My experience with rooting cuttings that have been stored for periods has been less than satisfying.
I routinely see a fair amount of failure rate regardless of rooting technique
(undoubtedly a tribute to my brown thumb).

This year I took some cuttings fresh from a few different trees and tried rooting them in ziplock bags
wrapped in newspaper, in pots with a sterilized potting soil, and in cups with perlite/soil mix . . . . . .
In all cases I have experienced exceptional success and vibrant plants. Whereas, with my purchased
cuttings from all the normal sources has been again, a crapshoot and anemic showing in comparison.

I was wondering if anyone could weigh in on this and explain the rationale in regards to taking cuttings late
in the season and storing them through winter and then starting them in February after languishing in a
vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. I can understand this to some extent for one who lives in a cold climate,
and also for those who trim their trees back at the correct time of the season for next year's growth . . .
But again . . my fresh cuttings from three different sources(and different varieties) doing so well,
as opposed to purchased cuttings . . well, it lends one to challenge the status quo.

any thoughts?


ps: I live in a year round warm climate

Freshness is always good. If you take cuttings in the fall, before frost and freeze, you either have to root them fresh, and deal with tender plants all winter, or store the cuttings till spring. Taking them in the fall prevents them being ruined by cold weather, and you having no cuttings.

I take mine approx 2/1 (when we finally have them hardened and dormant) and try to get them started as soon as possible.

Taking them in spring just days before bud-break is a good time, but not always convenient.

etc.

Hi, and thank you

Your winter is about the same as mine . . .you're a bit more, shall we say, . . Mediterranean than me. And yes, I took cuttings between feb and march. I enjoy the process of trying to propagate stock, however . . based on my successes on purchased material . . I'd be better served to just buy young figlets from you directly. You're literally just a drive away.

I've had similar experience. Cuttings that I got fresh (some purchased, others kind gifts) have done much better than those that were refrigerated for any length of time.

Next year I'll be more careful, but sometimes you don't know how a cutting has been treated, ...and sometimes there is little choice if it's something you want. :)

Oh this is a tough one for me, I had fresh one inch, green thick cuttings, and having no idea how to root them, I did what came natural for me. I washed, and sanitized it, then I brushed it with rooting powder where I want the roots to grow and..."Shoved it in dirt"- dirt, I used expensive **organic potting soil ($13 per bag) and aged cow manure, 1 qt cow the rest really good potting soil, drenched it in water, covered with an albertsons bag with a stick. Results -AWESOME roots! I live in Idaho, it gets pretty chilly.. You know the kind that has pretty blue skies, but the wind has a bite sort of thing. I cheated with a LARGE heating mat. I don't have a green house. I live in an itty bitty apt complex for now.. 

I would say . . fresh cuttings made the difference . . because, when you read all the posts and info on starting cuttings . . .
a sterylized potting soil 10% to perlite 90% is the way to go or bagged, wrapped in dampened newspaper etc . .
the use of manure is never included in the discussions.

Again . . fresh cuttings seem to make the difference


I remember doing some digging around online, and found that in the mediterranean and middle east . .
just jammming cuttings in groups of 3 criss-crossed, directly into the ground was the way to go . . .
I know in my heart of hearts, they weren't saving cuttings from the prior years trimmings and keeping
them refrigerated for a few months


I just got back from Greece. Turkey, and Croatia . . and i mean to tell ya . . it was very difficult to not pull my
toad stabber out and clip off branches from fig trees I came upon. Luckily, it was early in the year and no fruit
was ripened . . so i had nothing to go by . . .