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Subject: More cuttings help Replies: 37
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 2,811
 
Thank you so much for the complement! I really do want them to work! I have no idea what I will do with them all our property isn't that big, but I have time to put thought into how I will keep them all. My wife already thinks I am nuts. I now refer to our office as the greenhouse and I get the evil eye. Although, she knows she wants the figs as much as I do.
I checked the mix and perlite I am using. It is Miracle Grow Potting Mix and Miracle Grow Perlite. The Perlite does not have any indication of a size. I also linked a picture of the room. The windows in the room are facing Eastish so some sun gets in during the morning, but not bad. I don't have any shades yet since we just replaced our 90 year old windows last week. I will have those temp paper/cloth shades up soon until we decide what to get.

Subject: More cuttings help Replies: 37
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 2,811
 
Thanks for the pictures, it helps a lot to see it. I think I am closer to 50/50. My mixes look a lot more like your first and maybe second picture. I did it pretty unscientifically. Here are the pictures I took. I have my first round of cuttings at the bottom that I individually covered. They all mostly seem to be doing well and growing out.








Subject: More cuttings help Replies: 37
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 2,811
 

Thank you again for taking the time to type this all out for me. I just got back from home depot and picted up a sheet of egg crate for the containers. I already platic wrapped them, so I guess I will ride that out. I have been mixing the potting soil with Perlite. I actually need to look at the bag and see if it says soil or mix. I just grabbed it at the hardware store i don't know if it is 50/50 perlite/soil or more, maybe 60/40 give or take and I poked holes in the bottom and sides. The room I have them in is upstairs so it will stay warmer. They room has two open windows and it does get some morning sun, but not directly in, plus its been a bit gray lately with all the snow.


Subject: More cuttings help Replies: 37
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 2,811
 
Thank you I do appreciate the help. Up until last year the most gardening I had done was mowing the lawn and trimming hedges. I had noticed the pic issue as well on my other posts. I tried to get the lined up, but I guess I gave up to easily. I figured it was picassa. I will pick up some egg crate tonight. I am using miracle grow potting mix. It does seem very dark. I read a few posts mentioning it wasn't that great, but I bought it before I knew... I watered them when I first potted them and waited for it to drain after every few days I was hefting them to see if they felt light and I added water. I definitely take our advice on the watering method.
I have read to about keeping the leaves away from plastic which I have tried to do. In the last picture that one is getting harder the leaves are getting big. Do you think I can take the plastic off?
Also, I don't want to keep asking nit picky questions, but do you think the plastic wrap is to much for the top? I figured it was better to let more light in. should I put the lid on?  I do not have it really tight on there.

Subject: More cuttings help Replies: 37
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 2,811
 






Subject: More cuttings help Replies: 37
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 2,811
 
Thanks again to everyone on the board. I have learned so much already, maybe I got to ambitious. I saw on this site pics of people using those storage containers to keep the cuttings in once they are potted. I went out and bought two because my cardboard box one didn't seem to do the job, the leaves and buds shriveled up pretty quickly in that. I put them in the plastic container and used plastic wrap to cover the top. This is probably where I went wrong, but I put in a big cup of water and some wet paper towels for moisture. It did seem to be very humid in there when I would open it. This was a few days ago. Today I think I can see the growth getting greener and some more leaves coming up, but I also saw some mold on some of the shriveled up stuff. I pulled off the moldy parts that I can see and I am airing it out. I also took out the paper towels and cup of water. What is there anything else I should do to for this?
I am also having some mold issues on cuttings in the bag. I think this is because I took out cuttings that were not rooting in water and switched to the baggie method. I guess they were to water logged? I read on here to use a little bleach in water and wipe them off. I wiped them down changed paper towels and reduced the amount of water I used to dampen them. Is that all I can do?

Lastly, Some of the earlier rooted cuttings that I individually wrapped in plastic seem to be doing very well. they have nice sized leaves on them and green growth. I see roots also rapped around in the bottles I am using. Is this enough for me to take them out of the plastic?

Subject: FIG tree ID/ Story Replies: 6
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,957
 
Thanks, Satellite. I don't have any pictures of the fruit. I bought the trees late in the season and they did not fruit. The trees he had with fruit on them looked like the Brunswick. It's hard to decide if the leaves were skinny without a reference, but I would think they might be on the skinnier side. Hopefully next year I will have some fruit to show you pictures.

