Rooting cuttings using an idea I got from forum

[jmaler]

Mountainfigs, a forum member, revealed in another thread the idea of rooting multiple cuttings in a single container. I thought I'd give it a try since it'ts the method I use to start tomato and pepper seeds using a peat based potting mix, except for the cups. In this case with dormant fig cuttings I mixed 50% perlite.

These were done several days ago and are already showing signs of growth. Individual cups can be removed as needed.

[cis4elk]

Good luck!

[mountainfigs]

Mountainfigs, a forum member, revealed in another thread the idea of rooting multiple cuttings in a single container. I thought I'd give it a try since it'ts the method I use to start tomato and pepper seeds using a peat based potting mix, except for the cups. In this case with dormant fig cuttings I mixed 50% perlite.

These were done several days ago and are already showing signs of growth. Individual cups can be removed as needed.

Hi Jerry,

That wasn't my idea, though I do recall someone mentioning it recently on the forum. I never root multiple cuttings in a single container (or almost never). I would worry about the roots getting entwined and possibly breaking when trying to untangle. I did mention recently having good simple success with using plastic cups on one (3 node) cutting per gallon container of potting mix.

[jmaler]

Sorry Tony. At 72, these days there is just too many gray cells in the old noggin.

I plan to grow out the cuttings until they have ample feeder root growth, the little brown roots. I have untangled tomato and pepper roots by pumping up and down in a bucket of water and gently pulling apart.

[COGardener]

Just grow them together. Would be a great center piece trees especially if they are different cultivars with different color fruit. Eventually the trucks well grow together and make one tree.

[drphil69]

I like the idea but the vigor of the trees would need to be similar, otherwise the lower vigor trees may die off.

[COGardener]

It's no different than multi budded stone fruits for example. I simply prune the cultivars with less vigour to keep the tree more balanced. I also orentate the lower vigor cultivars to the southwest so they get more sun.

[greenfig]

I have done it last year . Had a good success but a huge mess of roots too. I would suggest to wait until they are established or even dormant to do the separation.
After I separated mine (3 in a 3 gal pot), they all dropped the leaves and looked terrible. I felt so bad. In a few weeks they kicked back and everything was re grown. Some delay but ended fine. Make sure not to overwater if the same happened to you too.
Good luck!

[jmaler]

Dormant - excellent idea!

[jmaler]

Here are the guys I posted pic of in the 1st post 5 days later. In the big pots are JH Adriatic, Smith and LSU Gold. I tried starting a single JH Adriatic in a cup. Both methods bypass the sphagnum moss step. Hopefully I won't need to deal with the small new white roots breaking off.

Started removing cups several days ago.

[AscPete]

Jerry,
Most of the direct plant methods bypass the pre-rooting step.
Here's a simple individual direct plant method, http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-ho...rooting-method . I've been recommending it because it incorporates the " humidity weaning" process into the steps. Good Luck.

BTW, I've bare rooted and separated actively growing fig trees with little damage using that water bath method, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox....9&postcount=39 but as Greenfig mentioned the roots should be hardened (established) before they are separated.