How to root Fig cuttings using the "Fig Pop" Method

I thought I was done buying cuttings but this year has been difficult for me to kick the urge of new figs. So many in fact that I ran out of bin space for cups. So I had to go to the Bag Method as I call it the fig pop method.

There's several advantages of using this method. But first of all let's start with the mix and supplies needed.

I've had great success direct planting cuttings straight into pots. But when you're limited on space and do not want to waste more soil than necessary into an entire pot, especially when you're using HP Promix, which is not the cheapest medium out there. Using the bag method seems to be the best idea.

I love HP promix, but at $39 for 3CU Ft it can get pricey and it's not always available year around at the local nurseries.

HP Promix ingredients:

• Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (65-75%)
• Perlite - horticultural grade
• Dolomitic and Calcitic limestone (pH adjuster)
• Wetting Agent
• MYCORRHIZAE™ mycorrhizal inoculum (Glomus intraradices)

So I've created my own mix using the cheaper peat moss bags. at $11 for 3cuft and a giant perlite bag at $17 for 4cuft. + A box of Mycorrhizae $25 that will last for a long time. You only need a few teaspoons of the Mycorrhizae per batch.

https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Gardening-4402-Mykos-2-2-Pound/dp/B003STB5N6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1516816149&sr=8-3&keywords=mycorrhizae

So for about $30 I can make about 7cuft of mix.

My Mix:
Peat moss - 65%
Perlite - 35%
Mycorrhizae - 2 spoon full mixed in water.

Works just as well.  I left out the lime because the cuttings don't need it until they get up potted.

I got my 4x16 Uline bags from EBay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/100-1000-4x16-Clear-1Mil-Poly-Bags-Plastic-Packaging-Baggies/221307916410?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=520187725633&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Anyhow I really like this method because it has so many benefits.

1. Space - you can fit so many more of these bags in a bin compared to cups
2. Fungus Gnats - I do not cut holes in my bags instead I using a toothpick to aerate it, leaving no open area for the fungus gnats to get into
3. Moisture control - If you have the medium moist and not dripping wet the bags will not dry out as quickly
4. The length of the bags make so that a humidity bin is not necessary, just tape the opening at the top

There's a million ways to root figs this just another. I hope you find it useful.

How to up pot.

When did I become the Face of this Nursery?

So I just happened by chance that I was on Exotic and Rare Fruits Nurseries website. They are from the Southern California area, so there isn't much reason for me to look at nurseries down there.

The funny thing is one of my videos is now on their landing page. I had no idea but I guess I'm their unofficial spokesperson now.  LOL

Funny really. #showmedamoney

http://www.exoticararefruits.com/

California Tropical Fruit Nurseries

As a former native to California. I love my warm weather and tropical fruits. Here's a helpful list to those in CA. I've visited some but would like to see the rest.

San Diego Area

Bonita Creek Nursery
Address: 3440 Proctor Valley Rd, Bonita, CA 91902
Phone: (619) 470-2005
Website: bonitafruittrees.com

California Tropical Fruit Tree
Address: 2081 Elevado Rd, Vista, CA 92084
Phone: (760) 434-5085
Website: tropicalfruittrees.com

City Farmers Nursery
Address: 3110 Euclid Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
Phone: (619) 284-6358
Website: cityfarmersnursery.com

Clausens Nursery
Address: 3132 Blackwell Dr, Vista, CA 92084
Phone: (760) 724-3143
Website: clausennursery.com

Exotica Nursery
Address: 2508 E Vista Way Ste B, Vista, CA 92084
Phone: (760) 724-9093
Website: exoticararefruits.com

Green Thumb Nursery
Address: 1019 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92078
Phone: (760) 744-3822
Website: http://www.greenthumb.com/

Jamul Nursery
Address: 12931 Campo Rd, Jamul, CA 91935
Phone: (619) 569-7528

Kniffings Nursery
Address: 14940 Oak Creek Rd, El Cajon, CA 92021
Phone: (619) 561-0611
Website: kniffingsnursery.com

Mission Hills Nursery
Address: 1525 Fort Stockton Dr, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 295-2808
Website: missionhillsnursery.com

Moon Valley Nursery
Address: 26334 Mesa Rock Rd, Escondido, CA 92026
Phone: (760) 309-4080

Ong Nursery
Address: 2528 Crandall Dr, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 277-8167
Website: ongnursery.com

Terra Bella Nursery
Address: 302 Hollister St, San Diego, CA 92154
Phone: (619) 585-1118
Website: terrabellanursery.com

Wally’s World Nursery
Address: 15888 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon, CA 92021
Phone: (619) 443-2794

Walter Andersens Nursery
Address: 3642 Enterprise St, San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 224-8271
Website: walterandersen.com

Los Angeles Area

Champa Nursery
Address: 4254 Tyler Ave, El Monte, CA 91731
Phone: (626) 213-7747
Website: champanursery.com
The Lo's and Temple Nursery are just a few blocks away from Champa Nursery. So is Garden View Nursery, with more common fruit trees like cherimoya.

