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if this happened every time...

...I'd definitely be a figaholic. May already be! Anyway, crazy fast progress by a HarveyC-supplied variety. Started in sphagnum Mar 9, 1" roots by Mar 28, and this craziness since. Nice feedback by the Maroc Noir

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Congratulations Esteban!

Wow Esteban those are some outstanding roots there.  What is your secret for getting them going?  the box, the bag or???

bravo those are steller roots. The secret is more cowbell =)

These varieties are constantly surprising. Some grow fast on top, some root quickly, some do nothing, some wait forever to start, some are robust, some are weaklings, some have some cuttings succeed while others from the same tree--even the same branch--languish, then fail. I even had a locally-procured Black Mission cutting I had planted upside down for over a month root wildly once I inverted it. But I included the Maroc Noir pics because those roots are outlying freaks

I'm just starting all the cuttings in a barely-moistened orchid sphagnum inside cheap Walmart plastic shoeboxes kinda burrito-ed within an electric blanket set at 74-76 degrees, 9 - 12 varieties at a time. Once I see 1/2 - 1" roots, I move them to a 24 oz. "3 cup" setup using equal parts ProMix HP, perlite and vermiculite, and then move to an east-facing windowbox. That's actually a quite substantial volume of media, and I'm keeping them in there until the top growth seems to come into balance with the roots, then sorta harden them off a little by gradually removing the humidity dome cup

After a couple weeks of the uncovered experience, I've been moving them--still in their two 24 oz. bottom cups-- outdoors on top of an old 4' x 8' wooden fence panel on a spot of grass under a big old quite shady mesquite. Once they start to look a little rootbound in the cups, I move them either to trade gallon (really, about 3 quarts only--i measured) plastic pots and carriers I got for free on Craigslist or to the 4x4x9 treepots I actually paid money for, using the same media with just a tiny amount of azomite, michorrizae fungi (sp?) and a little bit of slow-release organic fertilizer thrown in, and watered occasionally with a very dilute fish emulsion and Silica Blast solution. Again, the varieties respond differentially to this brew, some growing quickly, some hesitating as I move them to the bigger pots. Two of the 47 treelets Ive moved up to the 1 gal size so far subsequently failed, both Desert King. Dunno why

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  • Jodi
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Hey Stephen.  Thanks so much for this comprehensive and detailed post on your growing techniques.  It helps a lot and I really appreciate it.  Still in newbie land with some successes and some failures.  It goes from being an easy joy to a detailed hunt for the clues on the ones that don't make it.  Really interesting.  I am loving all the learning and all the new green leaves.  I really appreciate your sharing.  Hope to see you at the VV Farmer's Markets this summer.  Happy figging, Jodi

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jodi
Hey Stephen.  Thanks so much for this comprehensive and detailed post on your growing techniques.  It helps a lot and I really appreciate it.  Still in newbie land with some successes and some failures.  It goes from being an easy joy to a detailed hunt for the clues on the ones that don't make it.  Really interesting.  I am loving all the learning and all the new green leaves.  I really appreciate your sharing.  Hope to see you at the VV Farmer's Markets this summer.  Happy figging, Jodi


Yes, and I will hope to sample some of the Brown Turkey figs so i can know what to expect when I finally purchase some cuttings next winter!

Now them are some good roots! Good Job!! : )

Stephen I look forward to your assessment! I'm a real Fig newbie, so these are my favorites out of 3 trees worth. Looking forward to more figgy experiences! Best Jodi

Very nice roots, Esteban!!

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