Perpetual Harvest via Cloning?

teddyearp

teddyearp

Active Member
Long ago when I first started, I wasn't able to grow as long then as I have now. Back then, thirty or so ago, cloning was still fairly new and I thought hey, you could just grow that same plant forever without ever getting new seeds.

I think I'm wrong, hehe. How many 'generations' can one expect on average~ish. Or is it just me? I've had a couple strains now drop yield and quality severely after about six 'generations'.

Thx for a n00bie's question.
 
Wastei

Wastei

Well-Known Member
From my experience if you take a clone of a clone of a clone of a clone it takes about 3-5 years before the plants start being less vigorous in growth.

It all depends of how many cycles and generations down you start seeing genetic potential diminishing but it generally take years.

The best is to keep the same mom alive that you repeatedly take new cuttings from. Then you can keep it for longer, people have mom's and genetics that are decades old at this point.
 
teddyearp

teddyearp

Active Member
Wastei said:
From my experience if you take a clone of a clone of a clone of a clone it takes about 3-5 years before the plants start being less vigorous in growth.

It all depends of how many cycles and generations down you start seeing genetic potential diminishing but it generally take years.

The best is to keep the same mom alive that you repeatedly take new cuttings from. Then you can keep it for longer, people have mom's and genetics that are decades old at this point.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I've been putting the mother to flower as soon as the first clone is viable. But had dimishing after about eight months, maybe ten at most. But I'm indoor, small, and did get four - five real good harvests before the drop off. Started being less sticky too.

With hydro my crop outgrows my tents within four, maybe six months tops, so don't know how hard I can cut back the first mother to keep her alive that long.
 
weedstoner420

weedstoner420

Well-Known Member
teddyearp said:
With hydro my crop outgrows my tents within four, maybe six months tops, so don't know how hard I can cut back the first mother to keep her alive that long.
Click to expand...
overgrow.com

Bonsai Mums by Oldtimer1

This article was originally written by Oldtimer1 and published in 3rd issue of Overgrow Magazine (in 2000). I think I should re-post this legendary article here… Part 1: Making, Maintaining and Renovating Bonsai Mums This Article was originally published at overgrow.com 27/6/2000. Revised and...
overgrow.com overgrow.com

This is an amazing article that I post every chance I get. The method they describe is in soil, not hydro, but the basic principle is the same - trim the above-ground growth very frequently and prune the root ball a few times a year to limit growth. You can cut them back very hard, as long as there is a growing tip or node on a branch, that branch will continue to grow.

The growth potential of a clone is unlimited, even if you keep tiny moms and take tiny clones, you can still grow large plants.
 
by2

by2

Active Member
I just listened to a podcast that were talking about this exact subject, unfortunately I can´t remember wich one it at the moment :bigjoint:
But they were saying that there is no DNA degeneration when taking clones in several generation but that most likely it is the viroid and virus build up that causes the changes.
That's why meristem TC works since it "cleans" the genetic from all virus and viroids.
 
MissinThe90’sStrains

MissinThe90’sStrains

Well-Known Member
I think Bob Hemphill talked about this a bit. I believe he takes new cuts from his moms every so often, and transplants them, to keep them fresh and healthy. Also, several breeders have mentioned that vegging them back out in natural sunlight helps to revitalize them.
 
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teddyearp

teddyearp

Active Member
weedstoner420 said:
overgrow.com

Bonsai Mums by Oldtimer1

This article was originally written by Oldtimer1 and published in 3rd issue of Overgrow Magazine (in 2000). I think I should re-post this legendary article here… Part 1: Making, Maintaining and Renovating Bonsai Mums This Article was originally published at overgrow.com 27/6/2000. Revised and...
overgrow.com overgrow.com

This is an amazing article that I post every chance I get. The method they describe is in soil, not hydro, but the basic principle is the same - trim the above-ground growth very frequently and prune the root ball a few times a year to limit growth. You can cut them back very hard, as long as there is a growing tip or node on a branch, that branch will continue to grow.

The growth potential of a clone is unlimited, even if you keep tiny moms and take tiny clones, you can still grow large plants.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I may have to try that. I do have room ni the veg tent to set a soil pot off to the side . . . .
 
teddyearp

teddyearp

Active Member
by2 said:
I just listened to a podcast that were talking about this exact subject, unfortunately I can´t remember wich one it at the moment :bigjoint:
But they were saying that there is no DNA degeneration when taking clones in several generation but that most likely it is the viroid and virus build up that causes the changes.
That's why meristem TC works since it "cleans" the genetic from all virus and viroids.
Click to expand...
I reckon I'll have to look further into that? I did plant some fresh seed and they are doing very well, so I guess this 'viroid' only infects the one plant and it's offspring(s)?. I did clean the whole apparatus too for what its worth.
 
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