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chome360

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
Hello all,

Hoping for some opinions on my creative solution. I'm going to be out of town for approximately 14 days with no one to look after this years cuttings. Watering being my main concern, I built this bottom watering solution. All the cuttings are in 1 gal hydrofarm pots. The stand I built will allow me to keep about 1/4 on an inch of water in the lower bin at all times. I'll achieve that by using the method in the youtube link below. I'll add a drainage overflow hole in the bin just in case something goes wrong while I'm out. The whole setup will be in a green house so no rain factor. The hydrofarm pots are shaped so only the four corners will dip into the water. The soil mix I'm using is 60 percent gardner and bloome organic potting mix and 40 percent perlite. Unfortunately I haven't validated that as a good mix for bottom watering and don't have enough time to thoroughly do so.

Probably went a little overboard. I know no one can say exactly what will happen, just looking to see if anyone sees it as a bad idea and destined for failure. Would hate to come back to water logged or dry dead cuttings. I'll need to build about 3 more if I go with this option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=Ffe7JfYyBFE

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rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
The only way to know is to test it.  Depending on your soil you may need a wick.  Get a few pots in there as soon as you can and see how it works.
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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.
james

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
If you saw my post about dyeing perlite w/ food coloring... the perlite (100%) in the sleeves adjacent to the sleeves with the colored perlite drew the escaped colored water in through the bottom.  It rose up almost 2 inches.  I redid the test by putting a sleeve in a bowl with colored water:
20140417_134357 small.jpg 

I'm not sure why, but the level in this one was a little bit on the low side compared to the others.

EDIT: this is with 100% perlite.  both corners of the sleeve are snipped and that is where the water is being drawn up from.

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In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b)
In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 

2016 Wish List:  Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine.  Iranian figs are always welcome.
chome360

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Good call on the clear baggy.  I'll give that a shot with my mix tonight.  Is there an optimum height for the moisture to reach in it's accent?
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pitangadiego

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
If they are newly rooted cuttings, they will probably be dead. They ability of your potting soil to wick up too  much water, if they are constantly standing in water is usually very, very underestimated. It is not the of the water, but the wicking ability of the soil. Soggy soil is the death of newly rooted cuttings.

Time to make a good friend who will water for you.
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Grasa

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Chris, aren't they dormant? Why not give them a drink an putting them in a basement where it is cool..they will survive 2 weeks... if not sleeping they will go to sleep... safer than letting them drown. 
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Grasa
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Hi Chome360,
How big are the trees ?
If they are cuttings they don't need water for 15 days. Just water them normally the day before leaving and voilà .
This is just my 2 cents of the day.
Of course they are yours, and the risk is yours.

I have a growing cutting that is 2 or 3 months old, and it almost doesn't need water .
It has been for a week in front of a sunny window, and still is not droopy ...
I watered another one, and now it is dropping the leaves.... from over-watering !

Of course it depends on your temp in the room and outside. Here outside temps have been ranging from 3° to 20°, not more .
How is your outside temp by now ?
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james

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I assumed your cuttings had rooted.  If so, you do not want the water to saturate the entire container.  If your growing mix is moist to start with, the roots will grow down to find the water.  I would say no more than a third of the way up from the bottom (less if your containers are short or if the cuttings reach close to the bottom).  If they have not rooted, you would probably be fine with moist mix to start and no/minimal additional water.  You do not need a lot to maintain humidity in the mostly closed bin. 

The other option is to take them with you ...I took mine on vacation last year :|
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In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b)
In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 

2016 Wish List:  Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine.  Iranian figs are always welcome.
eboone

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by james

The other option is to take them with you ...I took mine on vacation last year :|


Did your cuttings take 'selfies' beside all of the park signs and roadside attractions?
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Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid),  Col Littman's Black Cross.   And any cold hardy early fig.
armando93223

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
I wouldn't leave my fig babies alone at home, put them in the trunk and check on them every few minutes....LOL
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