ive been told that you cannot clone a clone for some strange reason.....anyone know better? what are your thoughts on this?
Most strains you can do this for years of generations. I once had a Legends Ultimate Indica clone that I tried to do this with, and it developed deformities, crinkled leaves, leaves that did not unfurl all the way. I think this was genetic drift. After trying every different nutrient fix I could imagine, it still did this, and otherwise appeared healthy, and still grew those white crystal covered buds. It really isn't a problem from my experience. I didn't keep mother plants for years, and had no difference in quality or growth from the ones I took from mother plants... Peace...
cloning a clone is one of my pet peeves! at least for out door growing, I feel it should never be done. it messes up there sidereal clock. right off the bat they dont know what season it is,they dont grow with enough vigor to finish up properly you end up with mutation bud/leafs
Hey Coyote! All you need to do is gradually adjust the photoperiod that your clons are receiving so that they will be in sync with the solar photoperiod when they are relocated outside - sidereal confusion eliminated! While you're getting the photoperiod in sync, you should also start them on a "toughening up program" in preperation for their outdoor move. Start by replacing a couple of hours of full outdoor sunlight (instead of lights) and add an hour every couple of days or so. With a little manipulation they will fit right in and know exactly what season it is. The lack of vigor and mutations that you describe are appearantly the result of shock from just booting them out into real world!!!
cammo, I do have a graduated process. First I do 1gal. containers in a green house augmented by full spectrum florescent lights. Then I go to 5gal. buckets in deer proof cages where they receive morning to noon light.Then when roots start to show though the weep holes in the buckets I move them to there final resting place.As I do not have these mutations every year I cant see how you cant attributed it to stress? I have been assuming it is a genetic problem inherent with substandard clones? What do you think?
Hey Coyote! I didn't realize you were starting your grow in a greenhouse. The photoperiod in the greenhouse is the same as outdoors - then they get "morning to noon light" - then they are moved again, presumabley to a location with full sunlight. It seems to me that your plants might get a little confused by sudden major changes in the light cycle (going back and forth). I don't know if that is the problem - I've never done that. I know that some strains don't clon very well, what strain are you having this problem with? Have you tried other strains?
Personally, I think it would be easier on them to just put them outdoors, providing they were started under HID's and not flourescents. However, my plants undergo a toughening up process that involves bending and flexing the stalks to make them stronger, so they are more able to undergo the stresses from wind and rain outdoors. The only ones I ever had problems with going from indoor to outdoor were the ones started under flouros. I've had the sun just crisp em right up if they are put directly into full sunlight. It's been a few yrs since I did an outdoor grow, but if putting small plants outdoors, I used to use milk crates over them for a few days, so they are getting partial sunlight for the first few days. I have found it works much better putting plants out that are already at least two feet tall, if possible of course. They may undergo a short period during which they are acclimating to the natural light cycle, as mine are usually started under 24 hour light, but it's never hurt them in the least that I could tell. I have also had much better luck with seed starts outdoors than clones. I have found that the clones don't take off as well outdoors unless they have a well developed rootball that goes down a ways, like say a 3 gallon trash can or bucket container. all this about the plants being confused kind of leaves me with sidereal confusion myself It's a pretty hardy weed, and it's not really prone to problems, unless it is genetic in the first place.
I would guess the problems your having stem more from moving them from indoor to outdoor. I have cloned clones of clones without having any problems, but then again, I only do indoor at the moment.
I have never grown indoors but I would assume clones of clones should not be as big a problem since you have total control of environmental factors, I have used the same holes for years so I know what they will produce given the right plant. The first year I used seeds and that was a deserter they came out about 70% male. the next year I was able to get forced sex seed plants, they worked awesome. however I am not set up to produce them myself and have not been able to find another source. Sense then I have been using clones. Some years I have used up to 5 different strains. on average one strain will produce a grate plant,a second strain will produce a mediocre plant and the remaining 3 strains will produce weird mutant crap! At this point I am assuming that the clones I have been getting are genetically substandard.
the mane reason I use the green house is to avoid a late spring frost I have been hit with that before. I runts out the plants and they never seem to get over it
My buddy has been cloning his plants for 25 years straight, he's had no problems. But his are indoor and have been on the same light cycle for 25 years.
