Blue Ischia Root Riot Air Layer

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FMD

Registered:1309800590
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1372249314	Reply with quote #1

Kudos to Rafed for introducing root riot to the forum. Not only is it great for rooting cuttings but it beats all other air layer media, in my opinion. The Blue Ischia air layer pictured below was started 10-14 days ago. I've had similar success with Niagara Black, and NJ Red unk. I encourage anyone who wants a quick, successful but small air layered plant to use this method. It is great for swaps as it saves on postage. By the way, the potted result will be made available for trade. Attached Images photo_5.JPG (600.21 KB, 297 views) photo_2.JPG (437.53 KB, 299 views) photo_3.JPG (506.82 KB, 259 views) photo_4.JPG (470.36 KB, 232 views) __________________ Frank Tallahassee, FL Zone 8b North Florida Figs

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372252082	Reply with quote #2

Did you have the score the green growth? __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

FMD

Registered:1309800590
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1372253902	Reply with quote #3

No scoring necessary, although it would probably not hurt. A "schmear" of hormone gel might also accelerate the process... __________________ Frank Tallahassee, FL Zone 8b North Florida Figs

newnandawg

Registered:1344130335
Posts: 2,535

Posted 1372264362	Reply with quote #4

Frank, thanks for the suggestion of RR for air layering. I just finished Petite Negra and Ronde de Bordeuax and have Malta Falcon to do later today. I am trying the RR cube along with a Rooter Pot. I split the RR cube and wrapped it around the area I want to develop the roots and secured it with one twist tie. I then placed the Rooter Pot around it and filled the remaining void inside the Rooter Pot with Fertilome UPM and moistened the soil and filled the water reservoir of the Rooter Pot. I did score them and used just a smidgeon of Clonex to help it along.

Fatnsassytexan

Registered:1237045017
Posts: 740

Posted 1372264963	Reply with quote #5

FMD, what a great idea to use a root riot cube for small airlayers. That never occurred to me, DUH! Thanks for posting. __________________ Tim Southeast Texas Zone 9 Wish List:Noire de Caromb, Maltese Beauty,Socorro Black, Others especially tight eyed varieties.

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1372266812	Reply with quote #6

Mike, Any info on the rooter pot? Pics? Where? Sizes? $$$?

newnandawg

Registered:1344130335
Posts: 2,535

Posted 1372267152	Reply with quote #7

Rafed, this is my first time to use them. I use to do the old fashion plastic bottle etc. This http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=46938&cat=2,47236 is where I ordered mine from. From what I have seen it is a good price.

jtp

Registered:1271516015
Posts: 980

Posted 1372267285	Reply with quote #8

Great idea and excellent results. Thanks for posting!

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1372267898	Reply with quote #9

Thanks Mike, Just ordered a set.

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1372268483	Reply with quote #10

I want try that, but I will try to find UPM first since its so expensive online. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1372268758	Reply with quote #11

You can use sphagnum moss mixed with any other potting mix if you want. You are not limited to UPM only.

greg88

Registered:1359498953
Posts: 800

Posted 1372277891	Reply with quote #12

Nice, will have to ty that __________________ Greg North West Arkanasas Zone 6b Wish list: any SPECTACULAR cold hardy figs, and/or perhaps a Niagra Bl., Laradek EBT, Kathleen's Bl, Hunt, a great UNK or anything anyone wants me to have???

FMD

Registered:1309800590
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1372345024	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by Fatnsassytexan FMD, what a great idea to use a root riot cube for small airlayers. That never occurred to me, DUH! Thanks for posting. Learning from each other is what's so great about this forum.Someone introduces and idea and someone else adds to that idea and so on and so on. One more tidbit regarding the use of root riot cubes for air layers is that I use the cubes that failed the rooting process so everything gets recycled. Waste not, want not.... __________________ Frank Tallahassee, FL Zone 8b North Florida Figs

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1373297594	Reply with quote #14

Frank, Excellent roots. Steps please. Adding the RR cube in the bottle or foil; Is that the only difference from your 'normal' approach? __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1373300285	Reply with quote #15

JD, My previous record airlayering is not that good. So, I got some of these to increase my odds. I like the wicking system of this pot. I don't water them daily, only once every 3 or 4 days. I did use the riot cubes. I dipped mine in root stimulator and water first and used the gel. I'm looking forward to these things working b/c I got a few air layers to send out this Fall. I'll post pics sometime this week. I did not cut the cube completely in half. I only cut them half way and loosely tied a small piece of burlap string on it to hold everything together. Over time, the burlap will rot away. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1373302183	Reply with quote #16

Dennis, I would definitely like to see pictures of your process. I have an idea and have had successful layers but I have never gotten roots like those Frank posted. __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

FMD

Registered:1309800590
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1373314724	Reply with quote #17

