Help With Classroom Project/ now w/ photos

Author

Comment

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384364366	Reply with quote #1

Greetings, I gave 25 cuttings to the science class because they were studying plant propagation. They put the cutting in coke bottle under a grow light and so far all have either roots or buds or both...this is where the help comes in... two are upside down and have buds and I wondered if they should bother with turning them rightside up or will they grow roots as they are? __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,330

Posted 1384366789	Reply with quote #2

At the LSU Fig Field Day this past July, Dr. Charley said that a cutting should be oriented up in the same direction it was cut. He said the cutting will still produce growth but it would grow in the correct direction, which I thought meant that the growth would make a U-turn, As I remember. I think the students should be taught to follow convention as deviation will often result in unpredictable results. They could continue and document the deviation and see what happens. Thank for your participation in the project. Hope this helps. __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384367334	Reply with quote #3

Since this is 3rd grade I will let the teacher know to turn those cutting over, I might pop in tomorrow and take care of it for them. I think it is such a hoot that the kids are doing this and it is going so well.. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

Hoosierguy86

Registered:1375830122
Posts: 246

Posted 1384388095	Reply with quote #4

Gloria, As an elementary education graduate it is awesome to see you contribute to a project like this. Im sure this is something these students will take with them throughout their lives and are the future fig growers of America. I actually took a position in another field but would love to get into the classrooms doing projects like this with students here. __________________ Scott N. Indiana 5b/6a

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384389728	Reply with quote #5

It has been a lot of fun, I took in an orchid and my hanging pitcher plants and spent and hour talking to them about plants and all the ways they feed themselves. I let them keep the orchid and one pitcher plant till spring. The orchid because it was about to bloom and I thought it would be nice for them to see the process. I can't help laughing at all I go through trying to root cuttings and they just stick them in a coke bottle.... I think there may be a lot of Moms out there that are gonna get a fig tree for Christmas... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

Grasa

Registered:1347083219
Posts: 1,819

Posted 1384410852	Reply with quote #6

oh well, I saw several upside down sticks of blackberry at a nursery, when I pointed it to the sales person, she said that is how it should be....duh, why all others where right side up she could not explain... they only had small buds, so I have no idea how that would turn out. It is nice of you to go and share with kids. Always fun __________________ Grasa Seattle, WA

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1384425350	Reply with quote #7

Hi, The only important thing, is that the roots are kept in the water, and then in the ground. If they are rooted upside down, they still will make their way in life. It would only be easier for the trees to make it upside up ... They would grow faster. I sometimes root them horizontally. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384433868	Reply with quote #8

Right now on the upside down ones there are only small buds but if I turn them over they will be underwater.. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384441831	Reply with quote #9

I went in today thinking i would just be turning over the two (turns out there were four) cuttings that were upside down, the teacher had other plans. She was interested in what I had said about what was going on with the cuttings and asked me to talk to the class about it and then go with groups of kids to check on and make observation about their cuttings, if was great fun and the kids really seem to love it, half didn't even know that you get fruit from a fig tree or what a fig is... The other bonus was a friend of mine was there helping out with another class and she asked what I did with my figs... and then told me they had a tree too, I said what kind... I don't know it came from my husbands father he grows lots of them!!! She is going to find out what it is and give me cuttings!! Got to love the fig gods! __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1384443363	Reply with quote #10

Very cool that you are fostering horticultural interest with kids, good work!

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1384452600	Reply with quote #11

Great job Gloria! Grasa, when you propagate blackberry, black raspberry, any trailing bramble; it is very easy. In the later 1/2 of the summer when the shoots start to sag to the ground, you put the tips into small 1-2 qt pots(or whatever size you have) and fill them with dirt. You just water them when you water the mother and forget about them. At the end of the season cut it off about 6 inches above the pot and stash it in some leaves or somewhere kind of protected. It does help to put a tile or something under the pot though or else it will root through and into the ground as well. I do a handful every year to give out to friends and relatives when they ask. And if nobody asks, I just keep them under their mother where they are shaded and live as a bonsai bramble until someone plants them. So that is why they are upside down. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384453063	Reply with quote #12

Cool info Calvin I am going to have to get my sister to root some of her Blackberries for me that way. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1384456478	Reply with quote #13

Gloria, You sent me cuttings and I would be glad to return the favor. I have one Triple Crown Thorn-less blackberry I can bare root and send to you. You can still get it into the ground this fall and it will start growing happy next spring, just pay shipping. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384459560	Reply with quote #14

That would be great Calvin just pm with how much and all... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1384460949	Reply with quote #15

