I am new to this and was wondering on cleaning cuttings.

This is what I do:

I know that there are some that go to great lengths to try to clean/sterilize their cuttings to keep mold at bay.  If you want to go that route, it will be more work but will probably work out just fine. 

However, in my opinion, this is not necessary.  I believe that it's more important to provide the right conditions.  This means proper humidity and air that is not completely stagnant for more than a day or two.  So if you use a humidity bin, shoe box, or bag, make sure you open it up every day or two to get fresh air.  Actually, I have been pushing the days between opening up my sphagnum shoe boxes to 3,4 or 5 days, and it seems fine so far. 

Start with reasonably clean and fresh cuttings, rinse off dirt/debris in plain water, put in new baggie method or in sphagnum moss (or just stick in a pot with potting mix with a bag on top).  After a few days/weeks you may see some superficial mold develop on the cuttings, particularly on the leaf scars.  If I am using the sphagnum method, I will just rub this off gently with my fingers.  After rubbing it off once or twice, it usually does not come back, and so far, for me, has not negatively impacted any cutting (and I've done a lot this winter). 

As an aside, I tried the same approach with some grape cuttings my neighbor gave me (in sphagnum moss).  They were so moldy after one week that I had to throw them out.  Not sure if this is typical, or if he just gave me bad cuttings.  So there is nothing specific about my setup that is preventing mold, I just think that fresh fig cuttings are pretty resistant by their nature.

Rob

Thank You for the information,

In previous years I did as NYPD did. Anti-bacteral soap, bleach and I used paper towels. This year I didn't clean the cuttings I just sprayed them with Physan 20 and put them in the fridge until I was ready to start rooting. I only had one set of cuttings develop mold while in fridge. When ready to root them I wrap them in a paper towel and spray them with fresh Physan 20 to dampen the paper towel, again no mold. Some I put in baggies with sphagnum moss, no mold so far.

"gene"

I could not find a local source for Physan or its clones so I just made a 10:1 mixture of water and bleach. After two weeks I do not see any mold but that may be since I have them laid horizontally in a food tray with a clear lid. I have seen a couple of roots so I'm hoping to maybe pot them soon.

Hi Dominick,

What is the fungcide in Physan 20?

Thanks,

noss

This is the only info on the bottle and the website:

I am aligned with Rob's approach. Unless there is an obvious sign (pests or mold), I do not clean cuttings. I either moss them as most do according to this poll by FMD or go straight to pot as a few fig folks do.

Thanks Dominick,

I was wondering if the san part of the name came from Nolvasan.  Nolvasan has soap in it and it is a virucide and a fungicide all in one.  Nolvasan is chlorhexidine.

noss

I got my Physan 20 from a place called Spray N' Grow a few years ago. (I also use their Spray N Grow product and Fertilizer too, works great IMO, especially for the tomatoes and veg garden)

Here is a link to the the Physan 20

http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/Physan-20-16-ounce/productinfo/PHYSAN20PT/

I have never used it for my cuttings though before. I will have to do that. Dominick,  Do you think age or temp change has any affects on the Physan 20 at all? I just have not use my bottle in a while now. I guess it would still be good?

I have been thinking of giving mine a short soak in a neem solution to kill any mites that may be present, then rinse and towel dry. Anyone ever try neem on cuttings before?

I'm wondering if spraying them in an insecticidal soap that has some oil in it would be good for putting on the cuttings.

noss

I have some tea tree oil soap and I will wash some test cuttings and see how they do. I don't worry about washing for mold, but if there are mites on any of the cuttings they could possible spread FMV or a different type of FMV to the ones next to them.

So, does anyone not clean their cuttings?  Whatever potting soil/perlite/vermiculite you're using isnt going to be sterile....

Overkill, or no?

Switched over to using Sphagnum Moss bought from Lowes.

This has helped on the mold and I am also doing a better job

of cleaning with a 1/tenth of bleach with water. Thanks Again.

Dominick I liked the pictures you posted of your plants in the

red containers. Hopefully in the near future I will get there.

I use a chamomile tea/neem/Superthrive soak and finger scrub before bagging the cuttings up to callus. I have also used a bleach solution dip but it is the humidity and non stagnation that makes the biggest difference.