Is mid Sept ok to start cuttings?

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RegencyLass

Registered:1441763907
Posts: 136

Posted 1442023533	Reply with quote #1

I'm in Zone 5b and just received some fig cuttings. Can I go ahead start the cuttings now, or would it be better to just wrap them and put them in the refrigerator until early spring? Thanks __________________ ~RL~ Zone 5 Wish list: Saint Martin, Pastiliere, Panache, Dark Portuguese, Alma, Nero600m, Salce, Vista, Malta Black, Gino, Galicia Negra & Conadria.

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1442025263	Reply with quote #2

If you can provide enough light and warmth through the winter it will be a project you'll never forget. :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

RegencyLass

Registered:1441763907
Posts: 136

Posted 1442028642	Reply with quote #3

Thanks, because I can hardly wait to get started! LOL I have a dedicated room with shelving units containing propagation tanks, heat mats, grow lights, etc. that I use each winter/early spring for seed starting, propagation and my more tender perennials (I have lemon trees that have been producing for the past three years). I've even done successful fruit tree grafting. However this is my first experience with fig propagation/growing and despite my enthusiasm to get them going "right now," I want to prevent as many potential newbie mistakes as possible so if that meant waiting, so be it. But I'm chuffed to know that I don't have to wait now. ;) ~RL~ __________________ ~RL~ Zone 5 Wish list: Saint Martin, Pastiliere, Panache, Dark Portuguese, Alma, Nero600m, Salce, Vista, Malta Black, Gino, Galicia Negra & Conadria.

ChrisK

Registered:1415844271
Posts: 937

Posted 1442029621	Reply with quote #4

What Charlie said is 100% accurate. If you're not seriously equipped to handle winter growing( rooting is the easy part, keeping them alive till spring!!!!) . I will store all my new cuttings till spring because I lack equipment and time . Best of luck RL ,with whatever you decide to do and welcome to the forum! __________________ ChrisK Atl GA Zone 7b-8a

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1442057947	Reply with quote #5

Hi Regencyclass, The fresher the cuttings the better are the chances to root them. But you'll need to keep them growing during the coming winter. Normally if you're fruiting lemon trees, your new potted fig trees will be well there for the winter. Good luck ! __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

lifigs

Registered:1374698291
Posts: 217

Posted 1442065710	Reply with quote #6

Rooting this time of year is definitely more challenging. I find I can get them to root and grow leaves but then the fig gnats show up during the winter and my overall survival rate tends to be pretty low. That doesn't mean I don't try a few every year but I find it much easier to start them in late winter. __________________ Bill Long Island (Nassau) 7a,NY Wish List: Sicilian Red, RdB, JH Adriatic, Sal's EL and any fig from Bari.

Jamie0507

Registered:1435895205
Posts: 167

Posted 1442070524	Reply with quote #7

Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie If you can provide enough light and warmth through the winter it will be a project you'll never forget. :) So say we are talking about cuttings that were started a month ago and are just beginning to get going now.. As in I see lots of roots and a few that are leafing out but still require humidity chambers to prevent dessication. Couldn't we just let them go dormant and store them in the garage this winter with the others? Oh boy do I hope so because I have quite a few, and no grow lights in my home to keep them alive all winter ;( __________________ Jamie Zone 6A My List of Fig Varieties: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13MXbhU3b-5Y4bkNSWHVikw6m-vovlHZcBjcsxMwQ7iY Wish list: Col. Littmans, Figoin, Black Tuscan.. And now for my "Hey..A girl has got to have dreams!" wishlist: Sangue Dolce, Montenegro, Rigato del Salento

Jamie0507

Registered:1435895205
Posts: 167

Posted 1442070686	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by RegencyLass Thanks, because I can hardly wait to get started! LOL I have a dedicated room with shelving units containing propagation tanks, heat mats, grow lights, etc. that I use each winter/early spring for seed starting, propagation and my more tender perennials (I have lemon trees that have been producing for the past three years). I've even done successful fruit tree grafting. However this is my first experience with fig propagation/growing and despite my enthusiasm to get them going "right now," I want to prevent as many potential newbie mistakes as possible so if that meant waiting, so be it. But I'm chuffed to know that I don't have to wait now. ;) ~RL~ Wow you sound REALLY PREPARED! I love the sound of your dedicated grow room! Was it very costly to acquire all those things? I think I may need to invest in some of these things too or my late summer cuttings may be in trouble that I started about a month ago ;( __________________ Jamie Zone 6A My List of Fig Varieties: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13MXbhU3b-5Y4bkNSWHVikw6m-vovlHZcBjcsxMwQ7iY Wish list: Col. Littmans, Figoin, Black Tuscan.. And now for my "Hey..A girl has got to have dreams!" wishlist: Sangue Dolce, Montenegro, Rigato del Salento

