What is a cutting?
A cutting (or clone) is a piece of stem cut from a plant that, once it grows roots, develops into a new plant. It's an exact genetic copy of the plant it came from. That original plant is called the mother plant.
It's the same thing many people do with pothos or geraniums at home: you cut off a branch, it grows roots and you have another identical plant.
Since the cutting has the same genes as the mother, it also has the same sex: a cutting from a female will always be female. And if the mother was the plant you liked most from a grow, the cutting lets you grow it again.
That said, having the same genes doesn't mean turning out identical: if you grow it under different light or in a different pot, it will grow a little differently.
Cutting or seed: the differences
- Seed: each one is unique, with its own mix of genes. It develops a strong main root (the taproot) and starts life from scratch, without carrying over pests.
- Cutting: it's an exact copy and guarantees you a female, but it can bring pests or fungi from the mother plant, and its quality depends a lot on how healthy that mother is.
What about autoflowers?
Autoflowers aren't usually cloned. A cutting from an auto is the same age as its mother, so it flowers almost straight away and gives a very small plant. With autos, the practical thing is to always start from seed.
If what you want is to have only female plants without relying on cuttings, feminized seeds are the most direct option.
Related terms
Before you grow, check the laws in your country: growing cannabis is not allowed everywhere.
