As a gardener, you’re always excited about planting new and unique plants.
Preserving the amazing genetics of plants is a process that may require cloning them – creating their exact copies.
A plant-cloning machine simplifies and fastens the process of cloning plants. It comes in the form of a plastic circular or square box, which houses a pump, aeroponic spray nozzles, and a nutrient mixer.
The plant cloner’s top part has holes filled with hard or soft neoprene inserts, which serve as the cloning sites. The number of holes will depend on your gardening and cloning needs.
To initiate the cloning process, place plant cutting on the holes and switch on the water pump. It will push the nutrient mixture up the spray nozzles to cover your cuttings with a mist that is highly oxygenated.
Read our top 7 best cloning machine reviews and buying guide to discover the best machines you can buy today.
In this post:
- 7 Best Cloning Machines – Review
- 1. Clone King CK36 – Best All-round Cloning Machine
- 2. PowerGrow PGC-21-DLX – Best Budget Cloning Machine
- 3. Clone King CK64 – Best Professional Cloning Machine
- 4. Clone King CK25 – Best Beginner Cloning Machine
- 5. TurboKlone T24D – Best Cloning Machine for Dry Climates
- 6. Viagrow 602573081938 – Lightweight Cloning Machine
- 7. Hydrofarm oxyCLONE OX20SYS – Advanced Hydroponic Cloning Machine
- How to Buy the Best Cloning Machine
- Conclusion
7 Best Cloning Machines – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Clone King CK36 (Best Overall) |
| |
 | 2. PowerGrow PGC-21-DLX (Best Budget) |
| |
 | 3. Clone King CK64 (Best Professional) |
| |
 | 4. Clone King CK25 (Best for Beginner) |
| |
 | 5. TurboKlone T24D (Best for Dry Climates) |
| |
 | 6. Viagrow 602573081938 (Lightweight) |
| |
 | 7. Hydrofarm oxyCLONE OX20SYS (Advanced Hydroponic Machine) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Clone King CK36 (Best Overall)
|
2. PowerGrow PGC-21-DLX (Best Budget)
|
3. Clone King CK64 (Best Professional)
|
4. Clone King CK25 (Best for Beginner)
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5. TurboKlone T24D (Best for Dry Climates)
|
6. Viagrow 602573081938 (Lightweight)
|
7. Hydrofarm oxyCLONE OX20SYS (Advanced Hydroponic Machine)
|
1. Clone King CK36 – Best All-round Cloning Machine
Photo: Clone King
- Number of sites: 36
- Weight: 5 pounds
Clone King CK36 claims the top spot for best all-round cloning machine because it packs 36 cloning sites. It thus sits between the Clone King CK25 and Clone King CK64 while bearing all the other premium features of the Clone King family.
Just like with the Clone King CK36, this model guarantees a 100% success rate for your clones. Surprisingly, you can expect to observe health transplant roots within 3-5 days of beginning the procedure.
The aeroponic cloner’s all-around properties are further enhanced by its ability to thrive and produce consistent results across multiple conditions including hot, cold, or snowy weather.
Weighing only 5 pounds, it is as light as the Clone King CK25, but with more sites hence you are getting more value from its portability. You can comfortably shift it across multiple environments for optimal yields.
The different-colored inserts are useful when you intend to clone more than one type of plant. You can allocate plants per the available colors for easy monitoring. The system is also fully lit to enhance observation.
Pros:
- 36 sites for accommodating many cuttings
- 25 spray heads for maximum site coverage
- 100% replication success rate
- No hormones or chemicals required
Cons:
- The spray nozzles may clog with repeated usage
2. PowerGrow PGC-21-DLX – Best Budget Cloning Machine
Photo: PowerGrow
- Number of sites: 21
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
PowerGrow PGC-21-DLX is a reasonably priced, but feature-packed cloning machine that is the most affordable on our list.
The low price of this machine does not mean it compromises on quality. This is one of the most advanced cloning machines you can buy today. It features an upgraded 160-gallon-per-hour (GPH) pump, which handles all the water circulation.
This pump is supported by a large 3.5-gallon reservoir to ensure a sufficient supply of water to your plants throughout the cloning process.
For the system’s stability, it comes equipped with upgraded suction feet.
To ensure 100% site coverage, the cloner has 5 360-degree aeroponic spray heads. Cuttings rest on its 21-neoprene collars, which are also reusable.
