newbie question about clones

I'm pretty new to this and recently joined this site. I'm glad I found it. This site rocks and has plenty of helpful information. Have a quick newbie question. I had about 8 baby plants growing (soil), but ended up battling a severe pest problem. Well now I have one healthy looking survivor. Was planning on cloning and switching over to a hydro farm. How long should I wait till I start harvesting clones, and how long can I use my lonely survivor as a mother plant?

Sorry to hear the bad news, I hate bugs.

You can keep a mother for years. Just keep her on 18/6 lighting cycle.
The way to cut the clones is wait till you can take it off a branch and keep the top of the branch going. I usually top the main branch to keep the height down, then top the two new branches. After that its all about taking clones.

420TeflonDon said:

How long should I wait till I start harvesting clones, and how long can I use my lonely survivor as a mother plant?

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I'd wait a few weeks till you have plenty of side shoots, you should never remove more than 1/3 of your plants mass. A clone mother can last years if you know what your doing. Easier to save a clone and turn it into a new mother every couple of years.

I have a second genaration clone that I am keeping inside under cfl's but she is getting tall. I didn't realize that it would be okay to top her. but, I'm not gonna flower her so it makes sence to keep her short and fitting in my little indoor 2x2' grow area. And I could use the tops as clones, right? So I should do it before she get's any taller, right?

got any pics man?

lehua96734 said:

I have a second genaration clone that I am keeping inside under cfl's but she is getting tall. I didn't realize that it would be okay to top her. but, I'm not gonna flower her so it makes sence to keep her short and fitting in my little indoor 2x2' grow area. And I could use the tops as clones, right? So I should do it before she get's any taller, right?

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yes & yes
Here's a great tutorial on clone mothers: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=31919

Thanks bro. Appreciate the info. Hope my baby turns into a girl, soon to be mamma.

Cool. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.