when to retire a mother?

[silverdragon]

I would like to start off by saying wow! I have learned so much in the short time I have been a member. My question is-How long can a plant be a mother? I have an A.K. who is about a year and a half old. She has been wonderfull and has provide lots of clones. And I guess I have one more question. Is it ok to mother one of her clones? Or are they gentically the same age?

[MaryJaneMonkey]

You can keep her as long as her roots are healthy. Speaking of which, how do u take care of your roots so well for so long?

With me its a race to the flowering finish line, hopefully the roots dont go bad.

[silverdragon]

Oh no!!! You gave me something else to worry about. I have just made sure to not over water, flush once a month. And repot,as needed.

[stinkyattic]

That's the right way to keep a mother.
You can make a mother out of one of her clones just fine, and you should make one as a backup in case anything goes wrong.
Keep the old one until she is too lanky and unruly for the space she needs to inhabit, or requires too large a pot. Or you could 'bonsai' her with root pruning. There should be a sticky or FAQ entry about that.

[theforthdrive]

Keep the old one until she is too lanky and unruly for the space she needs to inhabit, or requires too large a pot.

This is good advice and about how I judge my moms. I often bloom the mother when shes a year or so. If you let her get outa control the bloom with be a f-ing mess!