Welcoming Your Clones To Their New Home
A strong start is a steady one. The first few days aren’t about pushing growth. They’re about helping your clones to settle, root, and find their rhythm.
What To Do When Your Clones Arrive
The moment your clones arrive is an important one. This is where you have a chance to help your clones adjust and adapt to their new environment.
Here’s a simple guide to help you give them a steady start.
Step 1: Bring Your Clones Indoors Immediately
Clones are living plants. While they are packaged carefully for transit, they need to move to a stable environment as soon as possible.
Bring the package indoors immediately and move directly to unboxing. Avoid leaving them exposed to outdoor temperatures or direct light.
If you’re growing outdoors:
Start your clones in a sheltered, shaded area (such as a greenhouse, cold frame, or protected corner)
Avoid placing them straight into full sun or open conditions on day one
Step 2: Unbox Carefully
Open the box and remove any packing material. Gently lift the clone dome or tray straight upward. Avoid pulling on the stems – always handle clones by the tray or dome.
As you inspect each plant:
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Leaves should feel soft and flexible
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Some drooping after shipping is normal
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Color should be a healthy green, with occasional light yellowing
If plants appear slightly wilted, don’t worry – this is usually temporary. Most clones begin to recover once they’re back in a stable environment.
Step 3: Let Your Clones Breathe
During transit, clones are kept in a controlled, humid space. Give them a moment to adjust.
Allow them to sit in open air within the grow space for 10 – 20 minutes. This helps them ease into the surrounding humidity without sudden change.
Set the environment around:
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Humidity: 70-80%
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Temperature: 72-77°F
Step 4: Give Them a Gentle Drink
Check the moisture of the growing medium. If the cube feels dry, or leaves appear wilted:
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Lightly mist the leaves
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Add a small amount of water around the cube
The goal is gentle rehydration, not saturation. The cube should feel moist, but never heavy.
If you use a rooting solution, a light application around the cube can support early root activity.
Step 5: Transplant Into Their Final Pots
Clones can be transplanted on arrival once they’ve had a short period to adjust.
A simple approach:
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Use 1-gallon or 3-gallon fabric pots
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Pre-moisten the soil so it is evenly damp, not wet.
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Create a small planting hole, a little wider than the cube
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Place the clone cube into the soil without pressure
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Firm the soil lightly around it
Keep the cube level with the soil surface. Avoid burying the stem too deeply.
After transplanting, water lightly around the base to settle the medium.
Step 6: Reduce Light Intensity
Newly arrived clones are sensitive to strong light while they recover.
For the first 24-48 hours:
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Run LED lights at approximately 40-50% power
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Or position lights higher above the canopy (around 45-60cm)
After this period, increase light gradually over the next few days. Leaves should begin to lift and orient toward the light as they settle.
Step 7: Keep Airflow Gentle
Fresh air supports healthy growth, but too much movement can slow recovery.
Position fans to circulate air gently around the space, not directly onto the plants. Leaves should move slightly, not constantly.
Step 8: Expect a Recovery Period
Clones shipped by mail may experience:
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Movement
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Temperature changes
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Mild dehydration
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Shifts in humidity
It’s normal to see some drooping in the first 24-48 hours.
In a stable environment, most clones begin to regain firmness within a day and continue settling over the next few days.
Step 9: Check Progress Before Pushing On
Before making further changes, take a moment to read the plant.
After the first 3-5 days, look for simple signs that your clone has settled.
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Leaves are upright and holding their shape
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Color is stable or improving
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New growth is beginning to appear
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The plant responds positively to light
If you’re seeing these signs, your clone is establishing well and ready for gradual progression. If not, hold your current conditions steady a little longer. Clones develop below the surface first – roots establish before visible growth follows.
Step 10: Introduce Nutrients Gradually
In the early stages, less is more.
For the first 3-5 days:
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Keep watering light and controlled
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Avoid heavy feeding
If needed, a mild root stimulator or light vegetative feed (EC 0.6-0.8) is enough.
Once you see steady growth, you can begin a normal feeding routine.
Bonus: Managing Shipping Stress
If your clones appear stressed on arrival:
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Apply a light foliar mist
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Reduce light intensity
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Keep the medium lightly moist (not wet)
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Maintain moderate humidity (around 60-70%)
Give clones 24 hours in stable conditions before making further changes. In most cases, clones respond quickly once their environment settles.
A Final Note
Healthy growth doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from giving your plants the right conditions, then allowing them to respond. A steady environment in these first few days makes all the difference.