Hello everyone,

I just wanted to say that I appreciate all of the input I've had here over the last few months.  I know there was a month long span where it felt like I had questions every other day.  I've survived rotting while rooting, overwatering, a root gnat infestation (haven't seen one in a week!), complete changes of media well after roots were established, and more. 

Still, I haven't lost a cutting in several weeks now...a vast improvement from when they were dropping like flies a month or so ago.  Sadly, there were some casualties, but that won't stop me from trying again next year.

Here are some of the surviving plants, and their stories.  All of them were started back in mid November...which makes tiny bit of growth that much more pitiful.  But hey...this is a post about overcoming adversity and being appreciative, not about my glorious growing skills (or lack thereof).

143-36 (aka emerald strawberry). Far and away my best rooter.  This thing grows roots like mad.  I overwatered it early on, and rotted 100% of some really nice roots (filled out a 16oz cup at the time), and it dropped 4 of its 5 leaves.  I didn't see any rot on the actual cutting, just the roots, so I just left it in there.  It did nothing for about a month.  However, it has recently re-rooted, and quite well!  Alas, it only has the 1 leaf right now, but it just broke bud again today.
 


Adriatic JH!  I might be most excited for this guy out of all my cuttings.  I started with 2 cuttings.  Both rooted very well, but then I killed them via overwatering (you might start to notice a trend here...).  Well, one of them is still barely hanging on (no picture...lol), but the other one I cut off all the rotted roots, broke it in half, and started from scratch.  This is one of those halves!
   


Here's the bottom of that plant.  Notice those roots coming out? Another great rooter, though it took awhile to actually start.
 


Oh, and remember how I said I broke it in half?  Here's the other half!  It was only 4 inches long when I restarted it.
 


How about Ronde de Bordeaux?  Started with 3 of these, but only got 2 to root.  I then (you guessed it) overwatered them.  This one never had to re-root, but I did completely change its rooting media after realizing my folly.  Twice.  He broke bud about a week ago after being stalled for about a 6-8 weeks and losing a leaf.  On a side note, the second one just re-rooted!  We'll see if I can keep it alive.
 


Nero600m.  This one survived quite a few problems as well.  Not only did I overwater it, but it was my most root gnat infested specimen.  I could shake it and about 6-8 gnats would fly out every time.  So I bare rooted it, mixed some gnatrol into the mix potting, and began to water with gnatrol-infused water from ONLY the bottom.  I used a little Sevin on top as well, which finished off the little buggers.  Prior to the infestation, this plant had 4-5x this much green.  It just broke bud again a couple days ago.
 


Marseilles Black VS.  Tough tough rooter.  Only got 1/2 to root (1 of 3, sort of...I broke one in half early on), and it took forever.  This one finally grew out, then stalled for about 5 weeks after...what else....overwatering.  Its actually still quite waterlogged, but it has been growing slowly (but steadily) for the past week and a half, so I don't dare mess with it.
 


There are a few others as well, but you get the idea by now.  So I'll leave you with this.  It's a variety I've not heard of before, nor can I find any info on it.   See how the oldest leaf is wilty and sickly looking? It started doing that after overwatering, and I thought it was doomed.  Instead, it just put out a bunch of new growth, which seems to be doing just fine.  Wish the old growth would recover though.  The roots are coming through the bottom, so it can't be that unhappy.


So there you have it.  I have had a pretty miserable first run at things.  I started with about 30 total cuttings, and ~25 rooted.  I'm down to 9 left, mostly due to overwatering, but the gnats definitely killed off my Hollier cuttings and maybe 1 or 2 others, because they weren't drenched like everything else.  Jerks.  Still, these guys are my survivors, and I think I've finally learned how to keep them happy, as they're all actively budding.  I also got a few more varieties a couple weeks ago thanks to generous members.  Some of them have already started rooting, so we'll see if I can prevent making the same mistakes this time around.

Thanks for reading,
-Brett

Brett, you should be proud, you may have struggled but it is a constant learning experience. The minutiae and the fine lines are too much to deal with almost. I had the hubris to think I would breeze through my third rooting season but I have learned much, and killed much! The quality of the cutting can make a big difference, as well as the density of the rooting mixture. You have some really good varieties, and you only need one at a time, so you are ahead of the game. Good luck up-potting and thanks for the update.

Well done Brett! Your hard work paid off ! Have an awesome growing season with lots and lots of figs!

you go guy.   we are all learning each day.   everyday when i go out a see a sprout I think  "I Can do this!!!!!!"

Those look great, Brett!

Congratulations on your persistence!  Good luck with them as they grow larger!

Suzi

Been there Brett, big time, but it gets better and better and better.

Excellent work, Brett!  I hope they continue to do well for you.

Good job.  I think you are on the up side of the learning curve.

Brett - good stuff, the trees look healthy. Funny thing, I had the reverse with MBVS and Emerald Strawberry - the former rooted more quickly and vigorously than the latter. The EMs are rooting, but the root system isn't nearly as thick or far-reaching as the MBVS. MBVS also became my quickest rooter of this year - one rooted in 19 days.