Bubbleponic cloning

Alright, so I'm having trouble cloneing. Using gel and rockwool. Here's the scenario: Plant is 2 months old, been topped 2x, did the whole routine to the T as everyone says how to cut, dip in gel, etc. Nothing... I'm going to make my own bubbleponic cloner and try that. My question is, once it starts to root, do I just push it into rockwool gently so I don't damage the roots, or do I have to switch to Hydroton or some other type of medium? My regular system is DWC with 3.5" net pots. First time around doing this, so sorry if it seems like a dumb question. Thanks in advance.

I like to make the hole in the rockwool larger to avoid any root damage, then press the rockwool down to bring it back into contact. If it doesn't, simply put a rubber band around the rockwool and itll close around the stem/roots.

I don't know why you'd have no luck cloning with just rockwool though, any more information about your process? What type of heat are the clones getting? What type of light are you giving them? Do you mist them and/or have a humidity dome?

My process is as follows:

From seed, the plants were starting in on the 6th node. I was trying Uncle Ben's topping method to get 4 main colas, so I cut the plant about 1/4" above the second node. Into water they go. The cubes sat in 5.8 PH water, with a tiny bit of Jump start for an hour. When I say tiny, I mean 2 drops out of an eye dropper into 1 gallon of water. Took the cubes out, snapped the water out with a few flicks of the wrist, squirted gel into the cube. Took cutting, stripped the fan leaf and branch, took a little skin with it. Held under water, cut about 1/4" below node, squirted gel on the bottom to prevent air. Stuck into cube and pushed in firmly so the cutting sat sturdy. There was probably about 1/4" of gel above the top of the cube keeping air out. In humidome sitting on seedling mat. Temps are pretty steady around 70 F, give or take 5 depending on when the heat comes on. Underneath 2 40 watt flourescent lights 24/0.
Don't get it, I've had 2, going on 3 failures now.

I got 10 bucks saying you either smash up the cubes so they become worthless or the pH wasn't right. you don't need gel or anything with rockwool... just pHed water a little nutrients and the clone. cloning using gel and rockwool is far from guaranteed without atmospheric domination.

you use a razor blade and cut it into quarters or halfs if you're going from bubble into rockwool. but do yourself a favor and fill a keg cup with rockwool cubelets and let it root a mass rather than just a shitty attempt at rooting into one of the starter cubes, or just put it straight into the hydroton w/ some rw mixed in or something.