Alex
Registered:1278180910 Posts: 26
Posted 1321929960
Reply with quote
#1
A friend of mine is going to prune his fig tree and I would like to get some cuttings, can I store them on the fridge until spring? does it matters if the cuttings have some leaves? should I cut them? or do I have to root them now?
Wildforager
Registered:1237648107 Posts: 365
Posted 1321930929
Reply with quote
#2
Ok lets answer your questions one at a time....can I store them on the fridge until spring? - Yup, My best time to root them is in the spring when its warmer in the house and I keep cuttings in the fridge over winter all the time. In the fridge for 6 to 8 months is no problem. Just make sure that they are wrapped in a damp paper towel and in a ziploc bag with the name, date, etc. written on. does it matters if the cuttings have some leaves? -Yes, They will turn black or brown and encourage mold while in storage. should I cut them? -Yes do I have to root them now? -No Hope this is helpful. Good luck with your new cuttings!
__________________ Little John Sheboygan, WI Zone 5B Wish List - Florea, Ronde De Bordeaux
nypd5229
Registered:1290455653 Posts: 1,903
Posted 1321999157
Reply with quote
#3
Try a few in just Saran Wrap with no paper towel in the crisper drawer. Watch out for the back of the fridge. There are some cold spots near the blower where it may actually get to freezing. Just themselves wrapped tightly. Last year I had mold after 2 months in the fridge with a moist paper towel and a ziploc bag- no wrap.
Can also clean with antibacterial soap and a 10::1 water to bleach ratio or an anti fungal solution like Physan 20 from ebay. This helps to slow the growth of mold or prevent altogether.
I have all mine like this right now in the Crisper drawer and they have been fine so far. Just check once a month just to be careful.
__________________ Dominick
Zone 6a-MA
lukeott
Registered:1311470849 Posts: 645
Posted 1322064627
Reply with quote
#4
If this is the case, saran wrap. I wonder how one of those food saver things, that suck the air out would work. Might be worth the investment. Has anyone used one on fig cuttings yet? Is it the air, that causes mold? I hope you understand what i'm asking.
luke
lukeott
Registered:1311470849 Posts: 645
Posted 1322076746
Reply with quote
#5
I take it, that's a negative then. I'll cross the food saver thingy off the list to get.
luke
nypd5229
Registered:1290455653 Posts: 1,903
Posted 1322078371
Reply with quote
#6
I thought about those food savers as well, but my concern that along with air, overall moisture could be reduced by vacuuming. There is no air so moisture is not surrounding the cutting, thus allowing it to possibly dry out at a faster rate. May be good for short term storage ( 2 to 3 Months), but I feel waiting until March may not be possible.
Obviously the only way to find out is to experiment.
__________________ Dominick
Zone 6a-MA
loslunasfarms
Registered:1189011868 Posts: 380
Posted 1322103688
Reply with quote
#7
Saran wrap with clean cuttings works the best..
71GTO
Registered:1290311646 Posts: 1,002
Posted 1322103847
Reply with quote
#8
So you just clean them and wrap them in saran wrap, no paper towel? Then keep them in the crisper?
__________________ NJ z7a
Wish list :
saxonfig
Registered:1258080612 Posts: 1,370
Posted 1322175255
Reply with quote
#9
Hey Marcus. I learned this saran wrap method for storing cuttings just last year. Someone shipped cuttings to me this way that took a few weeks to arrive. Those cutttngs arrived in great shape and were completley viable. I've now opted to always ship cuttings this way myself. I've also been storing cuttings, wrapped like this, in my crisper since early this year. I didn't clean them but just wrapped them tightly in plastic storage wrap then sealed them in freezer bags. I will be storing many of these this way until spring. I'll try to remember to give an update on how they perform after being stored long-term like this. It's now my personal feeling that this is by far the best way to store cuttings long-term without worrying so much about mold. Although mold is still possible so it's best to check on them about once a month. I would also guess that a good cleaning before storage may decrease mold problems even further. So, that's my take on storing cuttings in plastic wrap with nothing added to provide any sort of moisture besides what is stored in the cutting itself. -Bill.
__________________Fig Well An d Prosper! Bill - SW KY. Zone 6b. 36.5N I'm fruitnut on ebay.