I lifted one of my fig cutting up this morn (4x9 tree pot) and there were roots growing out the holes in the bottom of the pots…
I use it to root only, I do add it to my custom potting mix. About 10 to 15% of media is DE aka Optisorb, as it has the largest particles. You can use up to 30% DE in media.
All are up potted now. I’m starting some more in about a week.
Notice on this one how the new growth is thicker than the cutting diameter.
I believe the silicon in DE really builds strong cell walls, also number of nodes is increased and distance between nodes is reduced.
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If I can find some I’ll give it a try.
Grainger has the best price on Optisorb. O’Reilly’s sells it too, but it’s about 50% more.
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This year I used a mix of promix hp and added some extra vermiculite to that.
It has worked well… think I will add some DE to my mix next year. That root and shoot growth is spectacular.
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I’m trying my hand at rooting some fig cuttings in the greenhouse this spring, Takoma Violet and Ronde de Bordeaux I got from a generous forum member in a cutting trade:
Do most people wrap cuttings with terminal buds, too? I only did the cut ends but could still rewrap them if that would be advisable.
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Agree on grainger pricing. Fastenal has it at a similar price to O’Reilly, and Napa is similar to grainger for the “medium chip” size, which is definitely still reasonable for this purpose.
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Fair deal on ebay… if you factor in gas to drive to brick and mortar. $15 shipped.
Grainger is like 4 miles away from me so it is ideal for me. About 1/4 gallon of gas or less.
I wanted to add that DE doesn’t work for everybody. One must find what works for you. Like I tried to do fig pops and it didn’t work well for me. Some had very good luck with that method though.
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Yes I wrap the buds in parafilm, but I twist it so that the bud can push through when it’s ready. Some people really do not like branch tip cuttings, but I have a few that are producing roots and leaves.
I do not use humidity domes, so I wrap the entire cutting that is poking out of the rooting medium.
Here’s my setup. I started about three waves of cuttings and have another dozen or so outside in pots using a more direct rooting method.
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My figs are sort of stair stepped in their development…
I am thinking perhaps the 2 largest ones, perhaps 3 largest ones are ready for up potting.
They have had no fertilizer to this point.
How do you all recommend the transition from well established top growth and roots running out the bottom of the pot… to up potting, fertilization…
When I up pot, I could just put them into a nice mix of garden dirt and compost… plenty fertile.
Any tips on this transition would be appreciated.
PS… it will be another 20 days or so before I would consider planting them outside but if I up pot them I could put them out on nice days, and bring them in on bad days (to this sunny window location).
Thanks
TNHunter
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Not ready IMO. They can go another month maybe two. Don’t up pot until the top is solid roots. There is no growth advantage to up potting at that stage. If successful at that stage you could water less but mine in those pots get much bigger.
Also if you start fertilizing growth will increase significantly.
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Free shipping for orders 75+ makes that a very competitive price. Actually, it’s cheaper than grainger.
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Don’t be me! Listen to those that say wait. I potted mine up and lost most. I have maybe 2 left? But, there were a number of things I did wrong 
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Here’s an update on my extra reservoir fig cutting that I plopped into my philodendron houseplant.
Should I try to move it out of the philodendron pot now? It looks like it needs more light. I can put it in a gallon nursery pot, would that be a good size?
At what temperature should I move it outside?
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A gallon pot would be good. I would though put it out first. Acclimate it slowly in full shade first couple of days. Then slowly expose to more sun. You can put it out now. If it drops below 40 bring it back in. It can survive lower temps but best bring it in.
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I would root several philodendron cuttings for later and leave the fig in place until it is larger. Start putting it outside for light. When I had those houseplants they were easy to root or buy, the fig variety isn’t.
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Thanks @fruitnut … I will take your advice…
Just a fyi… I started my fig cuttings (rooting) Feb 13… and after 31 days moved to my sunny basement window. They are getting close to two months now into the process of rooting and now shooting.
Looking good but with some lagging behind the leaders quite a bit.
Patience required.
In another 20 days our risk of frost should be over.
Question… one of my cuttings has a second shoot that emerged from below the soil line.
Good to have the extra growth like that ?
It’s all what you like. One shoot or more. It’s your choice.
Your cuttings do look good. Nice strong growth.
