The act of asexual propagation for cannabis, specifically creating a genetic duplicate of a selected mother specimen, is a horticultural technique used to preserve desirable traits. This process involves taking a cutting from the parent plant and encouraging it to develop its own root system, resulting in a new, independent organism with an identical genetic makeup. For instance, if a plant exhibits exceptional resin production or pest resistance, this method allows cultivators to reliably replicate those qualities.
This method offers numerous advantages, including the ability to maintain a consistent and predictable crop, preserving the unique characteristics of high-performing individuals. By replicating successful genotypes, cultivators can bypass the genetic variations inherent in sexual reproduction (seed propagation), ensuring uniform growth, flowering times, and cannabinoid profiles. Historically, this technique has been vital for preserving rare and valuable cultivars, preventing the loss of desirable traits through cross-pollination or genetic drift. Its efficiency in rapidly expanding a grow operation while maintaining genetic fidelity contributes significantly to its wide adoption.