Propagating Figs from Cuttings: Two Easy Methods for Winter and Spring

Figs are among the easiest fruit plants to propagate from cuttings. Whether you take cuttings during fall pruning or in spring, you can produce dozens of new plants for sharing or selling with minimal equipment.

Method 1: Fall Cuttings, Stored Over Winter (Easiest)

1. Timing: As you prune in fall (after leaf drop), select foot-long tip cuttings, ½–1 inch thick at the base.
2. Storage: Place cuttings in a gallon zip-top bag and refrigerate until early April. They stay dormant and hydrated.
3. Planting (Early April): In a sunny, well-drained spot, bury each cutting horizontally with just the tip bud showing above soil.
4. Growth: By late April, the tip leafs out; buried buds form roots.
5. Care: Light fertilizing in summer. Transplant to permanent spots in fall.

Method 2: Spring Cuttings with a Humidity Dome

1. Timing: Early spring, as growth begins.
2. Cuttings: Foot-long tips; remove all leaves except the tiny ones at the very tip.
3. Potting: Insert into a 6-inch pot of moist potting mix.
4. Humidity chamber: Cut the bottom off a 2-liter soda bottle; place over the cutting. Cap on = high humidity.
5. Location: Bright shade (e.g., under a dogwood or cherry tree).
6. Monitoring: Check for condensation inside the bottle. No condensation? Water the soil.
7. Rooting: Roots form by fall. Plant in garden or overwinter in pot.

Keys to Success

• Use clean, sharp pruners.
• Don't let cuttings dry out.
• Patience: the fall method is nearly foolproof for beginners.

With these techniques, your pruning debris becomes a nursery crop.