Frequency of watering Fig in Perlite/Vermiculite?

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PinoyFig

Registered:1402628213
Posts: 19

Posted 1402805886	Reply with quote #1

I'm new in planting figs and i'm from Southeast Asia. I just transfered my Fig cuttings with roots already on cups that has perlite and vermiculite mix, and i dont know how frequent should I water it? Noon to 3pm time temperature here is around 33C / 92F, though every afternoon we do get rains and temperature goes.down to 26C-27C. Need advice pls. Attached Images PhotoGrid_1402878294767.jpg (366.53 KB, 20 views) 1402805835683.jpg (59.99 KB, 21 views)

DallasFigs

Registered:1358877623
Posts: 990

Posted 1402807797	Reply with quote #2

Cup stage is usually done indoors. They can dry out fast outside. If outside, keep them out of the sun. It's also very easy to over water vermiculite. Even when mixed 50/50 with perlite. Get a sense for feeling how heavy the cup is to see if it need water. It should be very light. Do not give it so much water that it drains out the bottom. It'll keep the roots ok wet. Take a cup of the same mix without the cutting and add water a little at a time, measuring as you go. Find out how much water it takes for it to just start draining out the bottom. Half of that amount should be about right. Get a feel for how heavy that should be. Then you should let it get so light that you think it must be dry, though you'll still see some condensation inside the cup, before giving more water. Good luck. Keep us posted on the progress. __________________ James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a Follow me on EBay Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon

DallasFigs

Registered:1358877623
Posts: 990

Posted 1402808169	Reply with quote #3

Oh. Keep them out of the rain. You need to carefully manage their water supply in the cups. Once the have more roots and a bigger pot, the they can have some rain and some (slowly) sun. Also, don't keep the humidity domes on them too long. Once one or two roots make it to the edge of the cup, start slowly weaning them off the high humidity. __________________ James - Irving, TX - Zone: 8a Follow me on EBay Wish List: 187-25 · Ice Crystal · Maltese Beauty · Maltese Falcon

erics11

Registered:1399955853
Posts: 102

Posted 1402808184	Reply with quote #4

The perlite/vermiculite mix will hold a lot of water. From what ive read, most failures are due to Overwatering. I would water about once a week at most with maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water. Make sure you have plenty of drain holes at bottom and sides. __________________ Hayward, CA 9B Own: Brown Turkey, White Kadota, Mission Black, Celeste, RdB, VdB, Hunt, Dominick, Strawberry Verte, LSU Scott's black, Brown Greek, Spanish Black Wishlist: Chicago Hardy, Desert King, Col de Dame Gris, any other favorites

armando93223

Registered:1318984112
Posts: 1,164

Posted 1402808195	Reply with quote #5

I would just keep the humidity up and avoid over watering. Watch out for mold.....poke some small holes with a thin needle to get some air. Not to big, you don't want Gnats getting in and infesting the cup. Good Luck Friend. __________________ Armando in the Heart of California

erics11

Registered:1399955853
Posts: 102

Posted 1402809235	Reply with quote #6

I would also open it up everyday to let it breathe for a bit. Ive had mold issues recently and this really helped __________________ Hayward, CA 9B Own: Brown Turkey, White Kadota, Mission Black, Celeste, RdB, VdB, Hunt, Dominick, Strawberry Verte, LSU Scott's black, Brown Greek, Spanish Black Wishlist: Chicago Hardy, Desert King, Col de Dame Gris, any other favorites

PhilaGardener

Registered:1389014416
Posts: 199

Posted 1402830047	Reply with quote #7

Welcome and good luck with your cuttings! James' comment about the weight of the cup is right on the money - easy way to gauge how things are going. Watch for roots! __________________ Philadelphia Gardener Near Philly, but winters still feeling like Zone 6!

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1402841783	Reply with quote #8

For me it's just taken time and trial and error to know how much to be watering cuttings and also larger fig plants. I've found that once you put them into pots and put them outside then a lot of water is good for them, but in the small cutting stage it's best to keep them moist but not water logged. I have some cuttings in cups inside my house right now and I drench them (water gushing out of the holes in the cups) and then just let them set for a week or 2 because without lots of leaves and hot sun they just don't dry out fast. My soil mixture is like 2/3 potting soil and 1/3 perlite so maybe mine is drying out slower than yours. With the perlite/vermiculite mixture I always had trouble knowing when to water again. With potting soil I can tell by the change of the soil color. Wet is black. Like with all things it takes personal trial and error to get good at it. I had read this board a LOT before trying cuttings on my own and still most of them died. Recently I did the shoe box with peat moss method of rooting cuttings and only had 1 out of 8 mold, so I'm learning. I used to do the paper towel in a ziplock bag method and the vast majority of my cuttings would mold. Even the ones that survived were on the verge of mold death. Peat moss from here on out! __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

RichinNJ

Registered:1374784282
Posts: 1,687

Posted 1402877277	Reply with quote #9

IMHO root in perlite only and soak once a day

PinoyFig

Registered:1402628213
Posts: 19

Posted 1402878628	Reply with quote #10

Updated the pictures I have attached. I have included the pictures of the cuttings that i have planted in the cups with Perlite and Vermiculite.

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1402883544	Reply with quote #11

With vermiculite in the mix, I would be very careful with water. I judge by the weight, when it feels too light I give it a little (1/4 c) of water, until I see many roots. Seems to work for me, no rot, mold or gnats. __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

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