Winter Rooting Methods

[snarfing]

sorry did anyone ever answer if temps matter for outside or inside rooting

 

[GoodFriendMike]

sorry did anyone ever answer if temps matter for outside or inside rooting

Temps do matter. I find 70 to 80F ideal.

 

[Figsee]

Personally, I like the KISS method. Theres only a few things that can kill a cutting. Of course there is always that bad cutting.... which can happen.... For me, the next is to much water..... the next is the up potting of young roots. I like the Fig Pop method, but the failure with them is the up potting. So why not just start them in a 4x9 tree pot? They take up a little more space, but no up potting needed till they go out side in the spring. By then you have some pretty strong root growth. I use Peat and Perlite, about 50/50 to 40% peat and 60 % perlite. I wet the soil so that when I squeeze it, no water drips out, but the soil stays together to a degree. I label the pot, put the cutting in..... sometimes I score it, sometimes I use a rooting hormone, sometimes I do nothing, and they all seem to work the same. Once the stick is in the pot, I put the pot in a 12x16 clear bag, bunch it up above the cutting, and put a rubber band around the bag and cutting. The cuttings then go into a clear tote (I think it 105 qrts size from Walmart). Put the lid on it, which will hold in any moister that is put out by the 4x9 pots. This Method will hold the moisture in the soil for a couple of months. I never have to water, or over water...... it's like set it and for get it.... I can generally tell when they have rooted based on the size of the new growth. If the leaves are about quarter size, and don't grow anymore, its not rooted. Once leaves start growing, it has rooted. If you learn to read the signs, you will never need to look at roots to know. Once they come out of the bags, the first feeding is seaweed/Kelp and Myco+. This gets watered from the top down, on the sides of the pot only. You pick the pot up, tilt it, pour some water feed mix down the side, turn it 180 degrees, do it again. Only a couple ounces of water per watering. Makes those roots go looking for food at this point, thats how roots grow, they go look for food.... After a few waterings like this, they will go into a bin and bottom watered, adding 1/4 amounts of fertilizers for a couple weeks, then 1/2 amounts for a few weeks, and so on.

I root all my cuttings in 3x8 or 4x9 tree pots depending on what’s available. I then wrap the pot in a produce bag to maintain adequate soil moisture.

 

[DianaNE]

I like using coir and perlite 50/50 as my rooting medium. I use a fresh compressed brick of coir . Its bug free. I only break off what I need at that time and I use gnatatrol and 1/4 strength Miracle Grow to rehydrate. The peat and their similar products in plastic wrap often are stored in the elements and bugs and moisture can infiltrate.

 

[Opiem10]

This is my new favorite method to root my cuttings, courtesy of Mike Kincaid. Everything is set up in my attached, unheated garage beginning at the end of February. Even though the temperature in my garage may be 40 degrees F, the cuttings root really well with the bottom heat from a seedling mat.

 

[ohiobruce]

All of these different, yet 100% foolproof, methods are starting to make my head hurt.

 

[bushdoctor82]

All of these different, yet 100% foolproof, methods are starting to make my head hurt.

I hear you on that - each method relies on the same principles. Warm and moist potting medium - how you achieve that is up to you.

Last year I rooted some similar to sowing seeds. Filled small containers up with potting mix to ~1” below rim, placed 2” cuttings horizontal and filled remaining with potting mix.

It’s easier to experiment when you have extra cuttings from your own trees to play with.

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

This is my new favorite method to root my cuttings, courtesy of Mike Kincaid. Everything is set up in my attached, unheated garage beginning at the end of February. Even though the temperature in my garage may be 40 degrees F, the cuttings root really well with the bottom heat from a seedling mat.

That’s interesting that despite the cooler outside temps even at 40 degrees, that with the heat mat, they do really well for you. Awesome to hear, as I’m trying to set up my indoor and winter setup. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

Wasn’t sure if I should post here, since it’s all about rooting cuttings or if I should have started a new thread, so I’m hoping people see this and provide feedback.

I like fig pops because of the high success rate and no bugs, but c’mon, filling those bags is a pain in the keester!

