Ive been checking out the forums for a while now, and noticed most experienced growers (fdd, skunkushybrid et al) maintain that clones are tougher than most think and will grow if humidity and temps are kept within acceptable range.
So why do my clones keep dying?
Im using clonex rooting gel, cutting the plant in water to avoid air bubbles in the cut, planting in wet (but not soaking) soil, misting twice a day and keeping a makeshift humidity dome over em (keeps it above 70% rh in there). i cut all the leaves down to half size, and removed the lower nodes, but the first time i tried with the top of my bagseed plant it just fell over within 12 hours, left it for a week and it showed no signs of perking up so i pulled it up and no roots, nothing. Second time, 8 days ago i took 4 from the bottom of the same plant, using the same method, and they wilted slightly for 5 days then fell over, so i staked them upright, but the leaves look ready to drop off now. I've just left them be aside from misting them and leaving the cover off for 30 mins or so a day. Do they just need more time or should i pull them and try again? Frustrated cos I wanna start flowering in a week and i don't wanna lose this strain in case it's a good smoke, but I can't let the plant grow much bigger in the space I have.
Sorry for lack of pics but i don't have a digicam, or a camera phone.
Also sorry for rambling (rather stoned atm).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe your soil is too wet causing stem rot, everything else you have described is the correct way to clone. Try cloning in peat pellets and see if there is an improvement. Some plants are harder to clone then others but you should have had at least one clone take root. You are giving it 24 hours of light, right? the light doesn't need to be too strong or close too the plants...

Overwatering is the number one problem for new growers. Once a day is not enough time for you plants, they need air circulating around them more often than that. I have a thread that shows taking clones, I think I took about 170 at the time I posted that. Personally, I don't like the humidity domes for clones. The top of the plant doesn't need the extra temperature, its the roots that need to be a little warmer. I never could cut them well under water, maybe your damaging the stem by trying ? With what you described it sounds like you are not giving a place for roots to grow out of, like a leaf or two cut off and placed in your medium?? with your 45 degree angle cut below that ? Even the ones that don't make it last longer than what your talking. ?? Of course pix would help. VV

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try putting them in rockwool cubes (it kinda hold them a little better) ...i dont cut any of the leafs becuase i know that the plant uses the food in the leaves to survive till it grows roots... some rooting compound needs longer than other.... i have found that with the sruff i use it needs about 2 weeks to get roots out of the cube.... check out my 2nd grow journal for apic of my method....

hell there are people like cheetah that just puts them in water suspended by some clear plastic on a glass and it roots.... maybe temps is an issue... and i feel like it does need to be very humid .... it works for me so just check it out....

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Brother go to AL. B FUCT's thread on cloning--he's got the shit down----you can then go into soil when they root...you could also make a hempy clone box---easy as 1.2.3.

Thanks everyone, for all your quick replies.
I think I'll leave em a while longer, but take the dome off since the rh stays above 60% in the room anyhow. Gonna keep the plant in veg as a mother i think, until I get the hang of this! I have 3 cheese plants (fem seeds from greenhouse seed co.) of which I'll flower two and keep the bushiest as a mother, so at least I'll have a harvest.
I dont think lack of support is a problem, theyre a good 1 1/2" in the soil, oh and I made the cut right below a pair of nodes which are buried, so it should root from those right?
I think they get enough light, theyre next to my 4 plants about 2' below a pair of 55w flouros, but not directly under the lights.
Gonna have a go at air layering tonight, maybe take a couple more clones just to thin the plant out a bit, and try keeping them uncovered, and put less water in the soil this time.
Will report back soon. ish...
Also Victor, I made a straight cut when I took the cuttings, then held the end under water while i did the 45 degree cut about a 1/4" up from the original cut. Might have been the grow faq I saw that in but I can never be sure with my memory...

Mate I do everything wrong and never have I lost a single clone and have turned them into massive flowering girls which yeild awesomely ...

1. I cut clones two weeks into flowering
2. I dip em in clonex (not under water ...Never herd that one but hey )
3. I place them in rockwool cubes (the large ones )
4. I then let them sit under a 400w light (HPS) for 2 weeks NO HUMIDITY DOME
5. I replant in large pots and leave them be for another 4 weeks ...
6. then the join the big girls ...

And no fans in my clone room but mild nutes is added to pH adjusted water ...

Reading this, first i thought you weren't angling the cut, right under nodes...

After reading, my guess is either:
A. Your scissors aren't sharp
B. The medium is too wet.

I'd say it's the medium, try some rockwool cubes, or root plugs.

I use root plugs, and roottech, a humidity dome under 100W flourecents, and never have a problem.

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Don't you think if you cut the fan leaves in half that would lessen the plants ability to transpire in the air.

Another suggestion but it can be laborious is after you take the 45 degree cut. On the bottom of the stem you slice it in half prior to dipping in a root hormone solution. If you sever the cambium that way you increase the surface area where roots may sprout out rather than just the initial exposed area at the 45 degree angle.