Hello,

You really want to take clones before the plant starts to bud. Now if you take a clone with a developing bud site it will have a hard time rooting. The plant only wants to do one or the other (root or bud) If done right the clone will stop growing bud and start growing roots.

You could try to re-veg the mother but since it has already been budding for 3.5 weeks I would not recommend it. The plant will stress out.

Try to pick out some areas with the least amount of budding, maybe on the lower branches, and hope for the best. I am sure that if you take a few extra clippings that you will be sure to get a few to root. Then you can just let them grow out and use one for your mother.

I hope this helps.

Peace