# Why are my clones wilting?

> Cannabis clones wilt because they have no roots to replace the water their leaves lose. Some droop on day 1–2 is normal; lasting wilt means humidity is too low (aim 75–90% RH), light or heat too strong (keep 50–150 µmol/m²/s), or the stem rotting in a soggy plug. Yellowing after a week is usually the cutting using its stored reserves, not a disaster.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/why-are-my-clones-wilting.html
- Topic: Cloning and mother plants · Type: Troubleshooting
- Evidence: Grower practice · Status: Draft: awaiting expert review
- Full article: [Clone-only cuts and how to preserve them](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/breeding/clone-only-preservation.md)
- Also asked as: Clones drooping | My cuttings are dying | Clones turning yellow | Clones wilted after I removed the dome
- Updated: 2026-10-31 · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay Knowledge Base (genetixbay.com/knowledge)"

## Short answer

Cannabis clones wilt because they have no roots to replace water lost through their leaves. A little droop on days 1–2 is normal. Lasting wilt means humidity too low (aim 75–90% [RH](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/relative-humidity.md)), light or heat too strong, or a rotting stem in a soggy plug. *Grower practice*.

## Why

An unrooted cutting can only drink through its cut stem. Every leaf keeps [transpiring](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/transpiration.md), so dry air pulls it flat.

Light adds to the load. Horticultural guidance keeps cuttings at a low maximum, around 100–150 [µmol/m²/s](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ppfd.md), at sticking [1]. Strong light on rootless leaves dries them faster than they can drink.

Humidity is the brake. In a [hemp](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hemp.md) trial run at only about 64% RH, flats wilted at times, so the researchers resaturated the media and removed lower leaves to keep cuttings turgid [2]. Under a dome at 75–90% RH, that pressure mostly disappears.

Waterlogging kills from below. A soggy plug suffocates the stem base and invites [Pythium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/pythium.md) and [Fusarium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fusarium-wilt.md), which also infect cannabis roots [3].

## The numbers

| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Flat on day 1–2, recovers | Normal | Nothing |
| Flat past day 3, dry air | RH too low | Dome, 75–90% RH |
| Crisp edges, wilts at midday | Light or heat too high | 50–150 µmol/m²/s, 22–26 °C |
| Soft brown stem base | Rot in a soggy plug | Drier plugs; re-cut healthy [tops](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/top-shelf.md) |
| Lower leaves yellow after a week | Using reserves | Normal; feed once rooted |
| Wilts after dome removal | [Hardening off](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hardening-off.md) too fast | Lid back on; slow down |

## What to do

1. Check the dome: RH 75–90%, vented once a day.
2. Lower or dim the light to 50–150 µmol/m²/s.
3. Squeeze a plug. If water runs out, stop watering.
4. Check medium temperature: 22–26 °C (72–79 °F).
5. Remove only cuttings with rotten stems.

## Common mistakes

- Clones under a full-power veg light.
- No dome in a [dry room](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drying-room.md).
- Watering plugs daily "because they're wilting".
- Pulling the dome off in one go.

## Related

- Full article: [Clone-only cuts and how to preserve them](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/breeding/clone-only-preservation.md)
- [Humidity and light for clones](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/humidity-and-light-for-clones.md) · [How long do clones take to root?](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/answers/how-long-do-clones-take-to-root.md)
- Terms: [cloning dome](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cloning-dome.md) · [hardening off](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hardening-off.md)

## Follow-up questions

**Is it normal for clones to droop the first day?** Yes. Fresh cannabis cuttings often droop for the first 24–48 hours while the cut end seals and the cutting adjusts. Under a dome at 75–90% RH and gentle light of 50–150 µmol/m²/s, they should stand back up within a day or two. If they're still flat on day 3, lower the light, raise humidity and check the plugs aren't waterlogged.

**Why are my clones turning yellow?** Cannabis clones commonly yellow after about a week because an unrooted cutting can barely take up nutrients and draws on its own leaves. Lower leaves yellowing while the tip stays green is normal and often a sign that roots are close. Whole-cutting yellowing with a soft, brown stem base means rot from a soggy plug. Once roots show, a light feed greens them up.

**Why did my clones wilt when I took the dome off?** Cannabis clones wilt when the dome comes off too fast because their new roots can't yet supply what the leaves lose in drier air. Harden them off over 3–5 days: open the vents, then prop the lid, then remove it, only once several roots are visible. If they droop, put the lid back for a day and slow down.

## Sources

1. Michigan State University. Lighting of cuttings (rooting-phase PPFD). https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/lighting-of-cuttings.pdf
2. Campbell SM, Anderson SL, Brym ZT, Pearson BJ, 2021. Evaluation of substrate composition and exogenous hormone application on vegetative propagule rooting success of essential oil hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). PLOS ONE 16(7): e0249160. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249160
3. Punja ZK, Rodriguez G, 2018. Fusarium and Pythium species infecting roots of hydroponically grown marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) plants. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 40(4):498–513. https://doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2018.1535466