Definition:
In cannabis cultivation, a cutting is a small section of a cannabis plant, typically taken from a healthy mother plant, that can be rooted and grown into a genetically identical plant.
Purpose and Usage
Cuttings are used in cannabis propagation to clone desirable strains, ensuring consistency in genetics and preserving specific traits such as potency, flavor, or resistance to pests. This method is widely used in commercial and personal cultivation to save time and maintain uniformity across crops.
How It Relates to Cannabis
- Steps for Preparing a Cutting:
- Selection: Choose a healthy, disease-free mother plant with desirable traits.
- Cutting: Use sterilized tools to take a 4–6-inch section from a branch, preferably just below a node.
- Preparation: Trim lower leaves and dip the cutting’s stem in a rooting hormone.
- Rooting: Place the cutting in a growing medium (e.g., water, soil, or rock wool) and maintain high humidity and moderate light levels until roots develop.
- Benefits of Using Cuttings:
- Ensures genetic consistency, as the new plant is a clone of the mother plant.
- Speeds up the cultivation process compared to growing from seeds.
- Allows growers to perpetuate high-performing or rare strains.
- Common Settings for Use:
- Indoor grow operations aiming for uniform crops.
- Large-scale commercial cannabis farms.
- Personal grows where specific strain traits are desired.
Common Misconceptions
- Cuttings are weaker than seed-grown plants: Properly rooted cuttings are just as robust as plants grown from seeds.
- Cuttings grow faster than seeds in all stages: While cuttings skip germination, their growth rate depends on rooting and environmental conditions.
- Cuttings are difficult to propagate: With the right tools and environment, even beginner growers can successfully root cannabis cuttings.
Alternatives
- Seeds: Provide genetic diversity but require longer growth times and may produce variable results.
- Tissue Culture: A more advanced propagation method using plant cells in a sterile environment to produce clones.
Importance of Cutting
Cuttings are a cornerstone of modern cannabis cultivation, offering a reliable and efficient way to replicate plants with desirable traits. This propagation method is vital for maintaining genetic consistency, saving time, and optimizing yields in both large-scale and personal cannabis grows. By enabling growers to perpetuate high-quality genetics, cuttings ensure the continued success and innovation of cannabis cultivation.
