Fig cuttings to root - will this work

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Tad_Einloth1

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Posts: 39

Posted 1479009203	Reply with quote #1

Three weeks ago I went up to Virginia and stayed at a hotel near Charlottesville. While there the grounds crew were pruning the trees for the winter. I noticed that four fig trees were included in the pruning. I asked for the cuttings and the foreman said - All mine - they were headed for the trash heap otherwise. When I got home I was going to use my regular method to root - put cuttings in a good potting mix - leave on my driveway that gets sun from 9:00 to 4:00pm and water in the morning and afternoon. However I knew I would run out of hot days so this time I am putting the cuttings in the same potting mix but covered the plant with a clear plastic bottle dome. I noticed the dome retains both heat and humidity. Today three of the five cuttings are now showing new growth. Do you think this process will result in hearty cuttings with substantial root growth? Thanks Tad __________________ Tad Einloth

Figfanatic57

Registered:1460217336
Posts: 125

Posted 1479010027	Reply with quote #2

Tad, Sounds like you are doing a great job. With the dome, is it necessary to water twice a day? You have to be careful of over watering or mold/fungus will grow.

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479013682	Reply with quote #3

FigFanatic57, With the cooler temps I can get by watering only once every other day. Tad __________________ Tad Einloth

cjccmc

Registered:1469609201
Posts: 66

Posted 1479013787	Reply with quote #4

Sounds like you are headed down a successful path. I'm somewhat new at this but from what I know you may want to consider keeping it out of direct sun and as mentioned above, don't overwater. At this time of year I have my cuttings inside to try and provide a 70-80 deg F temperature. Here's a link that discusses use of a clear dome by a guy who knows a thing or two about figs... __________________ Conrad, SoCal zone 10

lifigs

Registered:1374698291
Posts: 217

Posted 1479038733	Reply with quote #5

You got to love fresh cuttings. I find them the easiest to root the bad part is have to keep them alive through the long winter. Just be careful not to water to often. __________________ Bill Long Island (Nassau) 7a,NY Wish List: Sicilian Red, RdB, JH Adriatic, Sal's EL and any fig from Bari.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1479112358	Reply with quote #6

Hi, If you're in same hemisphere than me, we're going towards winter. Your cuttings need to be kept in growing mode to stay alive as they don't have enough roots and energy to go dormant. Not the easiest way but it can be done. Good luck ! If you still have some cuttings aside, put them in the fridge until April and root them then come April. If you have more cuttings than needed, I would put some in a pot of loam but in the garage. They will stay dormant and may root and grow in April when you'll bring them outside. It is a shot in the dark, but I have one tree out of last year's pruning that did root like that. The success rate was not that high since I got one tree out of 4 pots of 4 cuttings each. But I had a problem with soggy potting mix (loam with lots of rain gets soggy especially on trees that don't need water because they are snoozing ) since I left them in the open outside. I should have sheltered them in the garden house. But that's what experimentation is about: making mistakes and learning from them ... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479160239	Reply with quote #7

Jdsfrance I am in Cary, NC. Unfortunately my wife will not let me keep anymore than two Boston Market cups of potted fig cuttings in the house at one time (under a fluorescent light) . All the others go to the garage - kept at about 60 degrees and then on sunny days outside on the driveway. Wish me luck - I am expecting to lose quite a few of the cuttings - but hopefully some will make it. Tad __________________ Tad Einloth

Dave

Registered:1312388324
Posts: 1,482

Posted 1479265066 · Edited	Reply with quote #8

Tad "Happy wife Happy Life" Good Luck __________________ Connecticut - Zone 6B Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 259

Posted 1479267724 · Edited	Reply with quote #9

Hi Tad. I second that on the water. I'm still new-ish at rooting cuttings but going through my second round and I can tell you that I lost a few to rot from over watering It seems the advice of humid rather than wet is wise. I'm not sure where you are located but I've only rooted cuttings in winter - indoors on the window sill... I would be hesitant to let them go dormant while still so fragile.... I was advised early on that year 1 the new cuttings should spend a cold winter indoors.... Can you post some pics of the new growth you mentioned? __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479269241	Reply with quote #10

Quote: Originally Posted by TorontoJoe I Tad. I second that on the water. I'm still new-ish at rooting cuttings but going through my second round and I can tell you that I lost a few to rot from over watering It seems the advice of humid rather than wet is wise. I'm not sure where you are located but I've only rooted cuttings in winter - indoors on the window sill... I would be hesitant to let them go dormant while still so fragile.... I was advised early on that year 1 the new cuttings should spend a cold winter indoors.... Can you post some pics of the new growth you mentioned? __________________ Tad Einloth

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479269320	Reply with quote #11

TorontoJoe, Sorry I do not have a digital camera or a camera phone so I cannot post pictures. I probably will purchase a camera phone in April 2017. Tad __________________ Tad Einloth

pitangadiego

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Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1479271453	Reply with quote #12

Only question I have, is the dome keeping the cuttings too warm and causing stored energy to go to new leaves and vegetative growth instead of roots? __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479354694	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by pitangadiego Only question I have, is the dome keeping the cuttings too warm and causing stored energy to go to new leaves and vegetative growth instead of roots? __________________ Tad Einloth

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479355115	Reply with quote #14

Pitangadiego, The dome only really keeps the heat in when I put the potted cuttings on the driveway each morning from 10:00am to 2:30pm. It does not appear that a lot of heat in the dome is created - daily temps now are only in the low 60's (Cary, NC). After going from the driveway they go in my unheated garage that is kept around 58 degrees in the winter. I wish I could say I do have leaf growth - but none at this stage. Tad __________________ Tad Einloth

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 259

Posted 1479356507	Reply with quote #15

What is your hardy zone? __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479404461	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by TorontoJoe What is your hardy zone? __________________ Tad Einloth

Tad_Einloth1

Registered:1471487587
Posts: 39

Posted 1479404504	Reply with quote #17

TorontoJoe, I live in Cary, NC - zone 7b (just out of 7a) Tad __________________ Tad Einloth

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