Any hope for frozen cuttings?

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milehighgirl

Registered:1382109709
Posts: 284

Posted 1386559698	Reply with quote #1

I got back from a weekend in sunny Florida to find that my sons did not bring in the mail with fig cuttings. I got home after a night that got down to -9. Is there ANY chance for these cuttings? When we got home this afternoon the temp was a balmy 20F __________________ USDA Zone 5b, Sunset 2b Looking for: Becane, Dalmatie, Doree, Florea, Hanc's EBT, Italian 258, LaRadek's EBT, Longue d'Aout, Marseilles White , Negronne, Nordland, Sal's EL, Strawberry Vert, ...anything cold hardy and short season. (Willing to pay for cuttings)

aphahn

Registered:1354927274
Posts: 321

Posted 1386559818	Reply with quote #2

Scrape a little of the bark and check for bright green cambium. __________________ Andy - Zone 6a Lat 39.9º N, Alt 5390' Westminster CO ⚘ Scion List

ediblelandscapingsc

Registered:1343459620
Posts: 348

Posted 1386561022	Reply with quote #3

wow -9 I guess you'll have to wait and see whats happens after you try to root them. chances are the cuttings are still green but that don't mean the plant tissue hasn't been damaged by the cold. if they make it you got very luck and if they fail........ I hope you at least had a good time in FL. you said sons, as in more than 1 and neither checked the mail? No phone no xbox and no friends over for a month should teach them to check the mail :) but boys will be boys I have 4 little boys and I've had fig trees ran over by bikes, crushed while playing football and pot's knocked over by runaway basketballs. and that's just a short list of damage to my plants :) don't let me get started on what all they've done to the house, cars, and greenhouse!! __________________ South Carolina zone 7b-8

DallasFigs

Registered:1358877623
Posts: 990

Posted 1386562022	Reply with quote #4

ouch.. were those the Dominick cuttings? I'm anxiously awaiting mine. My mailbox was frozen shut Saturday so I don't know if they tried to deliver any mail or not. I'm guessing not. __________________ James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a Follow me on EBay Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1386565645	Reply with quote #5

Never hurts to try. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

vitalucky

Registered:1302708721
Posts: 241

Posted 1386565812	Reply with quote #6

Since the cuttings were in an enveloppe, wrapped and protected by the wind in the mailbox, I would give them a chance and try to root them. Who knows? __________________ Sal Florida 10b whish list: dark portuguese,Smith, O'Rourke, Battaglia, Col De Dame, Abeberreira,Bourjassotte Noire (Sollies), Ronde de Bordeaux, Hunt,

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1386566292	Reply with quote #7

Here in Central Texas, the temperature rarely goes down to 18 F. Perhaps last year the weather was milder than other years as I left two cuttings outside all winter under the canopy on the patio and they both rooted. They had some relative wind protection. One, rooted and pushed some new growth at least two months earlier than the other one. I would water them a bit approximately once every couple of weeks as not to allow the soil to get too dry. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,719

Posted 1386567698	Reply with quote #8

I like to be a glass half full kind of guy, but I'm thinking this is a pretty grim prognosis. Unless these are cuttings from the Antifreeze fig that is. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

TahomaGuy2

Registered:1365215474
Posts: 101

Posted 1386568476	Reply with quote #9

New growth may also depend on how healthy the scions are concerning stored energy in the wood. Also, below freezing temps are just that, whether it's 30 degrees or zero degrees. Branches on the trees are frozen, too, but come back come spring. Keep them dormant in the fridge until then. __________________ -Charles Cool Pacific NW Zone 8b

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1386590311	Reply with quote #10

keep it away from moisture and let it warm up in dry room temp. if you keep that in air tight location with moisture like inside of ziploc bag with moss or paper towel, there is greater chance of rot and mold. once it's warmed up and looks well, clean it and try rooting it. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1386591908	Reply with quote #11

At least you have the cuttings, there was member whose family member decided to get rid of his bundle of "sticks" while they were away....as long as you have them there is hope..good luck I'll send warm wishes your way. __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

WillsC

Registered:1348087628
Posts: 1,698

Posted 1386592275	Reply with quote #12

I think they are toast.

