Auto-flowering cannabis is becoming increasingly popular among home growers, and for many good reasons. Not only do auto-flowering strains flower quickly, they are also resilient plants that can grow in almost any climate or environment.
Furthermore, due to their short flowering cycle, autoflower buds generally contain higher concentrations of THC compared to traditional photoperiod strains. With all these benefits in mind, it’s no wonder why so many growers are opting for autoflowering cannabis strains over other varieties – but can you clone autoflowering plants?
In this blog post we will explore the process of cloning auto-flowering cannabis and discuss some tips on how to successfully propagate these unique specimens.
What exactly is meant by cloning cannabis plants?
Cloning is simply a technique to propagate or produce cannabis plants by the same single mother plant. Usually these techniques involve asexual reproduction on weed plants. When plants reach a certain length, a healthy cutting is taken off the parent plant for the cutting to grow root for itself or develop into another plant.
Cloning allows for an assured replication of the mother plant. Although planting seeds gives you your own genetics to the parent plant, cloning gives you an exact copy with virtually no modification.
Clone autoflower plants: what does it mean?
To clone plants may seem like a scientific concept straight out of a movie, but it is actually a common practice in horticulture. By creating a replicating plant, we can ensure that the new plant has the exact same DNA as its mother plant, preserving its unique qualities. This process involves cutting a piece of the plant and letting it grow independently of the mother.
The same principle applies when it comes to autoflowering plants. As their name suggests, they flower automatically without the need for a specific light cycle - something that distinguishes them from photoperiod plants.
For those new to growing autoflowers, it’s important to know that this stage typically starts about 2-4 weeks after the plant begins to grow. Understanding cloning is the first step to comprehending how autoflowering plants work.
Why do people clone autoflower plants?
Cannabis growers try cloning autoflowering plants for several reasons:
Preserve Genetics
Cloning allows growers to preserve the exact genetic traits of a specific autoflowering plant that they find desirable. By cloning, they can create genetically identical replicas of the mother plant, ensuring consistency in traits like flavor, potency, yield, and growth characteristics.
Save Time
Autoflowering cannabis plant have a relatively short life cycle compared to photoperiod strains. Cloning allows growers the same genetic timeline, germination and delicate seedling phase, saving several weeks in the cultivation process. By starting with established clones, growers can accelerate their harvest schedule and potentially achieve multiple harvests within a year.
Replicating Successful Phenotypes
If a grower has grown an exceptional autoflowering plant with desirable traits and high-quality yields, they may choose to clone it to replicate that success. Cloning ensures that the new plants will have the same characteristics as the original plant, allowing growers to consistently produce high-quality crops.
Cost-Effective
Cloning eliminates the need to purchase new seeds for every grow cycle, saving money in the long run. Once a successful mother plant is identified, growers can continually clone it, reducing the expense of acquiring new genetics.
Consistency and Control
Cloning provides a level of control and predictability in the cultivation process. Growers can replicate a successful phenotype and eliminate genetic variations that can occur when growing from seeds. This consistency allows for more precise planning, optimized growing techniques, and better overall crop management.
Note: It's important to note that while cloning is a popular method for propagating photoperiod cannabis plants, it is less commonly used for autoflowering cannabis strains due to their rapid flowering transition. However, alternative propagation methods like seed germination and breeding can be explored to achieve similar goals with autoflowering strain genetics.
The Distinction Between Photoperiod and Autoflowering cannabis Strains
Autoflowering and photoperiod strains are two distinct types of cannabis plants that differ primarily in their flowering behavior and the factors that trigger flowering.
Understanding these differences between autoflowering strain and photoperiod strain is crucial for selecting the most suitable cannabis plants for your specific goals, preferences, and growing conditions.
Here are the key differences between the two:
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Flowering Behavior:
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Autoflowering: autoflower plants have a unique flowering behavior that is not dependent on changes in light cycles. They start flowering automatically based on their age, typically within a few weeks after germination. This means they will flower regardless of the light schedule (e.g., 18/6 or 12/12).
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Photoperiod: require specific light conditions to trigger the flowering stage. They require a change in the light cycle to 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness and 12 hours of light (12/12) to initiate flowering. These strains follow the natural seasonal light patterns, where shorter days and longer nights signify the onset of autumn and trigger flowering.
