Top 6 Best Cloning Medium for Weed ( 2023 Reviews)
Cloning is one of the best methods to grow marijuana at home, although you have to know that this is never an easy process. Especially if you are a beginner, you will be overwhelmed with the information available when it comes to how you can succeed. There are many things that you have to know about, including the best cloning medium for weed.The right choice of a cloning medium will increase the likelihood that the plant will grow. However, even if you have the right medium, success is not guaranteed. There are other things that you will need, such as a rooting hormone, soil, and clone. To make things easier for you, keep on reading and we’ll share with you everything you have to know to clone marijuana.
Best Root Stimulator for Cannabis
#1 General Hydroponics Rapid Rooter Tray Review
If you will opt to use a hydroponic system for cloning, this is one product that you definitely have to consider. This special matrix is made of a special blend of composted organic materials. The materials bind through plant-derived polymers, which can provide you with an assurance that it is indeed all-natural.
To ensure the healthy growth of the clones that will be planted in this rooting tray, they are fortified with the most important nutrients for a hydroponic system. The air-to-water ratio is also optimal to give the roots the room to breathe.
Q&A: Is there a need to remove the cube before transplanting?
When the roots have developed and when the clone is sturdy enough, you can now have it transplanted in your hydroponic setup. This should be easy as the plug can be easily removed from the tray without damaging it. You can put the plug directly in your hydro setup. Do not bother removing the plug from the roots.
Q&A: Are the plugs replaceable?
Yes, you can buy replacement plugs for this product. Once the plugs are out, you do not have to purchase the entire kit, General Hydroponics also manufactures rooting plugs with the same component as the ones that are in the original tray.
Best Rockwool for Weed Cloning
#2 Stacky Cubes Rockwool Grow Cubes Review
When it comes to the best medium for cloning, rockwool has a reputation that is hard to match, which is exactly the reason why this is one product that should be on the top of your list. It is affordable, sterile, and biodegradable, making it an easy choice when it comes to cloning cannabis.
This product has 30 starter sheets in one pack. Each cube measures 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches. The medium is inorganic and sterile. Initial rooting will be faster with these rooting cubes. Plus, the manufacturer also guarantees its firmness.
When the cubes are saturated, you will be able to enjoy as much as 20% more air space. This will improve the absorption of nutrients while providing an assurance that oxygen is retained to facilitate the faster development of roots.
Q&A: Can you use it for germinating seeds?
Absolutely! This set of rooting cubes is not only for clones. In fact, most people use them when starting out seeds. When the seeds have germinated, you can easily transplant it on your choice of medium. For most people, they place the entre rockwool cube in soil and let nature takes it course for the plant to continue growing.
Q&A: Will it hold water long?
The manufacturer makes sure that they have top-of-the-line products, which is exactly the reason why you can expect that it will be able to hold water longer to provide the nutrients that will be needed by the clones to develop roots.
Best Cubes for Weed Cloning
#3 Grodan A-OK Rockwool/Stonewool Starter Cubes Review
Whether it is clones, seeds, or root cuttings, these cubes will be the perfect way to start a healthy plant. There are 200 grow cubes in one pack, making it offer the best bang for the buck. For sure, this will be more than enough for most casual growers.
The cubes are already pre-drilled. This is a good thing because it means that there is no more need for you to make holes when planting clones.
Another good thing about the cube is the V-design. This is going to optimize the growth of the roots in such a way that they will not tangle with the roots from the next plug.
Q&A: Does it come with a tray?
This set comes only in cubes. There are two sheets, each sheet with 100 cubes. However, they have the standard size, which means that you can use it in almost any tray.
Q&A: Does it come with nutrients?
You should also take note of the fact that these are only cubes and there are no nutrients that are included. After two to three weeks of planting the clones, you will have to add the necessary nutrients to sustain a healthy growth of the cannabis.
Best Potting Mix for Weed Cloning
#4 Fox Farm FX14053 Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil Review
Even if you ask around from marijuana cultivators, many of them would say that this is indeed one of the best choices when it comes to the best potting mix for cannabis clones. It has everything that your plant needs for a healthy growth, all in one bag.
