How to Clone Roses, Marijuana and Other Common Plants

It is very easy to learn how to clone roses, spider, Marijuana, and other household plants. The cloning process requires a few very inexpensive supplies, most of which you probably already have. Whatever your reason for cloning, whether it be for the sharing of a household plant with friends or the propagation of a plant nursery, the plant cloning process is as easy as pie to learn and use.

For the everyday purpose of cloning a potted houseplant, the gender of the plant is not a concern in the issue of choosing which plants to clone. However, proffessional growers and hobbyists should recognize the sexual orientation of the plant, and in accordance with fostering propagation plans, choose plants wisely.

Gather the essential tools and supplies at one place. It might even be a good idea to have a basket handy to keep the supplies in. You will need some wooden toothpicks, plastic sandwich baggies- the fold over type, a pair of scissors, some peat moss or soil, a razor blade knife, Scotch tape, an eye dropper and a bottle of rose rooting powder. And of course, at least one healthy potted plant that is of medium to mature size.

First, you need to decide where the best place is for cloning. Generally, the spot should be just within an inch or so above a branch. The stem needs to be an adequate thickness and strength to uphold through the cloning process, approximately one-forth of an inch wide. This amount varies from plant to plant, and is only a suggested guideline.

After choosing the site for cloning, carefully slice a lengthwise cut about one inch longinto and completely through the stem with the razorblade knife. At this point, if the plant fibers are becoming mutilated through bending or squishing, then stop immediately. The site is not adequately strong enough to withstand the process. Pick another site and try again.

Take a toothpick and break it in half or smaller. Using the pointed end, poke it through the slice. This will create an opening in the stem, and will be the spot that the roots will grow from. Using your fingers, place some rooting powder inside this opening. The moisture from the plant will help it to stick, however, do not add water yet or make the powder into a paste. Only a small amount is needed, as too much will delay or prevent the cloning process from working. Add a small amount of peat moss or soil also to the hole.

With the scissors, cut a bottom corner off of a sandwich bag. The piece should be cut at about a sixty degree angle, and should measure no more than an inch and a half at its longest edge. Add a piece of Scotch tape to this corner. It will be necessary to stick the tape on the longest edge to where it is holding some plastic on either side of the crease. The finished part should resemble a ladle.

Add a small amount of moist peat moss or soil to the pocket. Wrap this pocket around the split stem and toothpick. As you are wrapping, the tape will wrap around and tape itself shut. The pocket should be reasonably held into place, and if it isn't, then you should rewrap it.

After these steps are finished, then use the eye dropper to apply water to the cloning site. It is important to keep this area moist for the next few days. If it isn't wet, the site will dry out and potentially the plant will die from damage. Before too long, you will begin to see roots growing. When the roots are large enough, simply cut the cloned plant off of the master plant and pot into its own planter.