I will be shipping cuttings to some of you this winter, and I have a couple of questions.

Is there a preferred/optimal/expected length to send?  Should the cuttings be cut square, or diagonal on the ends?  Are tip cuttings prefered?  Are other (non tip cuttings) ok to send as well?  Does anybody have a problem receiving cuttings in USPS bubble wrapped envelopes?

I have been treated very well by members on this forum.  I want to be sure that I reciprocate in kind.

Thanks

Not sure if I'm receiving cuttings from you, but I'll give you my input.  I like cuttings 8" in length because they easily fit in a 1 gallon zip bag with plenty of room for damp sphagnum moss.  I've received cuttings cut square at the bottom and pointed at the top, but also all square.  I love tip cuttings, but there is only one of those per branch.  I have no problem with bubble wrap envelopes as long as the cuttings have something damp to keep them from drying out on their long trip.

:-)

Suzi

i keep my cuttings fat and short. about 4-6 inches, about little thicker than pencil. flat cut or angled cut.. fig doesn't seem to care.

typically, i send them in padded envolope using first class. usually it takes about 3-5 days even from coast to coast.

I generally send at least 3 nodes, 5".  You want to cut off anything more than 1/4" above the top node.  That part will just die anyway.  You can leave extra wood below the bottom node, roots typically come from the bottom of that.  Cuttings 1/8" in diameter root quickly or not at all.  Thicker ones root more slowly but have more vigor once they start in my limited experience.  I've rooted 1 1/2 inch diameter cuttings that are now bigger plants than cuttings that rooted and put out leaves 3 months before.  My biggest size is the span from my thumb to pinky stretched out minus 1/2".  That's 8" and fits perfectly in the small priority boxes I use.   :)

Great.  Shorter than I would have sent, which means I can ship more cuttings more cheaper.

I will post up what I have available when the time comes.  Not taking advance requests.   If I keep it simple, there's less likelyhood I will mess it up.  There will be lots of VDB, some Black Mission, and a few unknowns that have proven themselves fo me.   Probably in January or February.

Thanks to all of you.

My suggestion would be to send them as long as your mailing container, your pruning technique, and the tree allows, then let the recipient cut them how they prefer.

I like to cut the top on the diagonal, length and diameter seems not to matter as long as there are nodes.
It is all about the cuttings, for a VDB or RDB, I'll figure it out and make do, LOL

Myself, I like them 8'' long. If i had a choice, prefer the tips. I like how they grow out, thats just me. The reason I like them 8" is because I use the uline bags that are that long. You bury the whole cutting, except the last node or tip.  As for cost, I'd rather pay a little bit more for shipping to get longer cuttings and size to my liking.


luke