First Time Cloning From Mother (some LST needed)

[MrPNW]

As per my other posts, this is my first grow (started October).

1. I’ve taken 1 of 4 Pennywise clones and placed it in a small Secret Jardin Propagator 90 tent (3x2x3.3) to be a mother.
2. I’m using an LEDTonic Z5 light hung about an inch from the top bars. Blue switch only.

I’ve decided to go with Hormex #8 powder

The first step is to do a little LST to help improve light to the smaller shoots coming from the larger branches. Today I took some rubber coated wire, my wife picked up at the Dollar Store. This stuff is really easy to work with and only a buck! It’s very soft rubber (squeezes easily when pressed) and twists fast without getting stuck by anything.

She had a single paper hole punch that made perfect size holes in the pot fabric. I can’t see a part number but the hole punch pin is slightly smaller than the rubber wire which makes a good snug fit. I think she got this smaller punch from the craft store.

LST
I punched 4 holes in the pot where the 4 largest, lower branches have grown and only needed to secure the rubber wire to the pot, then simply bend the upper portion over the branch and down. No need to twist it closed on that end, it holds just fine. I’ve got my cloning supplies coming this week.

Can you folks tell me if this is a good plan? I was thinking of taking 6-8 clones off the Mother. I want to bring the height of the middle down. I’m hoping to get the next 4 branches, up from the first 4 I’ve already tied off, and have them grow out between those so that I basically have a 8 spoke wheel. I have many side branches coming out so once they’ve grown long enough I’ll tie them down. I’m thinking of taking the first clones from the highest branches, then cut them off, bringing down the height.
Will it harm the plant to remove this large center branch? If not, then my goal will be to have the side branching no higher than this second set of 4 branches in the wheel.

If all goes well I can then shorten the lengths of the 8 main spokes so they remain within the perimeter of the pot. This should give me many new shoots all shooting straight up and about the same height. I’m going to thin out the leaves from the center of the stalk to allow as much energy to go to the spokes. I did Bonsai for many years in my youth and this feels a lot like that. It’s amazing what you can do to a tree as long as you feed, water and prune it.

 

[dphipps1020]

Any branches you cut off can be a clone if they have vegetation on them. That thing is huge too, you can reduce the size by quite a bit. How many clones do you plan to take each time? This is a picture of my mothers shortly after a trim. I have them in a 2x2x4' tent and each of them have 4-8 branches I can take clones from.

 

[MrPNW]

What size pots are those?

When I started this I didn’t know about mothers. I like the idea of having a bunch of small mothers like you’ve done. Time to make some Cansai (Cannabis Bonsai).

 

[MrPNW]

There appears to be 2 phenos with my 4 plants. 2 of each, the other 3 have been in 12/12 schedule since the 1st. Is it OK to take some branches to clone from one of the other pheno in my tent now? I’m figuring it is since it hasn’t been that long.
The two Pennywise phenos are quite different from the way they grew to somewhat different leaves. That way if the other one produces a better bud, I’ll have it also.

 

[dphipps1020]

They're 5x5x6.5" square pots. Yeah you can take clones still. This is where I got my information from. https://www.growweedeasy.com/how-to-keep-a-bonsai-mother-for-unlimited-clones

 

[MrPNW]

Thank you, time to pull out my bonsai tools.

 

[MrPNW]

Is a week into flower still OK to take clones from?

I seem to have 2 pair of pheno for my strain and thought I’d take a clone of the one that isn’t the same as the one I made a mother. Then I could make a mother from one of the cuttings, just in case the pot is superior on that pheno. I took the one that was greenest and most uniform for the mother. The other pheno are bigger in size with slightly wider leaves, not as green though. Maybe the color is due to their more vigorous characteristics. I will definitely be keeping track between the 2 more so than before.

 

[dphipps1020]

Already answered that.

 

[SoOrbudgal]

Did it show pre flower did you see pistils? Doesn't matter just in my experience taking a clone off a flowering plant takes abit longer to veg out gets bushy an single leaf before showing 3finger an up.

