An autoflower is a unique type of plant that transitions from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage based on its age, rather than the typical change in light duration required by photoperiod plants. Cloning is the horticultural practice of taking a cutting from a mother plant to create a genetically identical copy. While this technique is highly successful with many plant varieties, applying it to autoflowers presents unique biological challenges. The genetic programming inherent in these plants makes traditional cloning largely ineffective for achieving a successful harvest. This limitation is directly tied to the fixed, non-negotiable timeline of their growth cycle.
Understanding the Autoflower Life Cycle
The core difference between autoflowering plants and standard photoperiod varieties lies in their genetic makeup, which incorporates traits from Cannabis ruderalis. This provides the genetic instruction to flower automatically after a predetermined period of time, irrespective of external light cues. Photoperiod plants, conversely, rely entirely on the grower manipulating the light cycle to trigger flowering.
Autoflowers operate on a fixed biological clock, typically dictating a vegetative growth stage lasting only two to four weeks. During this brief window, the plant focuses on establishing structure before the internal timer triggers the shift to flower production. This rapid lifecycle is the primary reason why propagation by cutting is problematic for this variety.
When a cutting is taken from a mother plant, that clone retains the exact biological age of the tissue from which it was severed. For example, a clone taken from a mother plant that is 18 days into its life is still 18 days old, biologically speaking, and its internal clock continues counting down. The cloned cutting does not revert to “day one” simply because it is now a separate entity.
Because the vegetative stage is so short, the clone often has only a few remaining days before it is genetically mandated to begin flowering. This extremely narrow timeframe does not allow sufficient time for the cutting to develop a robust root system capable of sustaining significant growth. The plant is forced to divert its limited energy toward flower production before it can establish itself structurally.
Outcomes of Cloning Attempts
The most immediate result of cloning an autoflower is severely stunted growth. Since the clone is already biologically advanced and programmed to flower, it transitions almost immediately, before it has developed significant leaf mass or height. The plant’s focus shifts from establishing vegetative structure to producing flowers while still being physically underdeveloped.
This premature flowering leads to poor overall plant vigor compared to a fresh seed-grown specimen. The plant simply cannot generate enough biomass to support substantial flower development within the remaining few weeks of its lifecycle. Growers typically observe an extremely low yield, sometimes resulting in only a few grams of usable product.
Furthermore, the plant is simultaneously trying to establish new roots while its hormones are signaling the initiation of bloom. These two processes are biologically demanding and often conflict, resulting in a weak root structure that is insufficient to support even the modest flower development that follows. This practical failure illustrates why this method is inefficient for production.
Step-by-Step Cloning Procedure
Despite the low probability of success, a grower determined to attempt cloning must operate within an extremely narrow time window, ideally taking the cutting before the mother plant is ten days old. Selecting a strong, healthy side shoot that is receiving adequate light is important. All tools, including a sharp scalpel or razor blade, must be sterilized with isopropyl alcohol to prevent the introduction of pathogens.
The cutting should be taken with a clean, diagonal slice just below a node, aiming for a length of approximately four to six inches. Removing the lower leaves prevents them from rotting in the rooting medium and concentrates the plant’s energy toward root development. The remaining upper leaves should be trimmed in half horizontally to reduce transpiration and moisture loss while the clone is establishing roots.
Immediately after cutting, the base of the stem should be dipped into a commercial rooting hormone, which typically contains auxins like indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to stimulate root formation. The treated cutting is then placed into a sterile, moisture-retentive medium such as rockwool cubes or pre-soaked peat plugs. This medium provides the necessary support and moisture.
Maintaining a high-humidity environment is non-negotiable for successful rooting, as the cutting lacks roots to draw water from the medium. Placing the clone in a humidity dome, with humidity levels near 90%, helps prevent the cutting from drying out. The high humidity keeps the leaves turgid while the roots develop, a process that can take seven to fourteen days. Even with these precise steps, the biological clock continues its countdown, meaning the clone will likely begin flowering before it fully establishes itself.
Recommended Propagation Methods
Given the inherent biological limitations and the poor outcomes associated with cloning autoflowers, starting the plant directly from seed is the recommended propagation method. This approach completely bypasses the chronological constraints of the mother plant. Seeds provide a fresh genetic start, resetting the biological clock to zero.
Planting the seed directly into its final container ensures the plant can utilize every available day of its short vegetative phase for uninterrupted growth. This maximizes the time spent building structure and leaf mass, which directly correlates to the final harvest weight. A seed-grown autoflower will always achieve the highest possible yield and vigor for that specific strain.