PM me your mailing address. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

Bikkurim

Registered:1354509162
Posts: 213

Posted 1384470351	Reply with quote #16

I think that is just awesome that you are doing propagation project with the kids like that and it's beyond just stuffing it in some dirt and sending them on their way. Recording findings can teach them so much. I vote to let it grow upside down also. Seeing what happens with growth would be educational. I hope that my husband and I can continue to foster a love for plants in my children that will be lifelong. __________________ Sarah greater Portland, Oregon area zone 8b Wish list:any Col de Dame, Maltese Falcon, Maltese Beauty, Black Zadar, Fico Piccolino, Petite Negri, Red Lebanese

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,330

Posted 1384473445	Reply with quote #17

I think the Coke bottle thing is really funny in that I tried water rooting and only had limited (almost none) success. I think rooting in water is absolutely the hardest thing to do consistently. Gloria, I cannot say enough accolades about your participation in this project. Thank you. We are doing a contest for 4H and FFA Senior students for our Big Fig Gig next year, we will provide cuttings to students and have a judged show with a cash prize for the best tree/plant. Please keep us advised on the progress of the project, maybe some pictures????? __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1384475681	Reply with quote #18

The teacher had them take pictures of each of the cuttings so I will ask her to send me some. It has really been great fun. I think having that grow light helps to with the warmth and all. There wasn't a single cutting that didn't have roots or buds or both... was crazy how different they all were... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1386880676	Reply with quote #19

I wanted to share the photos, 24 of the 25 cuttings are doing great, I will be going in on Monday to help the kids pot them up. Attached Images kids5.jpg (339.93 KB, 173 views) kids4.jpg (423.44 KB, 33 views) kids1.jpg (455.51 KB, 172 views) __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

armando93223

Registered:1318984112
Posts: 1,164

Posted 1386881226	Reply with quote #20

They look good, I think eventually you have to get them out of water...??? What varieties are they..???? , may have some cuttings of Black Mission or Celeste in the near future that I can send. __________________ Armando in the Heart of California

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1386881668	Reply with quote #21

These are all from my Celeste tree...I will go in Monday and pot them into 32oz cups for the kids to take home. I need to write an instruction sheet for them to take home... The one with the biggest roots aside from my daughters( cause I need another giant Celeste tree) was the one the kid put in a cocktail glass about 3' tall... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

dcfromsocal

Registered:1380428721
Posts: 90

Posted 1386883023	Reply with quote #22

Fantastic! You are also nurturing the Young Minds in that classroom - What a wonderful way to share figs :) - Dave C. & Family Southern CA zone 9B __________________ - Dave C. & Family, Temecula (southern), CA - Zone 9b

Hoosierguy86

Registered:1375830122
Posts: 246

Posted 1386893763	Reply with quote #23

Thanks for the photo updates! Glad they all turned out! So cool! __________________ Scott N. Indiana 5b/6a

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1387222576	Reply with quote #24

I went in today and helped pot up all the little figlings.... the best part was listening to the kids, the cuttings have been in a work room and this is only the second or third time the kids of seen them. She sent them in, in small groups... most of the dialog went like this, "wow look at my roots, well have you seen so and so's roots. I have cray roots!" "Well look at mine!!!" It was all I could do not to laugh, they were so cute!! This was a 3rd grade class, and some wanted to know if they could take it home and get fruit from it...it will be interesting to see the long term info I get back as these kids go through school together. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

armando93223

Registered:1318984112
Posts: 1,164

Posted 1393370728	Reply with quote #25

Bumping this Up: I have been trying the Gloria's Bottle Method and have been having great success. When I get cuttings I split them up into the baggie method and bottle method. __________________ Armando in the Heart of California

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1393417149	Reply with quote #26

LOL I can't really take credit... but it does seem to work well and no fungus gnats.. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1393420800	Reply with quote #27

i dumped my upside down Kathleen's Black. it was having such hard time for whatever reason. it put on the branch, but started to twist to get the right orientation, then the leaves were keep rotting. didn't feel like babying it. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1393421955	Reply with quote #28

Orientation really seems to make a difference, when I turned the ones at school they thrived. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1393441957	Reply with quote #29

This is a great thread! I'm from California, and the only fig I ever tasted was from my grandma's tree (next door). I HATED that fig! It was probably a brown turkey. Who knows? But I hated a lot of food back then.... Wouldn't think of tasting some things I now love! Your project and pictures are amazing, as is the enthusiasm of kids!! Congratulations on your success and sharing your project with us! Editing this to say there is a bigger than life lesson here. Roots are as important to a tree as they are to humans. We need to get good values and strong minds when we are young to withstand the storms that will come! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

Previous Topic | Next Topic

Modal title

Insert Code

Please paste your code into the box below: