Originally Posted by scnyc88
Thank you so much! I know everyone keeps telling me to start from dormant plants but is it 100% necessary?

Originally Posted by Ampersand


It is considered better to start with dormant cuttings because you can usually get a full growing season in before winter and allow the plants to go dormant without issue. Dormant cuttings are also easier to ship and store until one is ready to start rooting. Summer/green cuttings may not establish well enough before winter to safely overwinter as a dormant plant and often need to be brought indoors to a bright window or under grow lights for the winter to keep growing. It's not necessary by any means to do dormant cuttings, just easier for most.

I've rooted both now, I prefer doing dormant cuttings because: A) it's something to do in the winter B) the plants grow better the first season and can go dormant safely C) if you're lucky you can get figs that year, talk about a fast return on investment. 

Regardless, just keep doing what has worked for you. There is no one right way, everyone has a method and a preference.

Hope that helps!

Originally Posted by Ampersand
I'm no fig authority, others may be able to answer better...but if you're just starting them now, I would expect you'll need to keep them indoors over the winter. They might OK going dormant in pots and spending the winter in a garage or shed, but I wouldn't chance it. I definitely wouldn't expect them to survive being planted in the ground from summer cuttings. I'm trying to root some cuttings presently and intend to bring them indoors. If there are plenty that root I might leave one in the garage to see how it survives for the sake of curiosity and science.

If you have open access to the mother tree, it might be best to just wait and get dormant cuttings in November or December and start rooting in the winter. But there's no harm in trying what you have now, the worst that can happen is you have to try again this winter.

Like I said, there's no wrong way. I'm sure it's frustrating to not get a straight answer, but do what you want to do and have fun!

Originally Posted by musillid
Stephen, Welcome and good luck.

What else can you tell us about your grandfather's plants?

Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo
Stephen welcome from a fellow New Yorker! Growing a fig indoors in NY winter w dry heat is a dicey proposition, and you could screw up any possibility of fruiting next summer. My plants that I grew from cuttings did not thrive under my T5 lights last winter, developing a rusty mite disease on the terminal buds and setting back growth 4-6 weeks in the spring.

Originally Posted by lifigs
Welcome Stephen. 

I find rooting dormant cuttings directly in a well drained soil mix much easier than green cuttings.  My green cuttings have a tendency to rot which may just be that the soil is too wet.  Do the fig trees from Bari produce light or dark figs?