Does anyone use tree tubes on their young figs?

This year I had a very small Chicago hardy that would not grow, that is until I made a grow tube from corrugated, whilte plastic sign card. The thing boomed after that! It put on 5ft in 2-3 months, plus 3ft growth of a second shoot. I am thinking about using mini-tubes on cuttings when I pot them up and I am wondering who else uses these and what they results are.

What is a tree tube?

I tried to post a pic,but I could not get it to go; Here is a website that shows them:

http://wilsonforsup.com/2011/07/another-satisfied-tree-tube-customer/

But I want to try is homemade mini-tubes on fig cuttings. I'm just looking for ideas or suggestions from people who might have tried this before. No need to reinvent the wheel ;-)

Wilson website does not mention how the tube helped the tree growth and there is no obvious explanation and no comparison with similar plant without the tube.
It will be interesting to know how it helps. I have may black tubes from backyard skating arena boards for my grandchildren.

I have used tubes on Muscadines and they are amazing, just like what I saw with the homemade "tube" on my Chicago Hardy last summer. From what I have read there are 2 key issues:

1) they must be translucent, they have to let some light in. The professional ones are light green, blue, or orange-ish
2) they need ventalation holes, otherwise the little buggers can overheat on warm days

I am thinking about taking some corrugated plastic and cutting it down to about 12 in and making a triangular 'tube' to use around rooted cuttings in the house - that is, when they are rooted and ready to pot.

I often see those tubes, but they are meant to avoid rodent and deer damages to the barck of the trees.

How are these tubes used?   Is the plant/tree slipped into the tube, or is the tube opened along a vertical seam, and then wrapped around the tree?  What about existing branching along the trunk?  What about branches that sprout along the tube wrapped trunk?

Never seen these tubes, and I'm curious.....



Frank

the tubes are slipped around the trunk. Most of the time the idea is for a tall, straight tree so no limbs down as low as the tube (usually 3-5ft tall). They are about 5-6 inch in diameter so they aren't exactly "wrapped" around the young seedling trunk. They are used to increase early growth and to protect seedlings from animal damage.

However, in the case of my little sickly Chicago Hardy, I made the "tube" more like a triangle, 8-10 in on each side. So it accomadated a low growing side branch. And as I said, it really caused that fig to take off. 

Gene
zone 7b Central Arkansas

Thanks, Gene.  Got it.  Good for "whips", and single-stem training, etc.  Interesting concept and growing method.


Frank

 I dont understand how you slip a tube over a small tree. You remove existing branches?

Thank you,  Soni

the tubes have a slit along one side. You close them onto a stake with zip ties.

  OK I saw a drawing but wasnt able to post it.  It showed the tall tube goes over a tiny tree before it has branches and just grows up and out the top. LOL  Now i get it. duh  lol