Breeders point of view on leaf variations...

I live in a legal state, and I often buy clones from dispensaries. I've found that it is not unusual for young plants to have a 3-leaf pattern, and then as they establish new leaves come in with the standard 5 leaves.

First question: While I've been told its nothing to worry about, is the 3 leaf pattern "normal"? Is it a sign of stress, weak genetics... something negative?

I've probably bought a couple of dozen clones in the last almost 2 years since I started growing, but things still get by me sometimes. This time I brought a magnifier because I've been hearing about clones being sold with mites, and I was so focused on the micro I lost site of the macro -- I got home and then noticed that one of the plants has predominantly single leaves. I own it, so I up-potted it and its about two weeks into its new soil. All of the new growth is coming in with 3-leaf patterns. I have no idea if it will eventually graduate to 5 leave patterns.

It's a Cinex if that matters, the child of hybrids crossed with other hybrids born of other hybrid crosses...

Which is my second question: From a breeder's POV, if you had a plant with single leaves, would you even grow it? I would guess you would not use it as breeding stock. I suppose I'll know in a few months if it was worth the time.

Anyone else seen a plant with single leaves?

(these pictures were from right after it was transplanted, they are about 2 weeks old)

They might have been taken from a flowering plant or from a mother that was revegg'ed, just guessing. Singlets are found often on flowering, reverted, or clones cut from flowering plants ime. The deeper into veg the greater the # of fingers on leaves.

Yes, my reveg plants often show single leaf platelets while they're reverting.

My Cuvee cut likes to stick with three leaves, doesn't hurt performance or potency at all.

I've seen 1,3,5,7,9,11, even 13 leaflets AND lil budlets. Never made any difference.

Thanks for the responses -- it's good to know the little mutant can grow up to be a productive plant.