This is so strange. Roots on the wrong end

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TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482360582 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Has anyone see this before? I have probably 40 cuttings rooting at the moment. I didn't notice this yesterday but today I found this. There are roots growing out of the top of the cuttings. I have no idea how or why. This is a cutting that I took from a dormant Italian white tree that a friend gave me. Curious, I looked at the others and saw this: Another cutting of a different type from an entirely different source is starting to grow a similar root. They've been in the mix for about a week. Has anyone ever seen this before or know what I'm dealing with here? Neither of these cuttings are showing signs of roots on the side of the containers yet. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

grant441

Registered:1358456015
Posts: 173

Posted 1482361488	Reply with quote #2

I had this happen a few times! They will dry up and fall off nothing to worry about. __________________ South Carolina zone 7b

haslamhulme

Registered:1467664052
Posts: 244

Posted 1482362008	Reply with quote #3

Stupid figs lol!,I have one in my humidity bin doing the same thing,I've noticed some varieties seem to want to do this more than others,I put it down to humidity,I can see you have condensation on the sides of the bottle. I have seen it happen before,when I took it out of the humidity bin the aerial roots dried up. If I had a couple of buds to play with like on that cutting there id be tempted to snip it off just above that long bud you have going and pot the rest up to see if it takes,then you have 2 for the price of one.You could just snap it off to stop it wasting energy.As I said,dumb figs __________________ Haroon,Birmingham UK,Europe,USDA zone 8 Growing:B.Turkey,Jerusalem,V.Dauphine,Pd.Dalmatie W.Adriatic, RDB,Goute D'or,W.Marsailles,Bavarian Violet,Ali Pasha,Falls Gold, Alma,W.Broggioto,Conadria,G.Ischia,Celeste,a dozen unknowns Deceased:Mission( received new cuttings from a generous member today,thank you!)

arachyd

Registered:1345772821
Posts: 114

Posted 1482363601	Reply with quote #4

I have one doing the same. __________________ Wish list: Dalmatie, LSU Gold, Ponte Tresa, 豐產黃 (Bountiful Harvest) Zone 7b

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482364207	Reply with quote #5

Right?!?! Just the weirdest thing. I'm glad I'm not the only one. So much for roots avoiding the light.... My wife asked me if I placed it upside down...She's cute. I'm glad she was kidding... About snipping the top - I'm not brave enough to cut it at this point.... I started this cutting before another member taught me about the value of having more nodes in the ground. Now I leave only one node above ground with as many as I can buried in the mix. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

ADelmanto

Registered:1359774201
Posts: 911

Posted 1482364479	Reply with quote #6

You've got at least 2 nodes above that root and a strong shoot growing below it. If that were my cutting I'd be making 2. If you don't want to I'd snip off that root. Waste of energy. Not super important. It will not hurt anything. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/From-The-Ground-Up-403313193085649/

tsparozi

Registered:1470160644
Posts: 302

Posted 1482364575 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

What is the top of a cutting and what is the bottom? I am just playing around but if you think about it every node has the potential to throw roots... that is what we depend on even with 1 node cuttings (there is such a thing). If you take a stick with 6 nodes and cut just at the bottom of each node to create 6 pieces you now have 6 pieces with a 'top' and a 'bottom' which might root even though the original 'top' node on the 6 node stick was where you weren't expecting roots to form... All relative, I think but what do I know... :-) __________________ Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482364804	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by ADelmanto You've got at least 2 nodes above that root and a strong shoot growing below it. If that were my cutting I'd be making 2. If you don't want to I'd snip off that root. Waste of energy. Not super important. It will not hurt anything. I didn't think to snip the root. Good idea. Thanks Aaron. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482364990	Reply with quote #9

Quote: Originally Posted by tsparozi What is the top of a cutting and what is the bottom? I am just playing around but if you think about it every node has the potential to throw roots... that is what we depend on even with 1 node cuttings (there is such a thing). If you take a stick with 6 nodes and cut just at the bottom of each node to create 6 pieces you now have 6 pieces with a 'top' and a 'bottom' which might root even though the original 'top' node on the 6 node stick was where you weren't expecting roots to form... All relative, I think but what do I know... :-) That actually makes sense too. Mind you, your method adds to the net number of cuttings I'm rooting.....The quantity of which has not gone unnoticed by my wife :-) Not that she's counting... __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

tsparozi

Registered:1470160644
Posts: 302

Posted 1482368678	Reply with quote #10

Joe... Just to be clear, I am not advocating doing 1 node cuttings... I have done 2 nodes but usually consider three a minimum. There are numerous more experienced forum members that have the ability to turn each node into a viable plant or cut each node and chip graft them onto good root stock to produce plants. I wouldn't even try... Best of luck... __________________ Tony S - Zone 6A Carmel, NY WL-Ischia Black (UCD/USDA), Martinenca, Calderona, Victoria, Craven's Craving, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Bon Jesusa, Sant Martina, Princesa, Paretjal Negra

