AusBonsai

Hi all.
I live in sunny Cairns and would like to play around with some fig cuttings
What I'm after is techniques that will grow strong roots fast. I have heard many people say "just cut off a branch and stick it in the ground and stand back" but I want something that will work FAST. I also don't want it to be too tall (under a foot) but with a nice think trunk.
I know I'm asking a lot but any help would be great thanks.

Heya Jme!!

Well, luckily for you there is an extremely helpful thread on how to develop figs quickly and from what I've heard, it is really chock full of really useful info

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6717&hilit=dynamic+figs

I've not much personal experience as yet, but that thread should hopefully cover everything

Cuttings take time. Even figs. Even in Cairns. So I'm not sure 'FAST' is really possible.

Just take a branch, cut the bottom off just below the node, cut the top back to one leaf and reduce height to no more than 20cm. Dip bottom in rooting hormone (or honey), stick in free draining mix, keep humidity up and you'll get new shoots within a couple of weeks. Leave until strong growth and roots coming out the bottom of the pot and then feed up heavy as normal.

Yeah I would say FAST isnt even a word in the world of Bonsai......

Jason wrote:Heya Jme!!

Well, luckily for you there is an extremely helpful thread on how to develop figs quickly and from what I've heard, it is really chock full of really useful info

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6717&hilit=dynamic+figs

I've not much personal experience as yet, but that thread should hopefully cover everything

Just click the link and follow the instructions. Simple as that. Everything is explained and time frames are given. Works too

The link provided above is a good starting point : viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6717


In addition I would suggest this :
There a section on making a bonsai from a "root cutting":
https://ofbonsai.org/techniques/shohin/t ... hin-bonsai

In addition you could also make airlayers and even ground layers.

The few I took last year whilst at a my clubs beginner course (which I picked up off the floor from someone's trimmed bonsai) have taken hold really easy. They're really taking off now, but I was suprised that they survived, as most of my cuttings die through my ignorance lol

Jason wrote:The few I took last year whilst at a my clubs beginner course (which I picked up off the floor from someone's trimmed bonsai) have taken hold really easy. They're really taking off now, but I was suprised that they survived, as most of my cuttings die through my ignorance lol

Due to availability of stock, a lot of my learning this year as gone into cuttings and propagation

I am getting things ready for spring next year to go nuts with a whole pile of cuttings from my experience this year. Sure it might take longer, but hopefully I will have enough in various stages to keep me happy.

The link provided to create nice flared trunks with Ficus is what I intend to use next season with a bunch of Port Jackson and Tiger Bark fig cuttings. However this season I simply did the following and it appears to have worked...will know for sure in about 2-3 weeks when I pull them out.

- Grabbed a cheap "seedling" greenhouse from bunnings ($8 I think).
- Used a Seedling Potting mix and perlite and mixed that into the seedling tray.
- Filled the base of the "green house" with water and placed the tray on top to soak through. Refilled and left till soaked through. Emptied remaining water.
- Took cuttings (about 10cms long and cut off all but 2-4 leaves) and cut on an angle and coated with rooting hormone (I use a combination from Ray's books, seems to work a treat with Junipers.)
- Made hole in soil and placed cutting in carefully to not disturb hormone (the gel variety made this easier).
- pinched it down to be secure.
- Put on lid and weight down with rock, every 2-4 days mist spray.

Same process for Junipers and from 13 cuttings, I had 10 with a rather large amount of roots in 3 months and only 2 that looked "a touch empty" but still shooting new shoots, so figured I would try them in a potting mix. If they work come spring next year, same routine I guess