We started off with Carlos (aka Epiphyte to the knowledgeable) giving a stunning presentation on his work hybridizing carica with other ficuses. He had even brought in some of his successful crosses which filled us with awe. He also passed around male carica figs (both cut-open and intact) the existence of which in the wild had escaped most of our notice. He then instructed us in the art of artificially inseminating figs (yes, syringes are involved). What he ultimately hopes for is the development of a carica resistant to the Silba Adipata (Black Fig Fruit Fly) that is decimating many of our orchards and he has purchased 10 acres in Florida for more extensive research in that area. We are encouraging him to publish his work in the Fruit Gardener since everyone needs to hear this is possible and is being done.
Then Greg and Bruce took over with their extremely knowledgeable comedy routine called Many Many Ways to Propagate Figs even when you don’t agree on all the details. This featured of course the infamous Zone of Death which we now know can be defeated by about half an inch of perlite at the bottom of your bottom-punctured 24 oz clear plastic cup otherwise filled with Gary’s Top Pot (DIY version: 35% peat moss, 30% pumice, 20% coarse perlite, 10% sand and 5% charcoal or Biochar). The Top Pot was lightened with even more perlite, (4 gallons/ cubic foot of Top Pot) and then lightly moistened with 1 gallon of water with 3 t of Gnatrol and ¼ t. Miracle-Go fertilizer. Greg stressed the important of synthetic salts at the rooting stage much to the horror of us organic growers, but he assured us we can switch to organics once the cuttings are actual plants and not just hopeful sticks. Greg also emphasized the importance of correct pH for your water and lauded a water droplet pH test as being invincible and cheap. The pros and cons of bark scraping were discussed as well as different forms of rooting hormones and the need for bottom watering. Plus many many other hints and other techniques: FigPops, Cloners, etc. etc.… but this newsletter is already way too long and I am not getting any younger. If you weren’t there, you should have been!
Note that the fig scions used were provided by FigFanatic.com, a wonderfully non-materialistic bunch of fig growers who provide information — like most of what’s above — and hand holding when you do brain dead things like rooting upside down (yes, I speak from experience). Greg urges us all to join. It’s free!
