Hello everyone!  I will be receiving some BM cuttings in a few days and wanted to check with those whom have been successful rooting this variety as well as other "hard-to-root" cultivars.  Did you do anything special to successfully root your cuttings?  Any tips and advice would be much appreciated!

I'm not an expert in rooting especially BM cause it is not really popular in Europe but...my experience in rooting cuttings is, the more heat you can offer them, the faster and better they will root. In my heating room the temps are around 75 to 80°F, and it just works fine. My last success rate was 100% of 11 cuttings.

But it is already very late in the season. I don't know if it wouldn't be better to store the cuttings in the fridge till February...

I started my 4 BM cuttings last year just about this time. I used the same method for them as I did for all of my other cuttings. Contrary to what I read about how difficult they would be to root, all 4 rooted with no difficulty. Even better success rate than some of the other varieties I started at the same time. Use the same method that you have had success with in the past and you'll be fine with them. Good luck

I'll be watching this thread. BM was the only variety I totally failed with last spring. I didn't even get the start of roots of roots or leaves on the two cuttings I had. I went about 90% success on the other 10 varieties I tried and have at least one 4 foot example now growing of the all of them. Either bad luck with BM or more likely my inexperience. It worked out okay as I bought a rooted BM off Ebay, but even though it appears very healthy, it sure is a slow grower.

Good luck

trif1010 - Thanks for the encouragement!!!

keep it between 75-80. check it daily for mold and moisture. wipe both mold and moisture off the cutting with moist paper towel. should show roots in 4 to 6 weeks.

I got mine from Jon and didn't have any issues.  All my cuttings rooted.  I wouldn't call it a hard to root variety.  But what do I know?

I have read that bm is a really tasty fig. Not sure on how early or late the fruit is. It might go on my wish list.

back about 3 yrs ago when i first joined the forum, Black Madeira from USDA/UCD was known to be hard to root. i'm not sure why that was. i rooted all my USDA/UCD cuttings. however, those who were having issues back then had more experience that i do when rooting figs, so i believe my rooting were all beginner's luck.. two yrs in a row.

i think as the time went on, people found new ways to root, and better way to control the environment for the rooting practice leading to better results. new baggie method, peat pot method, root riot.. they all help with rooting now days. some are experimenting with root hormones and such.

one thing i can say is fresh cutting in the early spring is best way to go. do no store the cutting. get the cutting in late march or about a month before your night temp hits 50, and start rooting. once it has good set of roots and night temp is above 50, leave it outside where there is fresh air, humidity and sun. make sure to introduce to sun slowly, or you will lose all the leaves.

Pete, that's great information for all of us. I was dwelling on the idea of rooting cuttings in the Spring since that's when nature is actively growing while fall and winter are seasons when nature is slowing down to rest and recover for the following surge that accompanies Spring and then, Summer. Thanks for your confirmation.

I have only 60 % success with black mission.  I will try some more.  I will try the cup thing with that was in another post.  I think that will work with a bag to control humidity