{"id":87179,"date":"2023-02-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/why-arent-my-roots-cloning\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:13:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T14:13:39","slug":"why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Why cuttings don&#8217;t root: discover the most common mistakes and how to avoid them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>One of the <strong>biggest headaches<\/strong> for marijuana growers, both novices and those with more experience, is dealing with cuttings that won&#8217;t root. This is something that can happen to all types of growers and <strong>can be solved easily.<\/strong> To do so, it is important to know the different mistakes that are usually made in these cases. To learn more about this, in this article we explain <strong>why cannabis cuttings don&#8217;t root<\/strong>, reviewing the most common mistakes when making and maintaining them, whether you grow them in small pots, jiffys, or rock wool cubes. Let&#8217;s make sure all your cuttings grow strong and healthy roots!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5a48a72fdc5\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenido<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5a48a72fdc5\"  \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#Common_mistakes_when_making_marijuana_cuttings\" >Common mistakes when making marijuana cuttings<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#1_Poorly_made_cuts\" >1. Poorly made cuts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#2_Inadequate_rooting_medium\" >2. Inadequate rooting medium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#3_Scraping_the_stem_too_much\" >3. Scraping the stem too much<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#4_Incorrect_use_of_rooting_hormones\" >4. Incorrect use of rooting hormones<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#5_Excessive_defoliation\" >5. Excessive defoliation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#6_Lack_of_ambient_humidity\" >6. Lack of ambient humidity<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#Failures_in_maintaining_cuttings_during_rooting\" >Failures in maintaining cuttings during rooting<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#1_Watering_the_substrate_too_early\" >1. Watering the substrate too early<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#2_Incorrect_spraying\" >2. Incorrect spraying<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#3_Poor_temperature_management\" >3. Poor temperature management<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#4_Lack_of_ventilation\" >4. Lack of ventilation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/#5_Excessive_spraying\" >5. Excessive spraying<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_mistakes_when_making_marijuana_cuttings\"><\/span><strong>Common mistakes when making marijuana cuttings<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The cloning process is delicate, and a single failure can cause the cuttings not to survive. Some of the most frequent mistakes that usually occur when making cuttings are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Poorly_made_cuts\"><\/span><strong>1. Poorly made cuts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is essential that the cut is made leaving <strong>a node underground<\/strong> and enough space up to the leaves to avoid rot. These cuttings should not be made too small, otherwise, it will be difficult to spray them correctly and they will dehydrate quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Inadequate_rooting_medium\"><\/span><strong>2. Inadequate rooting medium<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The substrate must be slightly moist and with the pH corrected to 6.0. Excess water can rot the stems before they develop roots. You must take into account the type of substrate you want to root in. It can be in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/growing-media-substrates\/503-rockwool-tray.html\">rock wool cube tray<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/206-jiffy-products\">jiffys<\/a>, which improve the germination and rooting process.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/errores-enraizar-esquejes.jpg\" alt=\"Common mistakes when rooting cuttings\" class=\"wp-image-202387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/errores-enraizar-esquejes.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/errores-enraizar-esquejes-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/errores-enraizar-esquejes-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Scraping_the_stem_too_much\"><\/span><strong>3. Scraping the stem too much<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many growers <strong>scrape the stem too much when preparing it<\/strong>. This is a serious mistake that growers often make, especially when starting out in cultivation. The natural rooting hormones are in the <strong>second layer of the skin;<\/strong> so if you reach the white part of the trunk, that cutting will never root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Incorrect_use_of_rooting_hormones\"><\/span><strong>4. Incorrect use of rooting hormones<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should avoid dipping the cutting directly into the gel. Instead, apply the hormones with a brush so as not to clog the stem with excess gel. To properly preserve the gel, it should be kept in the refrigerator and always use a clean portion to avoid contamination. Hormones are living organisms, so sometimes they can spoil, which would cause them not to root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Excessive_defoliation\"><\/span><strong>5. Excessive defoliation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Trim only 40% of the length of the leaves, no more. This reduces transpiration but allows the plant to continue photosynthesizing. You should trim the leaves a little, but never strip them. The idea is that they don&#8217;t photosynthesize too much and don&#8217;t dehydrate quickly, but if they are cut too much, they won&#8217;t do it at all and will end up suffocated without leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Lack_of_ambient_humidity\"><\/span><strong>6. Lack of ambient humidity<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/677-plant-propagator\">cutting propagator<\/a> or mini greenhouse with 90% humidity, it is almost impossible for the cuttings to root correctly. Tupperware and homemade solutions do not work the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>[ppgbo products=&#8221;1764,1760,445&#8243; language=&#8221;en&#8221;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Failures_in_maintaining_cuttings_during_rooting\"><\/span><strong>Failures in maintaining cuttings during rooting<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once <strong>the cuttings are made, they need specific care<\/strong>. To maintain them, it is necessary to follow certain guidelines, as there are factors that can affect rooting. Here is everything you should not do if you want them to develop roots successfully:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Watering_the_substrate_too_early\"><\/span><strong>1. Watering the substrate too early<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the medium is moistened at the beginning, do not water again until you see roots (around day 10). Excess water can be lethal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Incorrect_spraying\"><\/span><strong>2. Incorrect spraying<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not spray from above. You should spray under the leaves, outside the greenhouse, and dry off any excess drops before putting them back in.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/fallos-enraizar-esquejes-marihuana.jpg\" alt=\"Problems with rooting marijuana cuttings\" class=\"wp-image-202393\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/fallos-enraizar-esquejes-marihuana.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/fallos-enraizar-esquejes-marihuana-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/fallos-enraizar-esquejes-marihuana-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Poor_temperature_management\"><\/span><strong>3. Poor temperature management<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintain a <strong>stable temperature of 22 \u00b0C<\/strong>. If it&#8217;s cold, they won&#8217;t root; if it&#8217;s too hot, they will melt. Therefore, it is advisable to use specific heating mats, not conventional electric ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Lack_of_ventilation\"><\/span><strong>4. Lack of ventilation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You should open the propagator lid once a day to ventilate and dry out condensation. If there is water accumulated at the base, it must be removed and dried so that the substrate does not get wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Excessive_spraying\"><\/span><strong>5. Excessive spraying<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For them to develop correctly, spray every other day and open the lid daily. Constant excess humidity can also cause fungi or rot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Making cuttings doesn&#8217;t have to be complicated if you know the right steps and avoid these mistakes. Before you start, you should keep in mind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/en\/2-5\/?p=35517&#038;p=87001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to make cuttings<\/a> step by step and clone your plants successfully. With the right advice, your cuttings will root quickly and strongly.<\/p>\n<div style='text-align:center' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the biggest headaches for marijuana growers, both novices and those with more experience, is dealing with cuttings that won&#8217;t root. This is something that can happen to all types of growers and can be solved easily. To do so, it is important to know the different mistakes that are usually made in these\u2026 <span class=\"leermas\" onclick=\"window.location.href='https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/why-cuttings-dont-root-discover-the-most-common-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/'\">Continue reading<\/span ><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":202412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[254,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana-crops","category-cultivos-de-marihuana"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":5,"sum_votes":24},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87179"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":232706,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87179\/revisions\/232706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}