Question: Sexing Unrooted Clones

[mayan]

I have read that this is a possibility, although it strikes me as being counter-intuitive to the point of "myth."

Has anyone been able to somehow stick cuttings under 12/12 and been able to convince them to reveal sex without first rooting? If so, how did you manage to do it? What type of media did you keep the cuttings in? It would seem to me that any efforts made to keep the clones hydrated would result in them spending their energy towards rooting rather than flowering. I would love to discover I am wrong however...so lay it on me. Thanks!!!

 

[Max0r]

How likely is it that you're going to be obtaining male cuttings? usually those would be kept apart solely for breeding stock. In regards to your original question; I don't understand how you expect the cut to stay alive without establishing a root system.

Not trying to be a hater; just looking for clarification.

 

[mayan]

How likely is it that you're going to be obtaining male cuttings? usually those would be kept apart solely for breeding stock. In regards to your original question; I don't understand how you expect the cut to stay alive without establishing a root system.

Not trying to be a hater; just looking for clarification.

Thanks, MaxOr...I don't yr being a hater. I think your doubts are very well taken. I'm highly doubtful myself. Which is why I brought the question before this august body of experienced cannibians. I have read that it was possible - although I don't remember the source - and, due to my doubts, thought I'd find out if anyone has successfully done so.

That said, I would imagine that the ratio of male cuttings would be the same as the ratio of plants that grow out to be male. Unless I'm not understanding you. I guess my answer to your second question would be keeping the stem in a moist/wet condition would keep it alive. The question is not whether you could keep 'em alive but rather whether you could convince 'em that they should be showing sex rather than putting down roots. I just don't know how that would be done.

 

[Max0r]

I just guess my question is; why take cuts of a plant before you even know it's sex?
Why not wait an extra week or two in veg till it shows pre-flowers, keep it as a mother and take your cuts.
I'm guessing that you have some special situation that doesn't allow you to do this which is what you're exploring in this thread.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help but maybe someone else can chime in.
Worse comes to worst I guess you could give it a try and report your results back here!

Good luck bro.

 

[mayan]

Thanks, MaxOr. I appreciate the response.

No, I was just trying to figure out how to proceed. I'll be finishing up a grow in April...and have rooted clones from those plants. I tend to like a variety of strains so I just started some seeds from three other strains. Given the limited size of my grow area, I figured I would take clones from the new seeds, as well as clones from the clones that are growing...and then do a SOG-type grow. I want to eliminate the males, as soon as possible and someone mentioned it was possible to sex unrooted clones. It seemed a bit counter-intuitive to me so I thought I would see whether anyone here as tried it. I guess it would be cool to wait the extra period of time and then sex the donor plants or the rooted clones.

 

[dongle69]

I have done it before.
I just put fresh cuttings in a glass of water and put it in my 12/12 room.
Showed sex with no roots.
I was trying to get a jump on sexing some seeds that I germinated.
Saved me the time of having to root the clone 1st!

 

[Tropic]

Or... you can always block light on a small branch (bottom would work better) of a vegging plant with something that still lets it breathe (ie. paper bag), and after some days you'll see preflowers on that branch... I read about this in Mel Frank's Marijuana Growing if I remember correctly... but what dongle69 described should do the job.

Peace

 

[Max0r]

told you someone would come through with the 411.

 

[mayan]

ah-ha!! thanks, dongle69! If it works, it would definitely save time and maintenance.

thanks for the info, tropic!

 

[bbbiggreen]

ive used both methods and they work fine black bagging a lower branch is a little tougher u need to be there to place the bag on it and remove it

 

[FreezerBoy]

I just guess my question is; why take cuts of a plant before you even know it's sex? Why not wait an extra week...

You sort of answered your own question here. You'll be smoking 2-4 weeks earlier this way. 20 weeks of 12/12 is enough to wait. Another reason is some strains NEVER return to veg, even after 7 months of 24/0. Another reason is clones have smaller root systems and remain smaller making them easier to keep as moms.

Having tried it both ways, I much prefer rooting unsexed cuts and flowering the donors.

 

[Storm Crow]

I always take "sexing clones"....

I always take "sexing clones"....

I top, removing a cutting, leaving 4 pairs of leaves on the plant. This topping makes the side shoots branch out. I LST the heck out of my plants and I like having 8 leaders to train.

Meanwhile the 2-3 inch cutting has been put in water and stuck under 12/12. Some develop roots easily, others take a while, and a few sexing clones just rot- never developing roots. They do root slower than my clones in the 24/7 cabinet. (I just figure the poor little clones are "confused" as to which to do first, root or make flowers... so they "dither around for a bit" before "deciding" to do one, or the other, or both.)

While the clones are making up their minds, the original seedling is branching out and being bent over with weights.

As soon as sex shows, the vegging plant is either transplanted, or culled, and the "sex clone" is moved to the 24/7 cabinet. I don't have enough room to grow unnecessary males in my 1 gallon pots- so they gotta go. The remaining females vegged until they are large enough and then are given their final transplant into a 19 gallon tub.

The sex clones, if rooted, are put into soil and treated like a normal clone. If they are unrooted, but sexed, I keep them in water and move them to 24/7 and hope they decide to root. I never depend on the "sex clones" surviving (they usually do), but they will flower, with, or without roots. I consider the survivors as "bonus plants".

Granny