Hello once again Steemit, and many new followers
I was finally able to get all of the materials and items I needed to do something that I wanted to do for a while. This season so far in my area has been a little all over the place and very inconsistent.
The Project:
The project itself is very simple and easy for the most part, however there is an element to it that requires good weather. Also on a personal level I prefer warm weather over cold when working outside for the most part. When everything is done and prepared cold weather is very vital for this method of propagating fig trees from cuttings. The method will be described more in depth after the picture section and some benefits will also be mentioned.
Below are pictures of most of the steps I took
Depending on how many cuttings you plan to do buy the appropriate number of clear solo cups.
Have a pair of good scissors.
Use the pair of good scissors to cut a hole like this on one side and...
...then the other so that way you have two drainage hole thus making a makeshift planter/planters.
You will also need a plastic container or a tote of some sort to put the cups in and surround with a growing medium to act as a form of insulation which for this particular method is key. I'm am using Black Magic Coco-Coir,
Here is a better view a little further back. All five cups were filled to hold them in place and to make sure they kept their shape.
Here is a top view of the empty ones...
...I then put the medium that was in the five cups and put them in another plastic container to mix in a small amount of amendment known as worm castings.
Here is another top view with all five cups emptied.
This is the medium that was emptied from the five cups in the secondary plastic container.
This is my worm bin topped with leaves
Just below the layer of leaves is fresh worm castings.
I then take the amount I need which isn't too much...
...Pour it in the medium
Even though it is not shown here, mix it in.
Take cuttings from desired mother tree.
Have a container of water to put the cuttings in to keep them alive while you are getting more cuttings or finish pruning.
For this method heating mats will be needed and depending on size tote or plastic container you use will determine the size of mats you will need. This particular one is 10in X 20in.
Next is one of the final steps, the one that required good weather, it was applying the rooting hormone to the bottom of the cuttings and sticking them into the cups and water well before putting the whole tote/container on the heating mats.
Here are the two I made which will hopefully grow five fig trees each.
The Method:
Okay so this method has one very important goal in mind besides just growing a fig tree or fig trees, Yes that is ultimately the goal but the way in which you get there may determine the long term success. Now this is the first time I have ever used this method so we'll see if I have any success with it.
Unlike other methods you may have see you will notice that there is no humidity dome or anything covering the top of the cuttings. This is on purpose, why, well if there was a humidity dome we would see new growth relatively quickly and this is something we do not want. Let me explain further, if we get new growth on top right away we will not get root growth on the bottom of the cutting and if we go a certain time with no roots with a lot of top growth the plant/tree will ultimately die.
This method relies on keeping the planting medium warm with the heating mat and growing medium
surrounding the cups for insulation providing a warm environment to stimulate root growth and faster cell division while the top of the cuttings are exposed to the cold preventing top growth while a healthy root system is established which will then be able to support top growth.
Another benefit with this method is that you do not have to acclimate the cuttings to the outside because they are already outside. This method will eliminate another problem with propagating with humidity dome, and that is the possible rot of the cutting from the excess moister and the grow of mold or fungus which can kill cuttings.
Once the cuttings have roots and are established the can be transplanted in bigger pots or even directly in the ground and you can then do another cutting in the absent space in a new cup.
I will be giving updates when certain events happen like when I see root growth in maybe 14 days from the 17th of February.
Until then,
Thanks for reading,
Keep on Steeming!!!