 

[MrPNW]

Dphipps1020 thanks; read the bonsai article but missed that link the first time.
https://www.growweedeasy.com/monstercropping-cannabis-tutorial#how-to-reveg-a-flowering-clone

 

[MrPNW]

Bonsai Mother - Pennywise

I’m taking my mother down in size a little at a time. With bonsai I learned the slower the better (maybe weed is different?). I’m taking the top down 4 branches today and cloning the 4 tips.

How many nodes down do I make the cut?

My end goal is to leave the first 8 branches up from the soil. Those that fan out in 8 different directions. Once the plant recovers from all the pruning I’ll trim the roots to go back into a small pot. In the future I’ll be creating bonsai mothers from the start and won’t need to back track.

 

[MrPNW]

I’m soaking the long cuttings in the Hormex liquid (1 tsp gal) until I know where to cut them. The mother has been to the beauty parlor and is more manageable now. I’ll trim some more once I know the cuttings root.

 

[MrPNW]

OK that’s done.

Notes
The cutting have been soaking in a light dilution of the liquid B1/hormone concentrate (blue pitcher) the moment they are cut from the plant. This prevent air bubble going up the trunk (just like humans and shots). The lowest branches removed, trunk cut again at a 45 degree angle amount 5” long, dipped in full liquid concentrate, dipped in #8 powder and pressed into cubes. The liquid and powder each have a different hormone for rooting.

The products are placed into small containers, to prevent the contamination of the main containers. If clones show any signs of contamination the small containers will be cleaned out and sterilize for fresh product.

Since cuttings do not have roots yet, they take in water completely by means of their leaves. This is why they must remain humid until roots appear, they are sprayed daily using the diluted root hormone liquid the cuttings were soaking in. The lower larger leaves are cut so they do not suck up all the energy of the plant, taking away from root development.

So much for the extra room. I have some small seedling trays coming that fit the cubes and will fill the dome space, replacing the ice cube tray. When those get here I will be cloning the basil and African Violet.







I placed the diluted liquid hormone into my hand pump sprayer to mist the clones.

 

[MrPNW]

Do I need to cut the rest of the large leaves or does this look good?

 

[MrPNW]

I gotta say, this LEDTonic Z5 light in my 3x2x3.5 Propagator tent, set on blue switch only, has been amazing for the mother, the basil and African Violet. The mother is dark, rich green top to bottom, the basil has leaves as big as my hand and the AV has 4 new flower buds popping up out from under the leaves. They told me it can sit 1” from the top using the crossed hanger procedure which I followed. The two fans blow the air around up there. They also answer all questions quickly.

I’m using an LEDTonic Z5 light hung about an inch from the top bars. Blue switch only.

looks like they just released some flat panel type lights as well.
https://www.ledtonic.com/pages/find-right-lamp

 

[SoOrbudgal]

I'm looking at the structure of her she looks real good. That's why i kept my 1/2 working vipar450 it works now as a veg light only has the blue/white working no flower mode. They love it my veggie an weed

 

[MrPNW]

Bonsai Mother
The basic structure and front are determined. In a few weeks I’ll begin the gradual reduction of pot size.

 

[MrPNW]

Don’t be shocked, she’s doing fine and even since this photo she’s getting a number of new growth spots.

It’s been 23 days since she enter the small tent. Today was a major decision to determine;
1. What the front of the bonsai would be.
2. The apex was moved down to a branch that leans towards the front.
3. The branching was reduced further to force the smaller leaves closer to the stock to develop.
4. Each of the small sets of leaves were topped to force two more branches out from each location.

Now the finer branching system can be developed. I will continue to top new growth to make the plant thicken up with more small branches.

 

[dphipps1020]

Mine looked like that when I trimmed them a few weeks ago too, barely anything left. Looks like it may be watering day for mine, but this is them after about 2.5-3 weeks. It's amazing how fast they come back. Your structure looks really good, you'll have quite a few ready to cut in a matter of weeks.

 

[MrPNW]

Saturday, 6 Feb 2021