AusBonsai

Well, the time is now to collect fig fruit for propagation.
I collected a bunch of fruit yesterday from one of the many ficus that are growing around adelaide. While I dont know exactly what species, i will know in a few days.

The best way to get figs going?
Well, mush the fruit up in water. Remember the fruit should be picked from the tree, not off the ground, and should be a ruby red colour, it should also be very squishy. I found that all the skin would come off as I picked it.
Once smushed up in water, use the same water and water the seed over your mix. From talking to a few locals, they dont seem to worry about covering them, although when they do, they also use a heat pad, and keep them in doors.

They should be all up in about 3 to 5 weeks.

Ill post some pics when mine are up

I admire people who propagate. Me, I'd prefer to cut the time and the proliferation of pots that are necessary and buy a stock plant. But in my garden there is no way to 'hide' a flock of pots. I suppose if I had that facility I might try growing from seed or seedling. There is also the joy I miss of developing a different leaf when you work with seeds. But I can live with that.

Figs are great because you can fuse the little buggers and get good stock rather fast.

Asus101 wrote: Ill post some pics when mine are up

Have any come up yet??

Yeah, I have three trays worth now, with only minor losses to dampening.

cool,

do you just water over the soil and leave or do you put a thin dusting over them ??

I just collected, squished and watered over and can not think that it would be that easy...... pending I get any success

no covering, but they did go into my little greenhouse.

I used a herbal fungicide, but I think it had the opposite effect that what I wanted.
Mine are now just starting to form the second set of leaves.

Well, i should soon be potting up figs. I lost very few and they all have two sets of leaves.
Ill be cutting the tap root on all of them.

Any photos yet?

I'm doing some Ficus obliqua at the moment, wish me luck.

JayC

nah, they should all be dead when I get back.