cutting questions

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Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372480113	Reply with quote #1

My cuttings start out so strong, I use a little dip n grow then place them in moss. The roots grow out nice and strong, i place them in cups and the roots fill the cup quickly as well as put out nice foliage. I have them in clear plastic bins with lots of humidity but air them out daily and just when things look good some lose their leaves, others die completely. I use a nice loose mix and try to keep it only as damp as the moss I start the cuttings in so I really dont know whats wrong, I have noticed what may be gnats. Thery're small flies basically, but still wtf? I was a lot less careful with my first batch and theyre now huge plants doing quite well. Any advice would be awesome, thank you. __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1372480258	Reply with quote #2

Fungus gnats, oh I loath them. __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

jimmychao

Registered:1347690066
Posts: 285

Posted 1372480296	Reply with quote #3

gnats can be a real problem. You can pull out the plant and check root. If you see gnats, then you can apply mosquito dunk. It works great for me. __________________ Jimmy Northern NJ - zone 6 ebay ID: jillji Wish List: Aubique Petite, Japanese White, Jolly Tiger, Maltese Beauty, Norland, San Giovanni...

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1372480332	Reply with quote #4

They lay eggs in the moist soil and the transparrent worms feast on the roots. __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372480527	Reply with quote #5

I believe there was a thread that talked about die back on cuttings that used rooting hormones. some grew roots but never any leaves and while other did what your did. I'm going through something similar. I have a few cuttings that are rooting nicely, but will not produce any leaves. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372480581	Reply with quote #6

I'll check that out, normally when i up pot i dont see anything but then again the roots are encased in the soil. Are the worms very tiny? How do I avoid/get rid of these obnoxious things? What are some obvious signs of this gnat and do they normaly completely kill the plant? __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372480675	Reply with quote #7

Let your soil dry out some before the next watering. That might dehydrate the worms and kill them if they need moist soil. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1372480741	Reply with quote #8

In the future when cupping them, I have read putting an inch of sand at the top will keep them from laying eggs there. Somthing I am going to try. I lost many a fig this past winter due to them. __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372481103	Reply with quote #9

Dave, that sounds great thanks. and congrats on your steady growing fig collection, you have quite a few more varieties than when I first joined. __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1372481163	Reply with quote #10

The soil is already infected with eggs. You kill the worms and new ones rehatch and it starts all over again. I saved an rdb with dryersheets on the soil as a screen to keep the gnats away. I have never tried the misquito dunks but have heard great things about them. There was somthing else mentioned in an older post, but it escapes me at the moment. Bad pest. Don't worry if cutting put out roots and no leaves. Roots are more important. And I use dip and grow too. Fungus gnats are what you have. Good luck. I'm sure the pros will chime in on this before long. __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372481285	Reply with quote #11

I would like to see these awesome roots you speak of. I just like roots, favorite part of the plant. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372481585	Reply with quote #12

Jarret, i have no idea how to post pics or i'd happily show ya, anyway now they're gnat food. __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1372482300	Reply with quote #13

Indeed my collection has grown a lot do to the giving nature of the fellow members and am happy to say this fall I will be able to help others collections grow as well. __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372482383	Reply with quote #14

Is it possible to save them by removing them from the old gnat infested soil into new clean soil without disturbing much of the roots? __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372483949	Reply with quote #15

So obviously dont reuse the soil either right? Hows the mosquito dunk work? __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1372484185	Reply with quote #16

Lukie29, Do a forum search for "fungus gnats" It has been discussed in detail earlier this year. Mosquito dunks only kill the larvae (worms), You have to kill the adults, with spray or traps. There has also been discussions on Hormone concentrations and fig cuttings, Less is more (better). Good Luck

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372484399	Reply with quote #17

The dunks have bacteria that are toxic to mosquito lava and kills them within hours. I might work on gnats too but I'm not sure. Others will have to comfirm that. Use fresh soil. Last time I switched out because of that I let the old soil dry completely in the sun before reusing later. Or cook it in the oven to sterilize it or even hot water to kill anything in it. It's up to you. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1372494414	Reply with quote #18