Vladis

Registered:1390659900
Posts: 352

Posted 1442081782	Reply with quote #9

Один из способов распространения разнообразие - осень закрылков прививки. __________________ Зона 8Б ,Туапсе, Россия.

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1442083069	Reply with quote #10

Quote: Originally Posted by Jamie0507 So say we are talking about cuttings that were started a month ago and are just beginning to get going now.. As in I see lots of roots and a few that are leafing out but still require humidity chambers to prevent dessication. Couldn't we just let them go dormant and store them in the garage this winter with the others? Oh boy do I hope so because I have quite a few, and no grow lights in my home to keep them alive all winter ;( I have no experience with your suggestion but have read that it is not ideal as the newly rooted cuttings may not have enough stored energy to come back in the spring. You could certainly try an experiment with a few and report on it next spring :) __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

Jamie0507

Registered:1435895205
Posts: 167

Posted 1442085086	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by Vladis Один из способов распространения разнообразие - осень закрылков прививки. Vladis what is fall flap grafting? что падение лоскут прививки (Google translated __________________ Jamie Zone 6A My List of Fig Varieties: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13MXbhU3b-5Y4bkNSWHVikw6m-vovlHZcBjcsxMwQ7iY Wish list: Col. Littmans, Figoin, Black Tuscan.. And now for my "Hey..A girl has got to have dreams!" wishlist: Sangue Dolce, Montenegro, Rigato del Salento

Jamie0507

Registered:1435895205
Posts: 167

Posted 1442085312	Reply with quote #12

Quote: Originally Posted by eboone Quote: Originally Posted by Jamie0507 So say we are talking about cuttings that were started a month ago and are just beginning to get going now.. As in I see lots of roots and a few that are leafing out but still require humidity chambers to prevent dessication. Couldn't we just let them go dormant and store them in the garage this winter with the others? Oh boy do I hope so because I have quite a few, and no grow lights in my home to keep them alive all winter ;( I have no experience with your suggestion but have read that it is not ideal as the newly rooted cuttings may not have enough stored energy to come back in the spring. You could certainly try an experiment with a few and report on it next spring :) I will definitely do that Ed! Maybe do a side by side comparison of those I keep indoors versus those I let go dormant & then keep my fingers crossed on that they have enough oomph in them to make a come back in the spring! I like this idea :) Great suggestion! __________________ Jamie Zone 6A My List of Fig Varieties: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13MXbhU3b-5Y4bkNSWHVikw6m-vovlHZcBjcsxMwQ7iY Wish list: Col. Littmans, Figoin, Black Tuscan.. And now for my "Hey..A girl has got to have dreams!" wishlist: Sangue Dolce, Montenegro, Rigato del Salento

tylerj

Registered:1347291507
Posts: 646

Posted 1442086968 · Edited	Reply with quote #13

There are 2 things I would suggest if you are going to grow out cuttings indoors for 6 or 7 months. When you get to the stage of potting up your rooted cuttings in potting soil I would first sterilize the soil to kill any gnat larvae/eggs that might be present. When you pot the cuttings I had great success using nylon stockings (knee highs) over the entire pot and tie it around the cutting. I had virtually no losses from gnats as they do not seem to be able to get through the nylon. The year before with exposed potting soil I had gnats everywhere and suffered a large number of plants lost from them. You don't want to water them very much if using potting soil either. Thats often the main reason cuttings fail. Another thing that really works well is using 100% (sifted) perlite. I recently just uppotted a small plant I started last fall in a 2 litre pop bottle where it remained for almost an entire year. Gnats won't bother with 100% perlite. Make sure you sift it with a colander first though as you do not want all the dust and tiny perlite particles because that will cluster around the cutting and keep it too wet which will result in rot. I usually lose almost half the perlite after sifting it but it really makes a difference. You will have to water them more frequently though as perlite does not retain much moisture. Good luck with your cuttings! Tyler __________________ London, Ontario zone 6a Wish List: Martinenca Rimada, Genovese Nero AF, Galicia Negra, Brooklyn White