Although PowerGrow PGC-21-DLX is the most affordable cloning machine on our list, the low price scores you only 21 sites, which may not be enough for professional or large-scale cloning.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced and affordable cloner
- Upgraded water pump for water circulation
- Large water reservoir
- Lightweight and compact
Cons:
- Has only 21 cloning collars
3. Clone King CK64 – Best Professional Cloning Machine
Photo: Clone King
- Number of sites: 64
- Weight: 14 pounds
Clone King CK64 is the best aeroponic cloning machine because it boasts of an impressive 64 sites, and is very reasonably priced for the value it packs.
It is also a top-rated cloning machine, and this is because it promises a 100% percent success rate in cloning your favorite plants. This is a bold achievement you won’t find in other brands.
The cloning machine bears the new and improved 317GPH submersible pump with more than adequate power to provide a constant flow of water and nutrients to your growing plants.
Unlike with the Clone King 36, which has 13 spray heads, this model is equipped with 25 of such head, providing maximum and unrivaled coverage for a system of this magnitude.
The machine does not utilize any harmful chemicals in its entire setup. You are guaranteed to get 100% organic roots and plants from the cloning system.
This cloning machine is accompanied by a detailed user guide that simplifies the initial setup process to get you started flawlessly.
Pros:
- 64 sites for cloning many cuttings
- A 100% percent success rate
- Powerful submersible pump for constant water flow
- 25 spray heads for maximum coverage
- No hormone or chemicals used
Cons:
- Can be heavy, especially when filled with water.
4. Clone King CK25 – Best Beginner Cloning Machine
Photo: Clone King
- Number of sites: 25
- Weight: 5 pounds
If you’re a novice in gardening and cloning plants, Clone King CK25 is the ideal machine for you because it has an adequate number of sites to get you started, while still promising a 100% success rate. You can get it up and running in under 30 minutes even with no cloning experience.
With 25 sites, you are getting a compact cloning machine that will produce professional results without wastage of cuttings or other resources.
Weighing only 5 pounds, the machine will be relatively easy to move around even when filled with water. You can experiment with different environments with ease to determine which one supports the most optimal outcomes.
It packs a powerful 317GPH submersible pump to support constant water flow through the system.
This machine is one of the most reasonably priced on our list, so you won’t have to break the bank, especially if you’re just getting started with gardening and plant cloning.
Although Clone King CK25 is the most ideal cloning machine for beginners given its compact sizes, adequate sites, and high success rate, its reservoir can prove difficult to clean.
Pros:
- Easy for non-experts to set up and operate
- 25 standard sites and a 100% success rate
- Lightweight to support portability across different environments
- Reasonably priced to support beginners
Cons:
- The reservoir may be difficult to clean
5. TurboKlone T24D – Best Cloning Machine for Dry Climates
Photo: TurboKlone
- Number of sites: 24 (also available in a 48-site option)
- Weight: 7.9 pounds
TurboKlone T24D is the best cloning machine for dry climates because it comes with a humidity dome to prevent leaf transpiration and transplant shock by retaining sufficient moisture around the new cuttings.
Your cuttings are guaranteed to receive a continuous and fine water spray from the submersible pump and manifold. The cloning system is kept constantly cooled by an efficient fan/shroud, which also prevents overheating.
The 24-site system provides you with adequate space to replicate a decent number of cutting at once. It is worth noting, however, that this model’s cloning collars are not multi-colored. Therefore, if you are placing cuttings of different plants or species, be sure to make a list of where they are located.
At 7.9 pounds, this model is one of the lightest and compact we have reviewed. You won’t experience any problems handling it even when it is loaded.
Although TurboKlone T24D is best suited for dry environments because of its moisture retention features, these capabilities come at a steep cost compared to other 24-site cloning machines. However, it is a worthy investment considering the humidity dome is absent in many other cloners.
Pros:
- Humidity dome prevents leaf transpiration
- Submersible pump and manifold for constant water supply
- 24-site system to host many cuttings
- Lightweight for portability and ease of handling
Cons:
- Pricey compared to other 24-site cloning machines
- Cloning colors are not multi-colored
6. Viagrow 602573081938 – Lightweight Cloning Machine
Photo: Viagrow
- Number of sites: 24 (also available in 48 and 96-site options)
- Weight: 3.9 pounds
Viagrow 602573081938 is superior to the other cloning machines in its lightweight capacity. The cloner weighs only 3.9 pounds making it the lightest and most portable, even though it has 24 standard cloning sites.
The machine’s clone pump has an inner water filter to ensure a clog-free experience.
There is an additional air hose port in case you wish to aerate the reservoir with an air pump. The air pump is not vital to the cloning process, so it is not included with this system.
You get 24 multicolored neoprene collars for easy tracking of the different plant varieties or species being transplanted. 1 extra collar and 2 additional misters are offered with this model.
