Just another cloning question.....sounds dumb but I gotta ask

I keep hearing about these "bubblers", "EZ Cloners", etc. etc. but how does it work? lol This may sound dumb, but, once you cut the plant to take a clone, dip it in some rooting gel or powder, then what? What is the purpose and how do these cloners work?

If I were to build one, what all would I need to purchase in order to have an adequate working cloner?

It is an aeroponic system- instead of letting the roots grow in a medium, the medium is air that is continuously sprayed with nutrient rich water. Their success rate is almost unmatched, and withint 10 days of taking a cutting you have a fully developed root system that is ready to veg. You need a pastic tote, pvc pipe, spray nozzles, and a water pump. You should be able to find the entire units pretty cheap on ebay, as opposed to paying $400 for one at a hydro store. The next major purchase I make will be one.

Air pump, air hose, plastic container, 2 inch foam inserts and water. Will cost yo about 20 dollars to make.

Bubbles just keep water and additives moving prevents water from becoming stagnant as fast as sitting water. Called Bubbleponics or also on bigger scale deep water culture.

Ok, so I would take a cutting, stick some clone gel on it, put the cutting into the neoprene or foam insert. Put the inserts into the holes in the top of the lid (I'm thinking of building one, seems cheaper and seems to work just as good). Now, this is another part I don't fully understand. How much water do you put in the tote? Does the water level go just above the pvc spray pipes? I've been looking online at tons of pictures of one, but it doesn't really show exactly how it works. The purpose is to spray mists of water up onto the bottom of the cutting to keep it moist, but not submerged right?

Exactly nox. You don't even have to use gel if you are using a cloner- since the cut portion of the clone is staying wet, you don't have to worry about embolisms, etc. and the plant will develop roots just fine assuming you use clone nutrients. As long as there is enough water depth to allow the water pump to push the water through the nozzles you are fine. On a side note- these cloners will allow you to take bigger clones than you are used to taking, which will help cut down the amount of time you have to wait from cutting to flowering. In all honesty, this type of cloner will help you take your growing to commercial levels if that is what you are looking for- the stronger and faster you can make clones, the better off you are.

I have a 45 site cloner and its fairly simple really and works very well. It has little sprayers that spray the bottom of the cuttings/clones constantly. I use some some cloning gel and little b vitamins and stuff in the cloner and get 90%+ succuess rate everytime in about 7-11 days.

Thanks everyone for the good info. I've taken clones from house plants in the past by just making an angled cut, and just sticking the end into a glass of water and sticking it in the window. I have a clear vase that holds about half a gallon of liquid full of roots from a common house plant, they have been living in that vase for about 3 years now.

So I wonder, could you take a clone, and just let it live to full maturity in one of these aeroponic cloners? How big would one let the plant get before transplanting to soil?

You have to consider the roots tangling up. The more roots it has when you put it in dirt the better, but you dont want to damage those roots when you remove them from the cloner.