FAT BOTTOMED FIGS FROM SEED

[bingh]

I posted an article on fig propagation from seed on another thread. I will now share a bit of my experience with taking it a bit further.
First pic - QSL fig at about 6 months

Brian

[bingh]

In that pic you will note that it is shaped like an onion, tapering down to nothing with roots right at the bottom - reverse taper. This next photo shows what I did to them. I cut them off at the widest point and treated them like cuttings.

Brian

[bingh]

More to follow if there is any interest

Brian

[Jamie]

yes brian, always interested in techniques that produce good trees, i have some like this exactly that i need to fix but wasnt sure about doing something like this or to do a ground layer ?


jamie

[Jarrod]

I am definately interested. I remember these pics from years ago on your site. One of my first trees was a fig from seed that I did this to. I still have it and it is going gangbusters. Great nebari and basal flare. Please keep posting and I hope you have a pic of the tree as it stands today!

[Shannon]

They are a great start for styling sumo figs, I'm with Brian on this one you can get the best little bases buy doing this.

Jamie no fear mate!!! Flat bottom figs have a 90% success rate in QLD using the right mix (Diatomite).

[Jamie]

well that has just settled it then hasnt it it will be getting a flat bottom and put into diatomite

[bingh]

OK guys

This view is after the cutting above has rooted. I should point out that when I grew cuttings on regardless of variety, I never dug a hole but spread the roots on the ground and chucked a shovel full of soil over the roots. This ensured that a good nebari would result

Brian

[bingh]

OOOPS! The photo didn't happen

Brian

[Jarrod]

Do you have more recent pics, the suspense is killing me!

[bingh]

Hi Jarrod

Yes, more to follow

Brian

[bundyfisher]

Good stuff Brian keen to see more

[bingh]

Next photo

I can't remember how much later this photo was but you can't win 'em all

Brian

[hugh grant]

The way I Get good root flare on my fig cuttings is i cut an X on the underside of the cutting and then in the centre of the X I shove in a little pebble or rock to spread out the bottom. Then I just stick in the ground and hope it takes I have done this too a few cutting I did about a 18 months ago and they have really wide bases that flare out very well and there not that thick still maybe about 2-3cm on the trunk but the base is about 4-5cm wide.

Hugh

[Jamie]

any pics of this hugh? i would be interested to see, i have done a "skirt" on an airlayer and it filled with callous wood that has helped with flaire big time so i would like to see the results of the X technique how much of an X would you put i and how far would you spread? obviously this would heal up... this has just given me an idea actually

i will get back to you all with it tomorrow


jamie