Gonna try this method. Hopefully I get a few to root and leaf out.

Please keep us posted. I'm interested to know how it works for you.

Will do. I didn't have any rooting hormone tho.

I have been using this approach (starting directly in cell packs) this year with great results. I do dip the top cut end in wax and place the tray in a humidity container.  I wait until I see significant root growth at the surface and drainage holes before transferring to cups.

Thanks Bill! What do people normally use when they don't have wax? Is there anything wrong with using a waterproof wood glue?

I melt the candle and dip the top of the cutting with it

Norhayati

I used Titebond 2 Premium wood glue. It's fast setting and water resistant.

John,
Good Luck and thanks for posting.

I seal the top cut ends with Toilet Bowl wax seal when using the seedling trays. Its available at the major home improvement stores and Walmart and is very inexpensive. What ever you use just be sure its non toxic or it may kill the cuttings.

For a dry environment I use Elmer's School glue as a sealer on fig cuttings. If you do a forum search you will find several discussions using both products as sealants.

Thanks Pete. I hope it all goes well. It does say its non-toxic at least :)

I'd second Elmer's Glue, we use at my nursery for roses to keep borers out of the fresh cut canes when they are potted up.

John C. I use the rooting cubes and they have worked the best for me. So far I get 100% of them to root. Once potted is where you can have trouble. Out of 110 cuttings 14 haven't sprouted leaves yet but I think 80% of those will. Keep them moist not soaking wet and keep them in a clear tote so they can get some bright light for the ones growing leaves. To water the cubes I pick each one up and use a spray bottle to moisten the cube. A little time consuming but I know each one will have the right amount of moisture. It works for me so like they say "if it's not broke, don't fix it". Hope it works out good for you.

John I've used both a toilet wax ring and candle wax.  The toilet ring wax is brown in color and was a little more time consuming then the candle wax approach.  The candle wax are the white ends.  I just bought an unscented white candle at the Dollar store, put in a old soup can and put the can in a pot on the stove with about a inch of boiling water.  It just acts like a double boiler.  Then just dip the tips in the melted wax.  You can see that the buds have no problem breaking through the wax.


 

Those are great pics Bill! I'll definitely do that on the next batch.

Tonycm, what's the name of the rooting cubes you use?

For the wax, you can keep a Yankee candle on a coffee cup warmer.  Once it melts, I remove the wick.  It's always available and keeps the room smelling nice at the same time.  It doesn't burn away like when burning the candle.  It'll literally last for years (or several thousand dips of a cutting).

@ John. The rooting cubes I use are called "Rapid Rooter". They come in either a solid mat made up of 98 cubes that need cut apart or in a bag of 50 individual cubes (my preference). The individual cubes are longer and hold up better than the mat cubes. The mat cubes crumble like cake when you push the cuttings in but they still work well.