First Attempt at Rooting Figs!

[Getfiggywitit65]

Well, to many of you rooting figs or any other eligible candidates for hardwood propagation, it's like "getting back on a bike". Last night I prepped and "fig-popped" my first batch of 15 potentially award-winning figs, hopefully I won't be known as the man that slaughtered "ALL THE FIG CUTTINGS", lol, it would be highly distressful and discouraging for someone that fell so deeply enthralled with the fig culture. I have approximately 25 more cuttings expected by week's end that I hope to add to my initial collection. I have "some" realistic expectations in that I expect to lose some but based on my personality of a perfectionist "Lord help me" I expect to be successful in my first fig rooting endeavor. I stared my media by adding "Promix" potting mix with equal parts of vermiculite and pearlite and adding just enough water to dampen.
Wish me well on my first ride and may good fortune visit each and everyone of you this season and the next.

 

[tridrama]

Those look good. I admire your spirit and drive to jump right in. I've recently started a few cuttings myself after a two-year hiatus. I'm using cups and tote. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

Tridrama,
Good luck! with your rooting, I remember eating figs until I thought that I would burst when I was a kid to get my sugar fix. I don't known what the variety was as it was in my grandmothers yard, since lost, here in Texas. I suspect that it was a Celeste or Magnolia, then I basically forgot about them until recently, being retired with too much time on my hands anyway, watching YouTube videos featuring all the fig tasting and such caused a great hunger to come over me and I couldn't get into them fast enough. I hope my fonts aren't too large as I could barely see them before, again good luck.

 

[Figology]

Well, to many of you rooting figs or any other eligible candidates for hardwood propagation, it's like "getting back on a bike". Last night I prepped and "fig-popped" my first batch of 15 potentially award-winning figs, hopefully I won't be known as the man that slaughtered "ALL THE FIG CUTTINGS", lol, it would be highly distressful and discouraging for someone that fell so deeply enthralled with the fig culture. I have approximately 25 more cuttings expected by week's end that I hope to add to my initial collection. I have "some" realistic expectations in that I expect to lose some but based on my personality of a perfectionist "Lord help me" I expect to be successful in my first fig rooting endeavor. I stared my media by adding "Promix" potting mix with equal parts of vermiculite and pearlite and adding just enough water to dampen.
Wish me well on my first ride and may good fortune visit each and everyone of you this season and the next.

Good luck. Fig pops seem to be the method with the least maintenance. I’ve been trying to root cuttings is tree pots and it’s a PITA trying to keep the moisture levels correct.

Did you cut the excess bag off the top and add parafilm to the top of the cuttings? Kind of looks like it from the pics- that’s what I do.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

Figology,
No I left the extra length as a mini humidity dome, I wrapped the top down with parafilm to just above two or more buds that will be planted, next I scrape three downward scratches across the lower node, dip in rooting hormone and stuck it into my planting media, placed in clear plastic storage bin then on to the heating mat. I just received 13 more really nice cutting from one of the nursery's out in Pa. I have 9 more coming, can't wait.

 

[Shaft]

I've heard a lot of people speak highly of pro mix. It's not something I use but it works well for lots of people. Keep us updated on results and we'll help you troubleshoot if we can. I'll offer my analytical skills after-the-fact at debrief... I'm good at making all of the mistakes as fast as possible. I try to gain as much information from my abundant failures as possible I've gotten pretty good at it (the failures) by now!

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

Hey Shaft,

The reasons that I incorporated Promix into my rooting attempt were twofold, the first being recommended by some of the nurseries and growers that I read, so I started researching the benefits of it and secondly, I found 2 cubic feet packages of it at Wally world for $5.oo a bag, a terrific savings over the regular price, in fact I may go back and buy some more as one can never have enough potting mix. If failure is in the future for me I'll say a few choice words and start the journey over again minus the steps that lead to the failure. Will update the progress as it occurs. May your figs bless you with abundance!

