I may not have a high posts counts but I visit this forum daily :). I've learned so much thanks to many members who shared their knowledge and expertise without asking for anything in return.

1st pic: My figs are now in the self watering 5 gallons buckets.
2nd pic: Trying to root some cuttings in clear cups inside red cups with peat moss (so far so good).
3rd pic: cuttings in shoe box container with peat moss (I want to see which method works better for me)


So, again thank you... you guys are the best!!!

Nice pix Peter - looks like you're off and running . I've started cuttings in damp sphagnum moss - hope they take !
Like your self watering buckets.

Peter,
Please keep updates on your cuttings.  Like the look of the cuttings that are pushed through the plastic. I find that you can spend hours on this forum.

Thanks Pattee!

Doug, I'll take another picture in 2 weeks. I hope I'll see some progress by then.

Everything looks great, Peter! Continued good luck to you.

Looks good Peter. I'm doing something similiar with my cuttings. Keep us posted.

Art

Looks good Peter. The only thing I do different is the last picture. I use long uncut peat, not peat moss. Not saying what your doing is wrong. But the way your doing in the cups is basically the same thing. I wish I could put up a link to show you what it looks like. If someone could, please do. If not, I'll do a search for a site and give you the .com thingy.

luke

Luke,

Please do post some links or pictures if you have any. Any help counts. At this point all are experiments for me.

Luke means long fibered sphagnum moss. I have heard sphagnum peat moss works too though. Best of luck

Ahh I see.. what's the advantage of using fibered moss compared to peat moss? I guess this would be my "Plan B" if peat moss doesn't work. but so far the cuttings looks good tough.

[QUOTE=hoosierbanana]Luke means long fibered sphagnum moss. I have heard sphagnum peat moss works too though. Best of luck
[/QUOTE]

It has naturally occurring chemicals that prevent mold. Cleaner to work with. Easier to get the moisture right and check for roots. The downside is that it is expensive and hard too find locally. The stuff at most garden centers will have grass in it and be darker and not as nice as what you can get from an orchid grower or reptile shop.

Will these be the one?

http://www.amazon.com/Mosser-Lee-Fibered-Minibale-Sphagnum/dp/B000T2JLAO/ref=sr_1_3?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1348990138&sr=1-3&keywords=fibered+moss

http://www.amazon.com/Mosser-Lee-Fibered-Sphagnum-2-Bushel/dp/B008JSA2XA/ref=sr_1_5?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1348990138&sr=1-5&keywords=fibered+moss

[QUOTE=hoosierbanana]It has naturally occurring chemicals that prevent mold. Cleaner to work with. Easier to get the moisture right and check for roots. The downside is that it is expensive and hard too find locally. The stuff at most garden centers will have grass in it and be darker and not as nice as what you can get from an orchid grower or reptile shop.[/QUOTE]

I got a small bag at Home depot.. it was not very expensive.

Found it!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202301542/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=moss&storeId=10051#.UGf42lFSH1U

Thanks Grasa.

[QUOTE=Grasa]I got a small bag at Home depot.. it was not very expensive.

[/QUOTE]

I knew someone would help you. My computer savvy ain't was. Thanks Brent, he gave all the right answers for you. The way you have the last two methods, they really are the same. Just in a different position. The last one you show could have problem with your cuttings drying out. But one of the things I'm learning is, most fig cuttings are very easy to root. MOST.

luke

I was suppose to update this thread with more pictures of my cuttings progress in two weeks. Well, three months and countless trial and error later, I found the best method that works for me. All cuttings in the pictures are from figs4fun forum members through eBay or free cuttings from many generous members here (you know who you are). I hope next season I can have enough cuttings to share.

Thanks again guys and Merry Christmas...

Peter - which way gave you the best results?

Congratulations!  You have some great varieties there.  The moss at HD  (Mosser Lee - doesn't matter where you get it) is really poor quality.  Lowe's has Orchid Moss which is a lot better.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_63195-1300-5045_0__?Ntt=orchid+moss&UserSearch=orchid+moss&productId=3036805&rpp=32

For a bigger bale, this is good quality

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00423F8NA/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

Jo-Ann, I use plastic pots/containers (used soda bottles, soda cups, clear cups). Grow medium is a mix of about 40% coarse perlite, 20% vermiculite, 20% sphagnum peat moss, and 20% happygrow compost from Lowes. Sometimes I skip the vermiculite. I started all cuttings in the tray dome or plastic bin under grow light.  I have about 1 inch layer of moist play sand in the bin. A lot of the roots go into the moist sand through the draining holes at the bottom of the cups. The sand is loose enough that I can lift the cups without breaking the roots. With this method I get longer roots when I'm ready to move them to the gallon pots. I also find that the sand helps maintain the humidity inside the bin. With this method so far I have a 100% success rate. Crossing my fingers!

Peter, I think you are the first to mention moist sand under the cups!  Very ingenious - I am impressed!

Thanks for the info Bob. I bought a couple of bag of moss at HD and was very disappointed. Too many twigs mixed in.

Peter,
    The fig trees look great, and best of luck with them.  About the "self watering system".....is that a product that you purchased, or something you thought up yourself?  Could you tell me a little bit about how it works?  Thanks.

Love the setup, Peter.  Do you have any air holes in the plastic covers for the individuals?  Do you air them out every so often?  Thanks

Peter, I am with Vince. Sure would like to hear more about your self watering system if you don't mind.

Mike,
   I have 3 self watering pots that I purchased from Bill's Figs in Flemington, N.J.( here's a link:  http://figs4fun.com/bills_figs.html ) You'll get an idea of how his system works by scrolling down the thumb nails that he provides( click on each one for larger picture).   They work really great and they prevent over watering because the roots are watered from the bottom by means of a wicking system, and there is an overflow hole in the side of the pot that will not allow you to overfill the pot and drown the root ball.  This is the second season I am using them, and I may get a few more this coming season. 

Vince & Mike -  I did not purchase the self-watering bucket. I made some from 5 gallons WalMart buckets. I think they are about $2.48 per buckets. Make sure you buy the blue ones if you buy from Walmart. The white ones are more expensive but made from thinner plastic. Or you can get some orange 5 gal buckets from Home Depot for almost the same price. Check this youtube on how to make one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZUCxBHeq04
I didn't use the lids (too expensive for what it is and does not work well for fig trees). I covered it with thick black trash bag tied with 32" (if I remember correctly) bungee cords.