DaveL

Registered:1418927587
Posts: 247

Posted 1442090058 · Edited	Reply with quote #14

RegencyLass, since you are all ready set up, why not do half your cuttings. If you make some newbe mistakes, you can correct them with some late winter starts. You can find out what works best for you. If they take, you'll experience the difficulty of keeping them alive till spring. In any event it will be a learning experience and fun at the same time. One piece of advice, save your quality fig cuttings till later, that way you don't lose your best figs to newbe mistakes. Have fun and good luck. __________________ Dave Waterford, Ct. Zone 6B

Vladis

Registered:1390659900
Posts: 352

Posted 1442090604	Reply with quote #15

Добавление к сообщению 11. __________________ Зона 8Б ,Туапсе, Россия.

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1442099592	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by Jamie0507 Quote: Originally Posted by eboone Quote: Originally Posted by Jamie0507 So say we are talking about cuttings that were started a month ago and are just beginning to get going now.. As in I see lots of roots and a few that are leafing out but still require humidity chambers to prevent dessication. Couldn't we just let them go dormant and store them in the garage this winter with the others? Oh boy do I hope so because I have quite a few, and no grow lights in my home to keep them alive all winter ;( I have no experience with your suggestion but have read that it is not ideal as the newly rooted cuttings may not have enough stored energy to come back in the spring. You could certainly try an experiment with a few and report on it next spring :) I will definitely do that Ed! Maybe do a side by side comparison of those I keep indoors versus those I let go dormant & then keep my fingers crossed on that they have enough oomph in them to make a come back in the spring! I like this idea :) Great suggestion! I agree with Ed but I'm not sure why since I don't have experience other than last year and I kept them going all winter at much expense. Just seems starting them late and letting them go dormant wouldn't be ideal. This winter I'm attempting 100% chemical fertigation in pure sand and fluorescent lighting. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

RegencyLass

Registered:1441763907
Posts: 136

Posted 1442123811 · Edited	Reply with quote #17

Quote: Originally Posted by Jamie0507 Wow you sound REALLY PREPARED! I love the sound of your dedicated grow room! Was it very costly to acquire all those things? I think I may need to invest in some of these things too or my late summer cuttings may be in trouble that I started about a month ago ;( I just added a couple of things each year. But you can go as elaborate or as inexpensive as you want. I tend to buy one top of the line item, and then experiment to see if there is something much cheaper that does the same thing. Take grow mats for example. I found that I could pick up used heating pads at boot sales (yard or garage sales) for around a dollar, stick them in a plastic kitchen trash bags and turn them on low and set the seedlings on top in a leak-proof trays and the heating pads work just as good, if not better, than the expensive grow mats. Note that the plastic bag is just an extra precaution I take in case the water tray develops a crack and would happen to leak. Regarding the lights, I've done side by side comparison and have seen very little, if any, difference in growth between my professional grow lights and those $10 shop lights you get from a big box store with the cheap florescent bulbs in them, and certainly not enough to warrant the big bucks for as long as it takes to germinate seeds and get them to a nice potting up size (3-4 months). However for plants that are mature and stay indoors all year round (such as certain exotic tropicals), a grow light is best for the plants continual optimum care. But even with my lemons, I haven't needed to use the prof grow lights on them, as they spend all summer outside and sit in front of a large picture window in the winter. And they produce wonderfully. When germinating/growing seedlings and young plants and cuttings, I have the lights plugged into surge protector bars that are plugged into cheap little $5 mechanical timers. These the timers with the pins you pull out/push in to set when you want the lights to come on/go off (I have the lights set for 17 hours a day for optimal seed germination and seedling growth). Wmart usually has them year round, but they do tend to sell out quickly during the winter holiday season. Hope this helps. :) __________________ ~RL~ Zone 5 Wish list: Saint Martin, Pastiliere, Panache, Dark Portuguese, Alma, Nero600m, Salce, Vista, Malta Black, Gino, Galicia Negra & Conadria.

