The Human–Cloner Interface… the #kaizen of Cloning
In the first article of this series, we dialed in the biochemistry of your mother plants. Next, we tackled cloner sterilization—reliably and predictably. Today, we’re shifting gears into something just as important:
how you (or your employees) interact with the cloner itself.
This is where efficiency is won or lost, and where failures creep in.
In other words… this is the human side of the cloner.
Kaizen is a Japanese term referring to continuous improvement—optimizing processes so that every round gets a little smoother, faster, and more reliable. Let’s apply that philosophy directly to your clone room.
Cloners… Unplugged
One of the most common—and avoidable—causes of clone failure?
Forgetting to plug the cloner back in.
If you’ve been cloning long enough, you know the pain.
The fix is simple and permanent: cycle timers.
A cycle timer lets you turn the pump off without ever unplugging anything. Even better, a single timer can run up to ten cloners at once.
I prefer dial-style cycle timers (they’re intuitive and run ~$50–$100), but the cheap 15-minute interval timers work fine too. Just use:
ON: 15–90 minutes
OFF: 15 minutes
When you want to inspect the cloner, spin the dial into an OFF window and you’ll have 15–30 minutes of quiet to check roots.
Cycle timing also doubles as the simplest, cheapest way to manage excess pump heat. Your target water temps are 75–87°F (24–30°C).
A good starting point is 2 minutes ON, 10 minutes OFF (~20% ON). Increase the ON time if your temps run too low.
IR Thermometer
An IR thermometer gives you instant water-temperature readings without ever touching the system—or contaminating it.
External IR readings usually land 0–2°F (0–1°C) below actual internal temps (depending on room temperature).
Example:
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Room: 75°F
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Cloner: 85°F
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IR reading: ~83°F
At more moderate temps (75°F cloner water), the IR reading is nearly exact.
Fast, clean, and reliable.
Automating Dumping & Filling
Dumping and refilling a cloner by hand is:
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labor-intensive
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messy
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inconsistent
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a contamination risk
Adding an exhaust valve (for draining) and a float valve (for automatic refill) is a major kaizen upgrade. These two small modifications:
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Eliminate overfilling
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Reduce human contact with the system interior
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Speed up cycle turnover
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Improve scalability as your production grows
Less handling = fewer microbes = better results.
Don’t Veg in Your Cloner
It’s tempting to veg in the cloner. It looks cool. It’s fun.
But it will slow you down.
The longer clones sit, the higher the chance of:
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Root masses tangling
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Debris entering the pump intake
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Transplant shock
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Extra labor during transplant
The sweet spot?
Move clones once roots reach 1–3 inches (3–8 cm).
This keeps them vigorous and your system clean.
Dedicated pH Meters
A dedicated, sterilized pH meter for your cloning space dramatically reduces contamination risk.
Beneficials, microbes, and nutrients from other rooms love hitchhiking on shared tools—and your cloner is the worst place to introduce them.
For the record, my entire cloning workflow doesn’t require pH adjustment until roots are formed, which avoids unnecessary dipping and contamination altogether.
The Most Important Changes
If your budget or schedule prevents full kaizen optimization, at least implement these three:
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Cycle timing
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IR thermometer
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Don’t veg in your cloner
These alone eliminate a surprising amount of human error and inefficiency.
Today’s Shopping List
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Cycle Timer
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IR Thermometer
Next Up: Game-Changing Cloner Recipes
As always, reach out anytime through the contact form.
Warm regards,
Michael Goldsmith
www.PermaClone.com
PS:
My articles share the knowledge I’ve gained from years of using PermaClone collars and working with thousands of growers. My hope is to help PermaClone become recognized as the most reliable, long-lasting cloning puck for hydroponic, deep-water culture, and aeroponic systems.
Updated: November 29, 2025 -- improved content flow with rewritten sections.