Ok, I got my UCD cuttings back in early April.  They were pretty long so I cut them into 3s and started rooting them.  Now, normally I would place them inside my propagator but this year I decided to play around.  This method is nothing special.  You just set them and forget them!  Here is what I did.

1.  Get some Pro-Mix HP or BX (HP has more perlite which is what I use)
2.  Get a moisture meter from Wal-mart of Lowe's or whereever!
3.  Get a plastic bucket and add just enough water until the meter reads MOIST.
4.  Get your favorite rooting hormone, I use the red gel---I forget the name
5.  Get a dozen or so clear plastic 16oz cups
6.  Using a soildering iron pop 4 holes at the bottom side, NOT the BOTTOM.
7.  Add a little Pro-Mix in the cup, dip the cutting, add the cutting to the cup and fill with more mix
8.  Tamp down the cup and add more mix if you want BUT do not press the mix in the cup
9.  Cover the container and stack some other things on top---not too heavy but heavy enough
10.  Place inside a warm place  and do not open for at least 4 weeks!

I started these cutting on April 8th and every cutting has rooted.  The cuttings all have monster root.  If you look at those cups with 3 cuttings you can see the white roots at the bottom.  The cup with 3 cuttings are Male Purple Capri figs.  I did not want to start another bin.  I just wanted one to play with this year....plus my fridge is still full of cuttings.  I'm rooting and growing these just in case I'm lucky to get the wasp here in my area one day. Like I said, I'm just playing around.  During this process, I did not see on gnat.  That's not to say they were there.  However, I do hang pest strips inside my garage.  This container is 12'+ from the strips.

This is an old method that I used 10+ years a go.  So, one day I got bored and started playing around.  All 24 of these cuttings have rooted.  Now, I have to start repotting them all up in tiny SWPs.  This is not bad for rooting cuttings in 5 weeks.  Enjoy!

That is fantastic Dennis!  Makes me wish that someone local to me sold Pro-Mix.  Great job, thank you for sharing!

Scott

Strong work!

Ummm... is that an upside-down one, with all the roots coming out of the "top"? ;-)

You've got tons of good-looking babies there!

I agree with egghead, makes alot more sense to me now though, great thread for a newby.  thanks.

no  not upside down.   Those are "FigLocks"   LOL     Joyce

Scott,

WayToGrow sells 3.8cf Promix HP for about 32 bucks. 

Awesome! now why was I under the impression UCD doesn't do the cuttings thing anymore??

3.  Get a plastic bucket and add just enough water until the meter reads MOIST


Is this to check accuracy of meter? I assume you just use that meter to check each cup daily moving forward?

When you say put it in a warm place, is that also in darkness? Do you then introduce them slowly to the lights or outdoors?

Great article Dennis, thank you!

Sal I may be incorrect but I believe that Dennis intended to state to add the promix to bucket, mix it up and begin adding just enough water until the promix reads moist on the moisture meter. You want to be sure your medium is not soggy or the cuttings will likely rot. Good luck!

Correct Vince!

You have to place cuttings in a covered or dark place otherwise in full sun they will cook to death.  My garage is 80 degrees and I have 2 windows facing west so even though they are covered they do get some daylight in the wee afternoon.

Thanks for the clarification.