Cloning Your Way Here we are, staring down the barrel of another winter in Colorado, wondering- at least for some of us- how we’re gonna pass the time until the slopes and half-pipes open, and for others, how we’re going to avoid the annual case of cabin fever! I have the perfect solution- create your very own ‘clone army’ in your indoor growing space! Think of it- your favorite strains, multiplied by the dozens or hundreds, all marching to the beat of YOUR drum! If that doesn’t get you excited, you can always grab the snow shovel… All righty, then- the first thing to do when you set out to take cuttings of your favorite plants is to set up a proper ‘clone zone’. This is an area in your house where the temperature stays between 72 and 78 degrees and doesn’t change much, especially when the furnace kicks on. Remember that the lights you use will generate some heat, so factor in your fluorescent or CFL lighting- do a test setup- and use a good quality thermometer to check your temps. By the way, HID lighting isn’t recommended, as cuttings just don’t need and can’t handle that kind of light intensity. Unless you’re growing in a relatively unheated area, you shouldn’t need a warming met, so use one only as a last resort. Next, get yourself a tray with a humidity dome- stop by the lawn and garden department or any greenhouse or hydro store and they’ll be plentiful. I tend to stay away from the types that need fresh refills or new inserts for every new crop, since it runs into money and isn’t necessary if you do your homework on the soil. Speaking of… I use basic indoor potting soil and I add a little bit of rooting accelerator (NOT cloning solution, I’ll explain that application in a sec-), possibly a light application of natural pesticide drench, such as a neem oil based product to keep down fungus gnat larvae and spidermites, and some sort of beneficial microbe/micorrhizae inoculant powder, plus plant enzymes and vitamins. Keep the solutions used on the weak side of the manufacturer’s recommendationsand for the love of Gaea, do NOT use any fertilizer at this point! Keep in mind that these will be very tender, vulnerable cuttings and that they can’t handle much in the way of nutrients until after they’ve developed roots. Now, onto the setup- wet your soil until it drips a few drops when you clench it
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