Although Viagrow 602573081938 is a lightweight cloning machine with enough ports to get you started with plant cloning, it requires ViaVolt T5 HO grow light fixtures – for optimal results – which are sold separately.
Therefore, getting the most out of your Viagrow cloning machine may require you to purchase additional components.
Pros:
- Lightweight for superior portability
- Clone pump has an inner filter for clog-free operation
- Additional air hose port for reservoir aeration
- Comes with 1 free neoprene collar and 2 additional misters
Cons:
- Recommended ViaVolt T5 HO grow light fixtures are sold separately
7. Hydrofarm oxyCLONE OX20SYS – Advanced Hydroponic Cloning Machine
Photo: Hydrofarm
- Number of sites: 20 (also available in a 40-site option)
- Weight: 5.25 pounds
If Hydrofarm oxyCLONE OX20SYS has more than 20 sites, it would easily be one of our top picks because it is affordable, and has an advanced oxygen recirculating system powered by Active Aqua premium pump.
The cutting-edge pump work by delivering plenty of oxygen to developing roots in the form of countless small air bubbles. The pump has a single outlet and utilizes a circular 4″ air diffuser for oxygen delivery. No other machine rivals this model in dissolved oxygen delivery.
Materials used to construct this system are safe for food handling; the reservoir and lid are made of BPA-free plastic, which is FDA-approved for food safety.
The machine’s cloning collars are known as oxyCERTS. They are non-toxic EVA foam inserts, which feature a no-pinch design. They are resistant to both fungi and bacteria.
It also has a unique feature called evaporative cooling, which ensures healthy roots through less heat retention.
Hydrofarm oxyCLONE OX20SYS is one of the most advanced hydroponic cloning machines on the market, but this model has 20n sites only and may not favor people who practice large-scale cloning.
Pros:
- Advanced Active Aqua premium for oxygen recirculation
- Made of food-safe BPA-free plastic
- Non-toxic foam inserts resistant to bacteria and fungi
- Evaporative cooling for less heat retention
Cons:
- This model has only 20 sites
How to Buy the Best Cloning Machine
1. Types of Cloning Machine
There are two main types of cloning machines: Deep Water Culture (DWC), and Ebb and Flow systems. Read further to understand the difference:
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
DWCs are straightforward hydroponic or aquaponic cloning systems best suited for beginner gardeners with little or no cloning experience.
In a DWC system, nutrients intended for nourishing plant cuttings are stored in deep tanks.
The tank is filled with water, which becomes a nutrient and oxygen-rich solution in which the cuttings’ roots are suspended.
Ebb and Flow System
The ebb and flow system is one of the most common hydroponic cloning systems used. It is based on a simple concept where plant cuttings rest on a tray, which holds the cloning sites.
The tray is then periodically fed with nutrient and oxygen-rich water, which is pumped from a reservoir below it.
Most of the cloning machines in this review are based on the ebb and flow system as they all have reservoirs and pumps.
This system is suitable for people with intermediate and expert knowledge in cloning. However, even beginners can find them easy to use especially after following the user guides keenly.
2. Number of sites
The number of sites on your cloning system is an important consideration because they are the primary transplant locations and will determine how many cuttings you can clone at a time.
Since successful cloning is a process that may take up to 2 weeks, the number of sites on your cloner can make a big difference in how you schedule your transplants and the magnitude of work involved.
If you’re a professional gardener interested in cloning many plants of similar or different varieties, you can get a cloner with the most sites like the 64-site one we reviewed.
A cloner with fewer sites like 20 – 25 is ideal for a novice who wants to get started with cloning. It will also be easier to handle because of its low weight.
3. Bucket size
For your cuttings plant to grow healthy and strong, they will require adequate space, light, water, and oxygen.
Thus, the size of the cloning bucket, also known as a reservoir becomes a crucial success factor. The reservoir size is normally measured in gallons.
The larger the reservoir’s size (capacity), the more water, air, and nutrients it can hold for your cuttings. However, a large bucket will require more physical space than a small one.
Try to balance bucket size and practicality so that you can get the most optimal cloning system.
Conclusion
Having explored some top cloning machine brands and models, you’re all set to proceed with your purchase.
Take note that the most commonly used hydroponic cloning stem is the ebb and flow one. However, you can also produce successful clones using the DWC system.
The number of sites should be a major consideration as well. If you’re an experienced gardener with large-scale cloning needs, get a system with the most sites.
For beginner gardeners, you can start with a system with fewer sites and advance as you gain experience.
Our 7 best cloning machine reviews and buying will help you buy the cloner that best suits your needs and budget.