Complete Clone Growing Guide
Start Strong - From Rooted Cuttings to Premium Harvest
Why Start with Clones?
Growing from clones offers significant advantages over seeds, especially for beginners and commercial growers seeking consistency and faster harvests.
🚀 Faster to Harvest
Time Savings: Skip the germination and early seedling phases, reducing total grow time by 2-4 weeks compared to starting from seeds.
Mature Genetics: Clones are already past the vulnerable seedling stage and ready for aggressive vegetative growth immediately.
🎯 Guaranteed Genetics
Known Results: Clones are exact genetic copies of proven mother plants, ensuring predictable growth patterns, yields, and effects.
Gender Certainty: All clones are female, eliminating the risk of male plants that could pollinate your crop and reduce yields.
📊 Consistent Results
Uniform Growth: All plants will grow at similar rates with matching characteristics, making garden management much easier.
Predictable Harvest: Know exactly when plants will be ready based on the mother plant's established flowering timeline.
💰 Cost Effective
Higher Success Rate: Healthy clones have much higher survival rates than seeds, reducing waste and replacement costs.
Immediate Production: Start training and feeding programs immediately without waiting for germination and early growth phases.
Essential Supplies for Clone Growing
While many supplies overlap with seed growing, clones have specific requirements for successful establishment and growth.
Clone-Specific Equipment
- Quality Clones: Source from reputable suppliers like getseedsrighthere.com with proven genetics and healthy root systems
- Humidity Dome: Clear plastic domes to maintain 80-90% humidity during establishment period
- Heat Mat: Gentle bottom heat (75-80°F) to encourage root development and faster establishment
- Cloning Gel/Powder: Rooting hormones for any root touch-ups or future cloning projects
- pH Testing Kit: Essential for maintaining proper nutrient uptake from day one
- Gentle Lighting: T5 fluorescents or LED panels at low intensity for initial establishment
Growing Medium Options
- Starter Cubes: Rockwool or coco coir cubes for hydroponic systems and easy transplanting
- Quality Potting Mix: Light, airy soil blend with good drainage for soil-based growing
- Perlite Amendment: Add 20-30% perlite to improve drainage and root development
- Small Containers: 4-6 inch pots for initial establishment before final transplant
- Mycorrhizal Inoculant: Beneficial fungi to enhance root development and nutrient uptake
Environmental Controls
- Thermometer/Hygrometer: Monitor temperature and humidity during critical establishment period
- Spray Bottle: Fine mist for foliar feeding and humidity maintenance
- Timer Systems: Automate lighting and misting schedules for consistent care
- Gentle Fans: Very light air movement after establishment to strengthen stems
- pH Adjustment Solutions: pH Up and pH Down for water and nutrient preparation
Clone Establishment Process
The first 7-14 days are critical for clone survival and establishment. Proper care during this period ensures vigorous growth throughout the entire cycle.
Initial Inspection & Preparation
Health Assessment: Examine clones immediately upon arrival for signs of stress, pests, or disease. Look for healthy green color and firm stems.
Root Evaluation: Check root development - healthy white roots should be visible, avoid clones with brown or mushy roots.
Quarantine Setup: Isolate new clones from other plants for 7-10 days to prevent pest or disease introduction.
Documentation: Record source, strain information, and establish tracking system for future reference.
Environment Preparation
Humidity Control: Set up humidity domes to maintain 80-90% relative humidity for the first week.
Temperature Management: Maintain consistent 75-80°F with gentle bottom heat from heating mats.
Lighting Setup: Use gentle lighting (T5 fluorescents 12-18 inches away) for 18-20 hours daily.
Air Circulation: Minimal air movement initially - just enough to prevent stagnant air.
Initial Planting & Care
Medium Preparation: Pre-moisten growing medium to proper moisture level (damp but not saturated).
Gentle Transplant: Carefully plant clones at same depth as they were rooted, avoiding root damage.
Initial Watering: Use pH-balanced water (6.0-6.5) with very light nutrients (1/4 strength).
Humidity Dome: Cover with dome, leaving small vents for air exchange.
First Week Monitoring
Daily Inspections: Check for wilting, color changes, or signs of stress twice daily.
Misting Schedule: Lightly mist inside of dome 2-3 times daily to maintain humidity.
Gradual Hardening: Slowly increase ventilation in dome after day 3-4.
Root Development: Look for new white root tips emerging from established root ball.
Establishment Completion
Dome Removal: Gradually remove humidity dome over 2-3 days when new growth appears.
Lighting Increase: Slowly increase light intensity and adjust distance as plants adapt.
Watering Transition: Begin normal watering schedule when soil surface dries between waterings.
Nutrient Introduction: Start with half-strength vegetative nutrients after 7-10 days.
