cloning question

[Rolyat7107]

hello all at gp- ok, getting read to flip to 12/12, and dont know sex yet. if its a female, when she justs starts to show, can i take a cutting to be used for a clone? if so what is the minimum amount of light to keep the clone healthy while the mother flowers out? i have not had the extra $ to set up a seedling or clone chamber yet, but have a couple 26w cfls i could rig up quick below. any advice from anybody much appreciated-peace. btw just one plant growing alone- so our my chances of female greater or not even a factor?

[LeCreuset]

Originally Posted by Rolyat7107

hello all at gp- ok, when she justs starts to show, can i take a cutting to be used for a clone?

Yes, you can take cuttings for cloning anytime you want. I have taken them as late as 4 weeks into flowering.

Originally Posted by Rolyat7107

if so what is the minimum amount of light to keep the clone healthy while the mother flowers out?

You do not want a lot of light. Basically what you are doing is slowing down photosynthesis and encouraging root growth. A floro bulb or two is plenty. I would imagine your 26w cfl would be enough for a couple of clones.

Originally Posted by Rolyat7107

btw just one plant growing alone- so our my chances of female greater or not even a factor?

Im sure someone could tell you the odds of it being a female, but for now I will just hope you get a chance to paint the nursery room pink!

[XBRPete]

Your chances are 50 -50 at this stage for a female

[Rolyat7107]

thanks xbrpete, so no good to go ahead and take a cutting now if sex is unknown - wouldnt want to clone a male. ive read alot about molasses as a good organic food, how much per gallon of water? and can i use in veg or wait till flowering? peace

[XBRPete]

I take cuttings into clone before going into flower, I try to glean the clones from the bottom of the plant, lower branches. I clean the clutter out of the bottom, usually makes popcorn bud with a nug on the end if it goes to harvest or..... make another plant.

If the plant is female, I have clones already started. If it turns male, the clones are tossed with the donor.

I have a Jamaican in 7th week flower, took clones when she was in veg with 5 node sets. Two of her four clones are in week 2 of flower, another going in Sunday.The fourth is my mother clone in the veg closet, I harvested four clones when I switched them into the flower room. I also took two cuttings from one of the clones in the flower closet. So that gives me nine known female to flower and a donor mother.....

JMHO...

Pete

[XBRPete]

My "nursery" has four adjustable shelves with two 18 inch single tube grow spectrum flourescents. Center tray is for germing seed. I have ordered a mat to provide 90 degree temp rather than the 72 to 78 I presently run. Other than that, this arrangement suffices nicely for my medical grow needs.

Here is a somewhat cramped pic. Veg area is 65 inches long, 20 inches deep. Remainder of area holds the vegging stock.

[Rolyat7107]

so 50/50 on sex, so why couldnt i go ahead and take a cutting now and just wait for it to show and have the cutting starting to root and if its male(bad word) just toss both and start over. i hate to think that way, but cant get my hands on any femanized seed, and want to keep 2 plants going to speed things up between harvests - thanks for the info!

[LeCreuset]

You can. You can also take a cutting and put it in a glass of water, and throw that under 12/12 light to determine the sex if your one plant isnt big enough to flower out yet.

[Budly]

When you clone a female plant with immature buds, is it a good idea (or even necessary) to remove the bud? My guess is that this would also remove the apical meristem (growth point) at the tip, but it would also let the plant focus on making roots. Anyone with experience?

[green_nobody]

Originally Posted by Budly

When you clone a female plant with immature buds, is it a good idea (or even necessary) to remove the bud? My guess is that this would also remove the apical meristem (growth point) at the tip, but it would also let the plant focus on making roots. Anyone with experience?

I say it is a good thing to prun the developing bud as you need all stored power to go into root grows and not bud. The budding side is also pron to catch mold if misted frequently and adds extra surface that doesn't produce any power but transpires plenty of water.