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3.3 The Pros and Cons of Seeds vs. Clones
Once you've chosen your strain type and light cycle, you must decide on your starting material.
Seeds or Clones
Seeds:
A seed is the product of two parent plants. When you grow from a seed, you are getting a plant with unique genetic combinations, which can lead to a variety of "phenotypes" or physical expressions of the genetics.
Pros:
- Healthier and more resilient from the start, less likely to carry pests or diseases, and offer an opportunity to "pheno hunt" for a truly special plant.
Cons:
- Genetic variation means not every plant will be identical.
Clones:
A clone is a cutting taken from a "mother" plant, making it a perfect genetic copy.
Pros:
- Guaranteed to be female (if taken from a female mother), and you know exactly what you're getting in terms of growth pattern and final product.
Cons:
- More susceptible to stress during the rooting phase and can carry pests or diseases from the mother plant.
The Geno Hunt: A More Accurate Term
The terms used in cannabis cultivation can be confusing, and "pheno hunt" is a perfect example of a commonly used phrase that is technically incorrect.
- A plant’s genotype is its specific genetic code—its DNA.
- A plant’s phenotype is the set of observable traits (size, shape, color, flavor) that result from the interaction of its genotype with its environment.
When a grower goes through a batch of seeds to find the single plant with the best characteristics, they are not hunting for a phenotype. The environment will constantly change the phenotype. Instead, they are hunting for the ideal genetic blueprint—the best genotype. Therefore, geno hunt is the more precise and accurate term. The ultimate goal is to find a stable, superior genotype that can produce consistent, high-quality phenotypes in any environment.
The Clonal Conundrum: Why Even Clones Need to Be Hunted
Many people believe that because clones are genetic copies of a mother plant, they will all be exactly the same. However, this is not always the case. Clones also need to be "hunted" because of the environmental and health issues they can inherit or acquire.
While a clone has the same genotype as the mother, its phenotype can be dramatically different. A clone's health is directly tied to the health of the mother plant. If the mother is sick or stressed, or if the clone is not taken correctly, it can lead to a weaker plant with slower growth and lower yields.