Vegetative Growth Phase
Full Environment: Transition to normal growing conditions - 70-85°F, 40-70% humidity.
Training Ready: Begin LST or other training techniques once plants show vigorous new growth.
Feeding Program: Implement full-strength vegetative nutrient program based on plant response.
Final Transplant: Move to final containers (3+ gallons) when roots fill current pots.
Optimized Growing Environment for Clones
Clones have specific environmental needs that differ slightly from seedlings, requiring careful attention to humidity, temperature, and lighting during establishment.
Establishment Phase Environment (Days 1-14)
Critical Humidity Management
High Humidity Requirement: Maintain 80-90% relative humidity under domes for first 5-7 days to prevent wilting.
Gradual Reduction: Slowly reduce humidity to 60-70% over days 7-14 as roots establish.
Monitoring Tools: Use accurate hygrometers inside domes to track humidity levels precisely.
Ventilation Balance: Provide minimal air exchange to prevent CO2 depletion while maintaining humidity.
Gentle Temperature Control
Consistent Warmth: Maintain 75-80°F consistently - temperature fluctuations stress establishing clones.
Bottom Heat: Use heating mats to provide gentle root zone warmth without overheating foliage.
Night Temperatures: Maintain temperatures during dark periods - clones need consistent warmth.
Heat Source Safety: Monitor heating mats to prevent overheating and root damage.
Specialized Lighting Needs
Low Intensity Start: Begin with T5 fluorescents or LED at 25-50% power to prevent stress.
Proper Distance: Maintain 12-18 inches from light source initially, closer as plants establish.
Long Photoperiod: Provide 18-20 hours of light daily to encourage rapid establishment.
Gradual Increase: Slowly increase intensity over 7-10 days as plants show new growth.
Air Circulation Considerations
Minimal Movement: Very gentle air circulation to prevent wilting - strong airflow is harmful during establishment.
CO2 Levels: Ensure adequate air exchange to prevent CO2 depletion in sealed dome environments.
Gradual Introduction: Slowly increase air movement as plants establish and domes are removed.
Strength Building: Normal air circulation after establishment helps develop strong stems.
Mature Vegetative Environment (After Day 14)
Standard Growing Conditions
Temperature Range: 70-85°F during light periods, 5-10°F cooler during dark periods.
Humidity Levels: 40-70% relative humidity with good air circulation to prevent mold issues.
Lighting Power: Full intensity appropriate for growth stage - vegetative requires strong light for optimal development.
Air Exchange: Complete air exchange every 3-5 minutes for optimal growth and pest prevention.
Rapid Growth Optimization
CO2 Supplementation: Consider CO2 enhancement for faster vegetative growth in sealed environments.
DLI Targets: Aim for 35-45 Daily Light Integral (DLI) for vigorous vegetative growth.
VPD Management: Maintain proper Vapor Pressure Deficit (0.8-1.2 kPa) for optimal transpiration.
Nutrient Uptake: Optimal environment enhances nutrient uptake and reduces feeding issues.
Feeding & Nutrition for Clones
Clones have different nutritional needs than seedlings, requiring careful feeding programs that account for their established root systems and rapid growth potential.
Establishment Phase Feeding (Days 1-7)
Gentle Introduction: Start with plain, pH-balanced water (6.0-6.5) for first 2-3 days to avoid shock.
Light Nutrients: Begin with 1/4 strength vegetative nutrients after roots show new white growth.
Foliar Feeding: Light foliar sprays with diluted nutrients can help during root establishment.
pH Monitoring: Test and adjust all water and nutrient solutions - clones are sensitive to pH swings.
Early Vegetative Feeding (Days 7-21)
Gradual Increase: Slowly increase nutrient concentration to half-strength as plants show vigorous growth.
Nitrogen Focus: Emphasize nitrogen-rich formulations (20-10-10 or similar) for leaf and stem development.
Calcium/Magnesium: Ensure adequate Cal-Mag supplementation for strong cellular development.
Feeding Frequency: Feed with every other watering, monitoring plant response closely.
Full Vegetative Program (Day 21+)
Full Strength Nutrients: Implement complete vegetative feeding program at manufacturer's recommended levels.
Consistent Schedule: Feed every watering or alternate with plain water based on growing medium.
Growth Boosters: Consider kelp extracts, beneficial bacteria, and growth stimulants for enhanced development.
Transition Preparation: Begin reducing nitrogen 1-2 weeks before switching to flowering phase.
Water Quality Management
Source Water: Use filtered, RO, or distilled water with 0-50 PPM starting point for nutrient mixing.
pH Stability: Maintain 6.0-7.0 pH in soil, 5.5-6.5 in hydroponic systems consistently.
