Tried to grow some cuttings purchased from ebay.  Was going to trade my rooted Alma cuttings but 95% of them died.  Even ones sent to me from this forum died.  Want to try growing figs again.  But honestly, I don't have the means to keep trying with little to no success.  Hoping to source figs locally and inexpensively.  Doesn't matter what variety.  Just looking for cuttings and the opportunity to pick someone's brain for methods to ensure growth.  Really want to get into fig growing but it seems if it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.  Thanks.

Hi Bargaingal7,

With such a low success rate, maybe try a different propagation method?  What method are you following currently?

I am having some success in potting rooted figs... I believe that some varieties are faster and stronger in rooting... So let us know how you are rooting and potting mix materials.

10541 zip code is in NY.... where in 10541 are you?

Check out YouTube.  There are tons of videos on propagating figs.  I've got a video here showing fig cuttings rooting just sticking them in cow manure outside and doing nothing else: 

I tried wrapping the cuttings in damp paper towels.  I tried putting rooting powder on the cuttings and sticking in potting soil.  I also tried putting the cuttings directly in water.  10541 is Mahopac.

When you placed the cuttings in potting soil what went wrong? Also what potting soil did you use and what was the setup like?

@Bargaingal7 There are numerous fig growers in the Mahopac area including Lake Secor, Kent, Kent Cliffs and Carmel area, myself included.... many local growers practice container gardening of figs but there are a few folks that have in ground trees that are cold hardy and survive to produce 2 crops of figs with proper protection. Fall is the usual / preferred time for cuttings however air layers are always a possibility. PM me and we can share notes...

I was using Miracle Gro potting soil.  I dampened the cutting, dipped it in root tone and then made a hole in the soil deep enough for the cutting.  Put the cutting in, backfilled against the cutting and gave it a little water.  It never developed roots.  Just shriveled up and died.

Ahhh.... just saw your post AFTER I responded to your PM.... Miracle Grow potting Soil is now referred to in my house as Miracle Death.... It has been death to everything fig that it has touched since I started trying to root cuttings back in September... Unless you are mixing your own soil from scratch components, using the Pro Mix family of grow mediums is the easiest way to go and you can amend the Pro Mix as desired with additional pine bark fines, coarse perlite and / or rice hulls, etc to get to recommended component ratio's. Over wetness of the soil is the likely culprit behind your rotting problem and the Miracle Death is chock loaded with fungus gnat nasties that will much on the wet plant matter and hasten its demise.... The best way to use Miracle Death is to give it to someone that you really hate and watch them gnash teeth and pull hair as their most desirable plants die.

Glad to know about the "Miracle Death".  I'll avoid that like the plague.  Honestly, I had better luck with reused soil from previously dead house plants.  But I had also used the cheap potting soil from Kmart and that filled my house with little gnats.  Big mistake.  Never using that again.   But I really appreciate everyone's input.  I guess I have some experimenting to do. 

I'm in 10921 and I have two different varieties growing in ground and in pots. Chicago Hardy and VDB. Cutting were obtained from members here many years ago. I do not wrap  or care for the plants over the winter. All I do is cover the crown with fall leaves. They grow bush form. I cut the bushes to the ground every year and they grow 10' with fruit ripening in September/October. I have several sucker branches with established roots I can cut and put in a pot. You can p/u if you like. You'll avoid the unpredictable rooting process.

The easiest way to propagate figs is to find a local with a tree. Cut a 1 liter clear bottle lengthwise, fill with soil, Find a healthy branch and scrape the bark off near the leaf lobe, place the bottle around the branch and tape together. Keep soil moist. Roots will form in a month or so. Once roots are established, cut the branch and plant the new tree.


lmk, Rich

Rich... I agree.... air or ground layering is really a desirable way to go... au natural and it eliminates the cuttings rooting challenges.... Much harder to go this route with any sought after varieties as BM, FP or IB as rooted plants command a good price while cuttings of them can be acquired at a cheaper cost than the plants... a great example is Ischia Black UCD.... cuttings of IB UCD can be had for prices ranging between $50 and $100 a stick depending on source... the same source can be selling a nicely rooted cutting plant 12" tall and about ready to be up potted for $400-$500 per....

Didn't know anyone locally with a fig tree.  So I've purchased all my cuttings from ebay and the variety didn't matter.  I figured I could hopefully get 1 or 2 to root and that would be OK.  I'm doing this strictly small scale for the fun of it.  So I don't really have a wish list.  If it grows, I'm good.  If I get more than one type then that's just icing on the cake.  It's just the getting to grow thing I need to get a handle on.

BargainGal, I have had excellent luck with ProMix HPCC so far and have not lost a single cutting. If you were to try again I highly suggest picking a ProMix product. I am limited to ProMix since Fafard is not available on the west coast, but Fafard 52 or 3 should be available in your area and is usually cheaper and excellent as well.

I have looked for the Fafard brand locally but have not seen it. Its possible that it may be available in CT at the hydroponics stores but I went with acquiring the ProMix since I could get a good price for it by ordering online from Ace hardware and having it delivered free to the King hardware in Katonah. With Ace discount, I paid $28 for the 3.8cu compressed which works out to about 7cu ft uncompressed....

$28 for 3.8 Promix at ACE?

Going to check, it's where all my buckets come from.

The only price I have found is $39.99, big difference after 20 bags.

 

If you're really not able to find a local grower and don't want to keep trying cuttings there are several online nurseries. I've ordered from Petals From The Past a few times and other than mixups with the variety names all my plants were healthy and they don't charge a lot for a potted fig.

Mike, it was $38 without the coupon but Ace gives out coupons much in the way that Dicks Sporting goods does so with coupon applied it came to $28 bucks.... The delivery charges for that size are killers unless you can get free delivery and Ace offers it to their participating stores.... Price is well worth taking advantage whenever it comes offered ause one can never have too much on hand... Rice Hulls are cheap but again delivery charges are a killer.... I bought 2 huge compressed bales from Leonard when they offered free delivery so that was worth it too....