CLONES VS. SEEDS: WHICH IS BETTER FOR GROWING CANNABIS?

One of the first things to consider when growing cannabis is whether you want to start growing cannabis from seed or clone it.

On the one hand, growing from seed is easy and affordable. On the other hand, growing clones is quick and clones contain the exact characteristics of the parent plant.

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's compare seeds and clones so you can decide how to grow your cannabis plant.

What are cannabis clones?

A clone is a cutting taken from a living cannabis plant that will eventually grow into a plant of its own. The cutting is usually a few centimetres in size. Clones are exact copies of the parent plant. Cloning copies the genetic code contained in the plant's DNA.

The best clones are those that have been grown from a healthy mother plant. The plant should grow quickly and have a strong and resistant root system. It should also produce an abundant crop with very good quality buds. If the environmental conditions remain the same throughout the life cycle, the clone should have almost identical cannabinoid and terpene profiles to its parent plant.

Advantages of growing cannabis from seed

Most growers start growing cannabis from seed. There are clear advantages to growing cannabis from seed. These are the 4 biggest advantages of growing cannabis from seed:

Easy availability

Today, you can easily order seeds online from a number of well established seed shops (such as www.cannapio.cz). In addition, there is usually a much wider selection of seeds compared to the range of clones.

Hardier plants

Cannabis seeds tend to produce stronger plants, which are also easier to grow, mainly because cannabis plants grown from seed have a taproot that gives the plant more support.

No bugs and pests

A big problem for cannabis growers is pests and bugs. Pests and beetles can be transferred from the parent plants to the clones. If you grow from seed, the plant will not inherit any pests and diseases from the mother plant. Therefore, when you grow plants from seed, you can be 100% sure that your plants will not transmit diseases or pests to your garden.

Disadvantages of growing cannabis from seed

The germination phase

Seed germination is a skill that not every grower has mastered. It requires experience. It can take several days for new seeds to germinate and several weeks for seedlings to establish properly. Although reputable seed banks offer higher germination rates, not every seed will germinate from the soil.

Genotype vs. phenotype

Each seed from the same plant has a slightly different genetic code - a unique genotype. If you plant ten of the same seeds, you will notice some differences in height, colour, flavour and yield.

After about six weeks of growth, the plant will usually produce precursors that are female flowers or seeds that are male flowers. This will let you know the sex of the plant.

Slower start

Seeds take longer to harvest than clones. It takes a few weeks for the seed to reach the same size as the clone, and then another week or two for the plant to become a mature seedling.

The advantages of growing cannabis from clones

You can grow your favourite strains

If you want to grow your favourite strain, choose clones with the same genetics as the parent plant. Clones contain exactly what you liked about the parent plant. They are exact genetic copies and carry all the characteristics of the parent plant, including size, flavor and fertility.

Fast growth

With clones, you don't have to wait for the seed to germinate and grow into a large enough seedling. By using clones , you skip the germination and sowing phase, which can take several weeks. Just root the cutting and you have a plant ready for immediate cultivation.

Cuttings from females produce other females

If you use a clone, you can be sure that your plant will be female. This allows growers to avoid the problem of male plants when growing from regular seed. Male cannabis plants do not provide the same euphoric and medicinal effects as female cannabis plants.

Disadvantages of growing cannabis from clones

Difficult availability

Because cuttings need to be cut from an already growing plant, it is difficult for growers to get clones. In the case of growing clones, growers are limited by what they can find in their area. There are fewer varieties of clones available in seed banks than in the case of seeds.

Plants are not hardy enough

When growing from clones, there is a greater risk that the plants will not be resistant to pests and diseases. The parent plants pass on all the characteristics to the clones, including the bad ones.

Taking cuttings can be difficult

If you are going to take cuttings from a mother plant, you need to be careful. The clone is fragile and should be treated accordingly. If you are too aggressive with the cuttings, they will die before they take root.

Is it better to start from clones or seeds?

As mentioned, growing cannabis from seeds or clones has its advantages and disadvantages. Whether it is better to start growing from seed or clone depends on several criteria. It all depends on the personal preferences and abilities of the grower. For beginners, using seeds is much easier and gives better results. Cloning is more difficult and should be reserved for somewhat more experienced growers.

Either way, with a little time, patience, sun and water, you can grow your own cannabis plant, either from seed or clone!