Seed vs Clone (Potency & Yield)

[alwayssleepdeprived]

The 2 basic questions are...

Do seeds or clones produce the same potency or is one generally more potent than the other?

Do seeds or clones produce the same yield or does one generally result in more than the other?

I've read several claims on this site that one is better than the other although no rea facts were offered in support of these claims...

I've read several things for example...seeds offer more yield and potency but take longer...clones are weaker after each generation...clones stay the same potency for many many generations...clones veg quicker

The one thing that seems to make sense is that clones would take less time cause there is no germination...

If someone can answer this definitively I'd really appreciate it :thumbsup:

alwayssleepdeprived Reviewed by alwayssleepdeprived on 03-20-2007. Seed vs Clone (Potency & Yield) The 2 basic questions are... Do seeds or clones produce the same potency or is one generally more potent than the other? Do seeds or clones produce the same yield or does one generally result in more than the other? I've read several claims on this site that one is better than the other although no rea facts were offered in support of these claims... I've read several things for example...seeds offer more yield and potency but take longer...clones are weaker after each Rating: 5

[Lamperus]

Well, clones eventually go evil and kill you ...

[alwayssleepdeprived]

Interesting take on the clones lamperus I'll keep that in mind

Anyone else?

[socialistpete]

I cloned the same plants for 2 years. When you clone off of a plant make sure to mark the plant and the clone it came from this way when you have flowered you will know what your best plants are and then only keep those clones. I had to chill for awhile and I'm actully growing from seed now and I hate it. It does take much longer, and a seedling is more fragile than a clone in my experience.

[Tokudai]

I'll give it a shot, though I'm no pro

The 2 basic questions are...

Do seeds or clones produce the same potency or is one generally more potent than the other?

Clones will be of the same potency as the mother taken from. Clone potency does not degrade after generations, or clones of clones. Strains can be kept going indefinitely. Provided the mother is kept healthy, and the clone stock selected does not mutate and proceeds to root/grow well, all other conditions remaining equal, then the potency will be the same

Do seeds or clones produce the same yield or does one generally result in more than the other?

Yield has a lot more to do with training/topping, grow methods, lighting, atmosphere, number of plants, desired plant size, etc etc. You don't waste space/time/nutes growing males with clones. Clones will (generally) outyield seeds over the course of the year - you'll likely get one more session in a calendar year if using clones


I've read several claims on this site that one is better than the other although no rea facts were offered in support of these claims...

I've read several things for example...seeds offer more yield and potency but take longer...clones are weaker after each generation...clones stay the same potency for many many generations...clones veg quicker

Clones are the same age as the mother plant. If the mommy is 3 months old, when the cutting roots in 8-14 days or whatever, the plant will grow with the vigour of a fully mature plant. The seed will need more time to establish itself and become mature enough to clone or flower

The one thing that seems to make sense is that clones would take less time cause there is no germination...

Look at a 3 week from seed plant and a three week from rooting clone and you will see the dramatic difference in size and maturity (alternating nodes, branching, etc etc)


If someone can answer this definitively I'd really appreciate it :thumbsup:

[Primus]

Well, clones eventually go evil and kill you ...

Maybe it's just cause I'm toasted, but I found this comment really funny.

[alwayssleepdeprived]

I laughed my ass off and I'm sober but I just really wanted an answer cause I've heard from some people that clones are weak and all that...

Thanks for the laugh lamp

And thanks pete and tokudai for the information on the clones...it was very helpfull...I currently have a clone of a plant that I know to be female it's the best of the bunch so I'm planning on making that clone a mother for more clones and seeing how a grow will work with the same plants cause they should get taller at about the same rate and like the same nutes etc....diff seeds probably like all different stuff cause well different people have different needs too

I was thinking most of the same stuff on the debate I just wanted to hear some other people say it...I'm definately gonna keep females to clone from and only start new seeds to introduce new strains etc...

Thanks for clearing that up guys it's great to know this tough little plant can withstand bein duplicated indefinately especially if you get a great genetics like node spacing stem thickness etc I have one now that looks like a female but it falls under it's own weight so it's not really worth growing again in my opinion when the other female has 7 skyward pointing colas naturally...

[Weedhound]

I've never heard that one produces more or better yield etc than the other...I have heard that seeds tend to be more hardy when young than clones but I've never done the cloning thing so can't really say.

[stinkyattic]

Tokudai's post is excellent info and I would like to add one thing, which is that in the case of a from-seed plant, and this is very noticeable in F1 hybrids, you will see unusually vigorous growth.
I have heard it suggested that the most desirable mother plants are actually from-seed plants, but no one has yet given me a solid reason why that is the case; I mean, yeah, if you clone a mother shoddily and stress her, it's not good, but an experienced grower shouldnb't have that problem... hmm...

Weedhound- hey you just hit 1000 posts, cool! Once clones are rooted, they are just as hardy as a seedling with the same mass of roots... but before they get roots, yeah, they are pretty delicate.

[Lamperus]

Stinky's generally the one to ask about ...


... ...anything. Damn Stinky, you're intelligent.