Speaking of having a passion for gardening... *sigh* My dirt loving 2yo apparently snuck into the spare room where the cuttings were rooting a day or so ago and pulled 4 of them out. They are looking kinda shriveled and if they ever had even the teeniest roots I can't see any sign of it now.

Of the original 10:

4 have been potted up because they rooted so agressively and 2 of those are now covered in buds and leaves and a single runner stem.

2 are unmolested, but not showing visibly roots. They still look hydrated and healthy, I think they are just shy so I will let them be.

And the last 4 I don't want to give up on, but I have a guy feeling that I need some guidance in twig recovery as well as aggressive rooting tactics and juju.


Is there a chance to rehydrate them and try again? In passing I read someone mentioning they may the whole cutting in the soil to cultivate runners, perhaps that would improve their chances? Any other suggestions?

I read that if cuttings are put in water with sugar in it they will have a better chance at surviving I did this last year with a tomato cutting and it grew like crazy. I dont know if it will work for figs but I'm going to try with some extra cuttings of mine. This is just a suggestion.

Try the hot water rescue. Here you go: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/hot-water-rescue-6816776?highlight=hot+water+rescue&pid=1289698668

I wouldn't expose them to a harsh environment.

I would consider using the bag method/humidity bin for them for 2-3 days to let the cells to re hydrate and only then to re-transfer them back to cups.

Eli

Smungung: my Google-fu is not the strongest, and I only found references to adding sugar to water for extending the longevity of cut flower arrangements, not for rooting woody cuttings. HOWEVER!!!! I did find an article on using honey to active cuttings! I knew honey was antifungal, and a humectant, and was googled it on a lark as I was contemplating whether or not to use it instead of wax to seal some "one node wonder" experiments. I am excited to to try this method and suddenly wish I had more cuttings so I could run simultaneous controls with regular rooting g hormone and no hormone. Any way, here is the link: http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/honey-root-hormone.htm

SuperMario1: I read the thread, did additional research, and went with a combination of the hot water rescue and the sweetened water recommended by Smungung and modified by the above mentioned article. *fingers crossed*

Elin: if they were rare, highly demanded figs or cuttings I had been gifted I would definitely needs inclined to go the zany experiment route. However, since I now have 5 of 10 cuttings successfully rooted and potted up, and zero takers on my weird mystery fig, I want to learn All The Things! For science! And future figgers with dessicated twigs!

Worst case scenario I only end up having 6 of the same fig no one else wants and I turn gorrilla gardener and plant them at the river. Best case scenario I end up with a dozen of the same fig, learn a fail safe and organic rooting method, and get gorgeous fig specimens that woo every one who lays eyes on them so that they can be traded, gifted, or sold to local gardeners.