Trying to root cannabis clone cuttings fast? An aeroponic cloning machine is your best bet. Grow healthy ready-to-plant clones quick with a near 100% success rate using an aeroponic cloning machine.

Products for sale are on top, and the cloning FAQ section is down below.

Top 3 Aero Cloners

The Clone Bucket is a super easy way to make healthy rooted clones fast. Yes it comes with the bucket. Follow the directions carefully and achieve a ~100% rate of success.

An aeroponic misting design, set up the water pump inside and plug your cuttings into the top with the provided inserts(reusable). Turn on the pump and leave it on nonstop for best results.

The affordable price of the Clone Bucket makes it a great product for at-home growers. This user friendly 8 clone site model is perfect for smaller scale cultivators, but you can also step it up to their 18 clone site version for more serious volume.

VIEW PRICE ►

A bestselling herb cloning machine, TurboKlone features a unique fan system built in to provide oxygen and combat high temperatures that can be detrimental to roots.

This aeroponic cloner keeps cuttings suspended while the misters inside continually spray their root-zone. A reputable quality product in the growers community, TurboKlone is not as cheap as other options, but is worth its weight in gold.

Features 24 holes with plug inserts included, plus the whole shebang needed to get it running and make you some clones quick. Round edges makes cleaning easy.

VIEW PRICE ►

Highly reviewed by tons of growers, the Clone King Aeroponic Cloning Machine is top-notch quality at a surprisingly affordable price.

100% success rate when the instructions are followed. Don’t believe it? Give it a try for the cheap price and you’ll never look back. Comes with a 13 head mister, pump, plugs for cuttings, and everything else you need to get started.

This true aeroponic cloning machine uses misting to constantly provide the right conditions for roots to grow from cuttings. Feed purified water and leave the pump on 24 hours a day.

Available in 25 site, 36 site (most popular) and 64 site sizes, to accommodate different volumes of clones.

VIEW PRICE ►

Why should I use a machine for cloning?

To speed up your returns. Use a cloning machine to get your cannabis clones rooted in less time than by traditional methods eg. rockwool, Jiffy cubes, perlite, vermiculite, coco, etc. By having clones rooted earlier you will in turn harvest earlier too, which is why getting good healthy clones is so important.

One main benefit of cloning machines is that you don’t have to use a humidity dome, which often does more bad than good. The domes trap the moisture in and cause tissue rot and damping off for delicate cuttings. Another benefit would be in the time you save by not having to maintain your clones as much.

Spray misting clones and checking the moisture levels is something you have to do often when trying to root clones normally, but with a cloning machine it’s all automated for you. Just set the machine up right, put the clones in, flip on the switch and you’re good to grow.

If you want weed clones as fast as possible, don’t have the time to care for them enough, and wouldn’t like to gamble on success, then a cloning machine is right for you.

What are the advantages of using a cloning machine?

No spraying needed. Put away the humidity domes with a cloning machine – as long as the relative humidity(RH) of your room is around 60% or more, plant cuttings will do best in the open air. No fans or wind on them of course. Besides that just make sure your water is good(read below) and the machine is clean. Easy enough. Once you get the hang of using cloning machines, getting a near perfect success rate is not that hard!

Aeroponic cuttings made with cloning machines root faster, are less prone to wilting and disease, and also don’t require buying propagation media regularly.

The neoprene plugs in a clone machine are reusable. Roots produced in a cloner are healthy, thick, and transplant easily anywhere: soil mix, hydroponic and aeroponic growing methods.

How does an aeroponic cloning machine work?

Plant cuttings(fresh-cut clones) are suspended in a closed fixture. The stems are held up above in circular neoprene inserts. The roots, or soon to be roots, are sprayed constantly inside the fixture by an oxygenated aeroponic mist – provided by misters that lie in the bottom. An evenly-controlled mist helps roots emerge quickly from cuttings.

In most models, a cloning machine includes:

a fixture with a lid

misters

water pump

manifold

power adapter

water reservoir

neoprene inserts

instructions

The submerged pump drives water and/or nutrient solution into the spray misters that release the mist. These are pieced together into a ‘machine’ that runs non-stop, taking care of your clones’ most delicate period automatically.

