Rooting Fig Cuttings Question

[Madridje]

When you see the bud breaking from a fig does that mean the fig cutting rooted?

[growinginphoenix]

No. A cutting can grow leaves without growing roots.

[sc4001992]

no

[Madridje]

Alright thanks guys, got excited for no reason 

[growinginphoenix]

It also doesn't mean that there aren't any roots. You will have to check. I like rooting cuttings in clear bags or cups so that I can see when they start growing.

[Fygee]

Pro-tip, and to mirror what growinginphoenix said, when rooting figs, make sure you're doing it in a clear container. Personally, I use Solo cups. It takes all the guesswork out of "is it rooting or isn't it?", and also allows you to see how far along they are before they need to be up-potted.

Breaking buds is still something to excited about as it means the cutting is healthy and progressing, and generally roots will follow if they haven't already started.

[Madridje]

Thanks for the tips!

I’ve took the branches off of the pots and switches to clear bags.

[Va Beach Grower]

Just FYI, for rooting fig cuttings, it has always been really easy for me, they are the easiest cutting to root.  I've done it many ways, sticking it directly in the soil, water, etc.  The easiest method for me has always been the paper towel trick though.  I scar the bottom of the cutting a bit, moisten a paper towel and then wring it out (you can apply rooting hormone to the bottom if you want, I don't know if it makes too much of a difference) and then wrap the bottom third of the cutting in the moist paper towel, then put it in a ziplock bag (you can put a few cuttings in here) and then put it in a gallon plastic ziplock bag and then throw it in a dark area (I put mine in a cabinet) and then forget about it for 3 weeks.  When you check you'll have tons of roots on each and can just plant directly in potting soil.  That's the lazy way and super easy and you don't have to guess at when you have roots. 

[sc4001992]

Va Beach Grower, that is a neat way to do it. So to clarify, when you put the first ziplock bag around the cuttings with mosit paper towel, it is only covering the lower portion of the cutting correct? That is why you would need another larger(gallon) bag to enclose the entire fig cutting?

[DavidBYE]

I wrap the top of fig cuttings, like I would for grafting, stick them in course sand (paver sand) and spray the sand every few days. This has been near 100% and easy. Once they are rooted, I flood the container with water, shake it and they pull right out with roots in tact. Learned this from an old guy who did a ton of propagation from cuttings.

[growinginphoenix]

I wrap the top of fig cuttings, like I would for grafting, stick them in course sand (paver sand) and spray the sand every few days. This has been near 100% and easy. Once they are rooted, I flood the container with water, shake it and they pull right out with roots in tact. Learned this from an old guy who did a ton of propagation from cuttings.

+1 for using sand!

There is an variation on this method here that lays the entire cutting horizontally in the sand removing the need to wrap the top of the cutting.

[DavidBYE]

Thank you! I will give that a try. 

[sc4001992]

New info on rooting figs for me, thanks guys. I usually just stick the cuttings in a tall pot with any potting mix and forget about it until I see some leaves. But for some of the more expensive cuttings, I may need to try the sand method, also the one about laying down the cuttings in the sand. I had some Angelito cuttings that I just stuck in a pot, and it grew roots fine.

[seng]

Parafilm top half and bottom half into fig pop, works well for me.

This year,  I just put them in the bucket and fill the bucket with 2 inches of water.  Put the bucket in full sun.  Change water every week or two to get rid of mosquito larvae.  All grow roots and leaves.  It takes a few months though.

[Tropheus76]

I typically will take the cutting, use a razorblade and make some slashes through the bark at the bottom two or three inches. Dip it in rooting hormone and stick them in clear cups of potting soil in a tray of soil that sits on a heat tray. I then just keep everything moist until I see the roots taking over the clear cups and then stick them in pots outside. 95% success rate to this stage.

[Walt]

I have put fig cuttings in clear glass of water.  When the part in the water starts having white bumps, that means it is rooting and should go into pots.  The bumps will keep growing into roots.

[Anjeer farmer]

I have my share of trial and errors and here is what has worked best for me. Fig cutting cleaned with light bleach solution, dried, stored in refrigeartor and in early spring start rooting process.

At least pencil thick cutting with 3-4 nodes cover top 1/2 with parafilm, scratch 2 sides at bottom node, dip in rooting hormone(Dip N Grow) and stick it in Plastic Fig Pop bag. Pro Mix Bx used as rooting medium

Store in a warm dark place ( Mechanical room which has water heater) for 10 -14 days. roots and leaves seen.

Place in well lit Garage for another week -10 days then up pot to a 4 x 9 inch pot for the rest of the season and bring out door.

Over 90% success rate, Where I loose cuttings is up potting and watering infrequently is the key to success. # 1 reason why cuttings would die would be overwatering and killing the roots and using a medium which will hold water would increase the chances.