What to do with my Mother Plants

[Redbuddz]

High All

I'm running into space issues and I'm having to get rid of some plants. I currently have 2 plants from seed that are almost a year old. They are about 2'-3' tall in 5 gallon fabric pots. They take up most of the space. I also have 2 plants cloned from seed mom in 3 gallon fabric pots and I have 6 plants cloned from clones in 1 gallon pots.

So which plants should I get rid of? I assume keeping the healthiest looking plant regardless of age would be best but just How long can you keep a mother plant before she's just too old and becomes un-healthy? How long can plants grow in potted soil before the soil becomes contaminated with salts? I'm using Botincare PBP so I'm not sure of the salt content with their products? In terms of clones and seed mothers is there any reason why one would be better then the other to have a mother plant?

Any info on my questions or info about keeping moms
would be appreciated


Thanks Ya'll
Keep on Growin

Redbuddz

 

[Snook]

Hey RB, do you grow indoors or out? big numbers or small?

I've never grown outdoors, I give the outdoor bunch kudos for doing it that way. I freak if one gnat is seen (no phobia), one leads to more.. enough of that...

there will be conflicting views on moms. all good approaches but different.

 

[newtothiscoco]

first off a ROsystem is key for long term growing no mather what system grown in.

flush is key to ppl that grow with bottle nutes"salts"- a part of the repeating cycle of maintaning of growing with salts.

you can keep the same mother for ever, if you know your plants needs.
or you can even change moms each cycle there is no difrence. if you just remember to take cuttings from a healthy clone/mom what ever your prefence is. if its 30 years old or 2months old there is no difrence if its healthy. you only get what you take. you know waas up right!
but if you keep moms for years make sure to do a root trimming once or twise a year or keep transplanting. as you dont want a mom to get root bounded in longer time periodes ever. it lays un needed stress on the plant. "its good late bloom but not in vegs"
--
if you keep her happy and maintained, shes there for ever.

if its unhealthy just do a agressive root trimming and cut it in haf´n stuff it in a smaller pot with some new soil and give her a week or 2 and shes happy and you can get some healthy cutting for new moms. that would be my aproche. is all the clones the same clone? then keep the healthy one and ditch the rest and start the rest over from the healthy clone. only if its all the same plant/clone ofc.

 

[stoned-trout]

I don't keep moms over 6 months anymore....yeehaw..never had any problems with pbp

 

[meowmeowmeow]

I had a mother last year that was approx. 5 ft tall, so with only 8 ft I pulled her down. She looked like Gossamer from Looney Tunes. I believe in waste not want not, so I agree with the others. If you have the room or can flip her outside do it. After ditching numerous clones I try my best to get everything out of what I'm lucky to have survive.

 

[stoned-trout]

with some root pruning and bonsai tech you shouldn't have any issues....yeehaw

 

[chronosync]

Take cuts to preserve the genetics if you don't want to lose them but don't have space.

I just culled a mother I was keeping but took a few cuts and kept the healthiest one. It's kinda messed up but I might just pop that cut back in the same container the mother plant was in.

 

[Floridian]

I'd take two cuts from each mother and keep the healthiest one

 

[Snook]

I'd take two cuts from each mother and keep the healthiest one

Similarly, I take 3 and after they root take the healthiest 1 or 2, trash the 3rd and depending on the timing of the next run may plant and veg both (1 will be a mom the other goes into the rotation). I've lost a couple very good 'keepers' unwillingly by not taking enough cuts.

 

[blastfrompast]

if your into extracts you could bud out your moms, trim her up to defoliate...

It is what I do, just rip off the fans with gloved hands when she finishes and the whole plant goes to extracts..... Got 3/4lb off 2 old moms in a spare room....no trimming really...kinda nice for a change

Got just over 2oz of nice oil off them..

 

[Granger2]

Yeah, take cuts from the mothers, root them, don't transplant to anything bigger than 6" pots. Flush as needed. Root prune as needed, and add soil. Prune foliage as needed. I keep moms in 16 oz beer cups. Eventually, I take more cuts, and start over with new moms. Good luck. -granger

 

[funkybud]

so you have a total of 11 plants? are these all the same genetics or all different? if they are different, take cuttings and flower out the moms. if they are the same, just get flower out the oldest largest ones but keep a nice healthy one.

 

[Redbuddz]

Well, the overall consensus is clear. Healthy plants rule, regardless of age or generation.

Mother nature actually prevailed as I lost almost all of the plants I had due to severe cold in the northeast back in February. Thankfully I had a batch of clones that had rooted and I had made cuttings just prior to the severe cold that killed almost all of my plants. Those rooted clones have since been planted and are doing great and the cuttings I made have rooted so I'm on my way to a flourishing garden or mothers.

Shout out to some of the guys here who always seem to have useful info. Granger, StonedTrout, Snook. You guys are always helpful

Thanks to all for the input

Keep on Growing Ya'll

Redbuddz