With Clonex gel using Jiffy-7's I was reaching about a 90% success rate, I switched to Olivia's gel, it's a bit thicker stuff but... From there on out I reached a 100% success rate aside a couple times when I got to sloppy (overly stoned and tired). I havn't found any contradictory information on using gel's in an aerocloner, it'd seem to me as long as it's thuroughly mixed in the water it'd be fine. Note: I used an EZ-Cloner when I first started my medical grow, boy... I sure had trouble getting any roots. I did my cuttings dipped in clonex and put them in there spot's doing all the right methods (the bleaching, rinsing, and reverse osmosised water from my merlin)... Except I later found out light bloom fertilizer doesn't work so well to replace the rooting hormone in the water for the aeroponic system. My bad, too bad I got rid of it before I tried it the other way!There's quite a few out there that cost less than Clonex: Rootech, Dip 'N Grow, EZ-Clone, Olivia's, Earth Juice, etc. But, seeing as how Clonex is the only gel that's ever given me a 100% success rate, I'll stick with it despite the cost.
I've never used anything but water and never had a problem cloning in aero with any strain.I know that some of the rooting hormones work well, but... Lately I haven't used anything at all! I do ph the water to 6.0 in the cloner (homemade ez cloner) but that's it with 100% success. It may just be these strains I have? or something else, but I use no powder or gels or solutions of any sort. Usually takes about 3 weeks from mother to being in flower with a 8 inch tall clone and they finish at about 18 inches.
It is the most widely used method in the commercial industry and has worked very well for me for over 30 years. I have tried every method I have heard of and have found no better method. It is also as you say a very economical method. I know personally several dozen very large scale MJ growers who use the method exclusively and they have the resources and money to use any method but use the dip and soak method.truthfully the dip and grow has given me the best results and the best part is that its prob the cheapest one you mentioned