Fig cutting propagation in sand

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Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1407119218	Reply with quote #1

Interesting I thought some might enjoy. Propagation article. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1407120938	Reply with quote #2

It is an interesting article, thanks Charlie.

MGorski

Registered:1399823521
Posts: 370

Posted 1407126620	Reply with quote #3

Thanks Charlie, I have used course sand/perlite in the past with great results. Gonna have to get some sand and use this method again. Mike in Hanover, VA __________________ Zone-7, previously Mescalito

Otmani007

Registered:1404531079
Posts: 573

Posted 1407165838	Reply with quote #4

Thanks for sharing, Charlie. Something new to try and see what happens. __________________ Dallas, TX - Zone 8a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanche, Brogiotto Bianco, Sicilian White, Panache Otmani

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,117

Posted 1407166323	Reply with quote #5

Interesting article thanks for sharing! I hate working with perlite and I can't find any long fibre sphagnum moss in my area so I will try this for some fig cuttings later this year. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

tylerj

Registered:1347291507
Posts: 646

Posted 1407166674	Reply with quote #6

I've had really good luck rooting other green cuttings in pure sand... hardy kiwi and blackberry ... though I've never tried fig cuttings. I think sand makes it easy to keep the correct moisture level for the cutting since it drains so well. __________________ London, Ontario zone 6a Wish List: Martinenca Rimada, Genovese Nero AF, Galicia Negra, Brooklyn White

Charitup

Registered:1364254079
Posts: 592

Posted 1407170877	Reply with quote #7

I did a few cuttings in just sand last year. I think most of them rooted o.k. but I left them in the sand to long and they died before I noticed them. __________________ goss North Ga. zone 7

james

Registered:1189185103
Posts: 1,653

Posted 1407193502	Reply with quote #8

I still have pomegranate, mulberry and kiwi cuttings in the fridge. I'd like to try to root some in sand and have some questions. 1. Is it necessary to screen the sand? 2. Do the cuttings stay in a high humidity chamber? 3. How often do you water? 4. Do you pot up as soon as you see roots, or wait for advanced root growth? 5. How are gnats as compared to other routing media? My first batch of fig cuttings were in 100% Perlite. They did very well and many we're ready to be potted up when the gnats struck. I was gone for a few days and lost all but 4 of the 78 cuttings. __________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine. Iranian figs are always welcome.

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1407196766	Reply with quote #9

James as far as I know, coarse grade sand is what you want and yes they will need humidity as any other. Watering frequency I do not know. The only experience with sand I have is some years ago while rooting blackberry cuttings that caused me to do some research now. Don't know about gnats or when to pot. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

whiterk

Registered:1401628299
Posts: 32

Posted 1407328539	Reply with quote #10

I have done a lot of reading about propagation with sand and mist over the years. The secret is in fact coarse sand, I bought mine from Lowes about $3.00 a sack. I also bought a misting kit from Lowes for about $15.00. The most expensive and hard to find part is the timer. Very few timers have the capability to control misting by the second. The ideal setting is a 7-10 second mist every 10 minutes. The timer I bought from Amazon is about $60.00. There are a few people on the internet making a living selling their plans for this setup. As advertised with this combination of mist and sand, you can propagate almost anything. The science behind misting is, when you mist the leaves at the above setting it allow the evaporation process to pull moisture from the bottom of the stem up through the stem and out of the leaves, about the time the water fully evaporates from the leaves it gives it another quick mist to replace the water but it doesn't beat the leaves down with heavy drops and also allows air to get to the leaves. The coarse sand doesn't hold water so it's less likely to harbor bacteria and insects. Another benefit is, you can root hundreds of cuttings in a fairly small container with just 4-5 inches of sand. I currently am rooting citrus, mulberry, and fig all in the same container under mist and things are going very well. When the roots are established about 2 months later, I will pot them up into potting soil and mist them every 4 hours in partial sun until they grow to the pot. Another benefit is you don't need individual humidity containers that harbor fungus. If anyone is interested in more, just ask. __________________ Have: Panache, VDB, RDB, LSU Gold, Col De Dame Blanco, Green Ischia, Celeste, O'rourkie, Conadria, LSU Purple, Magnolia, Marseilles White, Brown Turkey, Vernino, Grose Monstruese, Barnisotte, Osborn Prolific, Dauphine, Early Violet, Sweet George, LSU Gold, Petite Negra, Marselles VS,

MGorski

Registered:1399823521
Posts: 370

Posted 1407331305	Reply with quote #11

I have always used sharp sand that was cleaned of the finer particles, as well as course perlite. The root systems always looked very good in the 50/50 mix. Randall, that is good information you shared, I recall working in a greenhouse with a propagation bench that had a mister. I also would be interested to see your setup if your able to post it. What is the mister you bought called? The timer is important, a bit of an investment, but probably well worth it. I remember algae growing under the mist in the greenhouse, but no mold. Are you using rooting hormone on your cuttings? I have some mulberries I'd like to root, but have heard mixed results, I'd like to not waste the few good shoots on the plant. Mike in Hanover, VA __________________ Zone-7, previously Mescalito

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1407332397	Reply with quote #12

Mike, If you have access to a growing mulberry tree that you are looking to propagate try air layering the branches. I'm currently air layering several branches of a young Illinois Everbearing and an established Russian. Here's an example posted on the web, http://oliveinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/tut-air-layering.html .

