How to get clones almost every time!
Start with clean hands, clean scissors or snips. I use iso alcohol and a paper towel to clean snips. If doing several clones I periodically reclean the snips between cuts.
Cut clone. Try to get an end cut AND a node or two just above the end cut to ensure more possible rooting sites. Strip the nodes which will be submerged in dirt of their leaves before setting into cup.
Dip clone cut into favorite rooting gel or powder. I don't like to let just cut clones be exposed to air for very long, so the cut, dip and into the dirt filled cups thing, happens in rapid succession. (If taking several clones sometimes I use a cup of water to hold them in before dipping in cloning gel.)
Cloning gel dipped clone goes into already prepared beer cup with drain hole poked in bottom. Pro mix is fine for "dirt". I make sure "dirt" is well moistened before putting clone in cup. I tamp them into the dirt lightly, so they stand up nice and erect.
Now the humidity dome...
Use a 7x8 clear sandwich bag to make a humidity dome for each cup. Cut a small corner out of a bottom corner of the baggy, for ventilation.
Take the 7x8 plastic bag and slide the open end of the bag over the clone, so you've got a clone in a cup with a puffed up baggy over it. Your corner cut of the baggy will now be on the top of the upside down baggy over the cup. You just created a mini humidity dome with a vent.
I take a rubber band or hair tie (for you long haired freaks) and use it to secure the inverted puffed up baggy onto the top of the cup.
I use a spray bottle of clean water to mist the clones and the inside of the plastic baggy thru the small cut at the top of the baggy. I usually cut several clones at once and put the cups in a plastic tray with a high enough wall to keep cups from tipping over. (dollar store cat litter tray or cheapo plastic oil change pan).
When/if you need to water the clones if they get a little dry just pour some water in the tray (don't drown them though...moist is good, swimming in water is not) and they'll suck up the water. If the inside of the baggy dries out just mist with the spray bottle.
Bout 10 days to 2 weeks and they'll be done. If you rinse the baggies out well (I soak them) they can be reused.
I usually don't transplant them until I see roots coming out the bottom of the cup and like to give them at least a couple days past that to ensure more roots to ensure a good take in the transplant to a larger container.
I've used and owned aeroponic cloners and think they're a good option, but they aren't the only option.
