Asexual Reproduction-Cloning

The concept of creating an exact replica of a living being through cloning has been the topic of many si-fi and horror stories throughout the ages.  The thought usually conjures up some image of a Frankenstein like monster whose genetic structure has gone haywire during the cloning process. 

Cloning is the genetically identical duplication of an organism through asexual reproduction. Scientists have made some mind boggling achievements with cloning, including the asexual reproduction of sheep and cows.  There is much ethical debate as to how far and for what purpose cloning should be used. However cloning, or asexual propagation, has been common practice in the horticultural world for hundreds of years.

Simply taking a stem cutting from a 'parent or mother' plant, rooting and planting it to create a new plant is cloning or asexual propagation in it's most basic form.  From Frankenstein to Grandma's geraniums!

The greatest advantage of this form of propagation is that all the desirable traits of the mother plant will be reproduced in it's offspring. The strain, quality, smell and taste will be identical with every cutting taken. Chronologically the cuttings will be the same age as their parent plant and will produce flowers much earlier than their seed grown counterparts. Bad characteristics will also be inherited by the rooted cutting.  It is for this reason that particular care should be taken when selecting a mother plant.

A mother plant should be healthy, hearty, insect free and in its vegetative growth stage to produce strong cuttings.  Mother plants need plenty of nourishment and light so the cuttings will have reserves to ensure quick rooting and ultimately, survival.

Prepare the mother plant prior to taking cuttings.  Leaching will remove any excess nitrogen from the plant.  Nitrogen will cause the cuttings to concentrate on producing foliage rather than roots. Leach the day before taking cuttings by rinsing the root zone with straight pH balanced water. Reduce stress by foliar feeding the mother plant with a B₁ hormone three days prior to taking cuttings.  The mother plant will recover and be ready for another round of cuttings in about 6 weeks.

New growth on the mother plant will make the best cuttings. The young, tender shoots produce roots quickly and easily making them less vulnerable to fungus or disease.  The mother plant should be kept under 18 hours of light per day to enable it to maintain strength and retain all its desirable characteristics. 

Although cloning produces the identical traits of the mother plant, environmental conditions may vary greatly affecting the development of the cuttings.  Insufficient light or humidity or too high or low temperature will drastically alter the appearance and quality of a clone. 

Back to Articles Index