I'd be carefull. (This is very strain dependant), but taking clones of clones, etc..., will drift genetically even without visible strain. I've never taken that many clones from clones, (I use bonsai tek for my moms to slow down the process dramatically) but I have seen it happen, and it's never good. You seem educated enough to know when you'll have issues, so I wont lecture you. (God knows I don't wanna end up like those thrips. lol But you know what I'm talking about I think. IMO you might want to soon consider loosening the Sphinkter (spelling I know) and getting new seed. I know you don't have the 'time' but if you get a 10pack of good solid breed stock (like TRUE WW) why not take the time to inbreed them to F1? think about how many seeds you;ll have! I've had seeds last OVER 5 years, if stored correctly, and I could almost guarentee that a plant from seed (although maybe a couple weeks behind) Would generate a more potent mother than a 8th gen clone mother. Like I said, depending on the strain and conditions, but the drift is still there. I would think that your about on that edge of genetic 'drift' now. How many more 'generations' of clones from clones do you think on going?
P.S. I'm just saying this for conversation purposes, and don;t intend to step on your toes. I'm wondering your thoughts on this? My opinion only!
I hear you on the drift and I'll be one of the first to say that yeah it is strain dependant but there's alot of myths out there about cloning from clones. The myths exist because some growers are too scared to cross a threshhold beyond a certain point because of what they've "heard"
Three things would have to happen for me to change my mind on this topic.
My plants would need to lose potency, go hermie, or stretch so bad the yield is affected. None of which they have done. In fact potency has increased as the generations progress. The internodes have also been tightening up rather than stretching and no hermies so far.
If any of thses problems pop up I have a reserve of more feminzied WW, feminized AK48 and Sensi Star seeds. Plus i just ordered some feminized Yumboldt 47 seeds. The way I grow, I dont need alot of seeds. Five feminzied seeds of any one strain is more than enough for me.
Another thing I do that others definately dont is when I start a plant from seed I'm looking for one thing to happen. I wait for the plant to produce it's first solid branch to take the first clone. That clone will be my mother, not the plant started from seed. Doing this has always given me the stronger Mother over the seed plant.
As for how many generations will I go? I dont know yet. The strain will have to collapse or I get bored and start a new strain. The furthest I've gone is 14 generations. My Uncle ran original Skunk #1 using the sensi technique for 3 years and over 30 generations before restarting new seed stock.
I dont know if my thoery on this is fact or not but I also believe in taking large clones. I believe that the bigger and healthier bottom branch clones have all parts of their dna to continue the strain without any defects. I feel this keeps the genetic code intact regardless of how many clones are taken from other clones.
BTW- If I had a picture of the original mother, you would be astonished at how much better her great,great,great,great,great,great,great grand daughter looks compared to her.
This old Widow is getting better with age. Kinda like fine wine Brother!
Pictured above is a 8th generation WW mother. Below are buds from her 7th generation mom.
When I get results like these, it's hard for me to change my technique!
Not in a homosexual, gay way