available for purchase anytime soon. Seeds are the greatest approach to assure a healthy marijuana plant till that time comes.
Mother Plants Get Sick
Clones are vulnerable to their parents’ health problems, which could include a lack of resistance to pests, fungi, root rot, or even bacteria. If the mother plant had genetic problems like low yields, pests, or disease, the baby plants will have them as well. Tissue culture cloning can assist solve this problem, however there aren’t many tissue culture clones available for purchase by the common grower.
Growing From Seeds
This is the most straightforward and natural technique.
Seeds are the More Natural Route
Pollination is the process through which seeds are formed. Pollen from male cannabis plants reaches a female cannabis plant, resulting in seeds in her blooms. Unlike marijuana flowers, these will not grow huge colas or have as many trichomes as marijuana flowers. The seeds from the flowers are gathered and utilized to start new plants.
Each seed, unlike a clone, is genetically distinct. That implies you’ll have a wide range of marijuana plants with variable pest and disease resistance. If one plant fails to thrive, another seed may thrive. Plants can also be bred to make your ideal plant.
Nature’s technique of increasing genetic variety is through seeds. Instead of a single plant, each seed represents a cross between a male and a female cannabis plant. Seeds can be formed at random or by growers who have deliberately bred them.
Seeds are Easier to Grow
Many seed banks can legally transmit marijuana seeds to your mailbox using the internet. This makes it simple to find and buy feminized seeds, as well as a large variety of marijuana strains. Feminized seeds eliminate the possibility of male seeds.
Plants developed from seed have more robust root systems and branches, making them easier to cultivate. Plants that are in better health create higher yields. Seeds are a smart investment as well. You can keep marijuana seeds for years or fertilize your plants to get an unlimited supply of seeds.
Of course, there’s a danger that some of the seeds won’t germinate, particularly if they weren’t properly stored. Seeds take longer to grow, therefore you won’t be able to grow as many per year.
Advantages of Growing Seeds
- Seeds can be preserved indefinitely (as long as the temperatures are right). Clones must be employed or the clones will perish.
- Plants developed from seedlings have no hereditary diseases or pests, whereas seeds are naturally resistant to pests and diseases.
- Unlike clones, which are confined to the mature plants accessible in your area, seeds come in a wide range of varietals, which can be found online or in stores.
- Marijuana plants that are developed from seed have a taproot, which offers additional support as the plant grows.
Disadvantages of Growing Seeds
- Seeds take longer to germinate and reach the same height as cloned plants than clones.
- While developing, seeds are sensitive and easily crushed. Getting used to handling germinating seeds requires some practice.
- If you’ve never done it before, germinating marijuana seeds can be difficult.
- In comparison to clones, the grower will likely need to pay more attention to their plants for the first six weeks. If they want to develop non-feminized sinsemilla, they must determine the sex of their plants and remove any males.
Should you grow marijuana from seeds if it’s simply a hobby?
For a hobby grower, seeds are the ideal option because they are easy to get by and generate better plants (which can lead to higher yields). They’re also beneficial because they provide more choices. Finding a strain that grows well in your area, fits a specific growing space, or is suited for first-time growers is relatively simple. Furthermore, because gardening is a hobby, you will have the patience to wait for the seeds to develop.
Because a cloned plant is older, your yield will be higher with seeds. Marijuana is a short-lived annual plant that lasts around a year. If your plant is a clone, it has already reached adulthood as part of its parent plant. However, after you flower your clone, it will only generate restricted yields because it has only survived as long as a seedling. As a result, the output of clones vs seeds is a major factor in why many people choose seeds.
It’s also important to think about where you’re going to expand. When it comes to seeds vs. clones, clones tend to be more difficult to grow outside. Outdoor-grown clones require a lot of attention to prevent shock and environmental attack due to weakened defenses such as the lack of a taproot and other built-in seedling benefits.
Using feminized seeds eliminates the most difficult component of growing from seed: determining the sex of your plants. These seeds are assured to be female, resulting in the production of sinsemilla weed.
Clones Are King If You’re Growing Commercially
Clones are also preferable because a single mature plant can produce several plants. Hundreds of clones can likewise be used to replicate the desired attributes of a single plant. If you want to make your own clones, you’ll need some marijuana growing knowledge; nonetheless, it’s a very cost-effective option if you’re concerned about the bottom line.
When it comes to commercial marijuana cultivation, clones are superior to seeds. The key reason is that because they are cuttings from established plants, they take less time to mature. Clones bypass the seedling stage entirely and proceed directly to the vegetative stage. However, they produce lower yields than seeds.
Creating Clone Plants from Seeds
It’s a good idea to learn how to make clones if you plan to produce marijuana for a few years. Even if you start with seeds, you can find yourself growing a plant that you adore and want to grow again. Fortunately, making clones from feminized seeds is a simple operation.
