It was becoming evident that I needed to transfer some of my rooted cuttings that were in plastic cups, into 1 gal pots because they were getting root-bound, and the leaves were becoming bent inside the top cup with no room to grow.

Today I took one of my most treasured cuttings, and tried to get it out of that clear plastic cup.  The roots had grown out of the drain holes, and I had no idea that roots would stick to the sides of that cup.  I gave it a little tug, and up it came WITHOUT the roots!  This made me very sad.  There was one teeny little root left, and lots of root initials, so I'm sure it will recover, but what a traumatic thing it has got to endure now.  I cut off the biggest leaves and am watching it closely.

Bob Cantor rcantor, told me next time to soak the cup in warm water, and I did that on the next one, and it worked like a charm.  Lesson learned.

In the future, I'm going to slice the cup in half and patch with masking tape for easy removal later.

Suzi

it happens. but i bet the cutting will bounce back.

Suzi thanks for the tip, this will be helpful for  me because I have to transfer some of my cup plants  in to 1 gal pots soon.

Geesh Suzi who would of thought ?? Lesson for me as well. Sounds like it will do ok though even with that setback.
Thanks for posting this!

Sounds like it's time for a chocolate covered fig.  I hope it recovers for you!

Thanks for all your support!  I'm sure (well sorta) that it will bounce back!  At least I know it's alive and kickin'!  I got another cool tip from a new member. His name is gabeE2407 He suggested putting plastic strips cris crossed in the cup extending past the lip.  When it's time to repot, he just lifts the strips!  I hope he posts his idea here.  I asked him to.  I told him we all need each other's tips! 

Suzi

Long tapered peat cups works best for me. just place some potting mix in the bottom of the cup first, then the peat cup, then fill the peat cup with potting mix, then the cutting, and more around the sides between the peat cup and the plastic cup. When the time comes to upsize to 1gal pots everything comes out at once. The cutting will root thru the peat cup.

Great idea Dennis.  I will try that myself when I do cuttings this winter.  Thank you for that.

I put little pieces of packing peanut  or broken styrfoam  in the bottom of the cup,  the roots are likely to bounce back up in the cup, rather than navigate through them, regardless, I hope I will be able to see them and not repeat your sad story.  great ideas for solution, sad as it, it'll help us all.  

Sorry about your cutting losing its roots. I did something similar earlier this year when trying to transplant one. It took some time, but the cutting did recover and is doing well. It's much smaller than others of the same variety started at the same time, but it is alive and flourishing.

Thanks Gina!  Very encouraging!  I'm babying it now!  I don't care if it has a setback.  I just want it to live!!  I wanted it for so long, and then I screwed the whole process up! 

Grasa, the crumbled peanuts sound great!  Christmas is coming, and all the orders for toys etc, come with dozens of those peanuts!!

Suzi

If you squeeze the cups, and let them snap back, the roots will usually come free from the cup. Sometimes you need to do it a couple times. If you crack the side of the cup in the process, it is still good to be reused. Your'e not trying to hold in liquid, anyway.  see More about Cups  This was also covered in "Growing Tips" under Rooting.

if you use a cup that is slit down two sides, just set it inside another cup - forget the tape. Someone else suggested this to me because taping was a hassle.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Greek-Church-Figs-from-Vancouver-BC-5855012?highlight=upside+cups


Suzi, sorry to hear it and I hope all works out. Since starting to root cuttings my greatest fear came at transplanting time. I lost more trees than I care to count because of disturbing or breaking the roots. This is a link to something I posted a while back. It shows an easy method of growing and transplanting a cutting without disturbing the roots at all. Just make sure you water it before you attempt to remove it. Roll in between you hands which will compact to mix to hold it together and pinch the cup gently to release the roots that have not released from the cup. I hope this helps.
"gene"

ok, i don't make peat pot, and i don't sell peat pot, if you run into issues where the roots are breaking moving from cup to 1 gal containre.. peat pot method is way to go. no more trying to keep the soild in the cup together, no more things breaking off the roots.. just take the peat pot out and transfer the ball into the container.

Gene, I remember that thread, and somehow I forgot it!  My next rooted cuttings will be planted upside down!

Thanks!

Suzi

I  use peat pots as well, mainly because it was cheap and 80 dollars got me roughly 800 about 3 years ago and I still have more, I still use plastic ones from time to time more for cuttings as i am finding that more time that the peat pots sit in the heating mat and humidty dome (especially when they are packed close together) they start to mold.

My name is Gabe, a long-time lurker before I joined a few a weeks ago. My new enthusiasm for figs is only dashed and limited by space and the few varieties that can grow and be productive in San Francisco (USDA Zone 10, Sunset Zone 17). Regarding the problem Suzi (Desertdance) had recently with rooted cuttings, may I share a simple tip that has worked for me? This has taken the worry and stress (and, I think, for the plant as well) out of repotting or transplanting; I am also able to reuse the pot.

For a gallon pot, cut two strips of strong plastic, 3" wide x 18" long; lay them out equidistant in a cross pattern and staple them together at the center where they overlap; if necessary, punch a couple of holes for drainage. Set it down centered at the bottom of the pot with the long plastic strips draped over on four sides; fill with growing medium then plant. When repotting or transplanting, water the pot well, grab the plastic strips and lift it up; the plant and roots come up easily intact. With some adjustments, this should work with smaller plastic cups as well. I hope this helps.

Gabe, good advice. Have done that in the past. Even one 2" strip will work well.

Suzi,
    That made me wince just to hear you tell the story.  Sorry for the trauma to you and the cutting. I wish you both a speedy recovery. I will remember that advise from Bob Cantor about soaking the cup in warm water before removal.
                                         Vince