Tender loving care from the earliest stages
As previously mentioned, we'll skip the cloning process to focus on how to nurse the clones through the growth phase.
Lighting
During the initial phase, young clones will benefit from an 18/6 veg. light schedule, if possible, under fluorescent lamps. Metal Halide lamps are also appropriate as long as they're located 1.5-2 meters away from the clones.
Humidity levels
Another key factor for achieving success is where you decide to place your clones. Whether you opt for a small greenhouse or a grow space, make sure the humidity level is high enough. During the first 2 days, moisture levels of around 95-100% are imperative. Later, over the following 3 weeks, lower humidity levels are recommended (85-90 %). If you stay within these parameters, the root system will certainly thrive.
Temperature
It's essential to keep a steady temperature between 75°F and 80°F, although the most important thing is to make the grow space as cozy as possible so that your clones feel comfortable. If you happen to have problems reaching that temperature, you can always use heating mats or cables, but be careful not to place them too close to the plastic base of the greenhouse. To set the whole thing up, place a layer of white sand beneath the mat to prevent it from coming into direct contact with the base. Once the thermal insulator is ready, place the mat or the cable on it. Repeat the process, this time with a thicker layer so that the roots only receive heat indirectly, without getting burnt. This way, they'll grow more quickly and vigorously. These three layers must be arranged in such a way that they lead to the desired results. Don't forget to check that the air temperature is between 68°F and 74°F, some 40°F below that of the substrate or growing medium.
Watering
Ideally, spray your clones with water at a pH of about 5.7-6.0. We recommend spraying the substrate and the leaves at the same time so as to make sure all your young clones receive the same amount of water. During the first 4-5 days of their lives, you can use vitamin B1-enriched water with the same pH levels as indicated above. Alternatively, a root-booster could be used from the second week onwards or when the first roots start to pop out. But avoid overfeeding them, particularly during the first two weeks, which is when the dosage must be slightly lower than the one indicated by the manufacturer. From the third week, feel free to water your clones following the recommended dose on the package label. A weekly watering schedule should be enough for the clones to thrive. However, the frequency may have to be increasing depending on our grow, the evaporation capacity, the ventilation and the growth pattern.
Ventilation
From the 4th or 5th day onward, more and more ventilation points will have to be created to insure optimum cross flow ventilation for your clones to get the oxygen they need as they grow increasingly bigger. In fact, the bigger they become, the more air they need and the more frequent the air renewal has to be. To prevent the emergence of pathogens that could turn out to be deadly for your clones, it's necessary to remove the dead leaves. Some clones may wither away a bit at first but they generally regain their power within a few days.
The strain's potential
Not all genetics have the same rooting capacity (it mainly depends on their character) but they don't generally need more than 1-3 weeks. A complex combination of genetics might in itself lack vigor. Or maybe the problem is that the clones derive from a genetically-weak selection, without this necessarily being a distinctive trait of the original strain. But the most likely explanation is that the selection process may not have been properly made. Just that. Should this happen to be the case, you'd better get rid of them because you'd be wasting your time for the result won't live up to your expectations. A top-quality strain will definitely lead to your grow's success. Within a maximum of 3 weeks, your clones will have developed sufficient foliar mass to jump to the next phase: the repotting. When the leaves start to gradually turn noticeably yellow and the roots begin to come through the multiple holes in the bottom of the container, this would mean you've made it. And, when you notice something of a vertical growth, the time will have come to transplant your little clones into a bigger container so that they can stretch more comfortably. We hope these tips on how to successfully clone marijuana plants help you obtain the amazing results you've so long been waiting for.