The secret to the effectiveness of this potting mix lies on the ingredients that are used. It is a blend of sandy loam, sphagnum peat moss, sea-going fish and crab meal, bat guano, and earthworm castings. These will surely provide a good start for the plant, speeding up the growth of its roots.
The soil mix is aerated, which is excellent in terms of versatility. This also minimizes the likelihood of pests and diseases.
Q&A: Does this soil drain well?
One of the good characteristics of the soil is that it is well-draining, which is one of its benefits when compared to compact soils. It is airy, so you can be confident that water will not get stuck, lessening the likelihood of health problems.
Q&A: What is its pH level?
The pH level of the soil is anywhere from 6.3 to 6.8. Once the clones have been established, you can use additives to the soil to adjust the pH level based on what is most suitable for the marijuana.
Best Coir for Weed Cloning
#5 FibreDust Coco Coir Block Review
This is an eco-friendly material that will make another unmatched option when it comes to growing cannabis clones. One thing that you will love about this product is the expansion rate, allowing it to offer the best value for the money. After adding water, the block can expand to up to 2.5 cubic feet, providing a generous amount of space for growing clones.
This is a professional-grade product that is used even by commercial growers around the world. This 5-kilogram coco pith block is made from high-quality coconut husks. This will make a great choice if you do not want to use peat moss.
One of the benefits of this product is that it is not prone to clumping. It also has excellent aeration properties, offering breathability to the roots. With the high lignin content, on the other hand, this will not be easily prone to degradation.
Q&A: Can you use it for seed germination?
This is useful not only for clones but also for germinating seeds. In fact, this is one of the best choices for seed germination. One of the reasons for the latter is the natural ability of coir to control moisture.
Q&A: How many gallons of water should you add?
This will depend on the expansion rate that you want and how much of the coco coir will be needed for a specific application. Based on the information from the manufacturer, however, five to seven gallons of water will be needed for the full expansion to 2.5 cubic feet.
Best Clone Germination Kit
#6 Clone King 36 Site Aeroponic Cloning Machine Review
Compared to the products that have been mentioned above, this already comes as a kit, which means that it is not a single product. It is already a system for cloning.
This 36-site system comes complete with the essentials that you will need to succeed in cloning marijuana. It comes with a submersible pump, spray manifold with individual misting heads, reservoir, plastic top, neoprene inserts, and detailed instructions on how you can successfully clone plants.
One of the best assets of this product is that it is easy to use, making it a great choice even for novice marijuana growers. In fact, as the manufacturer states, the success rate is 100%. It can trigger explosive root development without the need to wait for a long time.
Q&A: Do I need to add chemicals or hormones?
One of the best things about this cloning kit is the fact that there is no more need to add chemicals and hormones. Even without these additives, the weed will grow in the state that you expect, making it totally organic.
Q&A: Does it make a loud noise?
Some products produce too much noise, which can be annoying, especially if you live in a small place. This can distract you most of the time. The good thing about this product is that it won’t make a loud noise. Of course, there is a sound coming from the pump and the spray heads, but they are not too loud.
How to Make Clones Grow Faster: Tips and Tricks
Patience is a virtue, even when it comes to cloning marijuana. This makes it important for you to be intelligent on how to proceed to minimize frustration and to speed up the development of the roots, these are some of the things that you have to keep in mind:
- One of the best things that you can do is to make sure that you start properly. This calls for the need to choose the right strain to clone and to have a healthy mother plant. You also have to use the right tools, especially scissors. It should be clean and sterilized to avoid contamination.
- When choosing a cutting that you will clone, focus on the lower branches. Make sure that it is in a good condition. After cutting, use a rooting stimulator, such as a cloning gel, to speed up its growth.
- Fertilizing is also important to speed up the growth of the clones. However, the right timing is important. Otherwise, the fertilizer will inhibit the growth of the plant. You also have to pay attention to the contents of the fertilizer to be sure that it has the essential nutrients that the clone will need.
