Hey PE636,
First of all, I really believe in cloning. I've read, over and over again, that the best time to take clones is about 3 weeks before you flip them into flower mode. That is when you do your major trim as far as i understand it, and a lot that you trim off can be used as clones.
You can also take clones about 3 weeks AFTER you flip them into flower. This is when I plan to take most of my clones, since clones taken during this time will produce plants that are very bushy with lots and lots of spare colas. The problem with taking clones during this period is that it is hard to flip them back into veg mode, since they are already in flower. You have to choose clones that already have at least one bud on them, and trim off any other buds but leave the one at the apex of the clone. Then you put them into veg lighting and within a bit of time, they will turn back to veg mode and begin to grow all sorts of bushy arms and legs. I think the one bud on top falls off, too, if i'm not mistaken.
I really don't know if my little aberrant clones will survive. they are extremely tiny, with very little "stem" to root from. but no one ever said, as far as i know, that they need to have a lot of stem, just a lot of roots. but most clones i've seen in pics have been taken from long stems so that they are already several inches tall when stuck into the growing pods (i'm not sure what to call Rapid Rooters!) Pods? whatever.
My little deamons are VERY small. but beyond that, they haven't died, yet! they are sucking up the water i'm spraying on their leaves like there's a fire under their proverbial asses. there kinda is, actually. i've got them on a heat mat to keep the soil warm (is it even soil in those rapid rooter thingamabobies? idk...)
as for being not worth the hassle... working with seeds is MUCH more hassle, i think. i just cut the tops off the plant, stuck them into cloning gel (i bought a jar when i was buying all my supplies), swirled it around and smeared extra onto it with a skewer stick (you could use a Qtip, too) when i pulled it out, and then stuck it into the rapid rooter thingamabobby (did I spell that right?). then i placed the rapid rooter into the same little plastic "greenhouse" that i had used for my seeds. this seems much less complicated than planting seeds, mind you. i know i explained it in detail so it might seem complicated, but it's really not. and now all i do is spray the clones with water several times a day. you have to spray them with water because they don't have roots yet and the only way they can take in water is through their leaves at this point. Then, when they have roots, you feed plant them into a planter and feed them like they are seedlings for a week, then given them one half nutes, then full nutes after about 2 or 3 weeks.
simple.
really simple.
i hope you try it. right now, i'm not sure i'll take many more clones from these plants cuz i'm not sure they are the strains i want to keep around the house. i've got other strains i think i'd like better for my back and my anxiety.
you, too, have an amazing day! nice to see you again in here!
my next grow will be almost the same as yours - coco and perlite and hopefully LED (expensive as hell in South Africa) or a 600w hps