There are cloning machines out there that claim to have high success rates with cloning of cuttings. Has anyone on here tried using a cloning machine to propagate their figs? Has anyone tried tissue culture?

I just ended my first experiment with a bucket cloner. I put 5 green cuttings in it and no action after 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the remaining 9 cuttings I put in moss are all rooted and now in cups. I could've left the cuttings in the cloner longer, but they were good cuttings and I wanted them to live, so I transferred to moss. I will try again when I have cuttings I don't care about.

did you use any rooting gels or solutions?

A cloning machine with similar soil , enviroment etc would yield much more consistancy.
I think snaglplus showed he built one himself in one of his posts.

In my case for now i like the old school way of rooting cuttings ( ala paper bag method).
at least i get to play  some hide and seek with the gnats.

[QUOTE=twobrothersgarden]did you use any rooting gels or solutions?[/QUOTE]

I dipped each cutting in Clonex gel and also used Clonex solution in the water. The "control group" was also dipped in Clonex gel before going into moss.

My experiment with a DIY bucket cloner FAILED MISERABLY! 

Most rotted. The few roots that did develop were weak and spindly. 

My current favorite rooting method of coir  is infinitely more successful.

Eli can you describe your method for me a little bit. I'm trying new methods and I would appreciate any insight.

Frank can you describe your coir rooting method for me a little bit. I'm not familiar with coir.

[QUOTE=cyberfarmer][QUOTE=twobrothersgarden]did you use any rooting gels or solutions?[/QUOTE] I dipped each cutting in Clonex gel and also used Clonex solution in the water. The "control group" was also dipped in Clonex gel before going into moss.[/QUOTE]


Wow. You used gel and solution and they didn't root, that's pretty sad. When I heard about these cloning machines I thought for sure they would work, because they said it keep the cuttings in an optimal growing environment. Whats your advise? Should I invest in a machine? What machine did you test with?

TBG as i see it now its all karma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4mY01UksQU

when we take care of precios  cutting they survive , when we dont care  ( lets say a common BT or a kadota  -they fail).

the good part is we know why they are failing :)

[QUOTE=twobrothersgarden]
Wow. You used gel and solution and they didn't root, that's pretty sad. When I heard about these cloning machines I thought for sure they would work, because they said it keep the cuttings in an optimal growing environment. Whats your advise? Should I invest in a machine? What machine did you test with?[/QUOTE]

I used the X-Factor Hydro 28 Site Cloner: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ENONEZW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also used an interval timer to run it 1 minute on, 1 minute off. I don't know if that was a good idea or not. To be fair, I should try running it 100% on.

There is a hydroponics shop in my town. I'll have to get myself down there and see if they have any ideas. I actually bought it to root olives, not figs. I had already heard that these don't work well for figs. But, I had heard that they do work well for olives, which also failed.

Paul thanks for sharing your experience. I'm gonna have to rethink my approach about this for a while.

[QUOTE=elin]TBG as i see it now its all karma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4mY01UksQU

when we take care of precios  cutting they survive , when we dont care  ( lets say a common BT or a kadota  -they fail).

the good part is we know why they are failing :)[/QUOTE]

That is funny, if I really care about a cutting, it is going to fail 100%!
If I totally do not care, they will root and thrive 100%
This is proven over 2 years

OMG i wanted to delete that post :)

Henry,
Dennis, (Snaglpus) started a topic describing his success with cloning fig cuttings, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7023364 .

After reading his post I started a trial with a DIY shoe box bubble cloner and built a bucket bubble cloner for rooting green fig cuttings. The trial is still on going.
.
2 of the original 8 have been up potted, 1 died and 5 of the original are still in the bubble cloner but are being fed with Flora Nova Grow nutrient solution, current rooting success rate at 90+ %

I have tried bucket clone systems, areoponics, and mist table system. Really like the mist table.

I wanted to follow up and clarify that when I said mine failed, I just meant they failed the head to head challenge with sphagnum. I put some green cuttings in baggies with damp moss on the same day that I put the others into the clone machine. After a couple weeks, 100% of the cuttings in moss had ample thick roots. The ones in the bucket had none. If I had left them in the bucket longer, I suspect they would have eventually rooted. It just seems to me that if the bucket is not as good as moss, it is a failure, even if the cuttings would have eventually rooted.

I just checked the cuttings that were transferred from the bucket cloner to moss. Two of them are showing root initials. So, at least the bucket cloner did not kill my cuttings.

[QUOTE=garden_whisperer]I have tried bucket clone systems, areoponics, and mist table system. Really like the mist table.[/QUOTE]

Have you ever posted pics of your mist table? I would love to see it.