- Especially in an indoor environment, lighting is also important. This is going to supplement the energy that could have been derived from the heat of the sun. The lights should be positioned correctly and should have the right intensity. You also need to choose lights that won’t generate too much heat so that the clones will not end up being burnt.
- Humidity can also hurt the clones. It can also lead to diseases and pests. With this, as it has been recommended by experts, you need to keep the humidity level at least 65%. A cover can also be used to regulate the humidity.
- You also have to check out the ventilation system. There should be little to no breeze. If it is too breezy, this could cause the clones to dry out and will kill it even before it grows. Too little breeze, on the other hand, can lead to stagnant air.
How to Transplant Marijuana Clones
Once the clone has reached a stage when it is strong enough, the next thing that you have to think about would be transplanting. If you do this at a point that is too early, this can cause stress to the plant and can kill it. Some growers start transplanting the clone once it has grown one-inch roots. However, it will be best to wait until the root is three inches to minimize the likelihood that the plant will suffer from transplant shock.
Find a clean and new pot. Using an old pot is not recommended because this can make the clone prone to contamination. Use a lightly-compacted soil to fill your choice of pot. There should be at least an inch of space between the top part of the soil and the top part of the pot. After filling the pot with soil, make a hole in the middle, which should be big enough for the root of the clone. After planting, you need to mist the clone instantly. Distilled water is best to be used. Tap water has minerals that could negatively impact the health of the plant.
How Much Light Does a Marijuana Clone Need?
It is not enough that you have the best grow light to facilitate the growth of the clones. The more important thing is to make sure that the clones are receiving more than enough light. Too little or too much light for the weed clone can have a significant negative impact in its overall growth.
The amount of the light that the clone needs will depend on its specific stage of growth. If they have just been freshly cut, it is recommended that they receive ambient light only. If you put them in direct light, they can die easily. Once the clones have settled or during the vegetative stage of the plant, it is recommended that you give it light for 18 hours. If the light is turned on round the clock, the rooting process will end up being slower.
You also have to be cautious about the specific type of light that you will use for the clones. It is best to look for lights that are not too intense, such as fluorescent grow lights, T5s, and CFLs. You will also benefit from HID grow lights, but you have to position them around two to three feet from the cannabis clones.
How Much Water Does a Marijuana Clone Need?
Before answering this question, it is important to note that there are many factors that will come into play. Humidity, temperature, and light, among other external factors, will all have a direct impact on how much water the plant needs. Also, this will also depend on the specific stage of the growth of the weed.
Do not water the plant directly. Instead, you need to mist them only. A spray bottle can prove to be handy. A few sprays will be more than enough to wet the plant. Make sure that you do not soak the water. This should be done at least twice a day. Also, see to it that it is well-draining. If water stays on the medium for a long time, it can lead to pests and diseases.
How Much Nutrient Does a Marijuana Clone Need?
Similar to the human body, marijuana clones will need nutrients. Without these nutrients, the roots will not grow. On the other hand, you also have to take note that feeding the clone with too many nutrients can also be a risk. With this, you need to find the perfect balance to ensure its best state of health.
If the clone is young, which means that it has just been cut from the mother plant, do not bother about nutrient feeding. At such point, it does not need any nutrient. This is because there is no root yet. Nutrients will be useless at such a point because the plant will not be able to absorb it. When the roots start to appear, this is when the nutrients will be crucial. At this point, the nutrient should have low nitrogen content.
When the clones start to transform into healthier and sturdier plants, this is the point wherein you can apply more nutrients. In the vegetative phase, the ideal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be 1-3-3.
Wrap Up
When choosing the best cloning medium for weed, you need to be as meticulous as possible. Take note that not all of them will deliver the best outcomes, so you have to weigh the pros and the cons of the available options. Better yet, limit your choices to the products mentioned above. Also, take note of the things that have been mentioned in this post to easily propagate clones and make sure that they will have healthy roots before transplanting.