EC/TDS Monitoring: Track electrical conductivity to prevent overfeeding and nutrient lockout.
Water Temperature: Use room temperature water to avoid shocking root systems.
Common Clone Problems & Solutions
While clones are generally more resilient than seedlings, they have specific vulnerabilities during the establishment period that require prompt attention.
Wilting & Transplant Shock
Symptoms: Drooping leaves, loss of turgor pressure, yellowing despite adequate moisture.
Causes: Insufficient humidity, root damage during transport, temperature stress, or lighting too intense.
Solutions: Increase humidity immediately, reduce lighting intensity, ensure consistent temperatures, mist foliage gently.
Prevention: Maintain proper establishment environment, handle roots carefully, gradual environmental transitions.
Root Problems
Root Rot: Brown, mushy roots with foul odor indicating bacterial or fungal infection.
Slow Root Growth: Limited new white root development after 7-10 days of proper care.
Solutions: Improve drainage, reduce watering frequency, increase air circulation, apply beneficial bacteria.
Severe Cases: Trim affected roots, treat with hydrogen peroxide solution, replant in fresh medium.
Nutrient Issues
Nutrient Burn: Brown, crispy leaf edges from too-strong nutrients during sensitive establishment period.
Deficiencies: Yellowing or pale leaves indicating insufficient nutrition as plants establish.
pH Problems: Nutrient lockout from improper pH affecting uptake even with adequate feeding.
Solutions: Flush with pH-balanced water, restart with appropriate nutrient strength, monitor pH consistently.
Environmental Stress
Light Burn: Bleached or yellowing top leaves from excessive lighting during establishment.
Temperature Stress: Purple stems and slow growth from temperature fluctuations or extremes.
Low Humidity Damage: Crispy leaf edges and stunted growth from insufficient humidity.
Solutions: Adjust environmental controls gradually, maintain consistency, monitor conditions closely.
Pest Introduction
Hitchhiker Pests: Spider mites, aphids, or thrips arriving with clones from source.
Quarantine Failures: Pests spreading to established plants before detection.
Stress Susceptibility: Establishing clones are more vulnerable to pest damage.
Solutions: Thorough quarantine protocols, immediate treatment, beneficial insect introduction, regular monitoring.
Slow Establishment
Symptoms: Little to no new growth after 2 weeks, continued wilting, yellowing progression.
Causes: Poor clone quality, environmental stress, root problems, or genetic issues.
Assessment: Evaluate all environmental factors, check root health, consider clone source quality.
Solutions: Optimize all conditions, consider root stimulants, may need replacement clones from better source.
Advanced Clone Training & Management
Once established, clones can be trained more aggressively than seedlings due to their mature genetics and established root systems.
Early Training Advantages
Faster Response: Clones respond to training techniques more quickly than seedlings due to established systems.
Immediate LST: Begin low-stress training as soon as new growth appears (usually 7-10 days).
Aggressive Techniques: Can handle topping, FIMing, and other high-stress methods sooner than seedlings.
Recovery Speed: Bounce back from training stress faster due to mature root systems and genetics.
Optimal Training Timeline
Week 1-2: Focus on establishment - no training stress during this critical period.
Week 3-4: Begin gentle LST, bending and tying down main stems to create horizontal canopy.
Week 5-6: Implement more aggressive techniques like topping or super cropping if desired.
Week 7+: Continue training through vegetative growth, preparing optimal canopy for flowering.
Canopy Management
Even Light Distribution: Train for uniform canopy height to maximize light penetration and yields.
Air Circulation: Prune lower growth and interior branches to improve airflow and prevent mold.
SCROG Integration: Clones work excellently with screen of green setups due to uniform growth patterns.
Defoliation Timing: Remove strategic fan leaves to improve light penetration without shocking plants.
Flowering Transition
Pre-Flower Preparation: Complete final training 1-2 weeks before switching light schedule.
Nutrient Transition: Gradually shift from vegetative to flowering nutrients over 7-10 days.
Environmental Adjustment: Reduce humidity and increase air circulation for flowering phase.
Stretch Management: Continue light training during flowering stretch to maintain canopy control.
Final Tips for Clone Success
These advanced tips will help you achieve maximum success rates and optimal yields from your clone growing projects.
- Source Quality: Always purchase clones from reputable suppliers with healthy genetics and proper care
- Environment Consistency: Maintain stable conditions throughout establishment - consistency is more important than perfection
- Patience During Establishment: Allow full 7-14 days for proper establishment before aggressive training or feeding
- Gradual Transitions: Make all environmental and nutritional changes gradually to prevent shock
- Close Monitoring: Daily inspections during first two weeks catch problems before they become serious
- Quarantine Protocol: Always isolate new clones to protect existing plants from potential pests or diseases