Leaves on a cutting stay or go?

Author

Comment

slingha

Registered:1339292965
Posts: 656

Posted 1339985449	Reply with quote #1

The topic says it all. Each cutting has about 3 leaves per branch. leave them on or get rid of them? Cuttings are in MG potting soil

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1339985693	Reply with quote #2

Now would also be a good time to cut the leaves in half, not necessary but I find it helps with green cuttings. Also tent the cuttings with a clear plastic bag.

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1339992410	Reply with quote #3

Leaves a re good. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1339998550	Reply with quote #4

The MG potting soil may not be so good, though... Search for posts by Al Tapla __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1340026978	Reply with quote #5

I've read the reason to strip leaves, and maybe cut the top one in half, is the cutting has no roots for a while to bring moisture to the leaves, and the leaves will die before the fig can develop the necessary roots. The reason for the tent is to create a mini greenhouse to keep moisture around the stem and top half leaf so it can get moisture that way instead of through it's internal channels until the roots grow. It's been two weeks since I started approx 40 green cuttings, and so far all are very green, and some even have tips exploding with little leaves. I have not watered them once, and there is still moisture on the walls of their mini-green house gallon plastic bottle tops. Al's gritty mix is good because it drains well, and doesn't encourage roots to rot. My 40 cuttings are in a simple mixture of perlite and potting soil. The worst thing that I have encountered rooting cuttings is invasions of fungus gnats, which can be killed with Thermocide BT, but those gnats are evil for sure! This no longer happens mainly because I learned the gnats don't like dry soil on the top, so I put a layer of crushed granite and sand over the potting soil to discourage them. Good luck with your cuttings! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

Previous Topic | Next Topic