By the way, most of the cuttings that I am referring to in my bucket cloner test are the MvsB and RdB I got from you. Most are already in cups with plenty of roots and leaves popping out!

This is so awesome.....I'm going to invest in a cloning machine now just for the heck of it....thank you Ascpete....I had read so many success stories on cloning machines, but I wanted to ask the community before I made any big investments in an expensive cloning machine....I will post the results as soon as I get my own cloning machine. To tell you the trough I struggle a lot with moisture control while the cutting are in the moss and after I plant them in soil.....That is why I want to give cloning with a machine a shot.

Thanks again ascpete for sharing...those roots look amazing btw. :)






[QUOTE=ascpete]Henry,
Dennis, (Snaglpus) started a topic describing his success with cloning fig cuttings, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7023364 .

After reading his post I started a trial with a DIY shoe box bubble cloner and built a bucket bubble cloner for rooting green fig cuttings. The trial is still on going.
.
2 of the original 8 have been up potted, 1 died and 5 of the original are still in the bubble cloner but are being fed with Flora Nova Grow nutrient solution, current rooting success rate at 90+ %[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ascpete]Henry,
Dennis, (Snaglpus) started a topic describing his success with cloning fig cuttings, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7023364 .

After reading his post I started a trial with a DIY shoe box bubble cloner and built a bucket bubble cloner for rooting green fig cuttings. The trial is still on going.
.
2 of the original 8 have been up potted, 1 died and 5 of the original are still in the bubble cloner but are being fed with Flora Nova Grow nutrient solution, current rooting success rate at 90+ %[/QUOTE]

Hey Pete,

How long have they been in the cloner so far, and how long did it take for the first ones to root?

Will have to set the most table back up in spring to get more pics here's the post. http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/mist-table-propagation-6116748?pid=1276416655#post1276416655 Glad to hear the cuttings are going good for you. Wouldn't mind seeing rooting pics

Henry,
You're welcome and thanks.
BTW, the cloner was only used for rooting green "summer" cuttings and the cuttings have to be transplanted to a growing medium once rooted. I've also had much better success rates with 2 Liter Soda Bottle mini SIPs with a Perlite and or Coco Coir mix for growing out both summer, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6868363 and dormant cuttings, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1280977480&postcount=17 . I decided to try the bubble cloner as only a test.


Paul,
The original cuttings were placed in the cloner on September 6, 2014, and the start info was posted in another linked topic, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1284197705&postcount=14 . Roots started to form within 14 to 21 days.
    .

Thanks Paul really cool stuff! :)

[QUOTE=twobrothersgarden]Thanks Paul really cool stuff! :)[/QUOTE]

I think you meant thanks Pete. But, you're welcome.

Oh sorry yeah...haha. I'm using my phone and the script is so small. I get confused easily.

...again the 5gal bucket cloner does not work for fig cuttings. There is simply not enough water mass to keep the pump cool. It sprays great but the water is just too hot and cooks the cuttings.

[QUOTE=snaglpus]...again the 5gal bucket cloner does not work for fig cuttings. There is simply not enough water mass to keep the pump cool. It sprays great but the water is just too hot and cooks the cuttings.[/QUOTE]

I used an interval timer so that the pump ran 1 minute on 1 minute off. It did not get hot under those conditions. I did not test it running 100%.

This is a really interesting topic. I am also curious about everyones trials with the bucket cloner.
Looks like fun

I put Ice packs in the water and a sticker fish tank thermometer stick on the outside. It's not a perfect system I have a clone ideal working on. Got to get the stuff together first.

I made bubblers from plastic Folgers cans and air pumps using a BT, alma, and hyb 0023 cutting. I tried an old aquarium heater on one can then the heater died. All three developed tiny roots in a couple weeks then stopped growing. A month later there were all still healthy with no die back but the leaves started yellowing since I had never changed the water. I just added a cap full of peroxide every few days. The water didn't smell and I never had to add any, but I assume the ph had changed. I decided to pot them and they seem okay still, but it has only been a few days. I used hard well water only, no hormone or nutrients. Removed all but one leaf on each.

I enjoy your videos Henry!

I just noticed that I forgot to remove two of the cutting from my bucket cloner. I opened it up and at first glance, I thought they had developed roots. But no. They have white snot balls where the roots are supposed to be. Good thing those were not important varieties.

Hi cyberfarmer,
At this point I would pot those cuttings and put them in a greenhouse ... if you have one . Well you're in Zone 10, so perhaps you just need a plastic sheet over the pot or a small priced small tomato greenhouse.
Or you could leave them there, and let the experience go on ...