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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > My Lazy Way to Root Cuttings
 
 


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Grandinetti

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
These cuttings were clipped off the main tree on May 30, 2011.  The main tree is my 12 year old unknown "Italian-Type" dark fig tree that I refer to as the "Corrado Mezzina", since it's mother tree belonged to my wife's grandfather's brother, Corrado Mezzina. 

I simply take 6 inch cuttings in late Spring - just below a node at bottom and just above a node at top.  I do not clean them in anyway.  I insert them in small pots filled with a moistened loose potting mixture - approx 1/2 Miracle Grow Potting Soil and 1/2 Perlite.  I put these pots under the one of my large trees, so they are in mostly shaded/dappled sunlight.   

Then - this is the important part - I try to ignore them.  Only if the pots are extremely dry, I water slightly.  Usually in about one month - they show signs of leafing out.  This photo was taken at the 5 -week point.  Usually by August, they are leafed out nicely, and by November they are stable enough to over-winter in my attached garage with my other trees.  I re-pot just before breaking dormamcy. 

When I use other rooting methods, I always struggle with the humidity and sunlight transitions...but this way generally avoids these issues.  I know it's not perfect - always risk of radical frost in June, hailstorms, rodents, etc...but again - this is just one method for the "lazy approach" 

I have 9 other fig trees, of varying ages, all in submerged pots during the growing season.  I'm in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pennsylvania area - zone 5B.   
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Joe Grandinetti
Zone 5b - northeastern PA
paully22

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Sounds perfect. I do the same in late spring/early summer where I stick cuttings into pot, placed in shade and cover with plastic sheet. May check on them once every 2 weeks. So far so good with happy results. I have a few Desert King cuttings to do soon.
Chivas

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I really like your method of doing almost nothing, more simple.  Do you have an equally simple method for overwintering?
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TucsonKen

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Grandinetti--Love it!
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Ken
Tucson, Arizona
Zone 8b
satellitehead

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 

I am trying this right now with an interesting local unknown.  I had a really piss-poor experience with doing this over winter.
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Jason
Atlanta/Grant Park area - z8
Grandinetti

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Chivas - for overwintering...

All of my trees are in varying size pots - from 2 gallon up to 20 gallon.  All come inside my attached garage.  I wish I could say that the garage is constant temp, but it is not.  Most of time it would be around 40 degrees, but I frequently open and close the automatic garage door (many times on any given day) - plus sometimes when snowblowing, I end up leaving the garage door open for 30 minutes or so.  So - there could be periods of time where it's below freezing.

As a little added protection, I huddle all the pots close together, near the house-side of the garage, and wrap the pots in one layer of R-19 insulation.

About once a month, I add some water to each pot - just to keep a little moisture in roots.

Knock on wood - so far so good.  Doing it this way for 12 years or so.
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Joe Grandinetti
Zone 5b - northeastern PA
noss

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
K.I.S.S. works most of the time.  Thanks for sharing this Joe.
(Keep It Simple, Sweetheart)

noss
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noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.
nkesh099

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Exactly how I propagate my cuttings. But I use Fertilome UPM/Perlite instead of MG. So far had great results. 

As joe said, ignoring them is THE key. Only water when needed and leave them alone. As JR says, people lose their cuttings by giving them too much TLC. I concur with him based on my own past experiences.

Not a fan of using rooting hormones on figs. A good quality potting mix is the most important element.

I remember my grandfather used to just stick the cuttings in the ground and cover them with Hay. Next year there would be a small tree there. Talk about simplicity. 
BLB

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 

Gave my neighbor a Brooklyn White and he turned it into 4 trees by simply placing cuttings directly in ground where he wanted them. Wish that would work with every variety!!!!
nelson20vt

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 

This is how my father does he takes cuttings when the tips are nice and green usually early may and puts them in pots with composted lamb manure and just leaves them outdoors with the other fig trees and has great results so far this year hes managed to root all the cuttings. I on the other hand add perlite and check for humidity etc etc and have had 50% success at best this season go figure.
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Mississauga, ON, Canada Z5B/6A
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