Not sure what u mean about how u did the clones, but u wanna leave most of the top and middle leaves and strip off the lower growth and cover with rooting gel/powder. If they're rotting though, then u should be in there, keep em on a veggin light cycle and u can grow them into new plants. They shouldn't be inferior less somethin goes wrong, but clones are an exact replica of the 'mother' it was taken from so they shouldbe just as good.