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482369303	Reply with quote #11

I hear you. Three minimum for sure. I have a couple of two-node cuttings that became that way only because a third node dried out and I freed up a buried node to try and save the cutting.... One-node. Yeah, I saw the pics...I can't help but feel like that's more just about taking up a challenge. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

Mario_1

Registered:1398299123
Posts: 407

Posted 1482375748	Reply with quote #12

Joe I think you may have to much moisture on top, try loosening the cap or remove at least for a few hours a day, better yet remove during the night __________________ Wallingford CT, USA zone 6a would be happy to meet and get together with other members near me Wish list; Any fig from any specific place anywhere in Italy

cjccmc

Registered:1469609201
Posts: 66

Posted 1482376903	Reply with quote #13

I've had it happen also. So far cuttings with a trimmed fork at the top like yours were very prone to it. Maybe the fork areas have a higher potential for root making. __________________ Conrad, SoCal zone 10

torontofig

Registered:1429290881
Posts: 60

Posted 1482380645	Reply with quote #14

Hi Joe, what about burying the upside part to soil gently and let it grow, too. similar to air-layering the cuttings. When you find nice roots in the below part some day, you may cut the cuttings into 2. Then you get 2 plants from a single cutting. please make sure you don't cut it into 2 now. wait until you find fat roots from the below part. __________________ Thornhill-Vaughan (GTA) Zone 6 Beginner in 2015

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482411896	Reply with quote #15

Quote: Originally Posted by torontofig Hi Joe, what about burying the upside part to soil gently and let it grow, too. similar to air-layering the cuttings. When you find nice roots in the below part some day, you may cut the cuttings into 2. Then you get 2 plants from a single cutting. please make sure you don't cut it into 2 now. wait until you find fat roots from the below part. I'm not sure burying it upside down is a good idea. I've not done it personally but have read here about some who've accidentally started cuttings that way and from what I understand it doesn't usually end well. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

torontofig

Registered:1429290881
Posts: 60

Posted 1482414284	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by TorontoJoe I'm not sure burying it upside down is a good idea. I've not done it personally but have read here about some who've accidentally started cuttings that way and from what I understand it doesn't usually end well. not upside down. just lay the current cutting with the cup horizontal, add another cup on the other side with soil and bury the roots in the soil. let the 2 ends to grow roots. :) then cut it into 2 when you find both has nice roots. actually when you bury the roots in the soil, the roots will get fertilizer in the soil, and the cutting grows better than in the air. the energy will pass to the other end, helping it root fast. Just a thought. I had success once to have 2 trees from a Hardy Chicago cutting. The cutting was long and I wanted to cut into two but didn't do at the beginning. later it got roots in two end :) __________________ Thornhill-Vaughan (GTA) Zone 6 Beginner in 2015

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482416019	Reply with quote #17

Quote: Originally Posted by torontofig not upside down. just lay the current cutting with the cup horizontal, add another cup on the other side with soil and bury the roots in the soil. let the 2 ends to grow roots. :) then cut it into 2 when you find both has nice roots. actually when you bury the roots in the soil, the roots will get fertilizer in the soil, and the cutting grows better than in the air. the energy will pass to the other end, helping it root fast. Just a thought. I had success once to have 2 trees from a Hardy Chicago cutting. The cutting was long and I wanted to cut into two but didn't do at the beginning. later it got roots in two end :) Ahhh. I get what you're saying now. I've never tried one sideways...I know a few here have done one-node cuttings that way. I wonder if anyone here has taken a long, multi-node cutting and just buried horizontal half buried in the mix? I wonder what the result would be.... __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

VeryNew2Figs

Registered:1441488407
Posts: 241

Posted 1482418013	Reply with quote #18

I had a Hardy Chicago last spring that had two shoots growing. I did lay it sideways just. After they both were a few inches tall and had their own root system, I cut it in half and potted them both separately. They did fine. __________________ Cheryl Chicago, Zone 6a (That's what they say, but it still feels like 5) Growing: Hardy Chicago, Black Mission, Brunswick, Kadota, Ischia Green, Desert King, Osborne Prolific (slow but steady), Malta Black, Violette de Bordeaux, Texas Everbearing, Beall, White Adriatic, Nolo Pink Eyed Lady. Rooting: Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Nero 600 m, Violetta Bayernfeing, Marseilles Black VS, Celeste.

