My cloning method- trim a decent branch with multiple nodes showing, scrape the light outer layer of skin and dip immediately into some clonex rooting compound gel. I trim the lower leaves off and cut some upper ones in half to help expedite rooting and nitrogen flushing. Usually the clones will droop a bit for the first few days so I put a humidity dome over them and mist the inside of the dome until they recover (usually 3-5 days). I usually have a 90% survival rate on clones if I clip them at the right time (usually taken at week 8 of veg, or up to 2 weeks into flower).
I use a cap full of clonex cloning solution in my DIY aero cloning setup. I have had more success with this easy cloner setup vs the more spendy EZ-clone one I used to use. The bucket is only about 1/3 full of cloning solution and has an airstone placed in the middle to keep the root zone moist and aerated. I typically change the solution out 1x a week with fresh RODI water and another cap full of clonex solution. Without a water pump I do not have issues with the solution being too hot, it is also easy to maintain, store, and cleanup. I do not do commercial sized grows so using this smaller setup reduces a lot of large reservoir waste and is highly effective.