i've had to do it before and yeah it can be a bitch. make sure u take more clones then u need. it may seem like a waste but as u can see its not when the ones u have bite the big one. i don't know 'bout u dude but i use olivias cloning gel and solution and dont have a prob. normally when growing from seed after i flower and sex the plants ill take my clones from the females. that is usually within the first two weeks. it takes about 10 days to root a flowering clone. also i usually take from the bottom of the plant as the tops tend to show sex and flower earlier than the bottom.