Question about cloning/keeping clones alive and small

[pottymcpot]

Hi!
(first time grower here, sorry for all the stupid questions)

So I'm doing a microgrow in a pc cabinet at the moment, vegging a white widow for almost 3 weeks now. I'm thinking about topping her soon, and using the top as a clone.

My question is, is it possible to clone her now, keeping the clone alive and small until the mother is done flowering? We're talking probably 2 months+. I only have one cabinet to grow and its full with the one plant.

I'm thinking about making a mini bubbler with an old aquarium air pump I have. Could the clone stay in there for an extended period of time? How about lighting? Does it have to be strict 18/6 like the mother?

I was also thinking about doing 24/0 the next grow, will the clone be fine with that as the mother is on 18/6?

 

[FreezerBoy]

In a PC, I'd have switched to 12/12 three weeks ago.

As to the clone question, try reading through Holding clones in stasis? (the refrigerator method)

 

[pottymcpot]

Why would you have gone straight to flowering? She is from a seed. She's really short and bushy, although she's not doing so great at the moment.

Thanks for the thread, thats exactly what is was looking for!

 

[Hackk]

granted, they didnt look super, but as of tonight, I officially kept 40 clones alive and growing for 4 months! In nothing but the clone tray and the cubes they started in under a single CFL... I finally decided to throw them straight into flower tonight, we'll see how they do.

Normally I wouldnt do this, but once a month went by, I kind of wanted to do a science experiment and see how long they would survive. Once the four month mark hit, I gave up cuz I need the space.

And Freezerboy is simply saying for a space so small to grow in, you shouldnt risk the plants getting too large. Depending on strain, your plant will EASILY double in size within the first few weeks of 12/12.

 

[pottymcpot]

Wow 4 months?! that's incredible. what light schedule did you use?

My plant is only about 4-5 inches tall so the size probably wont be an issue. I'm also goint to top her and do a scrog, at least that's the plan

 

[FreezerBoy]

And Freezerboy is simply saying for a space so small to grow in, you shouldnt risk the plants getting too large. Depending on strain, your plant will EASILY double in size within the first few weeks of 12/12.

Exactly. 12/12 from seed could easily see the plants 18-24 inches tall at harvest.

 

[pottymcpot]

That tall? I only have 150w CFL lighting, will they really stretch that much?
I'm also wondering about how much light the clones need while they are rooting. Will they root in the dark, or do they need light to root? If I'm going to veg them 24/0, do I need to give them 24/0 lighting also while they are rooting?

Also, I don't want to burn them, how big do they need to get until they can be under 125w CFL?

Thanks for your answers guys, I really appreciate your help!

 

[Noc]

Clones need light while rooting, but it only needs to be of minimal intensity. A single 20 watt household cfl is plenty of light for a full tray of clones until they have rooted. 24/0 schedule will be fine.

You can put them under the 125 watt CFL at any time really. You could even root the clones under that light, although you shouldn't put them too close until they have rooted, as minimal light is better for cloning. As soon as they have roots though, and can uptake water, you're good to go.

 

[Slangheat]

Take a clone, send your seed into flower.

If the clone you took gets too big, take another clone from that and discard the original clone.

 

[shorty68]

thanks for all the great notes.

 

[pottymcpot]

Thanks for all your replys!

So I'm thinking about making the mini-bubbler out of an old aquarium air pump and heater as I mentioned earlier. Do you think a 7w or 11w CFL bulb will do for 1 or 2 clones until rooted? I think it has wrong colorspectrum though, think it's 2700K. No 6400K bulbs to be found

I think my top will only be about 2 inches if I top now, do you think that will have any chance of making it?

 

[CyrilSneer]

Thanks for all your replys!

So I'm thinking about making the mini-bubbler out of an old aquarium air pump and heater as I mentioned earlier. Do you think a 7w or 11w CFL bulb will do for 1 or 2 clones until rooted? I think it has wrong colorspectrum though, think it's 2700K. No 6400K bulbs to be found

I think my top will only be about 2 inches if I top now, do you think that will have any chance of making it?

I'm not sure of the K number, but I have best luck (for me) about 2 feet below a 13w cool white CFL. Believe it or not that little bulb will cover a huge cloning footprint. I've read of some folks cloning in pretty much total darkness. I've never tried it.

 

[piramidon]

... I have best luck (for me) about 2 feet below a 13w cool white CFL. Believe it or not that little bulb will cover a huge cloning footprint...

regarding to that, does the clones NEED PHOTOSYNTHESIS, or not?
I underlined the height (distance) and wattage of the cfl, because someone did not believed I cloned under a 20w at 20". Cheers

 

[FreezerBoy]

I've used a 23 watt from 6 ft away. They just don't need much light. Some say they need no light at all but, I haven't tried it.

 

[pottymcpot]

I think I'll just try with a regular CFL bulb I've got. Think its only 7watts, we'll see how it goes
I'll leave it on 24/0, as that's the plan for the rest of the veg period. The clones that have been rooted in a bubbler is suitable for transferring to soil right?

 

[piramidon]

thanks a bunch for your answer FreezerBoy, but I'm pushing my luck:
does the clones use photosynthesis to form roots or not? what "the book" says?
I don't need this answer to stick it, just for my general knowledge 'cause to me, looks obvious they don't need "phonosynthesis" so it must be something happening with the light the clones need to root.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

I'm not sure I can answer your question directly. But roots need a living plant and living plants need photosynthesis.