CHC Tropical Nursery
Address: 2031 Desire Ave, Rowland Heights, CA 91748
Phone: (626) 586-0581
Website: chctropicalnursery.com

Garden View Nursery
12901 Lower Azusa Rd, Irwindale, CA 91706
selling more common fruits and ornamentals just down the street. I only know they have cherimoya.

Green Thumb Nursery – 4 locations in greater Los Angeles
http://www.greenthumb.com/
They sell Dave Wilson trees

Green Thumb Nursery - Canoga Park
Address: 21812 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
Phone: (818) 340-6400

Green Thumb Nursery - Lake Forest
Address: 23782 Bridger Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Phone: (949) 837-3040

Green Thumb – Santa Clarita
Address: 23734 Newhall Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
Phone: (661) 259-1071

Green Thumb International
Address: 1899 S Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: (805) 642-8517

Hashimoto Nursery
Address: 1935 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 473-6232
Website: hashimotonursery.com

Temple Garden Center
4827 Peck Rd, El Monte, CA 91732
Trees also sold in many local Asian supermarkets. Asian fruits, Longan, lychee, wax jambu, wampee, jujube... Used to sell shatian pummelo before the quarantines.

Lo Nursery/Perla Nursery/Arcadia Garden (all together)
4827 Peck Rd, El Monte, CA 91732
Taiwanese nursery carrying Asian fruits in addition to more common ones, wax jambu, guavas,...

Mimosa La Nursery
Address: 6270 Allston St, Los Angeles, CA 90022
Phone: (323) 722-4543
Website: mimosala.com

Paradise Nursery
Address: 10943 de Soto Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: (818) 701-5656
Website: paradisenursery.com

Papaya Tree Nursery
Address: 12422 El Oro Way, Granada Hills, CA 91344
Phone: (818) 363-3680
Website: papayatreenursery.com

Can Dragon Fruit Survive the Seattle Winters?

I was getting a bit tired of having my Dragon fruit inside so I threw it out on my deck for Summer. We'll it did nothing but grow. And now that I have 2 young kids in the house. I didn't want a prickly vine cactus accident to happen, so I left it out on the deck but next to the sliding glass door. So far so good. No frost damage even after 2 snowfalls. The heat coming off of the sliding doors has pretty much kept the Cactus safe from frost.

I'm glad because this thing is only going to get bigger with time and I do not want to drag it back into the house.

My Jaboticaba has also done surprisingly well on the deck. It's still holding all of it's leaves. I may want to try the Jamaican cherry as well out on the deck. It can withstand down to 28F temps. But next to the sliding glass door on the deck, I'm sure it won't dip below 32F. But since it's my only tree, I do not want to risk it until I can create a clone.

Can you grow figs Hydroponically?

A couple years I tried to do a hydroponic fig, but I used a cutting that was much too weak with unestablished roots. No surprise it failed miserably.

I kinda gave up on the idea, but more recently Carlo from our fig addiction groups was able to successful grow his Lattarula in a deep water culture setup. And it's been growing amazingly.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1063714656990437/search/?query=hydropponic

Inspired by this, I've taken a 2yr old plant, that's dormant, and have setup it up into 5 gallon DWC hydroponic system.

Here's the fig plant after the soil has been washed off.

 

I mixed in my hydroponic solution + Silica blast as recommended and brought the entire setup into the house for warmth to wake up the plant.

I'll update this post as I see progress.

Update: 2/2/18 The fig tree is waking up from dormancy

The video:

Let's experiment with growing Sugar Cane in Seattle

It's no secret that I love my tropical fruits and plants. Now that it's winter time, I've brought in most of my tropical to the south windows. And my house has turned into a very "Asian House" with plants all over the place. Reminds me of my aunts and uncles houses.

I was about to buy some sugar cane cuttings on Ebay but I managed to find some at the local Viet Wah here in Renton. $1.50 each!


The process is simple. Add water and walk away. In a matter of weeks the roots will start to form.

I'll wait for a bit more root growth and will then add them into a pot of soil.

4/16/18 Update:

Here's the video

Maui Vacation 2017

I've been meaning to get this Video edited sooner but with the Business of the Holidays it was next to impossible to get done quickly.

So here's my November Vacation Video where I get to try Ice cream Bean for the 1st time ever. + Alot more!

Tuvia Shehora - On my wishlist

My friend Ryan and his wife runs FIG Agro Lab Asia. They have an amazing collection from around the world!

One of the figs that have caught my eye is this beautiful melon tasting Tuvia Shehora.

Check it out in all it's splendor.

https://www.facebook.com/FigAgroLab/posts/751001198413717?hc_location=ufi

So many new Fig shops Online - Gardencrochet

I personally know Karla, she grows some very tasty looking figs!

https://gardencrochet.com/shop?olsPage=products

Based out of San Bernandino, CA she has the perfect climate to grow figs to their best.

Rare figs for the Orchard.

Our goal is to share top quality healthy fig cuttings with our customers. Over the years we have trialled and tested almost every variety we can get our hands on. We have the pleasure and honor to share them with you today.