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Failing Cuttings

I started three cuttings in perlite in a humidity chamber. Worked well and after leafing out, moved to heat mat under grow light, watering with Aqua Cana Vega. After 2 months and 12" of growth and a visable root system, I transfered to a larger pot with potting soil. Right now one plant is wilted the other I put back in the chamber as it looks gone.
Could I have some nutrient block? Leaves did not turn yellow, so I don't think it was nitrogen over load. Any ideas?

It could be transplant shock. You may need to tent them for a while to adjust humidity.

Only thing I can think of is potting mix was too wet and/or not enough humidity.  Sometimes, you can do all the right things and they still fail with no good explanation.

If you went from humidity bin right to pot without a transitioning phase then that is your culprit.

Mr Crab

Just want to make sure I understood, after 2 months out of chamber and under gro-light, they then failed? If not, how many days were they on the heat mat and out of the chamber?

Raffi: Sorry for the confusion. It was one month in the chamber, which is on top of the heat mat, cuttings in perlite. When they leafed out an inch or so they went onto a plastic tray under grow lights on top of the heat mat, along with a daily dose of Aqua Cana Vega.
They were doing fantastic, almost 12' inches of growth, and visable roots. At that point I repotted to a larger container with Pro Mix, one cutting now appears dead, the other is drooping. 

Photos would help.  What media were the roots in when the plants were under the grow lights?  Did roots break off on up ptting to pro-mix? How wet was the promix?

I have to ask this.  Sorry.  Are gnats flying around? 

"I have to ask this.  Sorry.  Are gnats flying around?"

I was thinking the same thing. Been there. 

It sounds like you are using Rich's method. My advice is this: heavily monitor your moisture levels when repotting. Be careful neither to drown nor starve the plant. If it has already been transitioned I would not put it back in the chamber since ambient humidity would not be the issue. A pre-wet mix that is not too heavy works best. Promix HP is better than Promix BX. Less dense.

Raffi: I don't have gnats and I am using Rich's Method. My guess would be some sort of transplant shock. As I recall the potting mix was dry when I repotted. I would like to post photos but I get the error message that my photos are to large. Could someone tell me how to condense them. Again, appriciate the advice.

  • Rob
  • · Edited

I have up-potted or transplanted well over 100 fig trees and have yet to see one experience any kind of issues or shock or anything like that.  So the root cause of what you are calling "transplant shock" would have to be either:
1. enough roots broke during the transplant process that the remaining roots could not support the leaves
2. the potting mix you used in the transplant was very dry and caused a lack of moisture, possibly killing roots or at least restricting the available water and causing the leaves to wilt/die

I don't know what Aqua Cana Vega is. 

But, if you have a heat mat below and lights on top, you're going to get quite a bit of evaporation.  So it's conceivable that if you have fertilizer in your water that you could have a buildup of salts in the mix that would eventually cause problems. 

I know people do it and get away with it, and maybe it can help even, but I don't see the point in fertilizing until the plant is moved outside. 

Hope you figure it out.  Let us know if you get photos.

Rob

Canna Aqua Vega is a hydroponic solution, my understanding is it is indeed conducive to salt buildup, but many people get rampant growth from using it.

I tried growing in perlite filled plastic tubs under a grow light but had HUGE mold problemS. So I cleaned the bins. Cut the bottom 1/4 inch of cutting off to remove mold and put them in red plastic cups instead. The cups have 4 holes poked in bottom for drainaige using a hot screwdriver. They are filled with regular potting mix 1 inch from top then a cup ofbefore which I allow to drain through to bottom before inserting cutting. I have 10 growing of thirty so far, none are dead. (some new since new system!!) The cups sit in the 11x16x13 boxes withthr lid just slightly ajar on top of a heat mat. Once a week or so I pour 1-2 cups water in the box along side/under cups for humidity. When they get a a we strong leav es I take them out and leave under lamp, no heat mat, no box. Once strong branches develop uI will transplant. Room temp I'd 65-70℉. Growth of leaves slows for a week or two after leaving box before they acclimate. Then they do just fine.

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