A cannabis clone is a cutting taken from a healthy marijuana plant, known as the mother plant. This cutting, typically around 5–7 inches (13–18 cm) long, is placed in a rooting medium and develops its own roots. Because it shares the same genetic material as the mother, a clone will grow into an identical plant with the same characteristics, including yield, potency, aroma, and growth habits.
Cloning offers growers consistency and efficiency. Instead of germinating seeds and sorting through males and females, a clone guarantees you’ll grow a female plant with predictable traits.
Why Clone Cannabis Plants Instead of Growing From Seed?
Both seeds and clones have their place, but cloning has some clear advantages:
- Saves time: Seeds require germination and a longer vegetative stage. Clones skip straight to rooting, cutting weeks off the cycle.
- Consistency: Each clone is genetically identical, resulting in uniformity in taste, aroma, and yield.
- Cost-effective: Once you have a healthy mother plant, you can produce an unlimited number of clones without needing to purchase additional seeds.
- All-female plants: With seeds, you’ll need to remove male plants. Clones avoid this process, maximizing your space.
- Preserve genetics: If you have a plant with outstanding qualities, cloning ensures you can grow it again.
That said, some growers worry about “genetic drift” over many generations of clones. Still, healthy practices and environment control usually prevent major issues.
What Is a Mother Plant?
The mother plant is the source of your clones. A strong, disease-free, and pest-free mother ensures that every cutting has the best chance of thriving. Mother plants should remain in the vegetative stage to avoid stress or unwanted traits in their clones.
Qualities to look for in a mother plant:
- Vigorous growth and thick stems
- High resistance to pests and mold
- Strong aroma and flavor profile
- Large, dense buds in previous grows
- Consistency in yields
Some growers maintain dedicated mothers, while others take clones from plants in vegetative growth and later flip them to flowering. If space is limited, the latter approach is more practical.
What You Need to Clone Cannabis
Cloning doesn’t require a lab setup; just some basic tools and a bit of patience. Here’s a list of essentials:
- Sharp scissors or pruning shears: to remove cuttings from the mother
- Sterile razor blade: to make precise 45° cuts at the base of cuttings
- Rooting hormone: gel or powder that promotes rapid root growth
- Rooting medium: options include rockwool cubes, peat plugs, or foam cubes
- Propagation tray with humidity dome: keeps moisture and airflow balanced
- Spray bottle: for misting leaves and maintaining humidity
- Heat mat (optional): helps keep the root zone warm for faster rooting
- Grow light: ideally 18 hours of light per day with low intensity
Different Cloning Methods
1. Root Cubes (Rockwool, Peat, or Foam)
The most common method. Dip your cutting in rooting hormone, insert it into a cube, and place the cube in a tray under a humidity dome. Roots usually appear within 7–14 days.
2. Water Cloning
You can place cuttings directly into a glass of water or in a hydro cloner that mists the stems. It’s simple, but rooting may be slower and less reliable.
3. Aeroponic Cloning Machines
An advanced option for frequent cloners. Aeroponic growing systems spray nutrient-rich water onto the cuttings at set intervals. They’re more expensive but can produce faster and more consistent rooting.
Step-by-Step: How to Take a Cutting
- Choose a healthy branch with at least two nodes. Avoid flowering branches.
- Sterilize your tools to reduce the risk of infection.
- Cut a 5–7 inch branch from the mother plant using scissors or shears.
- Trim the base at a 45° angle with a razor just below a node. This increases surface area for root development.
- Dip the fresh cut into rooting hormone immediately.
- Insert the cutting into your chosen rooting medium.
- Trim lower leaves and cut the tips off larger fan leaves to reduce energy demand.
- Place the plant under a humidity dome and mist it lightly to maintain high humidity.
How to Care for Cannabis Clones
- Humidity: Maintain humidity levels between 70% and 80% for the first week.
- Temperature: Maintain a root-zone temperature of around 72–77°F (22–25°C).
- Lighting: Provide gentle, indirect light for 18 hours per day. Avoid high-intensity light at this stage.
- Sterility: Keep the environment clean. Contamination or mold can spread quickly among clones.
- Observation: Check daily for wilting, mold, or weak clones. Remove any that fail to root.
Transplanting Clones Into Soil or Hydro
Most clones are ready to transplant after 10–14 days, once their roots have grown to be about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) long.
Steps for transplanting:
- Prepare pots with soil or your chosen medium.
- Pre-water the soil to prevent dry pockets.
- Dig a small hole about 1–2 inches deep.
- Place the rooted cube or cutting into the hole.
- Gently cover with soil and water lightly.
After transplanting, monitor for transplant shock. Maintain a moderate light intensity for a few days before gradually increasing it.
Buying Cannabis Clones
In some regions, dispensaries or nurseries sell clones. If you’re buying instead of cutting your own, here’s what to check:
| What to Check | Why It Matters |
| Origin | Ask where clones came from. Reputable nurseries reduce the risk of pests or issues. |
| Stem thickness | Thicker stems usually mean stronger, healthier plants with better rooting ability. |
| Pest-free | Inspect under leaves and soil for pests like spider mites or fungus gnats. |
| Signs of disease | Avoid clones with yellowing leaves, limp growth, or powdery mildew. |
| Genetic accuracy | Ensure strains are correctly labeled and buy from trusted, reputable suppliers. |
Quarantining New Clones
Even if clones look healthy, pests and diseases can hitch a ride. To protect your garden:
- Transplant clones into a clean medium immediately.
- Rinse or dip them in an approved pest management solution.
- Keep them in a separate space for at least one week before introducing them to the main grow area.
Final Thoughts
Cloning cannabis is one of the most reliable ways to maintain genetics, save time, and keep your garden consistent. With the right tools and care, even beginner growers can achieve high success rates. Start with a healthy mother, keep your environment clean and humid, and your clones will reward you with strong, uniform plants that match your favorite genetics.