So, the other day I took out a few of the ebay cuttings THAT I WON from Radyslava.  Yup, some of the cuttings are still alive.  A few are mushy and pretty disgusting. 

Here's my dilemma, I don't know what to do with them!  I realize that they are likely not even close to the variety I thought I was getting.  But, they are fig cuttings. What variety?  Who knows! 

Would you root them out of curiosity?  Would you toss them? What would you do with them?

One option might be to root them and use them for rootstock and grafting some other variety (hopefully known this time).  Since you think the cuttings aren't what you bought, perhaps they'll be some wickedly strong growing variety to serve as a base for the kinder, gentler variety you thought you bought.

You likely wouldn't want to lop the top off something in your collection you like, so it might make the experiment easier (you know, whacking the head off the bastard child).

I wouldn't be inclined to be kinder and gentler to the seller, however.


Andrew

I'd go ahead and try to root them. The more experience you have rooting and growing fig tree cuttings, the better you'll get. You can always trade them later as an unknown if you don't like them. Or you might be surprised and like them. You have nothing to lose but a little time and potting soil. And Andrew's suggestion of later using them for grafting practice is a good one too.
I bought some cuttings last year from a supposed scammer. They rooted and the leaves look exactly like what they're supposed to be. They didn't fruit last year, but perhaps this year I'll find out what they are. Or not....

"The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa  

I'm with Mara. Root them, see how they do.

Try to root them, have a contest if any live. If any member can name the true variety then they win the plant(plus shipping of course), I am sure everyone could use another brown turkey. Seriously, you are not alone. I have purchased some from her, old wood, dry, probably re-sales since her address is an apartment, if she had trees(plants) the cuttings would be in better shape. The very few that have rooted are set aside so I do not get them mixed in with purchases from trusted members. I also am not confident each variety is true to name. Good luck.

It could be the next Ponte Tresa for all you know.  :)

Put them in the garbage where they belong and don't waste your time!

Repeated scammer.

Request refund "not as described" with ebay.

Pay pal covers, I believe, to 90 days if it is still in that time frame.

She puts out crap that basically rots after the return date.

Ebay knows and doesn't do sh*t because they profit off it. Just like allowing foreign sales without certs which they know is illegal.

The seller and Ebay profit while the victim, you, gets screwed and you stuff confiscated.

If you think this scumbag has the next Ponte Teresa I have a couple bridges for sale you could use.

You should search these people first instead of supporting them.

Root them. Could ve,a variety you dont have

Root them you can always gift them or trade to someone who would enjoy them.

Wouldn't 'tossing them contradict the Mother Teresa quote in your signature?

I guess we are willing to support known scammers on the site?

Losing faith here.

Mike, we are just having some friendly fun, come on man, lighten up, we are only half serious.

Toss them now and don't watch them dying a slow painful death later.
There are many around that are much more fun to experiment with.
That's my 5 cents

Personally, I try to root anything I get my hands on.  I'm quite new to this (less than 1 yr) and I'm still trying to hone my rooting skills.  If things work out, they can always be gifts to friends and relatives since I do not have friends or relatives into figs..........yet.

Hi,
Label them properly, and root them - don't put high expectations on them.
Don't spread them around.
Evaluate them FIRST .
- if they are of the common type and good tasting, then label them as "unknown".
- if they are smyrna types - which are useless in fig-wasp free zones ... - and you yourself are in such a zone ... Just trash them or send them to someone in a fig-wasp zone.

I myself got a smyrna type in a swap ... She's on the compost pile since last October !
Mine might be good in a fig-wasp zone - it is a dwarf style tree ... But so hopeless and heartbreaking in my zone7 ... as all fruits do drop ...
I just lost 3 years growing her for nothing ...

Thanks, All!  Some of your comments are funny.  Also, I can understand how some of you are angry about this scammer on Ebay.  I usually let things like this go.  It would be a waste of my energy to be bothered by it.  But that's me.

Okay, I'll think about everything and when I decide, I'll post my decision here.  Thanks again!

You're not really out much if they end up dying.  Give them a shot.