Frankallen

Registered:1371842383
Posts: 994

Posted 1482420364	Reply with quote #19

Actually, it's pretty common when the humidity is high on the cuttings. __________________ Frank from Bama- Zone 7-b Alabama .................................................... "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever". Mahatma Gandhi

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482422984	Reply with quote #20

Do you think I should I pull the caps off the top? I started doing it this way after losing some cuttings to the tops drying out. I know one can easily overwater but can it be "too humid"? __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

Robert_K

Registered:1458495026
Posts: 11

Posted 1482664681	Reply with quote #21

Quote: Originally Posted by TorontoJoe Do you think I should I pull the caps off the top? I started doing it this way after losing some cuttings to the tops drying out. I know one can easily overwater but can it be "too humid"? Sorry to comment it but it has been happening to me especially during summer time rooting. /higher humidity caused from higher temperature in a small bottle - greenhouse/ The roots are triggered to grow due to higher humitity condensated in a top of the cover and humidity is increased in a upper part. It is nothing unusual. I would let them. Just check whether there is sufficient root system in down part inside this substrate or not. If not, then just carefully replant the figcutting in a taller (transparent) pot deeper and those new roots which are onto top of the cutting cover by a substrat as well. Potentional buds wil do grow through the substrat as offshoots. (However, I see there in the snapshot two good developed green buds which they would be over the ground level in this case so no any issue).

Frankallen

Registered:1371842383
Posts: 994

Posted 1482675389	Reply with quote #22

I would go ahead and rub these top roots off, they serve no purpose! __________________ Frank from Bama- Zone 7-b Alabama .................................................... "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever". Mahatma Gandhi

greenman62

Registered:1442342031
Posts: 45

Posted 1482762261	Reply with quote #23

Quote: Originally Posted by torontofig not upside down. just lay the current cutting with the cup horizontal, add another cup on the other side with soil and bury the roots in the soil. let the 2 ends to grow roots. :) then cut it into 2 when you find both has nice roots. actually when you bury the roots in the soil, the roots will get fertilizer in the soil, and the cutting grows better than in the air. the energy will pass to the other end, helping it root fast. Just a thought. I had success once to have 2 trees from a Hardy Chicago cutting. The cutting was long and I wanted to cut into two but didn't do at the beginning. later it got roots in two end :) i got a bunch of free un-named cuttings recently a lot of them, huge tree cut down. I took a 18 inch long bit and stuck it in the ground at a 45 degree angle. There must be 6 or 7 nodes underground at least. i did 3 of these cant wait to see what i get ... LOL i actually did this once before with a 10 inch cuttings buried at 45 degrees it produced roots at 2 or 3 spots and top growth at 2 different spots. i could have cut it in 1/2, but left it in ground as is. i do the same with tomato i take the starts out the pot (when about a foot+ tall), and put them in ground much deeper than the original soil line. cutting off leaves etc... i use a 45 deg angle Toms dont usually sprout from under the ground and the roots stay near the surface, but still at slightly different levels for soil moisture. they seem to like this best. Though, it can delay them sprouting new growth a bit. __________________ New Orleans La. zone 9 growing subtropical food-forest figs = Black Mission, Celeste, 2 un-named, and 4 cuttings started guava, papaya, mango, fig, mulberry, jujube......., white, black, and mamey sapote...., Cherimoya, lychee, longan, several psidium/guava relatives, Jaboticaba, citrus, Jamun, natal plum, and about 100 more...

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1482772985	Reply with quote #24

Quote: Originally Posted by greenman62 i got a bunch of free un-named cuttings recently a lot of them, huge tree cut down. I took a 18 inch long bit and stuck it in the ground at a 45 degree angle. There must be 6 or 7 nodes underground at least. i did 3 of these cant wait to see what i get ... LOL i actually did this once before with a 10 inch cuttings buried at 45 degrees it produced roots at 2 or 3 spots and top growth at 2 different spots. i could have cut it in 1/2, but left it in ground as is. i do the same with tomato i take the starts out the pot (when about a foot+ tall), and put them in ground much deeper than the original soil line. cutting off leaves etc... i use a 45 deg angle Toms dont usually sprout from under the ground and the roots stay near the surface, but still at slightly different levels for soil moisture. they seem to like this best. Though, it can delay them sprouting new growth a bit. I do that with tomatoes as well. The idea being that all the fine little "hairs" on the step develop as roots. You can see this really well if you take a tomato sucker and place it in water to root. I'm not sure I understand the purpose for burying a fig cutting at a 45 degree angle. If the idea is just to have more root growth via more in-ground nodes, then does it really matter if it's on an angle or just straight in and a bit deeper? I feel like I'm missing something here.... __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada

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