Cloneing give you a head start when it comes to growing,because the clone's that you are takeing are a couple of inces tall all ready.you are looking for a brance comeing off the plant with 3/4 node's on it take off the bottom few leaves and put into some rooting compound.i would say that gels are better than powders but each to there own this is not nessesary but it speeds things up.before the clone is put into rooting gel/powder cut the clone at 45 degree angle i always do my cut under water this stops air getting trapped in the bottom section of the clone but again this is my way of cloneing and everyone has there own way.i also have alot more success with clones done in rockwool than soil i don't know why this is but i do.if you have taken clones off other plants before then it's the same.it can take from 5 /14 days too see roots but has long has the leaves are green and everything looks healthy then your ok.if you are going to be cloneing you will need a propagator these are cheap and makes the process alot easyer spray the leaves and the inside of the propagator lid. This is the only way the plant can get any food till it gets roots also keep what ever you are growing in damp not too wet.