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1407333481	Reply with quote #13

Speaking of mulberries, does anyone have air layers of a white mulberry that is suitable for zone 10? Please PM me.

MGorski

Registered:1399823521
Posts: 370

Posted 1407333730	Reply with quote #14

Thanks Pete, I may try that instead. I too have an Illinois Everbearing, the best tasting mulberry I've tried. It's in a somewhat shaded area and has mosly been growing short branches, but I like the large air layer possibility shown in the link you posted. I could get a nice sized plant rooted and put it in a better area of the yard. Mike in Hanover, VA __________________ Zone-7, previously Mescalito

whiterk

Registered:1401628299
Posts: 32

Posted 1407334974	Reply with quote #15

I don't have any pictures of my setup right now because it's just rigged up until we move to our new house in a few weeks then I will setup something more permanent. I can take pictures and post them afterwards, there are a few really nice youtube video's that show the same setup I have, just search "Intermittent Mist System" . Also the timer I use is the Galcon 8056S, there it is, the big secret everyone in the home propagation business is hiding. Another secret is that most permanent systems use the "Dramm mist Stix" misting heads, really hard to find these and will be an upgrade to my system. Also, I do use rooting hormone. I have requested mulberry cuttings from UC Davis, they have some hard to find mulberry varieties and they will be shipped as dormant cuttings during winter. I have a very large mulberry tree in the yard of the house I'm renting and currently doing some air layers on it as well as cuttings in my mist propagation system and the roots are doing very well and I plan on potting them in the next week or so. I'm not sure of the variety it's just a large black mulberry that I'm impressed with. __________________ Have: Panache, VDB, RDB, LSU Gold, Col De Dame Blanco, Green Ischia, Celeste, O'rourkie, Conadria, LSU Purple, Magnolia, Marseilles White, Brown Turkey, Vernino, Grose Monstruese, Barnisotte, Osborn Prolific, Dauphine, Early Violet, Sweet George, LSU Gold, Petite Negra, Marselles VS,

hungryjack

Registered:1313447992
Posts: 518

Posted 1407639943	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by whiterk Galcon 8056S, there it is, the big secret everyone in the home propagation business is hiding. . Hitmen are on the way. :-) __________________ Big Apple/Fig, New York 6B

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1407643304	Reply with quote #17

I did a thread called most table propagation about 2 years ago with pics. __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1440209156	Reply with quote #18

Anybody do any sand propagation since this post was made a year ago? I just happened to get a free 100lb sack of coarse sand today straight from the sand plant on the Arkansas River. It's the kind they call filter sand, pretty coarse. Way more coarse than play sand. I'm thinking of trying some sort of like the single node experiment and bury them horizontally, but not single node and feed them hydro nutrients instead of organics through the winter. Don't want to plug the 1000 watt bulb in again though, probably look for some fluorescent or LED setup. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

whiterk

Registered:1401628299
Posts: 32

Posted 1440211103	Reply with quote #19

I'm still propagating with sand and mist. I've had success in the 90% range. __________________ Have: Panache, VDB, RDB, LSU Gold, Col De Dame Blanco, Green Ischia, Celeste, O'rourkie, Conadria, LSU Purple, Magnolia, Marseilles White, Brown Turkey, Vernino, Grose Monstruese, Barnisotte, Osborn Prolific, Dauphine, Early Violet, Sweet George, LSU Gold, Petite Negra, Marselles VS,

whiterk

Registered:1401628299
Posts: 32

Posted 1458590362	Reply with quote #20

Not sure what happened to the video above. Try this link if anyone wants to watch it. __________________ Have: Panache, VDB, RDB, LSU Gold, Col De Dame Blanco, Green Ischia, Celeste, O'rourkie, Conadria, LSU Purple, Magnolia, Marseilles White, Brown Turkey, Vernino, Grose Monstruese, Barnisotte, Osborn Prolific, Dauphine, Early Violet, Sweet George, LSU Gold, Petite Negra, Marselles VS,

garden_whisperer

Registered:1353347580
Posts: 1,613

Posted 1476749589	Reply with quote #21

Bumb __________________ Dave Zone 6b Illinois "Be the change you wish to see in the world"

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