Fig Cuttings

[Aussie_Bonsai]

i have just gotten a few good size cuttings off my fig asnd was wondering if anyone could tell me about how to propogate the cutting successfully. such as where to put them (shade/sun), watering (moist/fairly wet/dry) and any other necessary information.

thanks,
Ben

[kcpoole]

i have just gotten a few good size cuttings off my fig asnd was wondering if anyone could tell me about how to propogate the cutting successfully. such as where to put them (shade/sun), watering (moist/fairly wet/dry) and any other necessary information.

thanks,
Ben

Dip in rooting Hormone of choice, and put into a propagating mix again of your chioce.
I have used propagating sand and Peat moss mix, Normoal Ray Nesci soil and Straight Diatomite ( small)

Place in moist humid warm environment and withing a couple of weeks you shodu see signs of growth. If you have a Cutting tray with cover that is good or you can just cover with plastic bag

Ken

[Aussie_Bonsai]

thanks,

i don't have any propagation mix. is normal potting mix fine?

Ben

[Glenda]

Yes Ben, I have propogated plenty of fig cuttings in straight potting mix. I scrape the bark down to the green layer on two sides of the cutting, and dip in rooting hormone (honey works well too). Poke holes in the soil with a stick, then pop the cuttings in so it doesn't wipe off the hormone/honey, then firm soil around the cuttings to stabilise them. Keep them damp, with a cover or plastic bag over the top of the plant, or I have found the cut off top of a soft drink bottle works well also. Leave it on for about 3-4 weeks, and make sure your cuttings are in the shade or they will cook with the bag/bottle/cover over them. Water well with weak seasol every day. After 3-4 weeks, take the bag/bottle/cover off, but continue to keep watering. Once shoots appear, water as normal - dry on top of soil before watering again. I get about 95% strike rate with this method (even in the middle of winter, but this is North Qld!)

Hope you have luck!

Glenda

[Aussie_Bonsai]

k,thanks for the help.

i've already set it up, so we'll have to see how it goes and i'll let u know if i have an success in a few weeks.

Ben

[rch003]

Hey, i have just taken some decent cuttings off an old fig tree, using fairly large branches as cuttings (10cm in circumference), placed in rooting hormone, scared the bark etc and potted in potting mix.

Suggest shade from the belting Qld sun? at the moment it is pouring down, should i make sure it doesn't get too much water?

any help will be great

[Taffy]

Yes, and Yes RC. You don't want to cook or drown them before they've had a chance.

[rch003]

thanks heaps, i have taken off a fair amount of the massive fig leaves, to help it survive/more energy on root growth rather than feeding leaves

[t-rex]

I have found it very easy to propagate figs from cuttings, i did it as suggested above and had success in the middle of summer in 40degree heat! At the same time i tried it with a chinese elm and had a 100% success rate using propagating mix and liquid compound

[rch003]

Hahah yeah figs are pretty awesome, i found one growing out of someones brick wall in brisbane, took it clean off (it had no roots) it stayed in the car all day, got home and dipped it in rooting hormone and potted it up.

4 years on it is growing amazing

Btw when taking the dead branch ends off the fig trunk, is it okay to make it bleed or should i remove only just the dead wood (still would have a couple mm of living tissue poking out)

[t-rex]

Bit late on this reply but its ok to make it bleed as you said, if its a big wound you can put healing compound on it to protect from disease and help it heal. I however have not had to do this on my figs as of yet.

[cre8ivbonsai]

I've found using cut paste on larger branch removals also helps prevent splitting back down the branch, thus preventing branch dieback as well

[Gareth]

All the fig cuttings i have ever taken have been cut off at an angle, and jammed straight into the pot.

If i feel generous ill dip it in rooting hormone. It is pretty hard to kill a fig cutting, unless conditions are really hostile.

i have been experimenting with fusing figs, not a new exercise, but i i have been experimenting with taking cuttings of larger braches (10-15mm diameter) that i dont need/want, and jamming it straight in the pot beside the already fused trunks, thickening the trunk as it grows.

Again, i have just jammed it straight into the pot with a short dip in rooting hormone. Nothing special, my potting mix is diatomite and normal potting mix, mixed at 70-80% diatomite (unsieved) to 20-30% POTTING MIX.