I have a few cuttings in damp spaghnum moss inside a tupperware container on top of a seed propagating mat. Theres a book about three inches thick and a layer of felt(that the tupperware is wrapped in) between the mat and the tupperware container. It seems pretty warm and humid, does this seem like a good idea or is too hot do you think?  The moss on top stays moist but the bottom seems to dry out a little every couple of days so if flip it over and dampen it with a spray bottle. This is my first time doing this so I'm kinda nervous. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

While I don't have nearly as much experience as some who will undoubtedly weigh in later, let me just say that I've had pretty good results  keeping my cuttings indoors at room temperature.  That is, at about 70 degrees. 

Do you keep flipping the moss?? and taking the cuttings/moving them around thats a bad idea try getting an adjustable /dimmer lamp switch to plugthe mat into they sell them at target walmart etc you plug it into the wall and the the mat into it it should adjust the heat keep it at 80 deg 

Have any thermometers at home?  I'd measure the temp inside the Tupperware container to see if you should be concerned, then take corrective action if needed.  I think you would get 70-80F as the range of best temps to root cuttings if you asked most memebers here on the forum.

goto any pet shop or walmart and get one of those fish tank temp gages the sticker kind. i use themin areoponics and they work great and you can get em for like a buck. stick it right to the side of you tub. i throw my cuttings ontop of the freezer for the warmth. or root them potted in a warm bathroom.

dave

such a great idea

Lukie29, Glad you asked this question. I had a reptile tank heating mat that I wasn't using anymore so I have placed it under a clear plastic container with some already rooted cuttings in cups with cups covering them. Then I took some cuttings( none rooted) and placed them in a smaller plastic container with newspaper slightly damp with a black garbage bag covering them so no light. I put a reptile tank temp/humidity gauge in there with everything.
temps about 75-80 degrees and humidity is about 90% . So going along with your question does everyone think this is a good idea or not?

Jeff I think if you can maintain high humidity and temps in that range all will be good!!!!

Lukie I think a big factor as Tony eluded to is to not disturb the cutting. Leave it be if you can. I'm having excellent results using my plastic bin over the floor register. The thermometer inside says its always between 70 and 80 depending on how much the furnace is running that day and I'm getting roots after 3 weeks in 10oz cups with 60/40 perlite vermiculite mix. Definitely get a thermometer so you can keep and eye on the temperature.

Tyler

Jeff,

For what my newbie opinion is worth........I have a similar set up except I am using a heating mat used to keep glass 5 gallon beer fermenters at a proper temperature (with the use of a digital temperature controller).  It is working for me and keeps the temp inside a RubberMaid type container at ~76F.  I am rooting in 60/40 perlite/potting soil in 32 oz deli containers.

Steve, I value every opinion here. Whether newbie or a long time member( I'm a newbie). I love getting multiple inputs to formulate my own opinion. Thank you for the input.

Jeff,

Here's a link to my forum post with photos

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Rooting-cuttings-provided-to-me-an-update-6089870

Thanks Steve. Looks good hopefully I will have luck. How did yours turn out? Also you make beer or wine?

In about 4 weeks I have roots and leaves on most, although a very few seem to be rooting better in damp spaghnum moss.  I'm just learning so I did some cutting in the deli containers and some in spag moss to see whcih does best.

Started out extract brewing, then moved to all grain and a 4 keg kegerator for my beer.  I have many beer drinking friends.  : )

Lukie29, I tried the seed heating mat last year.  It works great on seeds, but every cutting I put in there failed.   I'm not sure if it was too wet or too hot, or something.  I had figs and a plumeria cutting and they all shriveled up.   I just know it all went wrong.  Maybe it will work for you.  Didn't work for me.  The stuff I just put in potting soil with perlite outside worked out quite well. 

i spend alot of time at the pub does that count. i make wine too but thats a bad hangover wouldnt recomend it.

We'll see. I have a lot invested financially but most important mentally. I'm dying to see roots.

Lukie29,

I share your pain and anticipation.  Give it time and you will be rewarded.  Even though I check progress every day I understand this is a process of many weeks.

Do you use rooting hormone? I ,but after seeing some members root after 10 days, it makes me want to

Lukie29,

I am trying out a liquid gel hormone on some of my cuttings I started Nov. 27th. I noticed yesterday, Dec. 10th, there were 2 of them with roots showing at the edge of the cup. I made a couple upward angle cuts at the base of these cuttings and applied the hormone. My others without hormone have taken between 3 & 4 weeks to do this. I think I am going to use it going forward on all of them.

Tyler

Such mixed reviews, I appreciate all of them. I have ordered some dip n grow liquid, and my cups just came in also. I'm going to try a few without hormone in cups and a few with in cups (with the perlite/vermiculite mix) and see what happens. Right now my cuttings are only in spaghnum, I might dip a few and put them in the moss also. The problem is that as of right now I only have two young trees that produce very little so I'm really sweating it out, once I have enough established, producing trees trying different methods won't worry me so much. Don'y get me wrong, the excitement is good, but I just wanna eat some figs.