milehighgirl

Registered:1382109709
Posts: 284

Posted 1386596293	Reply with quote #13

I was thinking that a slow thaw would be better so I put them in the refrigerator to thaw. I was hoping to wait a while to start all my cuttings as I don't have enough lights for cuttings and seed starting, but I think I should start these now. I will keep y'all posted. __________________ USDA Zone 5b, Sunset 2b Looking for: Becane, Dalmatie, Doree, Florea, Hanc's EBT, Italian 258, LaRadek's EBT, Longue d'Aout, Marseilles White , Negronne, Nordland, Sal's EL, Strawberry Vert, ...anything cold hardy and short season. (Willing to pay for cuttings)

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1386597961	Reply with quote #14

i don't use any artificial lights. i keep my cuttings in a room with south facing window. they get minimal light. however, they do fairly well. last yr, i think the survival rate was over 80% or so. few died due to over watering, and taking them out of humidity bin too quick. but light was not a major issue. they do grow leggy since strong light is not present. ones that made to early spring all went into 1 gal and to outside had no issue afterwards. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher *** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. * * and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...***

milehighgirl

Registered:1382109709
Posts: 284

Posted 1386600457	Reply with quote #15

Edible, I have 6 of them, but the youngest is 18. I was just happy everything was still standing when I got home. I gave up long ago trying to have a "normal" house. I kept saying that when my kids are grown I can put pictures on the walls without having them knocked off, etc.. Now all I care about is that they come home alive! Quote: I have 4 little boys and I've had fig trees ran over by bikes, crushed while playing football and pot's knocked over by runaway basketballs. and that's just a short list of damage to my plants :) don't let me get started on what all they've done to the house, cars, and greenhouse!! __________________ USDA Zone 5b, Sunset 2b Looking for: Becane, Dalmatie, Doree, Florea, Hanc's EBT, Italian 258, LaRadek's EBT, Longue d'Aout, Marseilles White , Negronne, Nordland, Sal's EL, Strawberry Vert, ...anything cold hardy and short season. (Willing to pay for cuttings)

MichaelTucson

Registered:1333340598
Posts: 1,216

Posted 1386608719	Reply with quote #16

Go ahead and root them. There's a good chance they've still got life in them. I've had lots of cuttings that froze, thawed, and then rooted. One thing about this: if they're going to freeze, they seem to do better if shipped dry, rather than moistened. So some friendly advice for those who ship cuttings to/from frozen locales: If you're shipping cuttings in the frozen months (and they won't encounter some hot place while en route), consider shipping them "dry" in a plastic bag. Or if you feel you must moisten them, keep it very minimal. If you put them in a plastic bag and squeeze most of the air out, they won't die from dryness all that quickly. (Obviously this is different in hotter months/locales). Mike central NY state, zone 5a __________________ Pauca sed matura.

rufusmd

Registered:1290356265
Posts: 45

Posted 1386638275	Reply with quote #17

There's no reason not to try to root them. I bet they do ok. I've had many dormant cuttings accidentally freeze solid. They rooted fine and are nicely growing trees. __________________ Rufusmd South Metro Atlanta Georgia/7b

WillsC

Registered:1348087628
Posts: 1,698

Posted 1386640355	Reply with quote #18

There is a huge difference between frozen say 30 degrees and -9. On the plus side you will know pretty quickly either way once you get them in moss.

ediblelandscapingsc

Registered:1343459620
Posts: 348

Posted 1386646888	Reply with quote #19

milehighgirl I dread the day mine turn young adults and I'm up waiting on them worrying if they are okay. at there age now I know where they are at all times. Although they destroy 75% of everything we own and I can't get them to do shit, they are my everything and wouldn't trade my life for the riches of the world. Good luck with the cuttings I hope they make it. __________________ South Carolina zone 7b-8

MichaelTucson

Registered:1333340598
Posts: 1,216

Posted 1386651508	Reply with quote #20

Quote: Originally Posted by WillsC There is a huge difference between frozen say 30 degrees and -9. On the plus side you will know pretty quickly either way once you get them in moss. True. But they may not have actually gotten down to -9. And cuttings from an already dormant tree top will do much better at low temperatures than green wood would do. Also, in my experience, the number of times they pass through the range of 28F - 32F matters quite a lot too (going in either direction). The freeze/thaw is where a lot of the damage happens, so if they only cycled there once, they really may be OK. And I like her idea of a "slower thaw" (in the fridge) as well. So milehighgirl, give them a try. And please do let us know how it all turns out. You could post the result right here in this thread, OK? Mike central NY state, zone 5a (we get a lot of freezing weather here) __________________ Pauca sed matura.

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