Long gone are the days when gardening was all about wheelbarrows and rakes. Modern horticulture has been taken over by clone machines.
While other methods of cloning plants have been used over the years, this machine has recently created a buzz in the gardening community. Farmers and growers are swearing by it, but does this machine actually work? Before we find that out, let’s see what this machine is and how it works.
What Is a Clone Machine?
The process of plant cloning generally involves taking a cutting from the desired plant. This cutting is then added into a rooting medium, like potting soil or perlite, until it produces roots. Once this cutting has been rooted, it can be transplanted into the soil, where it will grow into an identical copy of the parent plant.
There are many different ways to take plant cuttings, but one of the most common and easiest methods is by using a plant clone machine. This machine is specifically designed to take plant cuttings and grow them in a rooting medium. It is basically a circular or square box holding a pump, nutrient mixture, and aeroponic spray nozzles. In other words, it is no different than a hydroponic system.
This machine does exactly what its name implies: creates clones. Clones are the exact copies of another object — in this case, plants. By using a clone machine, farmers create replicas of their desired plants. The original plant is usually referred to as the parent, master or template, while the copies are called clones.
What’s the Working Mechanism of a Clone Machine?
Clone machines are available in different sizes for professional farmers and hobby growers. While they may have different sizes and types, they generally work on the same basic principle: maximize oxygen and moisture for accelerated root development of the clones.
First, the cutting is placed into the machine. The machine will then provide the cutting with the necessary moisture and nutrients to encourage root growth. Once the roots have developed, the cutting can be transplanted into soil and will grow into an identical copy of the parent plant. When cutting roots, it is also critical to know if any utility lines are near. A good tool for locating utility lines is ground-penetrating radar.
Do Plant Cloning Machines Work?
Speed
In traditional methods, it takes 7 to 14 days for a plant to produce roots. Horticulturists, however, have witnessed faster root growth with clone machines. Quick rooting reduces the chances of pathogens and delivers a more rapid turnaround in terms of new plants.
Consistency
The cloning process operates more smoothly with machines because it maintains a consistent water temperature, humidity level, and oxygen-to-moisture ratio. When everything stays consistent, it leads to more successful results.
Automation
After setting up and adding the cultures, there’s no more hands-on with a clone machine. It means the machine does everything itself, saving your time and effort during the cloning stage.
Conclusion
Replicating healthy plants is helpful for farmers and horticulturists, making them self-sufficient. A certain level of competence, however, is essential in the cloning department for growing a perpetual garden, and clone machines offer that. By improving speed, consistency, and automation, these machines will continue to allow farmers and hobby growers to achieve their cloning goals in the future.
