Register  |   | 
 
Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Easiest way to start a cutting?
 
 


Reply
  Author   Comment  
Figfan203

Registered:
Posts: 79
Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I have 2 cuttings on the way and I've never propagated figs before. What's your opinion of the best/easiest way to make it happen. Any tips of what NOT to do? Thanks for the input.
Mike
__________________
Mike in zone 6B
bullet08

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 6,920
Posted Reply with quote  #2 
easiest is to stick the cutting in ground and hope that it roots. and believe it or not, it works for some people. with any other method, make sure you don't water too much. too much water is quickest say to kill the cutting.. unless you are going to root it in cup of water which also works for some people. 

welcome to the forum.
__________________
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...*****
Cajun

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 204
Posted Reply with quote  #3 

Welcome to the forum FigFan203!
I have tried the lay em down in sphagnum moss thing before with few results.  The easiest way i have found is to mix a 50/50 mix of perlite and potting soil and get it damp to where when you squeeze it very little water comes out (not soaked).  Then take small clear plastic cups and poke some holes through the bottom with an ice pick or small drill bit.  Fill the cup with the mix and plant the cutting in it (a couple inches down into the mix) making sure its facing up the right way.  Then put the cups with the cuttings inside a clear plastic tote or storage container with the lid on.  I place mine under a south facing window in my house where it gets plenty of sun during the day through the window.  Make sure its in a warm spot around 70 degrees or they may be slow to come out of dormancy.  Open the bin at least once a day or every couple days to let fresh air circulate in and watch for mold on the cuttings.  I just wipe it off if it appears with a lysol wipe then rinse off the cutting.  As long as you see condensation on the inside of the cups, you don't need to worry about adding water.  You may have to put a little water on them after a couple of weeks.  If the cuttings start to dry out, they will wrinkle up, just don't over water them or they will rot. 

PS - that's just my way, the trick is trial and error to find what works for you. 


__________________
Cal - Brusly, LA Zone 9a
Cajun

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 204
Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Oh and you can put the clear cups inside of solid cups to block the sun from damaging the roots, the clear cup is just so you can see when the roots really get going.
__________________
Cal - Brusly, LA Zone 9a
DallasFigs

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 990
Posted Reply with quote  #5 
easiest for you?  or easiest for the cutting? lol

I use the long fiber sp moss in a plastic box.  It hasn't failed me yet.  I also score the bottom of the cutting (3 corkscrew shaped cuts) and dip in Dip N Grow.  Roots usually show up after about 3 weeks.
__________________
James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a

Follow me on EBay

Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon
Figfan203

Registered:
Posts: 79
Posted Reply with quote  #6 
How long does it take for the roots to get going if you put the cutting in water?

What about the timing of the whole thing. I'm in CT and want to eventually put this in the ground. Should I start the rooting process ASAP and maybe put it in the ground in the spring or fall? Wait til next year?

I should say the best way to to grow cuttings because these cuttings are RDB so I really want them to work. I know I shoulda tried this with something not fancy but oh well
__________________
Mike in zone 6B
brianm

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 971
Posted Reply with quote  #7 
I actually have a rdb in water as we speak. From my experience it takes a little longer in water usually a week or two more. But i have had100% success so far after about 5-6 cuttings. I use a clear glass cup,stick cutting in 3/4 and change water daily. I also have it in kitchen by the south facing window. Good luck
__________________
Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven
deerhunter16b

Registered:
Posts: 785
Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I started this cutting about a month and half ago it takes a little longer in water but very easy and there's no fungus gnats to deal with. I started adding something called pure kelp planet food when roots started showing mixing a half teaspoon in 32 ounces of water and then adding around a table spoon every few days to the cutting. I also spray the leaves with it.. This seems to be working so far . I do have six other cuttings started this way at different stages. 4 of them are showing roots and two are doing nothing yet.
The down side is that roots grown in water are more tender.

Attached Images
jpeg image.jpg (182.87 KB, 30 views)
jpeg image.jpg (142.03 KB, 27 views)


__________________
john
Zone 7a

deerhunter16b

Registered:
Posts: 785
Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by deerhunter16b
I started this cutting about a month and half ago it takes a little longer in water but very easy and there's no fungus gnats to deal with. I started adding something called pure kelp planet food when roots started showing mixing a half teaspoon in 32 ounces of water and then adding around a table spoon every few days to the cutting. I also spray the leaves with it.. This seems to be working so far . I do have six other cuttings started this way at different stages. 4 of them are showing roots and two are doing nothing yet.
The down side is that roots grown in water are more tender.

Attached Images
jpeg image.jpg (175.85 KB, 12 views)
jpeg image.jpg (142.03 KB, 11 views)


__________________
john
Zone 7a

eboone

Avatar / Picture

Registered:
Posts: 1,100
Posted Reply with quote  #10 
john - at what point do you put them in potting media?  What are you using? 
Have you had cuttings fail to root or rot with this method?
__________________
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.
GeneDaniels

Registered:
Posts: 1,014
Posted Reply with quote  #11 
the easiest way is wait till spring and:

1) dig small hole
2) fill bottom with coarse sand
3) score bottom inch of so of cutting
4) place in hole
5) fill in remaining with sand

This is almost 100% effective. The down side is that you don't get a jump on the growing season like you do with inside rooting. But figs are vigorous growers, they will almost always do fine with the above minimal work, just that it will be a slower start. 
__________________
Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow.  Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?
barnhardt9999

Registered:
Posts: 183
Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Easiest way is to throw them in your compost pile around November and check in March. I do this for all of the nubs that are too small to give away or that I forgot to mark what they were. A good number root with zero effort. (most effective way is another question and probably the more important one with only 2 cuttings)
__________________
8a
Previous Topic | Next Topic
Print
Reply