I got gnats in a batch of cuttings earlier this year and used a hydrogen peroxide dilution to kill them in the cups. I used a lot stronger formula than suggested on here but it worked. Knats dead, cuttings alive. __________________ Tami SE Texas

Paul_D

Registered:1372094121
Posts: 43

Posted 1372509934	Reply with quote #19

Quote: Originally Posted by javajunkie I got gnats in a batch of cuttings earlier this year and used a hydrogen peroxide dilution to kill them in the cups. I used a lot stronger formula than suggested on here but it worked. Knats dead, cuttings alive. What percentage of dilution did you use if I may ask.? __________________ Paul Outside of Providence RI Zone 6A WISH LIST

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1372510145	Reply with quote #20

Shhhhh....full strength. Now I'm gonna get yelled at by the hydrogen peroxide police. hehe I was just desperate and wanted to make sure I got the little buggers before they got my figlets. I used a spray bottle and applied it to the dirt in the cups. __________________ Tami SE Texas

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1372513607	Reply with quote #21

Mosiquito dunk is suppose to stop gnats comes in pellets thats mixed with water.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1372527385	Reply with quote #22

That sounds like it would be better Martin. Added plus for down here, it kills mosquitos! __________________ Tami SE Texas

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372557292	Reply with quote #23

Do you literally dunk the roots? or is it a spray? and about the peroxide, you sprayed that in the soil in which the figs were planted? if so how much __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1372557543	Reply with quote #24

I sprayed the peroxide into the soil, pretty much all over it and enough to get down a little ways. I think if I would have known about the dunks I would have used them, it seems safer IMO __________________ Tami SE Texas

omotm

Registered:1349913471
Posts: 886

Posted 1372563584	Reply with quote #25

Lukie29, I used a solution of Gnatrol WDG every time I watered the cuttings. Bought it on Amazon and it comes as a brown powder-like material. Add to water according to the directions then water the cuttings. Also for those flying targets or those that landed on a leaf I used this spray in the photo below. Got the spray at Lowes. I lost a few cuttings this winter but it was from overwatering rather than fungus gnats. I saw many of the symptoms you described. Cutting would do well when started but after up potting to a 1 gallon nursery pot I lost the cutting within a month. I'd look at the cutting and the roots were almost nox-existent at that point and the bark easily came off the cutting. I believe the bark was rotting from too much water. Attached Images Gnatrol_WDG.jpg (91.49 KB, 11 views) photo_(3).JPG (439.75 KB, 11 views) __________________ Steve Houston, TX Zone 8b Wish List: Zingarella

Bikkurim

Registered:1354509162
Posts: 213

Posted 1372569573	Reply with quote #26

I second the Gnatrol off Amazon. Use it weekly to break the cycle. I just used a spray bottle to moisten the top 1 1/2 to 2 inches of the soil. Worked like a charm. You can reuse the soil. Just nuke the tar out of the soil in the microwave. The soil you purchase can even come infested with gnat eggs from the get go. So you could even just routinely nuke the soil before using. Good luck! __________________ Sarah greater Portland, Oregon area zone 8b Wish list:any Col de Dame, Maltese Falcon, Maltese Beauty, Black Zadar, Fico Piccolino, Petite Negri, Red Lebanese

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1372637782	Reply with quote #27

I used a combination of gnatrol and carniverous plants this past spring to keep the gnats from doing too much damage. But Lukie, this time of year with all the humidity outside wouldn't it make more sense to do your propagation (post-rooting) outdoors? For whatever reason gnats don't seem to be a problem once the cups/1 gallon pots are moved outdoors. That's the beauty of propagating from cuttings this time of year. If it were me I would set up the cuttings in cups outside (in a shady area protected from rain) once they have rooted. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

Lukie29

Registered:1346102796
Posts: 120

Posted 1372656076	Reply with quote #28

You know rewton, that has occured to me and I think that will be the route i take. I just put a bunch of new cuttings in moss, in a month or so when i cup them i will put them outdoors. __________________ My wish list is: Naples White, JH Adriatic, Deanna, Peters Honey, Paradiso, Raspberry Latte, Jolly Tiger, Malta Black, Maltese Falcon, Maltese beauty, , Petite negra, Zingarella, Black Madeira, 143-36, 184-15, 187-25, Conadria, Black Ischia, Sucrette, Black mission, Trojano, Yellow Neches, King.

