Taking clones??

Hey all,

I just switched my darlings into flower 5 days ago. They now rest under a 400w HPS, and one is beginning to show what look like little white hairs!

Question now: If I want to take clones, do I do it now or later? Also, do I take the cuttings from the lower leaves? The logic being that since less light gets to these leaves, take these anyway for a clone?

Now, when I cut a clone, do I just cut off the branch at the node from the main stem, or do I go further up the particular branch? Do I then do as I did with my seedlings, putting them in presoaked 5.5ph rockwool under the florescents?

Thank you all for your help!

Generally speaking clones should be taken before flowering. They can be taken throughout different stages of the flower cycle with varying success. The longer they have been flowering, the longer it is going to take to get them back into the natural veg cycle. I usually count back 2 nodes from the end of the branch. Usually clones root faster in a propagation tray with a humidity dome. I don't understand why people wait until their plants are flowering to start thinking about taking clones. I do not us rockwool. I clone into perlite misting the clone a couple times per day until rooted..

you really should have taken a clone before you put them into flower, but its not too late.. it just may take a lil longer for them to revert back to veg stage.. i like to take my clones from lower down on the plant.. make sure the branch that you are using for a clone has atleast one node on it.. after i take the clone, i remove all the lower leaves and any branches that are coming off the node, and cut the top leaves in half so that the plant stops most of its vegetive growth and concentrates on growing roots..
after you take the clone, you can just put them into your rockwool cubes and i like to use cfls for clones and a lil humidity dome to keep the rh up..
i just re read your post, and yah, i just use a clean razor blade and cut the branch away from the main stem cleanly..

Thanks all....So I should cut the whole lower branches off of the plant, then remove excess nodes off of these branches so it can focus on rooting?

This, I assume, does not hurt the plant from which I am taking clones...does it shock the plant at all? Or, rather, does it focus the energy onto the "hopefully producing" bud sites? I have not done any trimming or cutting on any of my plants, so I am just slightly nervous.

Thanks again ya'll!

GreyPoppyseed said:

Thanks all....So I should cut the whole lower branches off of the plant, then remove excess nodes off of these branches so it can focus on rooting?

This, I assume, does not hurt the plant from which I am taking clones...does it shock the plant at all? Or, rather, does it focus the energy onto the "hopefully producing" bud sites? I have not done any trimming or cutting on any of my plants, so I am just slightly nervous.

Thanks again ya'll!

Click to expand...

Imho,

Its best to take clones late in veg.

Because the longer you wait, the "woodier" the clones will be, which in turn makes it harder for the roots to develop.

Good luck

GreyPoppyseed said:

Thanks all....So I should cut the whole lower branches off of the plant, then remove excess nodes off of these branches so it can focus on rooting?

This, I assume, does not hurt the plant from which I am taking clones...does it shock the plant at all? Or, rather, does it focus the energy onto the "hopefully producing" bud sites? I have not done any trimming or cutting on any of my plants, so I am just slightly nervous.

Thanks again ya'll!

Click to expand...

As long as you're not taking a shitload of clones or big branches off, it wont stress your plant. But do it now rather than later, and expect possibly deformed leaves on the new clones until they settle down - usually 1 or 2 fingered leaves. And, of course, now that you know this plant is a female, you'll take cuttings BEFORE flowering next time

I stay away from cutting at the main stalk. I go at least 1/2" away from the main stalk. This way the plant doesn't have to spend time repairing the stalk.