most peeps take cutting, root and propagate in order hold on to a potential mutha. once you have that mutha that has the qualities you desire you continually take cuttings in order to propagate.

anyone tried layering of cannabis as an alternative propagation technique? it's as simple as cuttings. however, it is supposedly MUCH faster. I quote:

Quote:

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Stems that are still attached to their parent plant may form roots where they come in contact with a rooting medium. This method of vegetative propagation is generally successful, because water stress is minimized and carbohydrate and mineral nutrient levels are high. The development of roots on a stem while the stem is still attached to the parent plant is called layering. A layer is the rooted stem following detachment (removal) from the parent plant.

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so here's my next adventure in the works. layering your mother to increase yield. the general idea would be to top the cutting from your mum at a low node. then layer the 2 new shoots that emerge from the node BELOW where you topped. leave the 2 new shoots at the very top (meristem)as you would in a normal topping.

something like this:


the 2 new shoots will root and still be supported by the orignal root mass. however...the 2 shoots you layer will also develop roots while still getting juice from the original. during flowering, the hope would be that those layered shoots should seriously increase their yield potential.

anyone done this yet or am i out to lunch?

You're on the right track Dacopati but you'll always be fighting apical dominance. As long as there is a branch higher (even on the layer mother) it will not allow a side layer to outgrow it. Most growers in the horticultural industry have found two seperate plants will always outgrow and out-produce a single layered mother in the same space. Work with Kiwi vines comes to mind. Now take that same mother and lay her on her side and bury an additional foot of stem before bending the tip upwards again - this works extremely well and has been used by tomato growers for centuries. Nice thing is that that you get an additional foot of stem in that prime well oxygenated surface soil - more feeder roots - more buds.

If you do decide to try the layer girdle the stem 3/4 round or wrap a restricting copper wire around it near the point it starts to be buried... this will force faster rooting and fatten up the layer dramatically.

For what it's worth

Interesting idea. When I first looked on the thread, I thought you were talking about air layering.

I can't wait to hear about your results

Hey, kinda like this?

http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=884061&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Yes, this just might be a secret I will keep from select others around here... I shall have to see what happens

did ya girdle the stem? apply root hormone?

Very creative idea even if it is centuries old. Two thoughts. To layer an upper stem to avoid apical dominance can you use a mobile conainer of medium (and what would that medium be)

other thought. Rooting compound has given me th willies for the longest time (Dahh we all know it is concentrated mutagenic hormones), but I did just recently discover Earth Juice's all natural (I think it s nostky organic) rooting gel. I haven't tried it yet as my clone cab is full up. It would be the onlything I would use on a live near flowering plant I was going to consume shortly.

The following technique is for indoor use:

1.) Pour 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol into a clean container.

2.) Place a clean razor blade into the above container.

3.) Choose clone material from anywhere on the plant but, try to pick at least a branch three to four inches in length.

4.) Using Rapid Rooter Starter Grow Plugs (Rubber Dirt). Soak them in a solution of Age Old Organics Kelp and Bloom. One liquid once each, mixed into one gallon of distilled water.

5.) Returning to the plant, cut off any excess plant material from the stem area. Only enough to equal the length of the Rubber Dirt Grow Plug.

6.) Using the razor carefully and gently scrape the stem area where you will place the grow plug. You can scrape all around the stem or just one side of it. But, scraping around the entire stem increases stress and shock on the plant.

7.) Using Rootech Cloning Gel and a fine painter's brush, apply the gel all around the stem area where the grow plug will be placed.

8.) Keep the grow plug moist by misting with distilled water and in eight to eleven days you will see roots growing through the grow plug! I always leave them on the mother plant a full two weeks before cutting them off.

9.) When you cut the new clones off use a clean razor and 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol.

10.) Seal the cut with Rootech Cloning Gel.

For Outdoors:

1.) Use above instructions but, choose a lower branch on the plant. One that you can safely bend to the ground without breaking.

2.) Must be planted in loose purious soil and kept moist.

3.) In two to the weeks you will see new plant growth from the clone.

4.) Cut from mother plant and seal with Rootech Cloning Gel.

5.) Let grow for another two weeks then you can safely dig up and transfer to another location.

6.) When you dig up the clone try to not disturb the root system.

I hope this helped and good luck.

Ya know....

On the fly, for more of a guerilla type application, I air layer some baybees using a piece of rockwool (wrapped around where you make the inscision and I use a piece of plastic toothpick to keep it open) then I wrap that in this cool stuff called Bondage Tape! Heh heh, you can get it at like F-Street bookstores etc... and the WHOLE TRICK is a kinda finesse. Cuz ya need to wrap it tight enough to keep moisture within for a couple weeks mebbe (damp) while not TOO tightly to restrict the airflow compleatly! I also "install" a small tube (like aquarium airline tubing) to moisturize at diff visits to the site

The Bondage tape is totally "sticky" yet can be peeled off and "stuck" back on like a million times over and over like it's magnetic or sumthin' heh heh - you must COMPLEATLY SEAL it off from light !!!

THREv

I hear this type of propagation is becoming popular by legit medi-growers that have restrictions on plant numbers.

Prolly a good skill to learn, I may have to try it out.