Grow Guide . visual inspection . G-08
green leaves,
white roots.
Healthy clone signs are easy to spot once you know what to look for. A good clone has crisp green leaves, a perky stem, visible white roots, no discoloration, and no rot. Five-minute inspection on arrival saves weeks of recovery effort later.
Healthy clone leaves are bright to medium green, crisp to the touch, no yellowing along veins or edges. Slight wilting in the first 24 hours is normal. Brown spots, holes, or powdery white film are problems.
A healthy stem is firm, green or green-tinged near the cut, free of soft or discolored spots. Black or brown at the cut end is rot. White fuzzy growth is contamination.
Lift the plug gently. Healthy roots are bright white with several visible tips. Yellow or brown roots indicate the plug has been too wet or too dry. Slimy or smelly roots are rot.
A healthy clone holds its leaves up at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Leaves that droop straight down are stressed. Leaves that curl up at the edges signal heat stress.
Flip the largest leaf. The underside is where spider mites, aphids, and thrips hide. Healthy clones from a tested source should be pest-free.
Hop Latent Viroid is largely invisible at the clone stage, which is why we PCR-test. Visual indicators (if any) include stunted growth, brittle stems, and slightly off-color leaves.
Probably not. A single yellow leaf can come from minor stress.
Dark green or purple stem is normal in some strains. Dark brown or black with softness is rot.
No. Fresh white roots are the goal.
You cannot, reliably. PCR testing is the only way.
Transplant it and watch for 5 days. If yellowing stops and new top growth appears, the plant is fine.