Forget using rockwool, foam cubes, coco coir, vermiculite, or other branded ‘plugs’ – a cloning machine outdoes virtually all the other options. Why? The secret lies in the highly oxygenated mist provided to cuttings: maximum aeration plus the right amount of moisture equals rapid rooting.

Do I need to buy a timer?

Here’s from EZ-Clone:

Running your water pump continuously is recommended though cycling your water pump may produce longer roots quicker. A thirty minute on thirty minute off cycle has produced the longest roots the quickest.

And here’s what the Clone King has to say about that:

An aeroponic cloning machine SHOULD NEVER be ran in cycles. Running in cycles came about because the ez clone pump was overkill – over heating the water and killing the clones. You won’t have any over heating issues with our product. Also before anyone comments that depriving the cuttings of water causes faster root growth that is wrong. A cutting deprived of water for any period of time goes into a dormant phase to save energy it does not grow roots when in that state. A healthy cutting receiving the constant spray and food supply will produce roots faster then anything else.

Still certain growers stand by running theirs at timed intervals. All of the cloning machines described in this article can be left on 24/7 (without a timer) and yield a ~100% success rate.

The best water quality for rooting clones?

Water quality is crucial when using a cloning machine for your cuttings. Make sure your water source is clean! Spring water, purified water, and filtered rain water are all good options.

The water pH and TDS (total dissolved solids) may fluctuate during usage. Consider running the machine for a day prior to inserting clones so you may measure any possible changes and apply the necessary adjustments.

Best pH levels for the water are 5.8 – 6.3 with a low TDS 140-210 ppm (0.2-0.3 EC) during the start which can be incremented up to around 500 ppm when roots are developed. Try this TDS meter on Amazon and a pH meter stick.

If using natural collected water, the water sources can contain algae and other particles that will clog up the aeroponic cloning machine sprays. An easy solution is to screen the water beforehand with a drinking filter.

Reverse osmosis (RO) and distilled water are usually not recommended due to how unnaturally stripped the water is of any nutrients, which may cause problems with root formation by leeching nutrients from the cuttings.

Growers using tap water should make sure also that there’s no hidden contaminants (like flurosilicates, chlorine or chloramines) that can damage your fragile weed clones. 9 times out of 10 standard tap water will do the job… unless you’re in LA.

What is the right water temperature for clone machines?

It is crucial to keep the water reservoir relatively cool – optimal water temp is between 68°F and 75°F. Use a tank thermometer to monitor your water temperatures, and if it is getting too warm, consider moving the cloning machine to a cooler area.



Running the water reservoir too hot can be problematic, and you will have to add hydrogen peroxide or a few drops of bleach to stop unwanted bacteria forming (a common problem with aeroponic cloning machines). As ol’ Ben Danklin famously said: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.



Also, you do not need to change the water in the reservoir during the propagation process. Simply fill as needed. No problems should arise unless the water gets too hot.

Grow room temp and humidity for clones?

The temperature and humidity of the area where the clones will be rooting is important. Too hot and too dry conditions will have the clones wilting, while too cold may hinder the production of root nubs. Because fresh cut clones do not have roots yet, any moisture lost will be hard to get back. A high relative humidity near 100% around the clones helps the cuttings keep that moisture in them. Although such high humidity is preferred, if the tops are always wet they may rot.

Avoid sunlight, wind or fans which can cause stress to clones. We recommend keeping the surrounding temperature ~75°F to 85°F

Do I need to add nutrients or hormones?

The basic answer to this question: Rootless cuttings do not require nutrients. You don’t need to add any nutrients to the water until your cuttings roots have grown past 3 inches.

Freshly snipped, many cultivators apply a rooting gel such as Clonex to the cuttings (not required). This will get washed off and added into the water supply when the pump is turned on.

When using water devoid minerals and nutrients (R/O or distilled water) some like to make up for it using a tiny dash of liquid fertilizer or cal-mag supplement. Others swear by a few drops of vitamin B rooting hormone such as Root Juice, SuperThrive, or even sea kelp (Maxicrop).

Nonetheless, most growers agree that simple clean water does the rooting job safe and effectively. At least until the roots have come out. Then you can add your roots accelerator, silica or rapid start, ect.