RegencyLass

Registered:1441763907
Posts: 136

Posted 1442123990	Reply with quote #18

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveL RegencyLass, since you are all ready set up, why not do half your cuttings. If you make some newbe mistakes, you can correct them with some late winter starts. You can find out what works best for you. If they take, you'll experience the difficulty of keeping them alive till spring. In any event it will be a learning experience and fun at the same time. One piece of advice, save your quality fig cuttings till later, that way you don't lose your best figs to newbe mistakes. Have fun and good luck. Excellent idea, thanks! I will do that. __________________ ~RL~ Zone 5 Wish list: Saint Martin, Pastiliere, Panache, Dark Portuguese, Alma, Nero600m, Salce, Vista, Malta Black, Gino, Galicia Negra & Conadria.

RegencyLass

Registered:1441763907
Posts: 136

Posted 1442124473	Reply with quote #19

Quote: Originally Posted by tylerj There are 2 things I would suggest if you are going to grow out cuttings indoors for 6 or 7 months. When you pot the cuttings I had great success using nylon stockings (knee highs) over the entire pot and tie it around the cutting. Another thing that really works well is using 100% (sifted) perlite. I recently just uppotted a small plant I started last fall in a 2 litre pop bottle where it remained for almost an entire year. Gnats won't bother with 100% perlite. Thanks, Tyler! I'll add those tips to my anti-gnat arsenal. :) __________________ ~RL~ Zone 5 Wish list: Saint Martin, Pastiliere, Panache, Dark Portuguese, Alma, Nero600m, Salce, Vista, Malta Black, Gino, Galicia Negra & Conadria.

RegencyLass

Registered:1441763907
Posts: 136

Posted 1442124844	Reply with quote #20

Quote: Originally Posted by Vladis Добавление к сообщению 11. I'd like to give bud grafting a go...once I master growing cuttings. :) __________________ ~RL~ Zone 5 Wish list: Saint Martin, Pastiliere, Panache, Dark Portuguese, Alma, Nero600m, Salce, Vista, Malta Black, Gino, Galicia Negra & Conadria.

Jamie0507

Registered:1435895205
Posts: 167

Posted 1442145972	Reply with quote #21

Quote: Originally Posted by RegencyLass Quote: Originally Posted by Jamie0507 Wow you sound REALLY PREPARED! I love the sound of your dedicated grow room! Was it very costly to acquire all those things? I think I may need to invest in some of these things too or my late summer cuttings may be in trouble that I started about a month ago ;( I just added a couple of things each year. But you can go as elaborate or as inexpensive as you want. I tend to buy one top of the line item, and then experiment to see if there is something much cheaper that does the same thing. Take grow mats for example. I found that I could pick up used heating pads at boot sales (yard or garage sales) for around a dollar, stick them in a plastic kitchen trash bags and turn them on low and set the seedlings on top in a leak-proof trays and the heating pads work just as good, if not better, than the expensive grow mats. Note that the plastic bag is just an extra precaution I take in case the water tray develops a crack and would happen to leak. Regarding the lights, I've done side by side comparison and have seen very little, if any, difference in growth between my professional grow lights and those $10 shop lights you get from a big box store with the cheap florescent bulbs in them, and certainly not enough to warrant the big bucks for as long as it takes to germinate seeds and get them to a nice potting up size (3-4 months). However for plants that are mature and stay indoors all year round (such as certain exotic tropicals), a grow light is best for the plants continual optimum care. But even with my lemons, I haven't needed to use the prof grow lights on them, as they spend all summer outside and sit in front of a large picture window in the winter. And they produce wonderfully. When germinating/growing seedlings and young plants and cuttings, I have the lights plugged into surge protector bars that are plugged into cheap little $5 mechanical timers. These the timers with the pins you pull out/push in to set when you want the lights to come on/go off (I have the lights set for 17 hours a day for optimal seed germination and seedling growth). Wmart usually has them year round, but they do tend to sell out quickly during the winter holiday season. Hope this helps. :) That actually helps a HUGE AMOUNT! You've just saved me a ton of money RegencyLass! Especially since I already have a few old heating pads laying around along with an old aquarium fixture that just needs a new bulb :) I just need a couple cheap timers now and maybe one more light and I should be good to start off at least :) Thanks a whole bunch! Best of luck with your cuttings this winter.. Lets keep each other posted :) __________________ Jamie Zone 6A My List of Fig Varieties: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13MXbhU3b-5Y4bkNSWHVikw6m-vovlHZcBjcsxMwQ7iY Wish list: Col. Littmans, Figoin, Black Tuscan.. And now for my "Hey..A girl has got to have dreams!" wishlist: Sangue Dolce, Montenegro, Rigato del Salento

