cuttings, clones, cropping and pruning

1. What are best shoots to use, from where on the plant should they be taken and how old/tall should the plant be? Which is a better medium, rockwool or the little black compost plugs? Considering I live in an arid climate how humid should I keep the dome? Some shoots on the indicas are so busy but tiny at the top, how many leaves should I leave on something like this for a clone?
2. If clones wilt slightly but stay strong and develop a healthy root system will this effect the plant negatively or will it be ok? Same question on a badly wilted clones that did survive and are growing fat green leaves.
3. Which will increase the yield more, supercropping or topping or is it about the same as long as you bend the stems? Supercropping is giving great 'canopy' effects but so are the ones where the top came off. Will the top make an effective clone or should I just bend it and take cutting from elsewhere on the plant?
4. I have heard both arguments as to trimming some large fan leaves or to leave them alone until they yellow. I was wondering because of a white rhino plant that looks like a head of kale or cabbage. The side shoots are growing wonderfully but the fan leaves are so huge that they blocking a a lot of light to the inside of the plant.

ANY help on these will be greatly appreciated.

1a. The shoots that get the most light are the best to use. Shoots in shaded spots can be used but they don't grow quite as vigorously.

1b. As long as the mother plant will have enough vegetation left after taking the clones to keep it alive, it's big enough. Exactly how little a plant can survive with varies alot with how healthy it is and how well it is currently growing, amung other things. At absolute minimum, you have to leave at least one growing shoot on the plant.

1c. Neither medium is better. It's a matter of preference.

1d. Every clone should have at least four leaves. One pair to draw food from and another pair to absorb light while the first pair dies.

2. Every clone wilts temporarily while it makes roots. Wilting by itself doesn't cause any permanent damage.

3a. We can't say that one always yields more than the other.

3b. Yes, tops can be clones and are the first clones available on a plant.

4. Whether it'll accomplish more to trim leaves than avoid causing damage to the plant & decreasing its light absorbtion is a question every grower needs to make every week during flowering. Keep trimming during flowering to a minimum but sometimes a leaf is shading a cola and the cola comes first.

Mother's Finest said:

1a. The shoots that get the most light are the best to use. Shoots in shaded spots can be used but they don't grow quite as vigorously.

1b. As long as the mother plant will have enough vegetation left after taking the clones to keep it alive, it's big enough. Exactly how little a plant can survive with varies alot with how healthy it is and how well it is currently growing, amung other things. At absolute minimum, you have to leave at least one growing shoot on the plant.

1c. Neither medium is better. It's a matter of preference.

1d. Every clone should have at least four leaves. One pair to draw food from and another pair to absorb light while the first pair dies.

2. Every clone wilts temporarily while it makes roots. Wilting by itself doesn't cause any permanent damage.

3a. We can't say that one always yields more than the other.

3b. Yes, tops can be clones and are the first clones available on a plant.

4. Whether it'll accomplish more to trim leaves than avoid causing damage to the plant & decreasing its light absorbtion is a question every grower needs to make every week during flowering. Keep trimming during flowering to a minimum but sometimes a leaf is shading a cola and the cola comes first.

Click to expand...

Here are some pics of a NL x big bud that barely made it. It's green on top and growing. Will this be a good plant or did i damage it too much?