Seeds Or Clones: Which Is Better For Growing Indoor Plants?

Indoor plants cultivators can start a grow in one of two ways. They can either germinate seeds or take cuttings from a mother plant. Both of these methods produce the same end result—cannabinoid-rich buds—but take different routes to get there.

Some growers prefer the speed of clones, whereas others prefer going all the way, start to finish, from seeds. Whether you’re a new grower or a seasoned vet, it’s key to learn about both techniques so you can experiment in the future and maximise results.

Seeds and clones both have a unique set of pros and cons. Once you weigh up the traits of each, you’ll be able to decide which path you want to head down.

Starting With indoor plants Seeds

Seeds are a good way for many people to start growing because they can be easily purchased off the internet.Sometimes you will find good seeds (bagseed) in indoor plants that you have purchased which can definitely be used to start growing. The downside of using seeds that you find is you will have no idea what to expect as far as growth, yields, or size. The bud quality of bagseed is often different from the buds it came from, since it is not a stablized strain. It could be like the bud it was found it, or it could be completely different.

When using unknown seeds, you will need to determine the gender your plants as they are growing to prevent any males from pollinating your females.

Healthy seeds should be dark brown or light grey. If you find seeds which are small and white, they are likely immature and won't germinate properly.

Healthy seeds can be stored in a cool dark place, or your fridge until you're ready to use them(don't freeze them).

Seeds which are kept in a cool, dark place remain viable for years, though after a few years you will notice that they take a bit longer to germinate and you may get a few more duds than with fresh seeds. Seedlings from older seeds can also be really slow growing even if you're giving them perfect conditions.


Pros of Seeding

Not susceptible to mildew, bugs, mites
Better for growing outdoors
Can cross strain
Can be saved (don’t need to grow right away)
Higher yields versus clones
Easy to transport over long distances

Cons of Seeding

Extra 4-6 weeks grow time vs clones
Not all seeds will germinate
Risk of non-feminized seeds
Costs can add up quickly
Can’t predict plant size or yield

Starting With indoor plants Clones

In order to get clones, you will need to know someone who already has indoor plants, or you may be able to buy some from your local medical indoor plants dispensary if you're in a suitable location and have a recommendation for indoor plants from your doctor.

Starting with a clone can save you a couple of weeks compared to starting with seeds because they have a head-start on growth. Using clones also guarantees the gender of your plant because the clones have the exact same genetics as their parent plant including gender.

If you have a female plant that you like, you can just clone her indefinitely to make more plants without ever again having to worry about sexing your plants or creating seeds. Yet you will also end up with the same strain/genetics for every clone you take off the same plant.

If you're starting out with a clone, you want to treat it gently for the first day or two that you have it. If your clone hasn't established roots yet, then you want to make sure that it stays moist and gets gentle light (like from florescent tubes/ indoor grow lights) until it develops some roots. A humidity dome will help the plant get moisture until she's established her roots.

If your clone has already established its roots, then put it in its new home with your lights a bit further away than normal until she's settled in and showing new growth. Later, if you grow in your plants in your own indoor grow tent, then we recommend full spectrum Led grow light to help better grow.

Only give your clone just a little bit of water at first with a highly diluted indoor plants-friendly "grow" nutrient solution.

It's tempting to want to put your lights close to the new baby and give it full-strength nutrients because you want to do everything you can to make sure it does okay.

However, in the very beginning, less is more for your clone. Your clone is more sensitive to heat and light than an established plant, and you're putting it in a completely new environment.

It's important to check on your clone frequently during it's first 24 hours to make sure there isn't any unforeseen problems such as it tipping over. Once the clone has started really growing (usually after a couple of days) then you can put your lights closer and start feeding it with full-strength nutrients.

Pros of Cloning:

Ideal for the indoor grower (shortens grow cycle a month)
You know what strain you’re getting
You know what yield you’re getting
Guaranteed gender
Can quickly be grown into a mother and re-cloned
Can grow in limited space

Cons of Cloning

More difficult to grow
Possible genetic drift
No phenotype variation
Not easy to be transported over long distances (need to be watered)
Susceptible to disease from the mother plant it came from
Can be sensitive to new lighting conditions and new nutrients

Also in Indoor Grow Equipment & Seeds Reviews