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transitioning rooted cuttings to life without a tent

13 years ago

I have several rooted fig cuttings that I transplanted to 1 gallon pots about a week ago. Right now they have 2-3 large leaves with smaller leaves on the way. The are currently growing under shop lights with saran wrap "tents" over them to keep in the humidity. I would like to soon transition them to a space in front of a window in a relatively sunny room so that I can use the shop lights for other purposes. It would be inconvenient to keep a saran wrap tent over them once they are moved. My question is when one can know when the young trees are established to the point where they no longer need the tents over them? Many thanks.

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Comments (3)

ejp3
13 years ago
I don't know if I can help you but I never use a tent over my cuttings. I wait until I have a real good root mass and then if I am getting leaves as you are I place near window. I know the reason people tent the plants is to reduce the drying out of the leaves but couldn't you just use a mister to wet the leaves if worried about them drying out? I know it is important to get roots before leaves but I think if I have good enough roots then I move on to try and get good leaves.
nothwehr
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for your input. All my potted figs have a pretty good root mass so maybe they would be ok with regular room humidity surrounding the leaves. I had read previously that using the tents to keep in the humidity up is important but perhaps that is only if you have significant leaves with very few roots. I think I'll try taking the tent off of one of my figs and see how it does.
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James, am slow getting back (busy days) but was relieved to hear you're up and running again (and encourage holding onto those "differing priorities"!) - former neighbor's daughter across the street had something like that happen (blood sugar out of whack, was disoriented and hard to rouse her, they called the ambulance - scary moment for all but by grace she was okay). Sounds like your cuttings are prospering, mine seem to be also, at least the ones I'm doing in the "nursery" arrangement (six clear bottles with top portions cut off and then re-set over the figs but the bottle caps off, resting in a plastic shoebox with heating pad underneath, tented lightly with plastic but enough ventilation so there's no mold problems). I'm also trying two cuttings wrapped in damp paper towel/plastic bag, no roots yet, and one that I'd started that way, I opted to change over to seeing if it'll root in water. Once the rest of my already-rooted figs from prior years are repotted, then it'll be time to start a few more cuttings, as the weather warms up more. I'm definitely playing with methods, as the next group will be set as horizontal, just to see if it speeds anything up at all. Will let folks know what seems to get the best strike rate - btw, I'm impressed by your in-ground/outdoors cuttings taking off like that, and am almost tempted to try one or two in my garden closer to the end of April and see what happens - are your in-ground ones shaded, though? Sherry
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ottawan_z5a
13 years ago
Why not try to remove the tent for half a day and see which of the plants gets drooping leaves. Those that don't get their leaves droop are candidates for moving out of the tent and allow some extra time to the rest and if one or two are left that need to be in the tent then arrange a plastic bag over them or put inside a plastic bag..
I just had one plant where the leaves would get droopy in a few minutes when I would open the cover from the rooting bins to air it to reduce humidity and get fresh air in. I placed this one in a plastic bag dome, created humidity and closed the bag at the top and the leaves did not droop so far in more than three hours.

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