Thanks for the info Too, Robert. I hope to hear from them. I really want to get good trees going here. I did actually find a fig nursery here. He had said some of the he has varieties only need to be wrapped for the first few years then they are good to go.
 I don't have the persons name I bought them from. It was just an ad in the paper. I don't know if he would be comfortable with me posting his information on the Internet. He was not a professional grower or anything like that. If these live I will go back and contact him to maybe pick up a few more trees I would certainly direct him to this site. I guess I can include you guys in with my Sicilian relatives who are all waiting to see what happens before they go get one. They are skeptical as well of a fig tree that doesn't need to be wrapped.


Subject: FIG tree ID/ Story Replies: 6
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,957
 
This probably should have been my first post, but on well. I am new to having fig trees and gardening in general. I became fascinated with figs, after going to Sicily this summer with my wife's family who is from Sicily and seeing the giant fig trees and eating figs that were near pear sized almost the entire time I was there. All you needed to do was tell them you liked something and they would disappear and come back with whatever it was and give it to you until you couldn't eat anymore.
So, when I came back home. I was on a mission to get some of my own figs. I am in Central New Jersey zone (Zone 6B I believe) so the cold weather/ wrapping is an issue. I had an anxiety about wrapping the tree, since I was sure I won't do it right. My wife's grandparents are hardcore gardeners, they have about 10 trees and he wraps them all even at 80 he is up on a ladder wrapping them up. He is the one who gave me the cuttings, which thanks to this website I am have very good success so far in rooting them. I am not sure what variety since he has a few and just gave me many unidentified cuttings in a bag one day... I will find out at some point...
Now for some back story and the ID question. a few months prior to him giving me the cuttings an avid gardener coworker who was familiar with my fig tree quest told me she saw an ad in the paper for cold hardy fig trees and gave me the number. I called and he was right down the road from me. He has three varieties only described as white, brown and purple/red. By the time I got there only the whites and browns were left. He was very nice and willing to give me all the info he had. He insisted that these trees to not need to be wrapped and I had said if they did it would be fine if they did, just let me know. He has never wrapped any of them. He had maybe 20 or 30 trees growing all around this giant barn and has been growing/ propagating /transplanting these for 40 years. He told me his fathers friend brought them back from a high mountain region of Italy 40 years ago. He even invited me to come back in the winter to see they will not be wrapped. He did say there would be some die back, but that but that is it. He just advised that it would be better to plant them near a something to give it some protect and it would limit the die back I bought a larger white tree and brown tree. The white figs were white and reddish. The browns were just brown. I have pictures of the leaves before they went dormant. Right now they are on the side of my house unwrapped and I am anxiously awaiting summer to see if they make it. Can anyone ID the trees from these pics? Does any of this sound reasonable?



Subject: Cuttings in water Replies: 15
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,324
 

Thanks guys, That seems to be the issue with these cuttings in water. They get the bumps going and they get a little big, but they seem to fall off. I never only one or two actually grew a root. I have so many of the other cutting that seem to be working, Knock on wood. That I am willing to wait and see with these in the water, but it has been a while. Also, today I potted more of my cuttins from the bag method. I am running out of supplys around the house and I thought it was a good idea, but do you think it is ok to use a cardboard box to make a little green house sort of? I just took all the pots put them in a box i had laying around, made a frame wrapped it in plastic. Today the leaves looked a little wilted. I am not sure if I need to water more or what. I was thinking though Do you think the cardboard would absorb the moister in the ther? I through in some wet towels this morning and when I get home from work I will water everything, but I would like to try to make this work.


Subject: Cuttings in water Replies: 15
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,324
 
Thanks. I will plant them tomorrow. Do I need to cover them with plastic to keep humidity in? I know I needed to do that the other way but the leaves on these are not schriveling up or anything and they are exposed. Does that change when they are pplanted?

Subject: Cuttings in water Replies: 15
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,324
 

It sounds like you are describing my situation to a T. I have them upstairs in an extra bedroom with two windows too. Although we just replaced the 90 year old windows with new ones last week, so it is warmer now. I felt like the water was cold, but things were growing so I didn't think it was a problem. So, I can just transfer these cuttings into a bag and get the roots going that way? Will the gorth on the cuttings live? Can I cut down the cuttings a bit? Some are to long to fit in a bag.


