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Another letter to my fig cuttings

Yes I am aware of the root shock that up potting causes. The letter I wrote was about 4 weeks after they were up potted though. 
I have noticed that if I clip the leaves in half if they are drooping after potting them up, the cut leaves perk up within 24 hours. No one told me to do that, just did it on a hunch and it seemed to work. Glad to hear it is recommended by others ;)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Grasa
The rain drops and wind are too cold, Nichole.  I collect the water and bring the bucket inside, so the water is not so cold - also, I learned with Sarah, to put them in a tray with water, so they drink from the bottom...only about 1" to a !/2" from the bottom gets the water. I was overwatering... they like to be almost dried.  So, hope you don't do what I did to mine..this is a fragile state of living...


I will try this. I have some younger, more delicate cuttings that I want to give rain water but was worried about the cold. This is a good idea.

I also wanted to add, in case anyone is in a similar situation, I don't think they liked my water. We have city water, and everyone was doing okay - living but not exactly thriving - but once I put my oldest/strongest outside for an hour for a drink, holy wow they said "THANK YOU!!!" and they've been very happy ever since. I have a bunch of cuttings that are ready to be up potted from their plastic cups and I will do as grasa suggested and water them indoors with rain water.

Grasa - do you let them soak in 1/2-1" water for a set amount of time? Soak for one hour then pull them out?

Oh, I get so frustrated with some of my little brats also. We have opted to build a green house and we hope to get all the parts next week. I can't wait to stuff them all in there and see them stay happy.  I'm so nervous to up pot them, but they are all starting to crowd out each other under the lights and need to get ready to move on out.  It's nice to see that leaf pruning is advised and I'm not crazy to clip them off.  Warmed rain water being watered from the bottom really saved my figgies. I too was over watering and the wet top soil was a magnet for those pesky gnats.   I do still lightly mist them with water once in awhile also.  Hopefully the northwest will get some good sun this year.

Sarah, I will also get my green house next week! I am very very happy about this. My office is taken over with figs. I am ready for them to move where they will be happier.

I think I had the opposite problem - I was being stingy with water. After hearing about over watering being the death of them I would stare at these cups and say "okay I see condensation. You're fine" and that may be true while they are still very young but once they leaf out they really need a little more. It's a very obvious thing but I was stuck with the "too much love kills them" mind set. It's definitely been a learning experience and has cost me some cuttings along the way. 

On the plus side - I have no gnats! And I have learned the cuttings love rain water, but give me the figgy-middle-finger to tap water. It's been a good first year :)

I am so envious of your rain. You have a beautiful garden.

today the rain turned to hail. Mu tulips took quite the beating :(

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