Cloning cannabis can be a very rewarding thing as you can end up getting a vast amount of plants and blooms. However, trying to propagate your cannabis plants can be difficult sometimes. The right cutting angle and cloning formulas are very important things and one wrong step with them can lead to your plants not growing correctly, or not even growing at all. This article will highlight some of the best cloning gels and powders you can use to help you propagate your cannabis plants and give you some tips as to how to best use these materials.
What is a Cloning Gel and Powder?
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A cloning gel or powder is a special formula that is designed to help your plant clipping to grow roots. If you just soak the clipping in water or try to grow it in soil without the use of these materials, it can be very difficult for that clipping to grow. Because of this, cloning gels and powders help the plant clippings to be full of the needed nutrients and vitamins so they can quickly grow roots.
As their name implies, they either come in a gel or powder form. A gel can be squeezed or spooned into a growing surface. A powder can be sprinkled over it. The easiest one will really depend on your needs as both are simple to measure and use.
How Do I Use These Materials?
Cloning gels and powders are extremely easy to use. You usually just need to take your plant clipping, dip in water, and then dip it in the gel or powder. You can then plant the clipping in soil where the gel and powder will then go to work to help the plant clipping produce roots.
However, make sure to follow the directions provided on the packaging. Sometimes certain product require specific steps that others don’t. Because of this, it’s important to check how to use the gel or powder to make sure it helps your plants grow well.
Important Nutrients Plants Need
As with most plants, cannabis plants require certain nutrients in order to grow well. Below are some important nutrients that you should make sure your cloning gel or powder has.
- Nitrogen
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that cannabis needs because it helps to keep the plant healthy and producing enough chlorophyll to survive. Without nitrogen, your plant will not survive. Because of this, it’s crucial that cloning gels and powders have enough of this nutrient in them.
- Potassium
Potassium helps to keep CO2 in the plants which is necessary in order for them to grow and breathe.
- Calcium
Calcium helps the plant with its water storage. It also works to help keep the cell walls together so the plant stays sturdy.
- Phosphorus
This nutrient is crucial for photosynthesis and plant growth. Otherwise, the plant will wilt.
- Magnesium
Magnesium provides the rich green color in plants and helps with ensuring it grows strong and healthy.
What are the Differences Between a Cloning Gel and Cloning Powder?
Both of these things have the same purpose: to help your plant clippings grow roots. While they have the same purpose, they achieve this in different ways. Cloning powders are a traditional way to help clone a plant. It wasn’t until recently that cloning gels were actually introduced to the indoor gardening market.
While gels are a newer option and often have a more sophisticated formula, they do have some problems. Gels tend to cause root rot sometimes, especially if you plan to use the plant clipping with hydroponic systems. Also, sometimes the gels can fall off easily which means the clone might not have been fully covered with the needed nutrients and vitamins. Cloning powder can fall off, but it’s not as much as a gel.
Overall though, both options work well, but it’s often shown that cloning powder tends to help plants grow just a little faster compared to a cloning gel. However, both types will work to help your plant clippings grow well and into strong and healthy plants.
Where to Cut on Your Plants
One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you need to pay close attention to where you cut the clone. If you cut a clone off from a part of the plant that isn’t well-grown or strong yet, that can negatively impact your clone. For this reason, you first want to do a simple test on the plant to see where you should cut it. This test involves you just bending the plant a little and looking at its stem. If the stem breaks slightly in a certain area when you bend it, that is the place you want to clip. This is because the stem is tender and fully developed in that area which is vital if you want a healthy clone to grow.
To cut this part of the stem off, you want to use a clean pair of scissors. Make sure the scissors have been wiped off before using them on your plant or any particles and bacteria that might be on the blades could be wiped off onto your plant which could end destroying it.
You want to then take the scissors and cut the stem at a 45 degree angle. This angle is often recommended by seasoned growers because you’ll have more of a surface on the stem with it which can help more roots to grow.
Product Recommendation
If you’re on the search for some pruning shears to use with your cannabis plants, you can check out the VIVOSUN Pruning Shears. This durable product comes in a stylish orange housing and measures 6.5 inches. The blades are constructed out of stainless steel which helps keep them free from rust and extra sharp. The handles are extremely comfortable to hold thanks to a padding built into them and have a non-slip feature so there’s no need to worry about them slipping from your hands. When you’re done, you can secure the blades together with a locking safety feature.
What to Look for in a Cloning Gel and Powder
Before you buy a cloning gel or powder, there are a few things you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
If it Can Be Used in Hydroponic Systems
Many cloning gels and powders can be used in both hydroponic and regular growing conditions. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is not always the case. Sometimes, one can only be used in the other. If you plan to use a cloning gel or powder in a hydroponic system you’ll want to be especially careful. If the gel or powder doesn’t work well in it, it could end up creating a mess in the system which could destroy your plant. Because of this, make sure to keep an eye out for whether the gel or powder works well.
If There’s IBA
IBA, which stands for Indole-3-Butyric Acid, is a synthetic plant hormone meant to help quicken the growing speed of a plant. While many don’t have a problem with using this with their plants, some do. This is because it isn’t necessarily a natural method. If you prefer to keep this hormone out of your plants, make sure there’s no IBA in the cloning gel or powder.