Subject: Cuttings in water Replies: 15
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,324
 

I do have an airstone and pump. I an give that a try.


Subject: Cuttings in water Replies: 15
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,324
 

Ok, like I have said in a few other posts. i am trying a few different methods for rooting figs since I was given so many cuttings. Right now the papertowel plastic bag method is winning big time. Second, I have just some cuttings in water. They have lots of leave growth and even a fig growing, but the roots are stll only white bumps and maybe one cutting has a single root or maybe two. I also see alot of these white nodules floating in the water. I do peridocally change out the water. It has been maybe a month or so. Should I plant them? Is there something else I can do? Should I pull the fig off the cutting to let it get back to trying to make root?

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Ok I checked my cuttings today. The small leave growth has shriveld up and is dry. Does that mean the plastic bag is not keeping the humidity in or do I need to keep the soil more moist? I habe had a few more cutting sprout rootsi am going to try plastic wrap instead of plastic bags. Is there anything I can do to save these cuttings?

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Oh, I can always ad more soil mix I have plenty.

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Oh, I can always ad more soil mix I have plenty.

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
I'm glad this is helpful to others. I am new to this myself. I was given a bunch of cuttings and I am trying a bunch of different methods, so far the bag has produced the fastest and notibale results. I also have cutting just in water that seem do be doing something...

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Thanks, I already trickled a little water on the dirt hopefully iit will be ok. If I get anymore roots on other cuttings I will mist the dirt.

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 

Ok, I potted all the ones with roots coming out. I am going to just drizzle a little bit of water in the soil to make it damp, Is that correct? A bunch of them have leaves and buds growing. I know you need to wait for roots. I am going to just change the paper towel remoisten it and put them back in the back is that right?


Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Thanks, I am in mercer county. That might be a bit far for me. I am sure I can find some. Does the zip lock have to cover the whole cutting? I have big frezzer bags that might fit over all the way. I was going to try the soda bottle. I also have plastic wrap I can make a frame with skiwers and wrap it.

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Thanks I will pick some up tonight. So I can just pot it and keep it near a window? I don't need to cover it with anything?

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
Ok, I think I should be able to pick up some perlite. If I can't because all the stuff might be packed up for winter here in NJ. What else could I do. Do I need to cover it like a greenhouse?

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
I should put it in vermiculite right? Or is dirt better at this point? Also, do I need to cover it with something to keep in humidity?

Subject: Is this enough root growth to Plant? Replies: 23
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 1,655
 
I am trying a few different methods with a bunch of cuttings I was given. Some are doing better then others. I have a few that have what look to me to be good roots. I attached a picture. Is this enough for me to plant them in the Vermiculite or should I wait longer?

Subject: New to the forum an introduction and quick cuttings questions Replies: 3
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 905
 

Thanks, Do you think I should put a bag over the cuttings in water. I might be crazy, but I think I see something going on with them already. One or two have something fuzzy looking on the bottom were it was a fresh cut. I don't know if that is something oozing out...

Subject: New to the forum an introduction and quick cuttings questions Replies: 3
Posted By: 71GTO Views: 905
 
I am new to Fig trees. I am located in NJ zone 6b. This year I planted two 5 year old fig trees and I will see how they do. I don't know the varieties, one white and one brown. I am also attempting to grow trees from cuttings. My wifes grandparents have many fig trees on thier property. He was trimming them down so he can wrap them. He has even gone as far as to build a house for some of them... He gave me a bunch of the cuttings. From this site and other information on the web. I am trying a few different methods to root them. I am trying the baggie method with and without roottone. I know it doesn't seem to popular, but I could not find any liquid versions and I am curious to see if it works. I planted some in vermiculite with and without rootone and some in dirt and some peetmoss with and without roottone. After all that I took a few cutting and just put them in a container of water. My question is do I need to put a baggie or something over the cutting in the water or can I just leave them in there and see if roots show?
    My second question is related to the other cuttings. The cuttings in pots I wrapped in plastic to keep in humidity. Do really need to be air tight? I just made a frame with skewers and wrapped it in saran wrap. Do they need to be kept at a perfect 70? I am keeping them upstairs which is warmer. Our heat goes down to the lower 62-64 at night and when we are not home, but it would be a warmer upstairs. I am also keeping everthing and especially the baggies near our heat source, which is water baseboards, so it doesn't get really hot, but it will stay warmer. Is this ok?