When choosing clones, there are a few things you need to check for. First off, do they have roots? You don't want a clone without any roots showing. Your clone’s roots should appear bright white in color, not brown or tan. Brown roots are a sign of root rot and that is the last thing you want.
Second, any healthy clone should be nice and green. You don't want a yellow or pale green clone, as leaves that color are a sign of ill health.
A common crop killer is powdery mildew, which looks like a white dusty substance on your potential clone’s leaves.
The next item is third on our list, but the most important thing to look for: pests and disease. Spider mites are one of the most common pests, and are relatively easy to spot if you’re diligent. Inspect the top and bottoms of the clone’s leaves. If you see what looks like black pepper flakes on the undersides of the leaves, do not purchase them! Not only are pests bad news for the plant you buy, but they can infest your entire grow room.
Also make sure your inspection includes looking for disease. A common crop killer is powdery mildew, which looks like a white dusty substance on your potential clone’s leaves. Powdery mildew is a fungus that can spread throughout your entire indoor grow room and is very hard to get rid of once introduced to your garden. You definitely do not want any part of this disease, so be very careful picking your clones.
They might be a little trickier to grow, but selecting seeds tends to be easier than selecting clones. A good rule of thumb is this: The bigger the seed the better.
The seed should also appear hearty and be firm with no cracks or deformities. It’s good to note that seeds come in feminized variteies, so they are guaranteed to be female plants. That means no seeds in your crop come harvest time, which is important for reasons I will explain in a future Hydro 101 article. For now, if you don’t already know, avoid introducing male plants to your grow room.
There are many seed companies to choose from out there, so if you can't find the genetic type you are looking for in clone form, most likely you can find it in seed form. Just remember to do your homework; different strains grow differently, have longer bloom cycles, and other traits you need to know in order to get the best crop possible. Make sure you know what you want and what kind of care your seedling or clone needs. Until next time, grow big or go home.
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