Advice on Rooting Cuttings

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Wekadog

Registered:1430968286
Posts: 25

Posted 1430969346	Reply with quote #1

New member here in need of advice. This evening when I admired a fellow gardener's fig trees, he made me a gift of cuttings from his trees. The cuttings are 18" long, and 1/2" diameter. Unknown varieties, but he described one as "green" and the other as "brown". I've read a few write-up on rooting cuttings, but they usually speak of taking cuttings in the dormant season. Mine, obviously, are not dormant. Maybe I need a different approach? I'm thinking I should: Strip off the leaves and fruit Recut the base at a 45 degree angle scrape the bark on the bottom inch to expose more cambium plant them in damp (not wet) potting mix and keep them in the shade until roots develop and it leafs out That's what I'm thinking, but I'm new at this. What do you think? Is there a better approach? I appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks! __________________ Blake Zone 9b Ventura County, California

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1430980368	Reply with quote #2

Here's a simple way that works for me. Get some Moisture control potting soil from Home Depot. Put in an SIP from Walmart. The $7 or $10 ones. You need them deep enough. Keep a couple of leafs and insert in soil. Irrigate from top the first time and keep in shade. Keep the water level steady at bottom of pot, by checking daily or by auto irrigation. It should take about 45 days for roots to form. The original leaves will die as new leaves come up. At this time of year if the cutting was not left sitting out too long it should continue to grow. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1430980530	Reply with quote #3

By the way welcome to the forum. It would help to know your name. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1430989764	Reply with quote #4

Hi Wekadog, This is how I do it : Remove all but 2 small last top leaves . Remove all fruit. Keep in water jar for 3 weeks - 2/3 of stems inside the water . Change water every two days. Whatever happens after 3 or 4 weeks, plant in a deep pot . Plant them oblique . Keep the pot outside (in Zone7 ) in partial shade with a saucer under the pot . Keep moist and let grow. As the potting medium, I use 2 cm of pine bark at the bottom ( Yes, I do listen to what the others do :) ), and than potting soil from the nurseries with some scarce pine bark till the top. On each cutting keep hardened wood with the green wood. Hardened wood alone works as well . Keep 1/3 or less out of the dirt. As for the quantity, with 3 branches I'm usually successful ... until the winter sets in :( . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

coop951

Registered:1217167527
Posts: 597

Posted 1430997591 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

Hi and welcome to the forum, Trying a couple of different methods can be helpful too. Here's my 2 cents. Cut off all but 1 or 2 leaves and all that fruit. I see your leaves are very big so I would trim the leaves even smaller. Put it in a slightly moist pot with good potting soil and cover with plastic bag. Put it in the shade and keep an eye on the moisture. After you see something happening start taking off the bag. Slowly acclimate the pot into partial sun. This is how I root summer cuttings. __________________ Coop Northern NJ Zone 7a

sbmohan

Registered:1416704743
Posts: 223

Posted 1431006645	Reply with quote #6

What ever do, please do not scrape the bark to expose the cambium. Especially with mercury rising, it will promote rot and fungus regardless od moisture control. And the gnats will find their way easy to the cambium where the larvae hatch. My 2 cents. __________________ Mohan B Harrisburg, NC - Zone 7a

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1431013385 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

All good advice from everyone. Welcome to the forum! You will find members here eager to help you. You can help us help you by going to the control panel upper right on your screen and putting your planting zone/location in the signature field of the profile. Edited to say those figs look great! Obviously they are red in the center. Are they green when ripe or dark? Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

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