Français Can You Clone Autoflower?
Technically yes, but most growers find it is not worth it. Autoflowering plants flower with age rather than with the light cycle (they typically start flowering 2 to 3 weeks after germination), and a cutting is taken from a plant that is already part of that clock. Many growers report that autoflower clones flower early, stay small and yield little.
Why Cloning Is Different for Autoflowers
With photoperiod plants, a mother can stay in the vegetative stage under long light hours for months and supply cuttings. An autoflower cannot do that: it is on a short life cycle, usually ready in about 8–12 weeks from seed, so there is little time or room to keep a mother going.
Pros and Cons
- Possible pro: you can copy a plant you like, and a clone skips germination.
- Con: clones often flower early, stay small and give smaller harvests than a plant grown from seed.
- Con: the mother is already short on time and may not fully recover.
What To Do Instead
Autoflower seeds are inexpensive and finish quickly, so starting fresh seeds is usually simpler. If you want to keep a favourite, look at its genetics and buy more seeds of the same strain. Browse our autoflower seeds or read what autoflowering seeds are. If you want a mother plant for cuttings, choose a photoperiod variety instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can you clone an autoflower?
Yes, you can take cuttings, but clones tend to flower early and stay small, so most growers start new seeds instead.
Why do autoflower clones stay small?
Autoflowers flower by age, not by light cycle. Many growers report that a cutting carries that clock with it, so it flowers soon after rooting without much time to grow.
What should I do if I want to keep a strain going?
Buy more seeds of the same strain, or use a photoperiod variety if you want a mother plant for cuttings.
How long do autoflowers take to finish?
Many are ready in roughly 8–12 weeks from seed.
