How to properly clone plants? Cloning at home

Choosing a “Mother Plant”

If we intend to reproduce plants by cloning, we must first choose the so-called “Mother Plant” that will be used to prepare the clones. It is best to choose a healthy, stable plant with the characteristics we want to reproduce. Avoid making this decision too quickly – the condition and quality of the mother plant can have a significant impact on the cuttings.

An ideal mother plant is vigorous, grows well and develops properly. Healthy shoots provide a good starting point for successful plant propagation.

After Selecting the “Mother Plant”

Once we have selected the mother plant, we can move on to the next stage – preparing the tools, growing medium and rooting products.

For this we need:

• a preparation for rooting cuttings or clones, for example Clonex;
• a suitable medium for young cuttings – in this case rockwool cubes;
• a container for soaking the rockwool cubes;
• water with the correct pH – in this example, pH 6.0 was used;
• alcohol or another suitable product for disinfecting tools;
• a scalpel or very sharp scissors;
• a clean cloth or paper kitchen towels;
• a propagator for maintaining suitable conditions around the cuttings;
• a small container for the rooting preparation, if required;
• perlite – optional, but useful for maintaining suitable conditions inside the propagator;
• suitable lighting for young plants – in this example, a 4 × 54W T5 lamp with a 6400K colour temperature was used.

Proper Cloning

If we have all the materials we need, we can start the cloning process. Preparing everything in advance makes the work easier and reduces the risk of forgetting an important tool or product.

The first thing we should do is sincerely apologize to our potential “Mothers” for knowingly harming them :) Hopefully, they will forgive us and continue to provide healthy shoots for future clones.

First, soak the rockwool cubes in water with a suitable pH. In this case, water with a pH of approximately 6.0 was used. The cubes can be prepared in advance so that they are evenly moist before the cuttings are inserted.

Soaking Clone Cubes

After soaking, remove the cubes from the container and allow excess water to drain naturally. The cubes should remain moist without being completely saturated with excess water.

This is where perlite can also be useful. It can help maintain suitable humidity inside the propagator while keeping the cubes separated from excess water collecting at the bottom. It also helps maintain air space around the propagation area.

Prepare a hole in each rockwool cube for the cutting. A small amount of rooting preparation can then be applied according to the instructions for the product being used.

Proper Cloning

The holes in the cubes should be deep enough to hold the cuttings securely – approximately 3 cm was used in this example. Once the growing medium is prepared, we can take the first cutting from the selected mother plant.

Before cutting, thoroughly disinfect the scissors or scalpel. A clean, sharp tool helps produce a precise cut and reduces unnecessary damage to the plant tissue.

Select a healthy shoot and separate it from the mother plant. In this example, the cut was made at approximately a 45-degree angle and the cuttings were taken from the lower part of the plant.

Preparation of Clones for Replanting

Once the cutting has been taken, prepare it for placement in the growing medium. Remove unnecessary lower leaves while leaving enough healthy foliage for further development.

Prepare the rooting product in advance and gently dip the cut end of the plant into it. Gel-type rooting preparations adhere well to the stem and are convenient to use. Always follow the application instructions provided by the manufacturer of the rooting product.

After applying the rooting preparation, carefully place the cutting into the prepared rockwool cube. Handle the stem gently to avoid damaging the freshly cut tissue.

Putting the Clones into the Propagator

Once the clone has been placed in the rockwool cube, put it inside the propagator. In this example, the cubes were placed over a layer of perlite.

It is important to provide suitable lighting. In the original setup described here, a 4 × 54W T5 fluorescent lamp with a 6400K colour temperature was used on an 18/6 lighting schedule. Less powerful propagation lighting can also be used, depending on the growing area, temperature and type of plants.

Humidity and temperature are especially important while cuttings are developing roots. In this setup, high humidity was maintained inside the propagator and the temperature was kept at approximately 23–26°C. The exact conditions and rooting time can vary depending on the plant species and propagation method.

If the growing area is too cool, a heating mat or heated propagator with a thermostat can help maintain a more stable temperature around the root zone. Additional heating may not be necessary when the room and lighting already provide suitable conditions.

Do not worry if the cuttings temporarily stop growing after they are taken from the mother plant. During this stage, the plant is concentrating on establishing a new root system. Under suitable conditions, the first roots may become visible after several days, although rooting time can vary considerably between plants.

What to Do After the Cuttings Develop Roots?

Once healthy roots are visible outside the propagation cube, the young plants can be prepared for the next stage of growth. The rooted cutting can be transplanted together with the cube into a suitable growing medium or hydroponic system.

Continue monitoring the young plants carefully during the transition. Gradual adjustment to lower humidity and the conditions of the main growing area can help the newly rooted plants adapt after leaving the propagator.