I found this really interesting info over in the advanced cultivation forums, heres a link to the post:
https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/267630-preferred-cloning-methods-poll-2.html
To quote hobbs on that post:
"VH root budding is the simplest cloning method I've used, but takes more time than rooting cuttings. There's very little infomation on the net about it, I picked it up from the old OG but I didn't use it again because the bubbler was faster. And I didn't need hundreds of clones. I don't know why commercial growers don't use this method.
1. pull out a couple handfuls of damp roots and soilless from the bottom side of the bucket (I was looking for a way to clone a plant in late flower without revegging);
2. put in a light proof bucket with dark plastic directly on top of the mix (fluff up a bit, spray with ph'd water if too dry);
3. leave it for a few weeks somewhere dark and warm, check every once and a while and eventually you'll have hundreds of 4"+ sprouts with cotyldones.
"... In particular, the natural ability of roots of many species to form buds that develop into new shoots has been long recognized, and lists of species capable of forming root buds are extensive. In some species, shoot buds occur sporadically on roots only after the root has been excised, whereas in other species one of the main functions of the root system appears to be the production of root buds. The formation of buds on roots enables the propagation of plants by root cuttings and is an important means of spreading noxious weeds. A variety of root tissue may be involved in bud differentiation, and the development pattern therefore varies considerably depending on the region of the root in which bud initiation occurs. Root buds of herbaceous species frequently arise endogenously, in a manner similar to initiation of lateral or adventitious roots. Therefore, descriptions of buds arising from both the pericycle and the phellogen or related tissues are frequently reported"
.
"In propagation by cuttage or layerage it is only necessary for a new root system to form, since the meristematic shoot apex comes directly from the parental plant. Many stem cells, even in mature plants, have the capability of producing adventitious roots. In fact, every vegetative cell in the plant contains the genetic information needed for an entire plant. Adventitious roots appear spontaneously from stems and old roots as opposed to systemic roots which appear along the developing root system originating in the embryo. In humid conditions (as in the tropics or a green house) adventitious roots occur naturally along the main stalk near the ground and along limbs where they droop and touch the ground."
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/92/1/145
Im wondering if this will work with autoflowering plants, if so all of us auto growers just found a way to save some $$$! The only reason I can see this not working is due to the plant dying after flowering, due to its genetics. I wonder if the root system ages similiar or if this meathod is possible. Im going to give it a try after harvest and see if it works. Let me know what you guys think...