Pleas share pics and details of what you all use! Pros and cons.

I saw this online, and I’m wondering if anyone uses this? If so, how do you like it?

 

[bushdoctor82]

Wasn’t sure if I should post here, since it’s all about rooting cuttings or if I should have started a new thread, so I’m hoping people see this and provide feedback.

I like fig pops because of the high success rate and no bugs, but c’mon, filling those bags is a pain in the keester!

Pleas share pics and details of what you all use! Pros and cons.

I saw this online, and I’m wondering if anyone uses this? If so, how do you like it?

Looks like it would work - just a piece of PVC pipe.

I use milk jugs for everything - shovel, cold frame, funnel, air layer container, mixer, etc.

 

[ohiobruce]

Just get a gallon jug with smooth sides and cut out the largest rectangle possible. Then just roll it up to your desired diameter and use some tape on the outside so that it retains its size. You can even taper it slightly.

BTW, I was also wondering if we beginners should create a "critique my rooting" and leave this one for the expert advice?

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

Looks like it would work - just a piece of PVC pipe.

I use milk jugs for everything - shovel, cold frame, funnel, air layer container, mixer, etc.

You use - milk jug for filling fig pop bags?
Do you hold the bag over the short milk jug spout, or do you clamp it in some way?

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

Just get a gallon jug with smooth sides and cut out the largest rectangle possible. Then just roll it up to your desired diameter and use some tape on the outside so that it retains its size. You can even taper it slightly.

That’s a great idea! Thanks!

 

[bushdoctor82]

You use - milk jug for filling fig pop bags?
Do you hold the bag over the short milk jug spout, or do you clamp it in some way?

Not specific to fig pops, but after you cut off the bottom of the jug and fill it with potting mix, you could place binder clips to get the right diameter to fill fig pops.

Another idea if you drink soda is to cut off the bottom off of a liter of soda (great movie reference) and use it the same way. Diameter should match up much better.

 

[superdave336]

I use one but it’s a pain to put on the bag. I think a smaller diameter pipe would help if the soil would go through it. Juice jug might work pretty good.

 

[Opiem10]

Wasn’t sure if I should post here, since it’s all about rooting cuttings or if I should have started a new thread, so I’m hoping people see this and provide feedback.

I like fig pops because of the high success rate and no bugs, but c’mon, filling those bags is a pain in the keester!

Pleas share pics and details of what you all use! Pros and cons.

I saw this online, and I’m wondering if anyone uses this? If so, how do you like it?

I made my own out of PVC and like it for filling fig pop bags. Same amount of soil mix in each bag.

I just don’t fig pop my cuttings any more.

 

[Opiem10]

That’s interesting that despite the cooler outside temps even at 40 degrees, that with the heat mat, they do really well for you. Awesome to hear, as I’m trying to set up my indoor and winter setup. Thanks for sharing.

Not only do the cuttings root well, but there are no fungus gnats at that time of year. Additionally, there is near zero loss when potting, as the cuttings are already acclimated to outdoor humidity and temperatures.

 

[betdempster]

This is my new favorite method to root my cuttings, courtesy of Mike Kincaid. Everything is set up in my attached, unheated garage beginning at the end of February. Even though the temperature in my garage may be 40 degrees F, the cuttings root really well with the bottom heat from a seedling mat.

I loved that video. He's so excited it made me excited to think about getting thongs growing. And there is something about little leaves growing when it's winter that makes you feel good!

 

[betdempster]

Ok new fig cutting rooting questions. I got some great advice here ... So that I have a cutting and it's growing figlets as fast as it's leaves. I've never seen a cutting grow figlets. (In my limited experience of 20 or so cuttings)Is that ok? Do I wait till the leaves get bigger are try to take them off? Have you ever seen this?

 

[betdempster]

Ok new fig cutting rooting questions. I got some great advice here ... So that I have a cutting and it's growing figlets as fast as it's leaves. View attachment 15129 I've never seen a cutting grow figlets. (In my limited experience of 20 or so cuttings)Is that ok? Do I wait till the leaves get bigger are try to take them off? Have you ever seen this?