Hi Everyone,

Today I had the challenge of sending a rooted and branched cutting still in a Root Riot cube.  The main problem I had was preventing the limbs from breaking off during shipping.  I came up with an idea of how to ship it, but the post offices were out of the triangular shipping tubes (the round ones would not have worked).  Here is the second solution (and I think I like it better than the first).

The thing is there are so many flexible ways to ship a fragile plant. Some people use peanut styrofoam. some use rolled card board. Some use the walls of the box, a bamboo stick, pipe cleaners, and  a lot of packing tape. Joe Morele does this at figtrees.net if you purchased italian trees from him. 

I have to say, sending an established plant is much easier.  LOL.

Really nice video James. When you bought your Root Riot cubes, did they come with a tray to hold the cube?

Hank,

They are available as 25 or 50 count with appropriately sized tray or a 100 count bag of "refill" cubes for the tray.  The 50 count tray has a 15ml pouch of Clonex in it.  The trays do not come with a dome.  Many people on the forum who are using this system have purchased a 7" dome with adjustable vent holes.  I chose to buy clear, Sterlite totes to put my trays in.  Actually, I keep the tray on the lid, then take the "dome" on and off.  I find it is easier to pick up the cuttings without having to reach down into the tote.

Thanks James. I'm saving up to buy some, seems like a good deal.

I bought my root riot cubes on ebay and have put the cuttings in them and then into the clear cup with a 50/50 potting soil and perilite. They are in a clear plastic tote as well.
Do you think it will work like this?

Dare I say, it might be unnecessary. Being on the Gulf Coast is like being in one of my totes. When I lived in SE Houston, I rooted my cuttings in containers outdoors. About a year ago, we vacationed in Galveston. I took the trees I was propagating with me (don't judge me. We're all crazies here) and set some rooted cuttings in Air-pots on the deck rail of the beach house. The roots which came out of the holes extended over half an inch into the salty, humid air without the tips dying back.

The concern I have with your set up is the potential for the cube to become saturated with water and rot the cutting. I use a spray bottle to mist the cubes just until they are damp. If the cups you have fit snugly in the tote, you could use the empty cups to hold the cuttings/cubes until you see roots poking out, then add your growing mix.

Good Morning,

Your response to my question of planting cubes in cups made me smile. I certainly won't judge you, my family thinks I'm completely nuts with the whole fig thing.

I agree that I will be able to throw cuttings under the tree out back and they will grow but not at the moment. Our humidity is still only about 65% and it has gotten down to 45F several nights lately.  I'm just not sure when we will warm up this year. I am absolutely ready for the warm up though. Heat in the house is still on :(

I had thought about sitting the cubes in the cups but my concern was the cuttings leaning and touching the sides of the cups and/or each other. Do you think that would be okay?

Are you still around the Houston area? I would love to find someone in the area that I could visit and get a look at the proper way to do things.

There should only be one cube per cup.  As I found (even in the tray), the roots will grow from one cube to the next if given a chance.

I am growing in the Austin area, now.  I have information on rooting cuttings on the Texas Gulf Coast, but not a lot of time to type right now.

First, not know where you are shipping to; any freezing temps
(during transit) will surly kill those new tender green shoots.

Second, I would prefer that the rootings are more mature...