So... I'm finally potting up a few plants. Here's my two large DK cuttings. They seem happy! I fed them, watered them, and tomorrow they'll go outside for some Seattle sunshine. Barring freezing temps, can these big ones stay outside now? The lows are in the mid 40s, highs in the 60's. I would like to kick them out of the nest now. All the plants that are outside on their own are just now starting to wake up. The first signs of bud swelling are beginning.

They are in 1 gallon pots


I have some cuttings that are a bit smaller but still need to be potted up. Can I give them a weak amount of fertilizer? I assume I won't want to give them full strength. 

from 65 inside to 40 outside is cruel. I have some large plastic containers that I put on top of mine to shield the cold air and form a little insulation for them. I am afraid you have to do a couple of hours shielding them before you let them be out there on their own. What about that greenhouse ? that would do the transition!

The greenhouse won't be here for another week at least, then it has to be set up... I'm hoping it'll be in working order in 2 weeks. Maybe I can put them out during the day and back inside during the night... inside but in a colder room maybe. Get used to it, babies!

I am running out of room in my office

I wouldn't put them outside in 40F. I barely put mine out when it is 50F+ at night.

Your figs are spoiled.
California. Geez.

In all seriousness, I'll bring them in at night. 

i would move them to where there's no wind. like garage for few days to see how they are doing. my cutting this winter has been inside of the house since nov. few weeks ago, i moved few to 1 gal and move them into garage. out of 11 i moved, only one is having serious problem, more than likely dying. others with good top and root growth are doing just fine. it's mid to upper 40 in my garage. about 10 degrees higher than outside, but there's no wind in there.

the one that is dying is most under-developed one out of 11.

Nichole...don't make the same mistake that I did...last Saturday I put about 25 plants outside in morning sunshine(about 55*) with a light breeze...by 1pm I noticed evidence of leaf damage(burn marks on the leaves)...they turned from dark green to light green, with a glazed look on the surface of each leaf...I put them in the shade immediately, and have kept them there every day since...(too much, too soon)

yupe. full sun right after coming out of the house is not a good idea. the leave will burn. the leaves coming out from the bud in full sun will have better tolerance.

I did same thing as Vince, look at my picture of the damage.

Best advice is put them in the garage for a few hours during the day.  I leave mine in the garage on a table for a week with no extra humidity.  If they are still doing good, then I move them outside in filtered sun (tree shade) for another week but only if it is going to be above 60 during the day.  Then if they are still good, I move them to full sun on the weekends where I can monitor.  If they start to look the least bit stressed, back to the shade.  So far, I have not lost a plant doing this at this stage.

My figs are under grow lights right now. Does that alter the potential for sun burn?
My garage is colder than the outside temps during the day and is very dark - it is basically partially under ground with no light so I'm hesitant to put them there.

i wouldn't worry too much about burnt leaves. new ones will replace them soon enough. and if they grow out in the sun, they will be much hardier.

I do the same thing Alan. I have different "staging areas" around the house and yard that I use for this very reason. Last year I burned more than I care to admit but my lesson is learned. This year will be easier as most trees are 1+ years old.

From fig trees to fig cuttings to garden vegetable seedlings always start out slow. I always put mine in shaded areas on sunny days and anywhere on a cloudy/rainy day. I also avoid wind as much as possible.

My yard is pretty well protected from wind. We don't get a lot of it in Seattle anyway. A gentle breeze is usually all we get.
Today is overcast and in the 50's. I put them in my 'fig nursery' area with my other young potted plants that wintered outside. They might even enjoy a little drizzle today. In theory we'll see sun by Friday, but this is Seattle. I won't get my hopes up. If it does happen (fingers crossed) I'll let them hang out in the shade. Dare I hope for mid 60s?

What are those pots with the green things and where do you get them?  I assume they're a long strip of the black stuff, you connect the edges with the green things?  I'd love to try that with a wider strip if they're cheap and available.

Those are air pots. I bought them on sale last summer from this source: www.perfectroots.com/
The size in the photos are all 1.5 gallons. I also bought some 3 gallons to move them into when it's time.
You are correct - long strip of plastic that comes together to form the pot. The green things hold them together.

Nichole,

I have my figlets in 1 gallon nursery pots outside in the shade.  When the temps at night are predicted to get below 40F I bring them back in.  I put my figlets outside for the first time on a cool (low 60's), cloudy day directly from being in the house during our short winter here in Houston.  The next day was close to 70 and bright sun.  I have not seen any ill effects of putting the figlets out in the "cold".  Getting them used to sun is a different matter entirely of which I have toasted a couple.  But as Pete mentioned, the leaves did grow back.

nicole, 

i'm sure they do well.. but i have to figure how much of that is sale's gimmick. i mean, my cuttings do well enough in $0.69 1 gal pots. if a person is on time and do not delay in moving them to larger pot on time, unlike me.. i'm sure 1 gal pot will do as well for the new cuttings are more expensive "air pot". 

i'm pretty sure most of my cuttings from last spring are either root bound or choking themselves by now. i'll have to untangle them and make sure they are not wrapping around the cutting themselves tomorrow. did i mention i'm off for next 4 days and drinking myself silly? 

Pete I don't recommend root pruning and alcohol. Sharp objects are not your friend while inebriated :)

nichole, 

i hold 1st dan in kendo, and i have experience in iaido. sharp objects are no big deal for me. also, i'm rather experienced in kitchen. my set of german steels get their daily use and sharpening.

but, best of all, i can spin my ZT 550 on my finger tip.. completely drunk! x) j/k