Having only just recently turned into a full-fledged fignut and at the urging of my N. Florida F4F compatriots, it was suggested I air-layer my irreplaceable European scions lest I lose one or two during the winter.

I was a little hesitant, thinking that the process would be long and tedious and fraught with pitfalls. It turned out to be all of that but also quite fun and addictive.

Below are pictures of my first air-layerings:

All fine and good, but after finishing another dozen or so air-layerings, the compulsion to continue was overpowering. After a long internal struggle I  tore away from the fig trees and forced myself back inside away from temptation.

Here is my beautiful King Charles spaniel, Bella minding her own business:

Here she is a few minutes later.

Fortunately, I never adopted the girdling technique.

Someone's a sick puppy .
And it ain't the dog .

I had a good laugh . ... John

If your going to air layer a dog you might want to air layer the other end. Just kidding! This fig stuff IS hard to resist.

You were supposed to start with the legs.

Thats great Frank my family was wondering why I was laughing so hard

Hope you don't have kids lol

Frank, when I read the subject of this post I couldn't hardly open it fast enough. I have just finished, well maybe, airlaying about a dozen branches on my trees and I was wondering what could have gone so wrong and did I make the same mistake. Hahaha. It got a loud laugh from me, let me tell you something that's some funny stuff.
"gene"

That must be pay back for nibbling on your figs.  :)

I needed a good laugh, thanks

Once you've air layered a whole litter, send me a PM. I might be interested in a trade, if my cat will hold still long enough for me to get a few started. How wet should the kitty litter be before packing it around her tail?

I was already laughing my butt off at the pictures but the additional comments really had me rolling.

Ken, yours is an especially good addition - LOL!

I wish this would work on "Benjamins"! I'd grow a whole crop.

Good stuff guys.

Have you tried air-layering a duplicate wife? In case you lose the first one?

Would you really want a duplicate wife???

Jim, if the spca comes a knocking, I'm going to have to implicate you as the one who got me started in this air layering business. :)

Ken, unless your kitty has a pedigree, no can do. ;))

Jon, I'm already having to fight my wife for the green ischias, I don't need another one to battle me for the almas. ::)))

Oh, fine--now you tell me. What am I going to do with all these kittens???

Joh,

Can you air-layer one from the chin down? 

I didn't really say that did I?  My wife doesn't nag me, my wife doesn't nag me - I deserve it, my wife doesn't nag me - I deserve it!  There now I'm cured. 

Is that a fic-as

FMD  LMAO. Indeed we Figgers are a breed apart.((((:
BTW what is the fig plant in the first pic ?
I have one with very simalar leaves I bought at Lowe'$ as a Black Mission.
Dave.

Leon, if by fic-as you meant fic-ass as in tail, yes it is. :)

Dave, you have a good eye. The tree in the first pic is indeed from Lowe's. They labeled mine a Magnolia! What kind of a mislabeling system do they run up there anyway? They can't even label the same wrong tree consistently with the same wrong name. :) Has yours borne any fruit yet? Can't wait to see what it turns out to be.

BTW, check your PM when you have a minute.

Frank

FMD checked the PMs. Thanks will do.
I feared it was Brunswick,but thought is was possible Vista Black Mission or one like on Jon's site. It was 10 Bucks. It was so dry I didn't expect it to live. Lowes will take dead ones back with refund so I figgured I would rescue it.
Fig plants must be a lot tougher than we usually think.It was dry as dust the plant and pot were weightless. I Potted it up and it has been growing ever since. No fruit yet though. Thanks Again.
Later
Dave.

Hey Frank if the spca doesn't find you I get the layer when it roots right :)

When Bella realized what you have done....

Meanwhile, what did you do? Sphagnum or potting mix? Foil only, plastic bag, or re-purposed water bottle? And how large are those foil pockets? I am having trouble seeing the relationship between the potential root ball and the size of the layer. I want to make sure you will be very happy not only after you cut off the layer but several weeks after that.

I had a hard time understanding what air layering means until today!! Thanks for a good laugh :)
Anya

Well, JD, I used a couple of variations, sphagnum in some, peat+vermiculite+perlite in others. I used 16 oz clear cups in some and foil molds from a drinking bottle in others. I may have overdone it with the saran wrap, but I wanted to make sure the media remained moist.

You will be happy to know that in Bella's case, a simple foil wrap was applied to the tail end without any further accouterments. :)

Advisory:

No Animals Were Harmed During the Making of This Forum Thread....

Slightly embarrassed maybe, but definitely not harmed!