 

[Shaft]

We are always blessed with a failure of some sort. When I see the word "Failure" I hear "learning opportunity." I would buy every single bag they've got at that price. It's supposed to be very, very good.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

You are right about facing some sort of adversity, it prepares us for life's cycle of up and down. If you don't learn from it the first time you'll have to continually repeat those steps over and over again until you do. Heading to "Wally world", in just a few minutes to clean the shelves of Promix.🥸

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

Well, to many of you rooting figs or any other eligible candidates for hardwood propagation, it's like "getting back on a bike". Last night I prepped and "fig-popped" my first batch of 15 potentially award-winning figs, hopefully I won't be known as the man that slaughtered "ALL THE FIG CUTTINGS", lol, it would be highly distressful and discouraging for someone that fell so deeply enthralled with the fig culture. I have approximately 25 more cuttings expected by week's end that I hope to add to my initial collection. I have "some" realistic expectations in that I expect to lose some but based on my personality of a perfectionist "Lord help me" I expect to be successful in my first fig rooting endeavor. I stared my media by adding "Promix" potting mix with equal parts of vermiculite and pearlite and adding just enough water to dampen.
Wish me well on my first ride and may good fortune visit each and everyone of you this season and the next.

Update #1,
Approximately 2 weeks ago I started what would be my first attempt at rooting fig cuttings. I had punched holes in the bottom 4th. of the "figpops" and today as I dipped them let to let them soak on the amount of water that they wanted, I placed them back into the storage bin. The first thing that I noticed was certain varieties had started rooting. The first to show roots were; Malta Black, St.Rita and Black Jack cuttings. Yippee! Next update due in 2 weeks. Oh, I did see some buds starting to green up. Until the next one, I'm out!

 

[Shaft]

Update #1,
Approximately 2 weeks ago I started what would be my first attempt at rooting fig cuttings. I had punched holes in the bottom 4th. of the "figpops" and today as I dipped them let to let them soak on the amount of water that they wanted, I placed them back into the storage bin. The first thing that I noticed was certain varieties had started rooting. The first to show roots were; Malta Black, St.Rita and Black Jack cuttings. Yippee! Next update due in 2 weeks. Oh, I did see some buds starting to green up. Until the next one, I'm out!

this is fantastic news! Congratulations please keep us in the loop

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

Will do! I was excited to see some hint at success this early. Have you ever used grow-lights? If so, when should I start giving them light as the way my home in the city is situated, provides very little sun exposure. I have a little 2 acre plot that I hope to plant my figs and hopefully some other fruit trees this coming spring.

 

[Shaft]

yeah I have grow lights. I'd wait until you see the buds start opening. Once you see that, hit it with light. After six leaves, it's time to consider a larger pot. Up-potting at the right time is the difference between getting 1 foot of growth in a year and 8.

Here's my setup

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u2uQnoIad8

 

[Rigo007]

Good luck with the rooting process. I'm just starting but don't have much cuttings to do. I've heard good things about promix but I personally make my own cheap mix which works well for me. Keep us up to date on your progress.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

yeah I have grow lights. I'd wait until you see the buds start opening. Once you see that, hit it with light. After six leaves, it's time to consider a larger pot. Up-potting at the right time is the difference between getting 1 foot of growth in a year and 8.

Here's my setup

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u2uQnoIad8

Thanks for the consult, I'll look into getting a unit that will fulfil my needs here in the next few days. Thanks again.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

yeah I have grow lights. I'd wait until you see the buds start opening. Once you see that, hit it with light. After six leaves, it's time to consider a larger pot. Up-potting at the right time is the difference between getting 1 foot of growth in a year and 8.

Here's my setup

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u2uQnoIad8

Man, I thought that I had it bad, lol. I also want to add other fruit trees to the mix, will post when I begin so far I have 4 blueberries plants coming this spring. Good luck. My one fig that I hope to add if all my others root out successfully is a Black Tuscan.

 

[Figology]

yeah I have grow lights. I'd wait until you see the buds start opening. Once you see that, hit it with light. After six leaves, it's time to consider a larger pot. Up-potting at the right time is the difference between getting 1 foot of growth in a year and 8.

Here's my setup

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u2uQnoIad8

Nice varieties. Thanks for the video. I was finally able to find some small-fine bark to root in. Gonna start some today.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

Just a question! Has anyone else noticed that when rooting cuttings the so-called early varieties seem to root out sooner than the those of of late season varieties?

 

[Shaft]

Just a question! Has anyone else noticed that when rooting cuttings the so-called early varieties seem to root out sooner than the those of of late season varieties?

I think that may be coincidence. Take pastiliere, for example: it's an early variety, but can be finicky, or Zaffiro which is a mid-season crop but EXTREMELY difficult to root.

 

[Getfiggywitit65]

I think that may be coincidence. Take pastiliere, for example: it's an early variety, but can be finicky, or Zaffiro which is a mid-season crop but EXTREMELY difficult to root.

I actually have a Pastilliere cutting that was started on 11/29/21 that has rooted and budded with a few juvenile leaves forming now. However the later season varieties are just barely starting to show any signs of rooting.