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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
One of my potted trees that I top pruned in December started to drip water(basically) from the cut about 2 weeks ago when is started to wake up. My first thought was to just leave it and let the sun and wind dry it up when I put it outside. We had some nice weather here and all my pots were outside day and night for almost a week and I didn't really notice it dripping. A turn in the weather came so I brought them in last night and noticed it is dripping still.
I have had grape vines do this in the past and some of them got fungal/mold infections at the sight of the drip. So I think I need to do something so the fig tree doesn't get a similar infection. I decided to try and cauterize it with a propane torch. I was able to avoid the shoot from the node below by aiming directionally and using a cup as a heat shield. I burned the cut to a black crisp and the son-of-a-gun is still dripping! My thought is to give it a few days and if it is still dripping then re-cut it like 1/4-1/2 inch lower and hopefully it will bleed latex which should seal the cut.

What do you think, what would you do? 
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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.  :)
SCfigFanatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Dab dry, squirt with enamel paint.
Not organic I suppose, but it seals cuts.

Doug
rafed

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Latex Paint is what I use.
Or you can put ashes on it. This will help too.

Never thought of using enamel paint. Is it petroleum base?
SCfigFanatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Well heck rafted, I don't know.
Just cheap fast dry enamel is what I use.

Doug
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Also can use plain ole dirt.
cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Thanks for the input. I'll start with the most natural and work my way up.
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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.  :)
Aaron4USA

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
fresh cut again and seal with Paraffin, melt some and use a brush to seal the cut, shish.... why use bad chemicals on something you are going to eat later.
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Calvin, any luck getting your tree to stop seeping?  I have a similar problem as I posted in another thread:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/pruning-and-training-figs-tree-or-bush-form-6388743?trail=100

I'm on my 3rd day of seeming so it's getting worrisome.  This morning I applied clay based dirt on a couple and ashes on another.  The clay looks like it might be slowing it down.  If that doesn't work I'll try the parrafin.  Let me know what works for you.
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Steve MD zone 7a
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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
My grandparents used tar to seal a tree wound.
Petroleum based Im sure. Every fruit tree got the same treatment.
I can only hope I live as long as they did.
The enamel dries hard. It does not flow in the latex sap.
I just went out and tried it again, and again, and again.
These wont produce edible fruit for a few years.
Even then, its the least of my worries at this point.
Keeping the tree alive is my first priority.


Doug
cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Steve,
I work a really long day on Sundays and Mondays a regular day. So I haven't had a chance to address it yet. I did look when I got home last night and the tree was still wet at the cut. I was going to try ashes first, I have both clay and regular dirt I could try on it.  They are back in the garage because we had a spring storm yesterday-last night but tomorrow I'll be puttting them outside for the day. I am going to try recutting it when it is out in the sunlight, hoping the latex will take care of it. I am sort of wondering if I should sprinkle some ashes on the bleeding latex right after I cut it. I only have about 3/4-1" of trimmable internode left otherwise it would be no worries and if one fails trim a little more and try again. Worst case scenario I can keep cutting, but would have to remove a small shoot which has been planned as a future scaffold branch.

At the moment the tree is still perfectly healthy with no signs of distress, it's just that I know that drip is robbing growing shoots of some hydrostatic pressure and opening an opportunity for infection and bugs.
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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.  :)
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
i pruned my VdB hard during christmas. everything was fine. then i started noticing clear water/liquid dripping on one of the cut. i didn't do anything to it. now it stopped. i think few days in the sun and fresh air should help.
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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...*****
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Calvin during season when i prune ends for the figs i seal with dirt it always works .

During dormancy when i cut some for ebay i use nothing and anything clear eventually stops
but never really payed any attention as to how long it goes on for as i get back into warmth
of the house.
bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
went out and took a look. looks like it has some mold/rot or what not. dark spots, but node below it has nice branch coming out. i've seen this before on others . it should dry out, the pith will rot away, and move on.
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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...*****
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