Being new to the fig world, I'm looking to try my hand at rooting some cuttings. How hard can it be, right?

I'm not looking for free handouts, but if anyone has an overabundance, and looking to thin the heard, I'm interested.

Hi Mike, you have a private message. I don't know what is going on with all the write overs at the bottom of this thread.

I still have a few fatties (Adriatic) if you want, send me PM and I will send you.. it is not hard, but you will learn, there are the highs and lows of it..and not all make it... sadly.

rooting is not hard. you just need to provide right condiion for the cuttings to root. hard part is getting good fresh cuttings that will root readily. more members on this forum will provide very fresh cuttings that will root readily, so does UCD.

WOW! I've been online since 300baud modems were cutting edge. I have to say the response here is amazing with people willing to help out with cuttings, something I haven't experienced on any other forum, ever. I hope I can repay it forward one day.

I've rooted other plants so this can't be that much different.

Mike,

The members here are an extraordinary bunch of helpful and giving people. One good aspect with figs is they always get pruned in the spring or late winter. 

Do not know where you are located, but if you are anywhere near Hampton Roads Virginia you are more than welcome to come get a few cuttings in the rooting boxes. 

As said above get some cuttings from folks still in cooler climates and the rooting is very successful under the right conditions.  here's a picture of ones that are about a month in the rooting box.

Where are you guys getting that moss you have in the boxes? Wondering if my local Agway would have that.

Long fiber moss is generally sold labeled as such or as Orchid moss. It can be found at Home Depot and garden centers. I assume Agway would.

I would suggest NOT the long fiber moss, actually, just a regular brown peat moss moisten a little. The roots will grow into the long fiber and you will brake them off while uncovering or checking on the cuttings (and will do that often!). This does not happen with the peat. You can also use the coco coir as well.

Sorry do not agree, been using long fiber moss for years and will not change, keeps the air that is needed for success. I have not had any broken roots, look at my previous posts.  If left too long you will have roots too long and will have an issue with broken roots.

JackHNVA, do you cover the cuttings with moss or they lay on top, like in your photo? 
I think if you don't bury them, the tangling is not a problem. I covered the cuttings in my case and that's when I was in trouble.

I root in a two step process, in the box for 3 -4 weeks to develop solid roots, then full long fiber moss in closed cups for another month until the moss is covered with roots, you can see pictures of various stages in my previous posts. No, I do not cover the wood completely only slighty, the goal is humidity not soil media. As you state it can be done in covered moss but if not watched very closely the risk of root breakage is high. I find this two step pure moss process has the highest success for my set of conditions and time. The high root mass I get is key to success in the 1G pots later on and mimimizes lower humidity leaf wilt in the 1G transition for me.

You can also simply cover them in long fiber moss loosely one in a bag and then pot/cup the entire mass without breaking roots. Some people use zip locks to seal the moisture in, others use round long plastic bags again one cutting per bag so there is no issue with disturbing the roots.

I use the long fiber moss in plastic shoe boxes.  It only takes me about 14 to 18 days though.  I score the cuttings about 1/16" (2 or 3 per cutting) between the base and the second/third node depending on spacing and length.  I then put those ends in DipNGrow (10X mix) for about 30 seconds.  I go from no roots at day 10-12 to 4" at day 14 to day 18.  I do have to be careful taking the moss off and I do loose a few roots but I have masses.  If I were home everday, I would cup these up when the roots are only 1" long but only get to address these on the weekend.

Good luck.

These are the cuttings coming out of the moss box in Feb, with reasonable root masses and where there are now in the pastic box in 1G pots doing the daily fig shuffle

RIMike,
 Remind me this fall and I will send you a bunch of cuttings.

Long Fibered Sphagnum Moss is available at Home Depot and Lowes for less than $4.00 a bag, If not in your local store they can order it, it's a stock item.



I've used it with good results.



The post for the above picture with the my procedure is here
Good Luck.