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Life Cycle and Harvest Times:
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Autoflowering: Autoflower plants have a shorter life cycle, typically completing their growth cycle in 8 to 12 weeks from germination to harvest. This rapid growth allows for multiple harvests in a single growing season.
Photoperiod: Photoperiod plants have a longer life cycle that includes distinct vegetative and flowering stages. The vegetative stage can last several weeks or even months, depending on the grower's preference, before initiating flowering. The flowering stage can take anywhere from 8 to 14 weeks or more, resulting in a longer overall cultivation time compared to autoflowering strains.
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Light Dependence:
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Autoflowering: Autoflower plants are not light-dependent for their flowering. They will start flowering regardless of the light schedule, making them suitable for outdoor cultivation, especially in regions with shorter summers or unpredictable light patterns.
Photoperiod: Photoperiod plants are highly light-dependent. They require a consistent and specific light schedule to initiate and maintain flowering. This dependence makes them more suitable for indoor cultivation or regions with reliable and controllable light conditions.
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Flexibility and Ease of Cultivation:
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Autoflowering: Autoflower plants are known for their ease of cultivation and beginner-friendly nature. They are generally more forgiving of common mistakes and fluctuations in environmental conditions. Their compact size and rapid growth make them suitable for growers with limited space or those seeking quick turnarounds.
Photoperiod: require more attention and precision in terms of light management. Growers need to carefully control the light cycle to induce flowering and achieve desired results. They can be more challenging for novice growers but offer greater control and potential for larger yields with proper cultivation techniques.
Why can't you clone autoflowering strains?
Autoflowering cannabis strains can be challenging to clone successfully due to their unique flowering behavior and rapid transition from vegetative growth to flowering.
While traditional cloning methods may not be suitable for autoflowering strains, alternative propagation techniques such as seed germination and breeding can be successfully employed to propagate and preserve autoflowering genetics.
Seed germination allows growers to start fresh with new autoflowering strain seeds, while breeding enables the creation of new autoflowering hybrids by carefully selecting parent plants with desired traits.
Here are the main reasons why cloning autoflowering strains is often ineffective:
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Rapid Flowering phase Transition
Autoflowering strains have a genetic characteristic that causes them to automatically transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage based on age, rather than changes in light cycles.
This means they have a compressed vegetative flowering phase, typically only a few weeks, before they start flowering. This short vegetative period does not provide enough time for traditional cloning methods to be successful.
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Limited Vegetative Growth
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Cloning involves taking cuttings from a mother plant during the vegetative stage and encouraging them to develop roots to become independent plants.
However, autoflowering strains have a limited vegetative growth flowering phase before they start flowering. The rapid onset of flowering reduces the time available for the cuttings to establish roots and develop into viable clones.
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Stress Sensitivity
Autoflowering strains are generally more sensitive to stress compared to photoperiod strains. Stress during the cloning process, such as the shock of cutting and transplanting, can negatively impact autoflowering clones and interfere with their ability to root and develop into healthy plants.
Exploring Alternative Propagation Techniques
While cloning may not be feasible for autoflowering cannabis, there are alternative methods for propagation that can be equally rewarding. Two primary techniques are seed germination and breeding.
Seed Germination and Selection:
Starting with fresh autoflowering seeds offers several advantages. You have the opportunity to select high-quality genetics, ensuring vigorous growth and desirable traits. Proper seed germination techniques, such as pre-soaking or using starter cubes, play a crucial role in achieving successful and healthy seedlings.
Careful selection of the strongest and most promising seedlings will set the foundation for a prosperous autoflowering garden.
Breeding Autoflowering cannabis plant:
Breeding autoflowering cannabis plant empowers growers to create their unique hybrids. By carefully selecting parent plants with desired traits, such as potency, flavor, or yield, you can develop new and exciting variations of autoflowering cannabis.
Understanding breeding techniques, such as cross-pollination and stabilizing genetic traits, will be essential for successful breeding projects.
Conclusion
While cloning autoflowering cannabis plants may not be feasible, alternative propagation methods such as seed germination and breeding offer exciting opportunities for growers to cultivate unique and exceptional autoflowering cannabis strain.
By mastering the art of autoflowering cannabis and optimizing cultivation practices, you can achieve impressive results with these fast-growing and resilient plants. Embrace experimentation, share your experiences, and unlock the full potential of autoflowering cannabis strains in your garden. Happy growing!