Growing Cannabis From Seed Vs Clone (Which Is Better For You?)

You have two options.

And both are good.

Seeds and clones both have key advantages.

Which is best will depend on your needs and preferences.

We will compare growing cannabis from seed vs clone below, to help you figure out which method is right for you.

And many growers do both. They start with seeds and once they find a strain they love, they make one plant the mother and continue to take clones from her in the future.

 

Growing Cannabis From Seed Vs Clone

We will begin our comparison of growing weed using seeds versus clones by looking at each method individually, before comparing them directly. This should help you figure out which method is best for you.

 

Growing Cannabis From A Seed

Growing cannabis from a seed involves starting the cultivation process directly from the plant’s seeds. Begin by selecting high-quality seeds from a reputable source. Good seeds have a higher chance of germinating and growing into healthy plants.

When choosing your high-quality seeds from a reputable source, opting for feminized seeds is particularly important, since they virtually guarantee that the resulting plants will be female. Female plants are the only ones that produce buds.

They do cost a bit more, though. Is the extra cost of feminized seeds worth it? For most growers, it is. But not always. That article I just linked to will help you determine if feminized seeds make sense for you.

You sprout the seeds by placing them in a moist environment, such as between wet paper towels or in a germination medium. Keep them warm and wait for them to sprout and develop into seedlings.

You then transfer the seedlings into larger pots to begin the vegetative stage, which is ultimately followed by the all-important flowering stage.

 

Growing Cannabis From A Clone

When you choose to grow cannabis from clones, you are using a method of asexual reproduction to create new plants that are genetically identical to the original or “mother” plant.

Cloning involves taking a cutting, or “clone,” from a healthy mother cannabis plant and encouraging it to develop roots, ultimately creating a new, genetically identical plant. The process typically includes a few basic steps.

Those steps include: selecting a mother plant, taking a cutting, treating the cutting with rooting hormone, and placing it in a rooting medium, such as rockwool or a rooting gel.

Once roots have developed, transplant the clone into a growing medium or a suitable container and provide the necessary care, including proper lighting, nutrients, and watering, as your plant develops through the vegetative and flowering stages.

Selecting a healthy mother plant is important to ensure that the resulting clones will have a strong genetic foundation and a higher chance of thriving.

 

Differences Between Growing Cannabis From Clones And From Seeds

Let’s take a look at the key differences between these two methods for starting your cannabis grow.

 

Genetic Variation

Growing cannabis from seeds offers a wider range of genetic diversity than using clones. Each seed represents a unique combination of genetics inherited from the parent plants, resulting in variations in growth patterns, cannabinoid profiles, and overall characteristics.

This genetic diversity can be advantageous for breeders and those seeking to create different strains.

Clones maintain the genetic consistency of the mother plant. They are essentially identical copies, preserving the desirable traits and characteristics of the original plant. This can be beneficial when you want to replicate specific genetics or maintain a consistent strain.

 

Time And Effort

Growing from seed generally requires more time and effort in the beginning stages than growing from clones. Seeds need to be germinated, and seedlings require careful nurturing until they develop into mature plants.

By contrast, clones skip the germination and seedling stages. They are ready to be transplanted and start their growth immediately. This can save time and effort, particularly if you are seeking a faster route to harvest.

 

Risk Of Pests And Diseases

Seeds generally have a lower risk of inheriting diseases than clones. When growing from seed, you start with a clean slate, reducing the chances of introducing any existing issues.

However, it’s still crucial to provide proper care and take preventive measures to maintain a healthy growing environment.

Clones, on the other hand, can inherit diseases or deficiencies present in the mother plant. It is important to thoroughly inspect and select a healthy mother plant to minimize the risk of passing on any issues to the clones.

 

Similarities Between Growing Weed From Seeds And From Clones

Next, let us take a look at the most important things these two methods of starting a marijuana grow have in common.

 

Proper Care And Nutrients

Regardless of whether you start with seeds or clones, both methods require proper care and attention. This includes providing the right nutrients, watering appropriately, and ensuring a suitable environment.

Both seedlings and clones need a balanced nutrient regimen and consistent monitoring to ensure they receive the necessary elements for healthy growth.

 

Environmental Conditions

Both seeds and clones thrive under specific environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, and lighting play crucial roles in the overall growth and development of cannabis plants.

Whether it’s maintaining the ideal temperature range, managing humidity levels, or providing the right lighting schedule, ensuring the proper environmental conditions is essential for both seedlings and clones.

 

Potential For Healthy And Productive Plants

Regardless of the method chosen, both growing from seed and from clones have the potential to result in healthy and productive cannabis plants. With proper care, attention to detail, and adherence to best practices, you can achieve successful outcomes in terms of plant health, yield, and overall quality.

 

Advantages Of Growing Marijuana From Seeds

Growing from seeds has a number of key advantages. Let’s find out what they are.

 

Increased Genetic Diversity

By growing from seed, you have access to a wide range of genetic diversity. Each seed represents a unique combination of genetics inherited from the parent plants. This allows for the exploration and creation of new and unique strains with different growth patterns, cannabinoid profiles, and flavors.

 

Ability To Select Desired Traits

Growing from seed gives you the opportunity to select and breed plants with specific desired traits. Whether it’s focusing on high THC or CBD content, unique flavors, or resistance to pests and diseases, breeding allows you to tailor the characteristics of your plants to your preferences.

 

Reduced Risk of Inheriting Diseases

Starting from seed reduces the risk of inheriting diseases or pests from the mother plant. By selecting high-quality seeds from reputable sources, you can start with a clean slate and minimize the chances of introducing any existing issues into your cultivation process.

 

Advantages Of Growing Cannabis From Clones

Growing from clones also has some big advantages. Let’s take a look at those.

 

Preserving Exact Genetics

Cloning allows you to preserve and replicate the exact genetics of a specific strain. This ensures consistency in the growth patterns, cannabinoid profiles, and terpene profiles of the resulting plants.

If you have a strain with desirable characteristics that you want to replicate, cloning is a reliable method to maintain genetic stability.

 

Faster Growth And Earlier Harvest

Clones are already developed plants, skipping the germination and seedling stages. This results in faster growth and an earlier harvest compared to growing from seeds. With clones, you can reduce the overall cultivation time and enjoy the fruits of your labor sooner.

 

Consistent Quality And Characteristics

Clones provide a level of consistency in terms of plant quality and characteristics. Since clones are genetically identical to the mother plant, you can expect uniform growth patterns, cannabinoid profiles, and terpene profiles in each clone. This consistency allows for more predictable results and helps maintain the desired qualities of a particular strain.

 

Growing Clones Vs Seeds: Final Thoughts

The choice between growing cannabis from seed vs clone depends on your specific goals and preferences.

Seeds offer the potential for genetic diversity and the excitement of breeding new strains, along with a reduced risk of pest and disease carryover. They are ideal if you are looking to experiment with different phenotypes or want to start with a clean cultivation environment.

Clones provide a shortcut to the vegetative stage, meaning potentially faster harvests. They are perfect if you have already identified a particular strain you wish to preserve and replicate, or if you want a more predictable outcome in terms of plant characteristics.

Both methods require diligent care, proper environmental conditions, and a commitment to nurturing the plants to achieve a bountiful and quality harvest.

Whether you choose to grow from seed or clone, success lies in understanding the unique requirements of your chosen method and providing your plants with the attention they need to thrive.

With either choice, the potential for healthy, productive cannabis plants is high, as long as you are attentive and informed throughout the cultivation process.