First and foremost, let’s clarify something. Although it is theoretically impossible to clone seeds, it is possible to clone plants developed from feminized seeds, and there are very few reasons not to. Of course, while comparing the yields of clones vs. seeds, you’ll see that the yields of a cloned plant are lower, but the cloned plant retains its potency. It also inherited all of its mother’s excellent features.
However, some clones may create “hermie plants,” which is a disadvantage. Hermie is a slang term for hermaphrodite, which refers to a clone that produces both male and female components. If this happens, don’t clone again with that mother plant.
That’s why picking a decent “mother” plant is the most difficult component of cloning. The finest plant is at least four weeks old and no more than three months old. It’s a good idea to stop fertilizing (particularly nitrogen fertilization) at least a week before cutting to guarantee that the clones have stronger root development.
Before you begin cutting, make sure the mother plant is free of bugs, germs, or disease symptoms. Before planting your clone, make sure to check the pH and temperature of the soil and make any required adjustments.
Remember that your clone will be the same age as the mother plant, so cut your cuttings while the mother plant is still in the vegetative stage. Clones derived from branches establish roots more quickly and are more stable, allowing the plant to stand on its own.
How to Grow a Marijuana Plant from a Clone
- Take a clipping from a mother plant and grow it. Cut your preferred branch at a 45-degree angle using a sharp and clean blade or scissors. Make sure there are three to four nodes visible above the cut.
- Place it in a cup of water just after cutting. The clone can be damaged if it is exposed for even a few seconds.
- To remove the leaves, trim the cutting. Between the cut and the top leaves, trim the stems.
- In a small pot with growing medium, place the stem. Cover it with enough dirt while planting. Include some of the clipped nodes in the roots and growth phase to speed things up.
- Add plant hormones, such as rooting powder, to increase root growth (optional).
- To keep the cutting moist and warm, cover it with clear plastic.
- Look for forming roots after a few weeks.
This is the standard cloning process. If you want to increase your chances of a successful clone, you might wish to sow many starts.
Science and technology have now led to the development of new and improved methods for growing marijuana. Tissue culture propagation, a sort of cloning, is widely regarded as the future of marijuana cultivation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to deciding whether to use seeds or clones, many people have questions. Here are a few examples of such inquiries:
Is it true that clones are faster than seeds?
Clones take less time because they are cut from a mature plant that has already begun to establish roots. Seeds must also germinate before moving on to the vegetative and flowering stages, which adds weeks to their growth. The fact that clones develop faster indicates that the yield is smaller.
Is it legal for dispensaries to sell clones or seeds?
Yes, many dispensaries sell clones or seeds to both legal and non-licensed growers. The laws in your area will determine this. Clones, unlike seeds, cannot be sent through the mail, so they must be purchased or obtained from individuals or stores.
Research where you plan to acquire your clones, just as you would online, to ensure healthy, robust plants with decent yields.
Is it possible to develop plants from seeds of clones that are identical to their parents?
Normally, the answer is no. The genetic makeup of both the male and female parents will be present in any plant developed from seed. Your female clone has been pollinated by a male if it produces seeds. As a result, clone seeds will contain both male and female plant features.
Selfing, on the other hand, can cause a female clone to create a male flower. That flower’s pollen is used to fertilize the female flower on the same plant. Feminized clone seeds are produced from the fertilized female flower. Because the clone fertilized itself, these seeds will create identical plants.
Is it possible to create feminized seeds from clones?
Yes, clones can be used to create feminized seeds. This is because it makes no difference whether the plant is cloned or grown from seeds. The crucial step is to induce the clone to generate seeds, and then to feminize those seeds using the same method. You can fertilize the clone with any male plant as long as it is female.
Is it true that cannabis clones are weaker than seeds?
Yes. This is because clones are branches without roots, and the root system is the first thing they develop after being planted. Clones are weaker than seedlings because they lack a taproot that extends deeper into the soil and provides support as well as access to water and nutrients.
Clones also have a single node, which means they only have one branch per node, but cannabis plants grown from seeds have two-sided nodes, which means they have twice as many branches per plant and yield more than clones.
Is it possible to clone auto flower seeds?
Although cloning auto-flowering strains of marijuana is difficult, it is not impossible. Some growers claim to have succeeded, but their efforts were not rewarded in terms of yields. As a result, if you’re doing it as an experiment, go ahead and do it; nonetheless, it’s rarely encouraged.
What is tissue culture propagation, and how does it work?
Tissue culture propagation is taking a small cutting from a mother plant and placing it in a sterile environment.
What might motivate someone to clone their marijuana plant?
Growers choose to clone for two reasons: one, a lack of access to high-quality seeds, and two, a preference for clones over seeds.