Ashita

Registered:1442075726
Posts: 13

Posted 1442148649	Reply with quote #22

I just came to this thread today, and after reading it, I desperately need advice. Monday last week I took some cuttings from a Qing Pi fig and as I was away from home, I kept them with the ends wrapped in very wet newspaper till I got home yesterday,five days later. Today I planted them in cut off plastic drink bottles in a potting compost for herbs, which had a large proportion of vermiculite in it. I did all this after consulting a lot of other websites before finding this forum. I sat back and looked at them with satisfaction and started dreaming about fig orchards! Then I started to wonder about if they rooted, what I should do in the winter. I will be unable to provide heat and light. Do you think I should tip them out and store them till spring? If so, how should I do that? I am a bit confused, having read things about plastic bags and wet kitchen paper, and refrigerators etc. I really want these cuttings to succeed! Any advice gratefully received!

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1442150771	Reply with quote #23

Quote: Originally Posted by Ashita I just came to this thread today, and after reading it, I desperately need advice. Monday last week I took some cuttings from a Qing Pi fig and as I was away from home, I kept them with the ends wrapped in very wet newspaper till I got home yesterday,five days later. Today I planted them in cut off plastic drink bottles in a potting compost for herbs, which had a large proportion of vermiculite in it. I did all this after consulting a lot of other websites before finding this forum. I sat back and looked at them with satisfaction and started dreaming about fig orchards! Then I started to wonder about if they rooted, what I should do in the winter. I will be unable to provide heat and light. Do you think I should tip them out and store them till spring? If so, how should I do that? I am a bit confused, having read things about plastic bags and wet kitchen paper, and refrigerators etc. I really want these cuttings to succeed! Any advice gratefully received! If it were me and I had no way to keep them growing well through winter I would remove them from the media now, wash and lay them out to dry to the touch, dip the ends in melted wax and put them in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator. You should check them often for mold. Too much excess moisture will add to mold, this is why to not store them long term with anything wet. They should have enough moisture within themselves to survive being dormant. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Ashita

Registered:1442075726
Posts: 13

Posted 1442153105	Reply with quote #24

Charlie, Thank you very much for replying. Just directly in the ziplock bag, unwrapped? And in the main part of the fridge or the vegetable drawer? By the way, earlier today I read the whole way through your post and the replies about single node cuttings, from beginning to end! It was fascinating!

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1442154168	Reply with quote #25

Quote: Originally Posted by Ashita Charlie, Thank you very much for replying. Just directly in the ziplock bag, unwrapped? And in the main part of the fridge or the vegetable drawer? By the way, earlier today I read the whole way through your post and the replies about single node cuttings, from beginning to end! It was fascinating! Yes just in the bag. Easy to visually inspect that way. I'm not sure it matters which fridge compartment, long as they remain cold. I kept mine in the crisper drawer just to have them all in one place and out of the way. Thanks. It was a learning experience everyone helped with. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

coop951

Registered:1217167527
Posts: 596

Posted 1442174938	Reply with quote #26

I would not root now. I know you are anxious, but in the long run your cuttings will suffer. Refrigerate properly and wait it out. The anxiety to get going is something we have all gone through and having gone through those feelings in the past, I recommend that you wait until at least February __________________ Coop Northern NJ Zone 7a

Ashita

Registered:1442075726
Posts: 13

Posted 1442186291	Reply with quote #27

coop951, Thanks! I know you are right (gulp). I have been growing a few fig varieties for some years, but this is the first (actually second, if I count accidental burying) time I have taken cuttings. I should have done my research before I went! I had no idea that cuttings could be stored. And thank you for answering what was going to be my next question, about when to take them out of the fridge! I have tipped them out and am drying them now. Ashita Tokyo

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