Should You Grow Marijuana from Seeds or Clones?

Before growing marijuana, it’s crucial to consider how to get started. Cloning and buying marijuana seeds can both be excellent options, though it’s a good idea to understand both before choosing one method. Depending on different circumstances, one method may end up being better than the other for certain situations. Read below to get all of the information you need about both growing methods and learn how to tell which one might be the right choice for you.

Growing Marijuana from Clones

One way to start a marijuana plant is by using a cutting from another plant. This helps standardize the marijuana grown, as it’s possible to ensure all of the plants have the same chemical makeup and that they all grow at the same rate. With most strains, it’s going to be very easy to create clones. A single plant is needed to get started, as well as a rooting powder and containers with sterile soil. Each cutting will need its own container.

To start, trim a little bit off the original plant, around four to six inches long. Most of the leaves should be cut off, but the top leaves should be left there. Then, the plant can be dipped into the rooting powder and placed in the sterile soil. The new plant should start growing roots within one to two weeks and should start growing rapidly after it has rooted.

The Pros of Using Clones

Cloned plants offer several benefits. It’s possible to ensure only female plants are grown since the cuttings will be the same as the plant they’re taken from. As long as the cuttings aren’t taken from male plants, there’s no need to worry about having to detect and dispose of them to ensure the plants don’t go to seed. It’s also possible to get to the flowering stage quicker, which means a much faster harvest. This also reduces the amount of room needed to grow as many plants as possible, since they can be harvested and replaced much faster. Plus, plants that are cloned can be used to create new clones once they’ve grown, which means a continuous supply of plants.

Some Cons for Using Clones

While clones can be an excellent option, especially when space or time is limited, there are some downsides to be aware of. To begin with, clones are started from an already growing and healthy plant. Someone who wants to start with clones will need to find a plant to take a cutting from, which often isn’t easy to do. If a plant is found, it’s important to be careful as any pests or viruses can end up transferring to the cloned plant. Other concerns include getting the clone to produce roots and ensuring the plant has exactly what it needs. If the roots don’t develop properly or it is not cared for correctly, it is likely the plant will die.