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Cloning plants is an effective way to propagate your favorite plant species and ensure that their characteristics remain consistent. This technique involves cutting from a healthy parent plant and growing it into a new plant genetically identical to the original. That’s right, you don’t have to grow plants by planting seeds.
Cloning can be an easy way to expand your garden or reproduce one of your favorite plants. However, it’s important to note that not all plants can be propagated in the same way. In fact, some plants do better with certain types of propagation, like in soil or water.
We’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of cloning a plant so that you can confidently grow new plants.
Why Clone Plants?
There are several reasons why someone may choose to clone a plant. Here are a few of the most common:
- Cloning is a great option if you love a plant and want the same or similar, consistent characteristics. By cloning the plant, you can create new plants genetically identical to the parent plant and with the same desirable traits, such as flower color, fruit size, or growth habit.
- Cloning can be a more cost-effective way to propagate plants than buying new seeds or plants. This is especially useful if you are cloning a plant that is expensive or hard to find. It can also be a good way to save money to propagate numerous plants.
- It’s also a faster method, as you don’t have to wait for seeds to germinate or for young plants to mature.
- Cloning can also help to maintain disease resistance in plants. By cloning a plant that has demonstrated resistance to a particular disease, you can ensure the new plants will also have that resistance.
How To Clone a Plant in Water
- Select a healthy and mature plant you want to replicate when choosing a plant to clone. Wait until the plant has grown to a suitable size before taking cuttings. This will ensure the plant has developed enough strength and resilience for successful cloning.
- Choose a healthy branch free of disease or pests. Look for a branch with several nodes or leaves, as this will provide enough space for roots to develop. Avoid branches that are too thick or too thin, as these may not root properly.
- Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut the branch just below a node at a 45-degree angle.
- Immediately dip the freshly cut stem into rooting hormone powder, which will absorb better immediately after cutting. While optional, The rooting powder will help the plant thrive and grow better.
- Now, it’s time to replant your cutting. Take the cutting and place it in a container of clean water. Make sure that the container is tall enough to accommodate the cutting and has enough water to cover the cut end of the stem, but do not cover the entire plant in water.
- Once roots have developed to a suitable length, transfer the cutting into the soil. Bury the roots and leave the stem above the surface.
How To Clone a Plant in Soil
- Similar to cloning plants via water, you will select a healthy and mature plant to replicate.
- Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut the branch just below a node at a 45-degree angle.
- Immediately dip the freshly cut stem into rooting hormone powder.
- Take the cutting and place it into the plant pot with soil. Bury the roots and leave the stem above the surface. You can use potting soil, seed starting mix, or composted garden soil for your plant.
How To Choose a Mother Plant for Clones?
- Choose a mature mother plant. But be sure not to choose one near the end of life or one considered fairly young. A young plant may not have developed the necessary strength and resilience for successful cloning, while plants that are too old may have reduced vigor and may not produce healthy clones.
- Mother plants must be healthy, free of disease or pests, and show no signs of stress. Cloning a sick or stressed plant will likely result in weak clones that may not thrive.
- Choose a mother plant with desirable traits you want to replicate in your clones, such as high yield, disease resistance, or unique characteristics like flower color or fragrance.
- Plants must have good growth habit and structure.
- The plant must be compatible with the cloning method you plan to use. For example, some plants may root more easily in water, while others prefer soil or hydroponic environments.
Best Type of Plants for Cloning
With the right technique, most (if not all) plants can be cloned successfully. Some of the easiest plants to clone are herbs and succulents.
Herbs like basil, mint, oregano, and rosemary, are easy to clone. Succulents such as Jade plants, aloe vera, and echeveria are also easy to clone. You can take stem cuttings and root them in water or a rooting hormone before transplanting them into soil.
Other flowering plants, such as roses and hydrangeas, can also be cloned.
