Why cuttings? How do I root my fig cuttings? A quick guide and things to watch out for.
July 16, 2025
Purchasing and rooting fig cuttings is perhaps the most cost-effective way to acquire a collection of fig varieties. While individual cuttings can cost anywhere from €5 to €20 (or more), depending on the variety – trees typically cost much more than this. This is due to the extra costs associated with rooting, growing and training new trees from cuttings. For larger trees, shippping also adds a significant amount to the total purchase cost. Additionally, many nurseries are not willing or able to ship larger trees, especially to other countries.
The logistics of shipping several cuttings are much simpler than the logistics involved in shipping actively-growing or dormant trees with larger root balls. Also, the reality in many countries is that local nurseries often have only a limited selection of fig varieties, and those trees they do offer are – more often than not – incorrectly labeled or not labeled at all! This means that serious fig growers prefer to purchase cuttings only from known and trusted sellers, in order to minimize the risk of purchasing mislabeled varieties. Nobody wants to spend 2-3 years growing a fig tree from a cutting, just to later find out that they overpaid for an inferior variety!
So once you have located a trusted seller and found some varieties that interest you, the next step is purchasing your cuttings at the appropriate time. For growers in colder climates, this generally means purchasing cuttings taken from dormant trees with fully lignified branches. The timing of lignification varies by location, but for our nursery located in southern Poland (zone 6b), this is generally around the end of November or beginning of December. At this point, fig trees have been through a few frosts and have lost their leaves, and their dormant branches have much less sap flow, as a significant portion of the fig tree's sap migrates to the roots when the tree enters dormancy.
Of course, you can purchase and root non-dormant cuttings, but these cuttings are more prone to rotting during the rooting process, and can be difficult to root for new growers. Purchasing dormant cuttings increases your chances of successfully rooting your chosen variety, and allows you to nurture your new trees indoors, when the outdoor temperatures are not conducive to tree growth.
So now the question is – what is the best method of root fig cuttings? There are many ways to root cuttings – from simply sticking cut branches into the soil outdoors, to planting branches in complicated potting mixes in containers with carefully managed humidity levels. Many growers have their own individual method that works in their climate, with the materials most easily accessible to them. However, the method that we have had the most success with is planting cuttings directly in a well-draining potting mix inside a tree pot. Cuttings are appropriately prepared: gently washed in mild soap, then soaked in lukewarm water for several hours, then dried and planted directly in the potting mix, with the tops of the cuttings wrapped in parafilm to prevent drying out.
Of course, there are many nuances that a grower needs to be aware of with this method. For instance: cuttings should have around 2/3 of their length buried in the potting mix, with the remaining 1/3 above the mix. Each cutting should ideally have at least 3 healthy buds, from which the cutting will send out new growth. Also, carefully managing watering during this period is critical to the survival of the young tree. Too much water will cause the delicate roots to rot, while too little will dry out the cutting. Maintaining an appropriate temperature (22-25 degrees C) will encourage rooting and allow the new tree to grow quickly. Giving the young tree an appropriate light source (ideally an LED grow light, with various light wavelengths, including ultraviolet light) will give you healthy green leaves which will not burn when exposed to sunlight.
Once your cuttings root successfully and send out their first leaves, your will want to start giving them small amounts of liquid fertilizer every few weeks. When they have grown enough roots to keep their rooting medium intact (as in the picture below), you will want to transplant them to a larger pot, or into the ground, if you have an appropriate microclimate for them. After that, you will need to decide how you will form your fig tree – whether as a single-trunk tree, a multi-trunk bush, or perhaps as an espalier. Part of the joy of growing fig trees is being able to grow and shape them to fit your preferences, as their quick growth allows you to prune them severely without harming the tree.
Then once your tree is growing well and starts to produce ripe fruit for you and your family, you can purchase cuttings of more varieties and start the process all over again!
A successfully rooted fig tree cutting, ready to be up-potted.