Late Fig Cutting HELP!

Hi folks!

I visited my in-laws at a new house they purchased & was delighted to find they had two massive, beautiful fig trees. I was quickly saddened to hear they were removing them, tomorrow! We don’t think similarly , so I didn’t fight it, but I did take several clippings to see if I could get the plant to live on. I realize The ideal time is late February (at least here in my 7B zone), but is there anything I can do to help these guys make it?

I cut them just below a node, at an angle & put them straight in a pot with soil. I gave them a good water when I got home & have kept them partially shaded for today.

Any tips would be much appreciated! I’d love to see these guys thrive again with a little care & time!

Thanks in advanace 😃

I'd probably trim them smaller, limit the number of leaves and get them into plastic bags with high humidity to limit the wilting.  I normally do dormant wood cuttings for figs, but folks do greenwood.

Thanks Phil, I’ll try these suggestions.

Most protocols I’ve seen allow for the cut parts to heal and dry prior to placing in soil - but that is after natural leaf fall.
There’s a fabulous collection of experts and breeds of figs at http://figs4fun.com/.

Get them shaded as well, whole day shade, shade, don't be tempted to take them out of there until you see some real growth and check the bottom if you see roots peeping in the watering hole, only then move them to semi shade. Move them back if they regress.
Take it easy, they won't die because lack of light.

I would take all the leaves off and cut them down to about six inches above the soil.  Use what you cut off to propagate more.

Someone mentioned full shade. That would help a lot. Something to trap the humidity would probably help. Maybe a plastic bottle or bag.

Small fig trees usually have a few smaller trees growing around the base.  With an axe and shovel you might be able to hack one off. When they take the tree out, you might try getting some pieces of root that were near the surface.  With a whole tree to work with, might as well try everything.  Maybe cuttings in water with an airstone. That works with fall cuttings.

Thank you all so much! I’m going to trim them down, get them in full shade, and create a greenhouse of some sort for them.

Because there are so many, I may use a clear rubber maid with a lid to create their humid environment. Has anyone ever tried this?

John- thanks for the link. This looks like a good (and fun) resource.

Hugo- I moved them to shade this morning. I wouldn’t have known they’d be fine without light. I’ll be monitoring them closely. Ty!

Ken- I am going to look for small rooted trees around the large one next time I got back. Thanks for the tip.

Thank you Phil, John, Hogo & Ken!! I really appreciate your input & hope with your help that a few of these may make it!

Mj Patneaude wrote:they had two massive, beautiful fig trees. I was quickly saddened to hear they were removing them, tomorrow!

I'd ask if you could remove it for them, uproot the suckers, bring them to your place, replant them, and prune them heavily after planting (or prior to transporting). Figs are such that, even if you are rough to them, and to their roots, I'd think they'd survive and rebound fine.

Why grow cuttings if you can have the whole tree?

I would cut off 90% of the leaves ASAP and plant them nice and deep.