Cloning to make Gen-2

Now that clones (from the first generation) are all grown up, it's time to clone them to make way for the next generation. My method is simple, start with seeds, then clone for several generations. I have heard that a many follow rule of thumb for four generations before starting from seed again. I figure if it doesn't harm the plant or production, continue cloning until your plant has lost all their pizazz.

Remember, plants and trees that have been cloned will stay alive for decades, perhaps some of you have them growing your yard. Regardless, plants will naturally fall and propagate in the soil, all gardeners do is force it to do it in their growing space.

I started by trimming up both the Gen 1 plants, taking cuttings and setting them in a cup of water so they keep fluid pressure in their stems. Once the plants are trimmed up, I'll take the cuttings to the cloner. Don't be afraid of trimming up your plants. They'll really benefit from it by sending nutrients and water to sites that will encourage new growth. And growth will occur faster since it has a strong, established root system taking up those nutes and fluid.

I'll prepare each cutting by removing all but several leaves on their tops and then set the in a neoprene foam collar, which will slide into an bottom-opened net cup. The stem will dangle below so they're spritzed with water from the bubbler inside the cloner.

Cutting before trim

Cutting after trim

Cutting in foam collar and net pot, ready for the cloner

If you happen to not have a net cup, you can improvise by using regular household items to keep your clone elevated in your cloning bucket. For instance, one of my net cups broke. I took several toothpicks and used them as stems to puncture the neoprene foam collars. These collars are just a temporary growing site and those clones, with established roots, will return to a tent for vegetation growth.

Always take a good amount of clones and pick the best ones for the next generation. And once they establish roots, which will be in a few weeks, they may not take in a DWC bucket, so extra cuttings are always encouraged in case your clone dies. These clones will take a few weeks before they make roots.

I hope all of you are enjoying this warm summer. Stay cool out there, folks.

-Pinky