Cannabis Guide - 2021 - 6

SANITATION
Note, some growers will purchase
tissue culture (TC) or clones from
suppliers. If purchasing plant material
from a third party, be sure to inspect
every plant in the shipment for pests
and disease.
CUTTINGS
Taking clean cuttings or clones is
an important part of the process as
well. When you snip the cutting off the
plant it creates a wound that could lead
to the spread of viruses and viroids. It
is important to clean the cutting tools
and containers after each use. It is
essential to change gloves and switch
cutting tools between varieties. This
will limit any contamination to a strain
and stop the spread of any virus or
disease if present.
Minimize crosscontamination
by
changing gloves
and cleaning tools
between strains.
This is also a great time for the
employees making the cuts to examine
plants for any pests, disease or fungus.
After taking cuttings, it is important not
to let them become contaminated. This
can be achieved by keeping the cuttings
in a sanitized container until they can
be transplanted. A sanitized cooler
or refrigerator at 38 to 40° F can be a
helpful tool if you are not able to stick
right away.
STICKING
Before sticking cuttings, all surface
areas must be cleaned and sanitized.
This process will need to be repeated
between each strain. Gloves will
also be changed and tools sanitized
after each change in variety. Some
cannabis producers cut/trim the leaf
tips before sticking. Research studies
(www.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-20180038)
have shown up to 18% better
rooting percentages if foliage remains
uncut. Also, better root quality if three
leaves are left attached to the cutting.
Another benefit of not cutting the
leaf tips is that you reduce the risk of
transmitting virus and disease by not
cutting the plant.
A common practice in the
ornamental world of propagation
was dipping cuttings before sticking
them. This practice works equally well
with cannabis. Dipping clones for 45
seconds in a mixture of all-natural
fungicide and organic pesticide has
helped me fight pests and disease. I
have found that full immersion dips
have resulted in better rooting, less
fungus and reduced pest pressure
across in rooting and across all
subsequent stages of the plant's
growth. After clones are dipped or
immersed, the bottom tips of the stems
are dipped in a rooting hormone. The
hormone is particularly useful with
harder to root varieties.
Traditional cannabis propagation
uses rooting domes and trays. It can
take a lot of time draining, venting and
monitoring trays depending on how
many cuttings you are rooting. We
were able to eliminate the use of domes
with the addition of dry fog units in
our propagation house. By using these
processes, we will have clean, diseaseand
pest-free clones that are ready to
transplant in 10 to 14 days.
VEG AND FLOWER
Vegetative and flower cycles will
depend on the cultivator and the genetics
of the plant. This is one of the most
opportune times for pests and disease
because the plants are older. Preventative
measures are the best way to keep the
plants clean. Creating unfavorable
environmental conditions for fungus and
mold by keeping the humidity levels low
and stable temperatures will help.
Daily scouting is important to ensure
quick reaction times. Weekly organic
sprays (biweekly if pressures necessitate)
for pests and fungus are performed
up until four weeks before harvest.
Beneficial insects are brought in weekly
6 2021 GUIDE TO CANNABIS PRODUCTION
http://www.doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2018
Cannabis Guide - 2021

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