Plant Cloning Kits & Complete Propagation Systems
Plant cloning kits provide everything needed to produce vegetative cuttings -- see also our aeroponic cloning machines (clones) from a mother plant -- propagating genetically identical copies that maintain the exact characteristics of the source plant. Cloning is the standard method for preserving and reproducing high-performance plant genetics in commercial and serious hobby cultivation, producing copies of plants with proven characteristics rather than starting from seed where genetic variability introduces performance uncertainty. A complete cloning kit takes the guesswork out of sourcing compatible components by providing a verified-compatible set of propagation tools in a single purchase.
Kit Types
Aeroponic cloning machines are the commercial standard for rapid, high-success-rate cutting propagation -- an enclosed chamber with a submersible pump and misting nozzles that spray cutting stems with oxygenated nutrient mist every few minutes, maintaining perfect humidity at the cut surface and delivering oxygen and dilute nutrient directly to the developing callus tissue where roots will emerge. Aeroponic cloners produce roots in 5-14 days on most species and achieve very high strike rates. DWC propagation systems use bubbling oxygenated water in contact with cutting stems in net pots for root development -- similar root speed to aeroponic systems with a simpler mechanism. Manual propagation kits (dome, tray, starter cubes, rooting hormone) are the simplest format -- cuttings are inserted into rockwool or rapid rooter plugs, treated with rooting hormone, placed in a tray, and covered with a dome for high-humidity rooting.
Rooting Hormone
Rooting hormone (IBA -- indole-3-butyric acid) applied to the cut end of a cutting stimulates root initiation and accelerates root development. Available as gel (most popular for easy application), powder, and liquid formulations. Gel rooting hormone is the most user-friendly -- dip the cut end, coat evenly, and insert. Always use clean tools when cloning to prevent pathogen transmission from mother plant to cutting. Fast shipping.
Plant Cloning Kits FAQ
What is the difference between aeroponic cloning and rockwool cloning?
Aeroponic cloning uses a machine that mists cutting stems with oxygenated water at regular intervals -- cuttings root directly in air without any solid media. The constant moisture and oxygen at the cutting end accelerates callus formation and root emergence, typically producing visible roots in 5-10 days with high success rates. Rockwool (or rapid rooter) cloning inserts cuttings into a starter plug medium that holds moisture while maintaining some air pore space -- roots grow into and through the plug over 7-14 days under a humidity dome. Aeroponic is faster with better visibility of root development; rockwool is simpler with no machine to maintain and plugs that transplant directly into the next growing stage.
How do I take a cutting for cloning?
Use clean, sharp scissors or a razor blade -- dull blades crush the stem tissue and reduce rooting success. Select a cutting from a healthy mother plant: a lateral branch with 2-4 internodes, 4-6 inches long, with no signs of pest or disease. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle just below a node (the stem junction where a leaf or branch attaches) -- the angled cut increases surface area for rooting hormone absorption and root emergence. Remove all but the top 2-3 leaves; large leaf area increases water demand that the unrooted cutting cannot meet. Apply rooting hormone immediately after cutting while the stem is fresh, then place in your chosen propagation medium.
What rooting hormone format is best -- gel, powder, or liquid?
Gel rooting hormone is the most commonly recommended format for hobby and commercial cloning -- the gel coats the cut surface evenly and stays in contact with the stem tissue rather than drying away like powder or washing away in water. IBA concentration in commercial gels is typically 0.3-3% depending on the target species and cutting type (higher concentrations for hardwood cuttings, lower for soft herbaceous cuttings). Powder works well but requires the cut stem to be slightly moist to adhere; liquid dilution requires calibrating the correct IBA ppm concentration for the target species. For most applications, gel is the most user-friendly format.
What nutrient solution do I put in an aeroponic cloning machine?
Use a very dilute nutrient solution or plain RO/filtered water in an aeroponic cloner. Cuttings do not have active roots to absorb nutrients yet -- the primary requirement is water and oxygen at the cut surface, not nutrition. If using a nutrient solution, target EC of 0.2-0.4 mS/cm maximum (approximately 10-20% of normal nutrient strength) and pH 5.5-6.0. Stronger nutrient solutions do not accelerate rooting and can cause salt buildup at the cut end that inhibits root emergence. Many experienced cloners use plain pH-adjusted RO water in their cloners and achieve excellent results without any nutrient addition.
How do I prevent clones from wilting before they root?
Wilting in freshly cut clones is normal and results from water loss through the leaves before roots are established to replace that water. Prevention: take cuttings in the early morning or during the dark period when the mother plant has the highest water content; mist cuttings with plain water immediately after cutting; maintain 80-95% RH in the propagation environment (humidity dome or aeroponic cloner covers this); keep propagation temperatures moderate (70-80 degrees F) -- high temperatures increase transpiration and wilting risk; remove large leaves or trim leaf area by half to reduce transpiration demand on the unrooted cutting. Some wilting in the first 1-2 days is normal; severe wilting that does not recover after dark period suggests the environment is too dry.