Cloning Experiment

Just to see what would happen i tried cloning a middle section of stem rather than the growing tip, everything i've ever read about cloning says use the growing tips of plants, i had a plant i no longer had room for, so i decided to cut it up for clones, so with one of the branches i cut it in two, used the top half the traditional way and the other bit i cut to about 4 inches and left two little offshoots on it, cut the top at 45 degrees and put a little bit of cloning gel over the wound, then put it in a rapid rooter 2 inches down. I've got pretty good conditions for cloning: humidity done, heating pad and T5's. Mostly my clones root in about a week and close to 100%. So low and behold after a week this middle section has rooted, but during that week, the little offshoots i'd left on there were growing all the time, which i thought was odd because as i believe, plants need roots to grow and when you do cloning all the plants energies are concentrated on growing roots and not photosynthesis. Something else interesting, out of the 9 cuttings i took, this middle section has the most vigous roots of all of them.
I not not sure about the advantages of cloning from middle sections, other than the ability to get more clones per cutting and i don't know how this plant will now grow or look. It's been a fun experiment and i'm now gonna transplant it and see how it grows.

Yes that will work look at this clone..its all wood and huge

Hello chelsea69,

You have just discovered the real fun of experimenting with our favorite plant. It can do things you would not expect it do do, especially if you go by the "prevailing wisdom" that's out there.

As far as mj needing roots to survive, well for years I've seen cuttings that would not root in an EZ-clonner continue to stay green and fresh and start new vegative growth...all without benifiet of roots. I have actually thought at times some cuttings just would not root because the plant was so happy without them, why would it bother.

And congrats VapedG13,

You too have figured out it's best to just try it yourself.

Nice work guys.