Looking to grow a mother

[JKB1989]

Can anyone point me towards a journal that covers growing and keeping a mother. My questions are: do you keep it small by topping and training? Are there special nutes for a mother plant? I normally grow in 7 gal cloth bags. Should I go up to ten gal bags?

 

[Carcass]

@InTheShed 's always got a few mothers going...
It'd be easiest to just ask him about it-his journal has the info in it, but,at 873 pages, it might take a minute to find it in there...

 

[InTheShed]

LOL! Thanks carcass . Since JKB PM'd me the same question, I thought I would put my answer here for any responses:

Here is a thread on bonsai mothering that might be helpful if you need to go that way:

Bonsai Mothers

This article was originally written by OG member Oldtimer1, I take no credit for this, except for finding and sharing the information with you guys. Part 1 MAKING, MAINTAINING, AND RENOVATING BONSAI MOMS This Article was originally published on 27/6/2000. Revised and archived 20/10/03 by...

www.420magazine.com

My questions are: do you keep it small by topping and training?

Yes! And keeping the lighting levels lower than you would a plant you were going to flower.

Are there special nutes for a mother plant?

No, but you don't ramp them up the same way you would a plant in veg. You don't want aggressive growth for mother plants.

I normally grow in 7 gal cloth bags. Should I go up to ten gal bags?

A lot of this has to do with how much room you have. Do you have space for full-sized mothers or do you need to keep them small in small pots? Do you never want to flower them, i.e. do you need to keep this first mother going forever, or will you grow a new mother from a clone when the need arises?

Full-sized mother plants are really just regular plants you never flower, but grown with lower lighting levels and more thinning and training to keep them under control. Bonsai plants take more work to keep small, so if you have space, go with regular mothers.

 

[TurboBucket]

Aye I keep bonsai mom's from the thread linked. My oldest is almost three years old now. Keep them cut back and it's not too bad