Don't burn 'em up! Do not put concentrated liquid fertilizer into the water reservoir trying to speed things up. Adding fertilizer to early cuttings is a surefire way to lose them.

What kind of light should be provided to cuttings?

Cuttings do not require a lot of light to grow roots. Remember sprouting beans in school science class? A little different, but basically the same theory. You don’t need a lot of light for root growth to happen. Fluorescent bulbs and/or indirect light work best. Avoid direct sunlight.

Cannabis plants are photosensitive, responding to changes in the light hours per day(excluding c. ruderalis aka autoflowers). An annual herb, cannabis has separate growth and budding stages. Cuttings should be in their vegetative growth cycle, as they are beginning their growth. To do this it is important to make sure you have at least 16 hours of light per day on them. 18 hours or more of light per day is optimal.

Some cultivators keep their clone machine in a corner of their main grow room, which either uses HID or LED lighting. The cuttings get diffused light, but without too much intensity. This is fine, as long as temperatures stay within the guidelines.

CFL bulbs, T5 or T12 fluorescent tubes are the best options for rooting clones. The florescent light is mellow enough to keep it on non-stop without worrying about cuttings wilting. Hang the lights 5 – 8 inches (13 – 20 cm) above cuttings for best results.

How long to wait for rooting and transplant?

Operate the cloning machine for 24 hours nonstop until roots visibly appear from cuttings. You want the roots around 1½ – 2 inches (3.5 – 5 cm) before transplanting. In most cases, cuttings should be ready within 7 to 10 days.

Some cultivators like to wait until the roots have really established fat, for a stronger start on the root system.

So is it aeroponic or hydroponic?

Hydroponics is defined as growing plants directly in water, without any soil. Roots are submerged in constantly aerated water.

In Aeroponics, the roots of a plant hang freely, never being submerged in water. A drizzle or mist feeds the roots water and nutrients.

Sometimes aeroponics is described as a subset of hydroponics, due to the water being used. The confusion leads to many aeroponic machines being labeled as hydroponic. Hence the title.

Most professional clone machines are pure aeroponic set-ups. This includes any cloning machine that relies on a misting system. The roots of the cuttings hang freely and are misted regularly.

DWC (deep water culture) cloners aka”Bubble cloners” are a type of cloning machine that is considered hydroponic. These are the easiest to build at home, and are simply a bucket or tub of water aerated with air stone pumps. Holes are drilled in the top lid for plugs and cuttings. The roots of the cuttings often are submerged in the water with bubble cloner machines, but not always.

Aeroponic clone machines are the best reviewed among growers for producing fat healthy roots.

Clones not rooting in aeroponic cloner?

If your clones are not rooting in the aero cloner, there may be a few contributing factors:

Clones were not cut clean

Bad water quality

Inadequate misting

Too much light

Too much nutrients

Bacteria in the cloner

pH levels are off

Best pH for aeroponic cloning: ~pH 5.8-6.3

How to make clones root faster

Aeroponic cloning tips

Cutting clones at a 45 angle with a sharp blade will ensure the cleanest cut with a healthy amount of surface area for roots. Often growers slice the sides of the stems additionally. Use purified water for best cloning. Although many growers use tap water, your success depends on the local tap water quality. Bacteria is the main enemy with contaminates, pH and PPM levels also being of concern. Misting for 1 minute on 1 minutes off, or other similar techniques used a timer can be fun to experiment with, however if you can’t afford to lose the clones it’s best to just keep the misters spraying all-of-the-time. Light needs to only be supplied in small amounts, that’s why florescent lights are used so frequently. Overdoing the light supply may cause the cuttings to burn up. Nutrients do not need to be provided for roots to emerge from the cuttings. However, what’s increasingly popular among growers now is to add a diluted nutrient solution to the water slowly as roots begin to grow. Just remember not to add too much or it can stunt root growth. If you are using the same water again-and-again for cloning, bacteria may naturally build up unless there is some cleansing agent added to the water. Go back and review cloning water quality . If you’re still having trouble consider cleaning out the whole machine and start over with new water.

Best Aeroponic Cloner Shortlist

Disclaimer: We do not promote or undertake in illegal activity.