Hie all at its the last month of Autumn here down under and i am rooting some MBVS (very rare here) as well as some pink picone cuttings. 

I am rooting in the same medium as i did during the summer but i added perlite to the coir. The results have been rather explosive with the MBvs with roots doubling size within a day. Since the cuttings are rooting in close proximity near my working space its easy to feel eager to know how they are doing. These roots were half the size they were yesterday!

I did an experiment in rooting this time comparing parts of the cutting that have been cut into, exposing the cambium layer and then adding a bit of clonex. As you can see in the images below the area that i cut into has now healed (white streaks) and from there roots are pushing out. For heat i am using a hot water bottle filled with some hot water, with and i place a thick folded shirt between the tub and the hot water bottle. and place a jacket over the tub to conserve as much warmth as possible. I usually have to change the water once a day on most days but when we have some cold days i change it twice, depending on how long i am away from home because of work/university.

My pink picone cuttings are taking their time, only just pushing root bumps, but the MBvs cuttings are powering ahead despite both being placed in the rooting mix the same day just minutes apart. i will be potting them up in a day or two in individual pots and place them in a DIY grow tent....e.g a container lined with tin foil and a grow light  at the top. 

I think I will try this....looks good!

What is a hot water bottle. ??? I want to try usi g your system too. Nice work. I have clonex never used it much on figs

A hot water bottle is like a rubber bladder that you fill with hot water if your bed is cold. they look like this: 

 

Nice results. 

Congratulations!

Cool.  I rarely use clonex on figs, because the roots go crazy, but the darn thing doesn't want to leaf out forever.  In some cases it killed the cutting before it could get leaves.  I have used it a few times on cuttings that just wouldn't wake up, but I always regretted it.  Now, I just wait.

Speaking of crazy roots: i potted them up today in 80% coir +perlite and 20% potting mix and sprinkled some chook pellets. They are now under a grow light along with some smaller fig trees. This is my first time growing under lights. Hopefully they do well. 

Light spec: 2x 55w 6500k T8 (2 foot) on a timer for 12 hours 

 

Thanks for this info. Maybe I'll try this with my stubborn Adriatic cutting.

Hi figcolt
Do you put your whole cutting under all the media length ways? None of the cutting stick out? How often would u water? Thanks

So the only water it gets is the initial soaking/damping of the coir?? I didnt think it needed so little.

Also since you submerge the whole cutting in medium would you need light on your tray of cuttings? i can get these foam boxes with lids which would be great in retaining the heat especially with your hotwater bottle trick.

thanks

Ahhhh, so you put a lid on that clear plastic tub?

yep for the humidity and also to trap some heat.. I open it every a or every 2 days for a few seconds and then close it again for  "fresh air". 

Hi Again Figcolt. I am a big fan of yours since reading your great thread "My experience and success with rooting in Coir".  Your success at propagating speaks for itself, but your sharing and documenting of your experiences is very much appreciated. Loved your improvisation with the hot water bottle.

I am following your experiences closely with my own first batch of cuttings at the moment. I am going to put the tupperware boxes with the cuttings on top of some hot water bottles, all packed neatly within a polystyrene box for extra insulation.

Anyway, I'd love your thoughts on a few questions I have been pondering.

Are you still finding the perlite mixed with fine grade coir is better for root development than just coir alone when rooting? I plan adding perlite when first potting, but you are the first I've seen add perlite to the coir when rooting horizontally in a tupperware box.

And secondly, based upon all your experiences, what has been the best mix for a first small pot of a rooted fig? How did the 80% coir +perlite and 20% potting mix with chook pellets go? I can't seem to find any photos of yours of that next step. 

Thank you Figcolt for your insightful reply. I am sorry you lost a few plants, but I am grateful you share the fruits of your tough experience with us. The fine grade coir retains a ton of water and is very dense I find. I had suspected by itself it might lead to over-saturating plants. Anyway thanks to your sharing of your experience, hopefully others can avoid that bitter experience.

Thanks for going through and giving my questions some thought. All your answers were very much appreciated. Good luck with your new batch of figs. I look further to seeing more of them later.

Thank you again Figcolt. I have another question for you. I am rooting in coir some cuttings drawing closely upon your method. It's been about two and half weeks. About half my cuttings are showing positive root development.

What would you do with those cuttings budding and almost leafing out, but with no root development, like some of these? I am wondering if my coir is drying out too much, as they are not airtight containers and I am opening and inspecting every couple of days as well.

Thanks for message Figcolt. I very much appreciate it and shall follow your advice. Always great to see your plants' progress too. Will be interesting to see how the ones inside compare in growth to those outside. Congrats on getting the Cyprus Black and Adam's going. I love Mediterranean unknowns. You know they are going to taste good!

... so in summary, avoid too much coir when potting them up and don't put them in the heatmat as it will cause issues with fungus gnats and root rot. To be safe go 50% coir + 50% potting mix. or 100% potting mix thats quick draining.

Thank you again for sharing your successful method. Yes I shall avoid the 100% fine coir at this time of year for potting up. I am planning to use a 30% perlite, 30% Brunnings 'seed-mix' coir, 40% Woolworths Australian Standards Black Tick potting mix. It looks similar to your mix, but with extra perlite.

So once the cuttings have developed an inch or two of roots you pot them up and take them outside into the shade? You don't use any humidity bins for their little pots outside? Is that what you meant by "don't put them in the heatmat"?

Thank you Figcolt for your kind post and the excellent advice. You have an amazing collection. I'd love an Adam cutting, except West Australia has extra strict and independent quarantine laws, so trading between states is sadly not really an option.

Your indoor cuttings look great. I hope to see more posts of yours in the spring as your cuttings grow and your plants mature and fruit.