Alan1631

Registered:1347991991
Posts: 145

Posted 1372680680	Reply with quote #29

I also had tremendous root development using the DNG. Some of the cuttings would start to leaf out and others would just barely start to show some buds. Then no matter what I tried (dome cups, large containers with lids, little water, moderate water, etc, etc), most would die. I was losing over 90%. Went back to tried/true methods without DNG and seems to be working much better. My hypothesis is that the DNG while producing outstanding roots in a short time, all the energy is zapped from the cutting leaving nothing to continue on. Just a theory.... __________________ Alan _____________________________ Zone 9 - Central Florida Wish List: Panache, Bourjosotte Gris, Raspberry Latte, Petite Negri, Black Maderia, Cajun Honey

jimmychao

Registered:1347690066
Posts: 285

Posted 1372795109	Reply with quote #30

I use both methods, bug zapper for adults, and mosquito dunk for larvae. I crushed dunk and mix it with water to water the plants. The bacteria will stay for months, even the adult lay eggs, their larvae will die. You will see the entire population almost wipe out in a couple of weeks. I had a lot of fungus gnats earlier this year. My bug zapper was totally covered with the dead gnats in a few days. After I apply mosquito dunk, they are gone. __________________ Jimmy Northern NJ - zone 6 ebay ID: jillji Wish List: Aubique Petite, Japanese White, Jolly Tiger, Maltese Beauty, Norland, San Giovanni...

MichaelTucson

Registered:1333340598
Posts: 1,216

Posted 1372797409	Reply with quote #31

Quote: Originally Posted by americanfigboy Is it possible to save them by removing them from the old gnat infested soil into new clean soil without disturbing much of the roots? Yes. Do that, and if you've still got roots and you don't break them off, there's a good chance. And right: don't reuse that soil. But use a BT or BTI product too (BT = Bacillus Therengiensis... The "I" is for Israeliensis or something close to that, a particular strain of BT). That's the bacterium that's in Mosquito Dunks and Gnatrol and a bunch of other products. Dryer sheets are good as a preventive too, but I don't think they'll get rid of the larvae if you've already got them. 2(HO) aka H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) works too I guess, though I haven't used that. Those larvae are fast, so if you want to salvage roots, do it now (don't wait until tomorrow). Good luck Mike __________________ Pauca sed matura.

mgginva

Registered:1320266925
Posts: 1,856

Posted 1372825070	Reply with quote #32

Mosquito dunks work but are very very hard to get to break down from their shipped form - a lot to say just because I forgot how to spell desolve and am too lazy to open another window and . . . anyway -- and they clog up stuff like my watering can . . . so -- I use Gnatrol WDG. It's 37.4% BT. I buy on Amazon and really like the results as I have been cursed by gnats. I also use the yellow sticky paper and enjoy counting the dead little b#@^&@ds every day. After using Gnatrol though my gnats have gone from flocking to my laptop screen at night to RIP. I used to use mosquito dunks and they certainly work but I think Gnatrol is a better solution. __________________ Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list: Perretta,

MichaelTucson

Registered:1333340598
Posts: 1,216

Posted 1372826125	Reply with quote #33

Hi Michael: dissolve is spelled thus. How catchy (and ironic) that you included an admission about spelling dissolve and yet still ended your post with the word "solution"! Hope all's well with you in VA. Mike central NY state, zone 5a <edit> P.S. Someone once told me "Solution this", and I asked him what he wanted me to dissolve it in. (I think he meant "solve this"). __________________ Pauca sed matura.

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