The Container Size
Another thing to consider is the container size of the gel or powder. Because these can be expensive, it’s important to plan out how much you need. Are you only going to use it with a few plants? Do you plan to use it with many? If you’re a beginner, it’s best to start out with a small amount just to make sure it works well for your needs. On the other hand, if you’re a more experienced grower, you’ll probably need a larger container due to the many plants you more than likely have.
How Quickly it Helps the Plant Grow
The next important thing to keep in mind is how quickly the cloning gel or powder works. Does it take a few days for growth to occur or a few weeks? If you want something that works quickly, make sure to check to see how quickly a certain gel or powder works.
The Best Cloning Gels and Powders
Clonex Cutting and Cloning Solution
This product comes in the form of a spray and gel. You can use the spray that comes with it on your plants a few days before you clip a clone off. The spray will help to prepare the plant for being cut to ensure it doesn’t go into any type of shock.
The gel included is made with a unique hormone mixture which will help the plant clipping to have enough nutrients in order to grow on its own. This gel comes in a 7.8 oz. jar.
Technaflora Rootech
This product is a very thick gel which is designed in a way to help it stick securely on your plant clipping. The gel is filled with helpful vitamins and nutrients to help your clone produce healthy roots. If you think the gel is a little too thick to use on your plants, you can dilute it without fear of diminishing the ingredients in the gel. This cloning gel comes in many different container size options.
Garden Safe TakeRoot
This cannabis cloning powder comes in a 2.4 oz. container and is created with an Indole-3-Butyric Acid. This acid will help your plants to quickly develop long roots. To use this powder, you just have to dip your cannabis clone’s stem into it and then plant it. The powder will stick securely to the stem and help it to grow.
Quick Clone
This cloning gel comes in a 3 oz. container and is made with a very thick formula. This formula is made with a tea base, as well as leaves and bark, to help the clone grow healthy roots quickly. This gel also has amino acids mixed into it to help with keeping the clone strong and healthy. For this gel to work properly, you want to make sure to dip the plant clipping in water beforehand. After planting your clone this gel will work to help it develop roots within 5-10 days.
Olivia’s Cloning Gel
This container of cannabis cloning gel will help your clone to grow quickly. This gel can be used safely in hydroponic systems and is designed to help prevent transplant shock from occurring. It uses NPK to help produce roots on your cuttings and contains no IBA. This gel comes in 3 different container sizes: 2, 4, and 8 oz.
Miracle-Grow Fast Root
This cannabis cloning powder can work to clone cuttings that have a 4-6 inch stem. You can just simply dip the stem into this powder and then plant it. This product uses a 1% Indole-3-Butyric Acid formula and comes in a 1.3 oz. container.
HydroDynamics Gel
This gel by HydroDynamics is perfect for those who plan to use it in hydroponic systems. It comes in a 100 mL bottle and comes with a special formula to help ensure your plants grow quickly. The gel will go around the stem of the plant to help secure it while also making sure it provides plenty of nutrients for it to grow. The gel can be placed around the edge of a clipping to help encourage the clipping to grow quickly. Within a few days you should start to see new growth with this product.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are Cloning Gel and Powder?
Cloning gel and powder are specialized formulas used in plant propagation, specifically designed to promote root growth in plant clippings. These products supply essential nutrients and vitamins, facilitating quicker and healthier root development compared to traditional water or soil propagation methods.
How Do I Use Cloning Gels and Powders?
Using cloning gels and powders is straightforward. First, dip your plant clipping in water, then into the gel or powder. Plant the clipping in soil, where the product will assist in root production. Always follow specific instructions on the product packaging, as usage can vary between different brands.
What Key Nutrients Do Cannabis Plants Need?
Essential nutrients include Nitrogen (for health and chlorophyll production), Potassium (for CO2 retention), Calcium (for water storage and cell wall integrity), Phosphorus (for photosynthesis), and Magnesium (for color and growth strength).
What are the Differences Between Cloning Gel and Cloning Powder?
Both cloning gel and powder aim to enhance root growth in clippings, but they differ in composition and application. Gels are newer and can sometimes cause root rot, especially in hydroponic systems. Powders are traditional, less prone to falling off, and often result in slightly faster plant growth.
What’s the Best Way to Prevent Contamination When Cloning?
Always use clean, sterilized scissors or pruning shears to prevent bacterial and particle contamination. The VIVOSUN Pruning Shears, for example, are a good choice for clean and precise cuts.
Are Cloning Gels and Powders Safe for All Types of Cannabis Plants?
Generally, these products are safe for various types of cannabis plants. However, always check product specifications and compatibility with your specific plant type.
Conclusion
These cloning gels and powders for cannabis are some of the best to use with your plants. The benefits of cannabis are vast, which is why you want to make sure you have a large supply of these plants. By using these gels and powders, your clone will develop strong and healthy roots so it can quickly grow into a mature plant. If you’re looking to clone your cannabis plants, definitely check out some of these helpful products mentioned above. Not only do they work well, but they are packed with important nutrients that will help your plants to grow both healthy and quickly.