Cloning Methods that You Can Duplicate on your Own in Hydroponics

 

If you have been growing plants with success it may be time to expand your garden by cloning plants.  Cloning is a simple process to propagate plants and it is relatively inexpensive.  The basic process of plant propagation is cutting a piece of the plant you want to propagate and then planting it in balanced nutrient rich soil.  Plant propagation has gone high tech though and many plant professionals use a gel or powdered hormone or supplemental auxin that aids in root growth on the cutting first before planting it in soil.

 

Hydroponic gardeners can also propagate plants and omit the step where they plant the cutting in soil.  Many plants can be propagated without the use of soil anyway. 

 

The advantage to propagating plants from cuttings is that you will get a plant that is genetically identical to the parent plant.  The disadvantage is that not all plants can be propagated from cuttings.  An example of a plant that does not root easily is the Eucalyptus plant.

 

Preparing a plant for the cutting method is simple.  Plant tips should be collected either early in the morning or late in the evening.  The tips should be at least 8-12cm long.  Once you have your cutting, carefully remove the lower third of the leaves from the stem.  Make sure that the bottom cut is just below a node on the stem. Place the cutting in a rooting medium and cover the cut according to the manufacturer's directions.  Alternately, many plants can be propagated in plain untreated water without rooting hormone.  The cutting should be placed in an area with filtered sunlight and the water level should be checked weekly so that the current level is maintained.

 

Hydroponic gardeners can use another method for cloning their existing plants.  First, decide which plants that you want to take cuttings from and leach out the nitrogen from those plants by watering them heavily for 2-3 days before you will clone them. 

 

The second thing hydroponic gardeners will need to do in the cloning process is to decide on which growing medium they will use.  Popular rooting medium choices include Rockwool, Rapid Rooters or oasis cubes.  You will then need to prep your growing medium with distilled water.  Allow the medium so soak for 24 hours before use. 

 

When you are ready to collect the cuttings, prep the growing medium first by cutting a small hole in them that is slightly larger than the cuttings are.  If you force the stems into the growing medium you may damage them and they won't take root. 

 

The cuttings should be taken from the parent plant with a sharp razor blade.  Hydroponic gardeners usually treat the razor blaze with alcohol before use as well as the container that they will use to place the rooting hormone in.  As with other propagation methods, the cutting should be 8-12cm long.  After the cutting is removed from the plant, quickly dip it in the rooting hormone. Manufacturer's directions vary with rooting hormone so be sure to follow them exactly to get the best results from your cuttings.  Finally, place the cutting in the growing medium, leaving a small area in the bottom for the roots to develop (don't push the cutting all the way to the bottom of the medium).  Gently pack the medium all the way around your cutting to support it. 

 

The cuttings should then be misted frequently or placed within a sealed hydroponic dome to ensure they won't dry out.  Your plants should root in a week or so. Once your plants have taken root you can then move them to your other hydroponic trays and care for them as you do your other plants.

 

Propagating plants can be a fun and economical way to expand your gardening enterprise.  Cloning is a great way to take your interest in growing plants to the next level.