Jimmie, you have got to try this technique. The same RR properties that promote giant root formation in cuttings apparently do the same in air layers. The process could not be easier. I split open a damp/wet cube on one side and wrap it around the branch (girdling, scraping, hormones are optional). I then it wrap a piece of plastic cling and a piece of foil foil around the cube to secure it to the branch. That's it. Since rooting occurs so quickly there is less chance the cube will dry out, you could probably eliminate the use of plastic wrap. __________________ Frank Tallahassee, FL Zone 8b North Florida Figs

Figsation

Registered:1372391943
Posts: 63

Posted 1373316052	Reply with quote #18

Frank, When you say"I split open a damp/wet cube on one side and wrap it around the branch (girdling, scraping, hormones are optional)". Does this only work on small diameter green growth? Can one air-layer mature fig growth without girdling or scraping using these cubes? __________________ Figsation Coastal California Zone 10a

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1373318541	Reply with quote #19

Frank, Looking at the picture, you did add potting mix around the RR cube, right? __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

Figfinatic

Registered:1330272993
Posts: 761

Posted 1373322565	Reply with quote #20

Good idea. I've done something similar different with Root Riot too. I acquired some large seeds about the size of a very big marble, and I cut up the Root Riot cubes and surrounded the seed with those moist cubes. It's working quite well. All the seeds are germinating. __________________ Wish: Sbayi, passiflora incense, quadrangularis or others

FMD

Registered:1309800590
Posts: 1,327

Posted 1373323301	Reply with quote #21

Figfinatic, I think it works best on small caliber lignified or partially lignified wood, I would guess. I don't believe that scraping or girdling is an absolute to air layering. Jimmy, potting mix was not used, just the RR, Saran Wrap and foil. __________________ Frank Tallahassee, FL Zone 8b North Florida Figs

7deuce

Registered:1275528558
Posts: 566

Posted 1373334125	Reply with quote #22

The rooter pots work great. I have both sizes and makes airlayering very easy. __________________ Jason V Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/ Zone 7 Wishlist: Nothing.

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1373334971	Reply with quote #23

I'm about to try this right now. I have a Negronne that doesn't want to grow anymore, two months and no new growth. Maybe I can get the suckers to spring to life at the base. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

noss

Registered:1244523274
Posts: 2,122

Posted 1373351566	Reply with quote #24

Mike, I notice the stores are in Canada. Do you know if there are any stores in the US? What was the shipping like? Was it expensive and how long did it take for you to get your order? Thanks, noss __________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1373374290	Reply with quote #25

Wow, just a damp RR cube and cover. Impressive. I have a couple of layers I need to start... __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1373376069	Reply with quote #26

Vivian, I ordered some and put them to use. Cost me roughly $22 including shipping. Jimmie, Where have you been?

CAJUNB

Registered:1341853571
Posts: 131

Posted 1373378025	Reply with quote #27

I think I will modify it jusy a little,cut the RR in half,but not all the way through,then soak it in a cup of water with a small amount of dip'n grow for about 5 minutes ,put it around the branch ,then wrap it in aluminum foil.........

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1373471342	Reply with quote #28

Rafed, I read and post when I can and that is usually in spurts. My time to better care for my figs has been reduced significantly. Life is happening. Traveling for work. Growing children. Aging family (My wife's grandfather is 95, lives alone, and cannot maintain his home any more. We live closest to him and when he lets us, we help). A recuperating family (My father had a prostectomy in January and my brother had a sigmoidectomy at the beginning of this month). So my family and I visit more, pray more, plan more, do more, and support more whenever and wherever we can. It has been a beautiful, challenging, glorious, sobering, revealing, and motivational time in our lives. I am doing my best to live this life to the fullest by embracing each day even more as if tomorrow is not promised. About my figs...fortunately, watering is automated. Thus at the very least, the birds will enjoy some good eats this season. __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1373472027	Reply with quote #29

Jimmie, Sounds like you are over whelmed. Just got to hang in there and do the best you can. Family come first. But Jimmie needs Jimmie time too. Hang in there bud.

Registered:1252379847
Posts: 1,162

Posted 1373472633	Reply with quote #30

Rafed, I am doing better than I deserve so I am doing much better than 'hanging in there'. Life is too precious, too much fun, too much laughter, and there is too much to do and give anything less than your best. Back to figs: My inventory spreadsheet says that I should have more than one and up to five of Jason's Blue Ischia outside that need to be moved from their one gallon pot prison to some thing more worthy of potentially FMV less Black Ischia. Reading Herman's recent posts on Jason's thread...who could have known? Thanks again Jason. __________________ jd \| tallahassee.fl \| zone 8b

rafed

Registered:1252876934
Posts: 5,308

Posted 1373472776	Reply with quote #31

Jimmie, When Vasile speaks we listen. LOL Hope you get the time to get it done.

SEGeo

Registered:1343244935
Posts: 517

Posted 1375341164	Reply with quote #32

Dennis, How are your air layers doing with the RR? __________________ Chris Fairchild Virginia Beach, Va. USDA Hardiness Zone 8a Graduate Student - Engineering and GeoScience *I assume all my figs carry FMV* Wish List:

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