-Luis Guerra-
In the long debate over clones vs seeds, I’ll help shed a bit of light and help you figure out which technique to use in your next grow.
Clone / Cuttings
First off, you will need a mother plant to produce clones. Wikipedia defines clones as any organism whose genetic information is identical to that of a parent organism from which it was created. A mother plant can come from a seed source, be purchased from a nursery, or taken from your current garden. Usually a mother plant is a plant kept in perpetual vegetative stage by keeping it on a 16-24 hour light cycle. This light cycle prevents the mother plant from going into flower. One of the main reasons some people will choose to take cuttings is that they can replicate their most vigorous, high yielding plants over and over again. One thing to keep in mind is that annual plants in nature do not live for more than one year, which will cause a decline in yield in every round of cuttings. Problems can also arise with fighting off environmental stresses, diseases and insects, as the genetics weaken season after season.
Seeds
A plant grown from seed is capable of yielding more than a cloned offspring. Most plants grown from seed naturally produce a tap root, whereas plants grown from clones are unable to do so. A tap root acts as an anchor for the plant which aids in better support and water and nutrient uptake. Outdoor growers lean toward growing from seed for this very reason. For indoor growers, tap roots are not a major concern, as plants do not require them to survive in containers. Growing from seed also lessens your chances of inheriting any pests or diseases from a cutting. Seeds do have their cons however. Germination rates vary by plant species, harvest times are longer than when starting from cuttings, and there are costs associated with purchasing them (whereas clones taken from plants you already own are free).
Both methods can be fun to explore, and you should try and see what works best for you.
Items to help you out in your projects:
- Super Starter Plugs provide an ideal air-to-water ratio to give plants the best start possible. These bioactive plugs are comprised primarily of composted tree bark and peat moss and can be used in soil or hydroponic applications. A predrilled hole in each plug makes planting a cinch. Great for both Seeds and Cuttings
- EZ Cloner 16 Site made from fully recyclable HDPE which highly chemically resistant and extremely durable.
- Sunblaster Nano Dome Kit comes with an 18 in T5 HO SunBlaster™ NanoTech light fixture, a unique 7 in high dome designed to accommodate the included NanoTech fixture and a 10 x 20 tray.
- Super Sprouter Heat Mat Warms root area approximately 10°F – 20°F over ambient temperature to improve germination process. Also aids in success rates with cuttings. Perfect for one standard 10 in x 20 in propagation tray.
- Rapid Start delivers a powerful blend of premium plant extracts, amino acids, and nutrients generating explosive root growth. Using RapidStart® stimulates prolific root branching and development of fine root hairs that increase nutrient uptake and grow healthier, whiter roots.
Gary Makus says
Can seed be made clonal if you use pollen from the same plant for the seed? Don’t understand the genetics.
Oregon HempWorks Inc. says
Very useful information that many of our customers could benefit from having. Thanks as always!
Robert says
I don’t believe a word of your article. I take clones from every plant I’ve grown right before I flip to flower. I have also grown many plants from seed. There is NO difference when growing inside from (growing from seed) or (growing from clone) in size of the yield of the plant. Yields normally are predictable by how wide your stem is. A 1 inch in diameter stem yields 1 ounce. A 2 inch stem yields 2 ounces. And so on. I find growing an Indica longer in veg you obtain greater yields but you need more room in your tent. You can take clones from every grow, i’m on a 4th generation from seed. Meaning i started from seed then clone then clone then clone. For a perpetual garden from 1 great strain. But Good Try!!
john stamos says
The guy who posted the comment under “robert” is an idiot. Theres a black and white difference between clones and seedlings, taproots, which allows all seedlings to uptake more water and more nutrients than any clone, google it, its not just in this article. Therefor, all else equal, there is a 100% chance of greater yields with seeds. It’s just not a crazy higher amount. It’s more like a ~10% difference under the very best conditions. and at only a couple ounces, that wont seem very noticeable between grows.
Adrian says
I live in South Australia and prefer to grow from seed then after 18 months graft a desired cultivar onto that seedling, I grow about 20 citrus trees in my back yard which all produced great crops not to mention all of my peach, apple and other types of trees I have, I have made trees from cuttings and gave them away and after quite a few years some of those trees died and some still going strong.
Both my mango trees grew from seed and were never grafted as that type of mango seed is true to type and both trees produce bumper crops each year.
I don’t just use any old seed when growing citrus I use either sour orange or trifoliata which has many benefits in resisting all types of nasty things in the soil even tho sour orange in some parts of the world sour orange rootstock is not preferred.
All of my trees have have a good tap root which is important here as rainfall is as rare as tits on a bull.
Adrian.
William Blevins says
I live in Indiana, USA, Zone 5. Do Cannas with a tap root (grown from seeds) over winter better than clones. I would think so, but I don’t know.
ashley says
We would think so too. Also, since Cannas reproduce by creating lots of new rhizomes, the best way to get more Cannas is to wait until die back in the fall, cut back foliage, carefully dig up a clump, gently cut or break apart rhizomes (make sure rhizomes each have at least one “eye” and some roots), and then dry them out and store them over the winter in a place that doesn’t go below 45 degrees. Then plant come spring when danger of frost has passed. Voila – lots of new cannas!
Cindy says
I thought clones were sterile. Can a clone produce a viable seed?
Luke says
Robert if you’re pulling one Oz off a plant with a one inch stem you’re doing something very very wrong.
After reading your following comment I suspect bits you’re 4th gen cuttings. Yes they can keep going but there is a reason breeders use 1st gen mother’s, everytime you clone the DNA gets damaged and the quality of the plant deteriorates. It’s the same principle as aging and cell reproduction. Yes the cells are reproduced, but not as they were.
Most breeders when they find genetics they like often revert a 1st gen seed back into vegetative state, to start cloning of preparing a male for pollination