New to the forum after lurking for a long time. I just received about 20 cuttings that I purchased from another teacher that I believe is a member of this forum (not sure of his screen name). He offered some different rooting alternatives, one of which I used (baggie method) in the past. Another was from another member that used seed mats for bottom heat. I have several egg incubators, the Hovabator styrofoam box type. What are your thoughts on using one of these to maintain a warm temperature to start cuttings? I could use the baggie method or place a bed of sphagnum moss inside. I appreciate any input. Thanks!

I'm not familiar with the temp range of incubators, it seems the figs like to be between 78* and 84*.  If that is in rage for the incubator, I'm not only sure it will work, I think it is a fantastic idea. 

I'm going to use an actual thermometer in the incubator tomorrow and see if I can dial it in that range. Would you stick with baggies and newspaper? Do you think that open moss will dry out too quickly? Thanks for the reply!

Personally, I get my best results with my cuttings in a plastic box with lid filled with moist long fiber sphagnum moss, the cuttings nestled snugly in the middle.  Then place the box in the incubator.  I keep mine in an area in my in garage greenhouse that maintains a nearly constant 82*F. I have had some cuttings root in as little as 16 days, which is really is not relevantn most take longer.  Rooting times very greatly from cultivar to cultivar and person to person.

Oh no.  Another way to root.  I just found my incubator yesterday while unpacking boxes from the storage unit.  Only 1 van load to go!
Sounds like it is worth a try.

I do the same plastic box method but keep mine in total darkness on top the water heater stays at 78 degrees

I read that may people use the top of their water heater, I put a thermometer on mine and it is at room temp.   Got to love insulation! !!!

My box is not in 100% darkness, but the cuttings are buried deep with in and the box is shielded from the light as much as I can. 

I won't be able to use the "shoebox" style deeper boxes in the incubator. What are your thoughts on using the shallow Glad/Ziplock style throwaway (at our house they are used until they break) lunch/sandwich containers? They are more shallow and I should be able to fit a more than one container in the incubator with several cuttings, one layer deep in each.

Now we all run out and buy incubators! Welcome to the forum!

I would venture to guess that most any container would work.  I write on the side of my cutting what it is with a paint pen and keep them all in the same Box. I then keep a sheet of Avery labels with a labels filled out for every cutting, the label has the cultivar, date it went into the moss and whom I received the cutting from.  Once the cutting roots and it is cupped, the label comes with it and the cupped date is added, then the same for uppotting.

The key is humidity, high humidity with minimal moisture. 

If you can keep the fan from drying things out, it should work well.  I use a temperature controlled heating mat.  It definitely improved my rooting speed and success.

C.J.

Hi,
eggs are incubated at 99°F/37°C .
I would use a closed container with the cuttings inside to keep humidity next to the cuttings and not at the walls of the incubator .

In which usda Zone are you ?
Be prepared for the next step, that is the potting . Will you have the place, a light, and a warm room to help the cuttings ?
Since, you haven't started the rooting process yet, wouldn't it be best to wait one month more ? Just saying . Or on purposes, don't throw all your eggs in the same basket, and start half of the cuttings now,
and the remaining in one month :)
If I had an incubator and the space for them, I would be incubating chickens...
Good luck .

Do I need to open the containers every few days to introduce fresh air? Or do I leave them in the dark for a few weeks before I check?

I am in no way an expert on rooting cuttings, but I used to raise quail in the incubator you referenced.  I like the idea. I  have had very good success rooting in a plastic container placed on top of my water heater, or refrigerator.  Open every day or two for fresh air.  Not too wet.

Your figs gonna taste like chicken!

Question for you all, when rooting in a container with multiple cuttings as discussed above, at what stage do you remove them? I am guessing it is damp moss in the container and cuttings laying sideways? Don't they then root along the whole length? Are they removed when root initials or short roots appear, then carefully potted? I have read a lot of the various methods and trying to figure out what to do for my first time. I was thinking quart chinese food containers and 50/50 peat perlite or peat and bark with containers in the water heater and or boiler as the heat source. (Maybe 2 of each in a Baggie on too of fridge too) Do they need to be in darkness?

I remove mine when I see roots forming, usually about 1/8" to 1/4" long.  They are very fragile at this point, easy to break.  I use damp moss, but have also wrapped in a paper towel and done it in a baggie.  I blow the baggie full of air before closing it.  Some cuttings rooted along the whole length, but when they are put into cups they seem to figure out where the roots need to grow.  Some of the cuttings started forming leaves before roots, so I went ahead and potted them.  They ended up growing roots just fine.  I have had good luck using my water heater for a warm environment.  I put a towel underneath the container to make sure they didnt get too hot.  I dont think they need darkness, but I am new to this as well.  Just remember not too wet.  Wring out your moss as best you can, and open the containers or bags every day to give it some fresh air.

Note that I am extremely green to all of this so I am just relaying what has worked for me.

In the incubator (containers and baggies) and at a constant (+/- .5) 82 degrees. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for the replies!

I've been thinking of putting a few of my cuttings in the incubator and see if they would root. However My incubator is now busy with eggs, I got quails and chicken eggs. The temperature can be adjusted for rooting. I have mine set at 100F for the eggs. but it can be turned down. I'll have to fill it with soil or other media, but the incubator height will not allow the cuttings to sit upright. so they'll need to be slanted or laid down horizontally.
I will try it when my eggs hatch.

You CAN use your hovabator for growing cutting in an upright position.  Hovabators are easy to adapt to any number of situations.  Bird breeders have been using them as brooders for everything from cockatiels to African Greys for years.  Many of them take the unit, cut Styrofoam insulation panels to the desired height and the width of each side of the hovbator, fabricate a plexiglass door for the front so that they can observe the bird, duct tape them together, and put the frame between the two parts of the Hovabator.  That Styrofoam panels conserve heat better than many materials.  Since you don't need to check cuttings every hour (although some of us do) You can use Styrofoam for all 4 sides and just set the hovabator lid on the top.

You can also adapt is using a small Styrofoam cooler.

C.J.

This is a freezer converted into a incubator for the purpose of rooting cuttings. I have two and have been using them for a while. I root them at 80 degrees and keep the humidity as high as possible.