Author: The Fig Tree Guy

  • The First Steps to Successfully Rooting Fig Cuttings

    The First Steps to Successfully Rooting Fig Cuttings

    Rooting figs is simple, rewarding, and a little bit magical. Here’s how I begin the process: [Using Frank Costanza’s voice] Keep on rooting, baby! If you’d like to reach out to me privately, please use the contact form on this site. Subscribe to receive blog updates by email. Stay tuned, keep on rootin’ and happy…

  • The Secret to Happy Fig Cuttings: A Little Pampering

    The Secret to Happy Fig Cuttings: A Little Pampering

    When you take a fig cutting, you’re not starting from zero. That piece of wood contains stored carbohydrates (starches and sugars) that the mother tree packed away during the growing season. Think of it like a built-in lunchbox for the cutting. What that stored energy does Before a cutting has roots or leaves, it still…

  • Adiós Gnats!

    If I had a penny for every failed attempt to stop fungus gnats from killing my fig cuttings, I’d have two dollars. Fungus gnats are one of the most frustrating pests when you’re rooting fig cuttings. The adults are annoying, but the real problem is underground, their larvae feed on tender young roots, exactly what…

  • Fixing a Waterlogged, Rooted Fig Cutting

    Fixing a Waterlogged, Rooted Fig Cutting

    I got a little careless while watering this fig cutting and ended up with a classic waterlogged situation. When I root my fig cuttings, I use a double-cup system. The inner cup holds the cutting and has drainage holes at the bottom, while the outer cup catches the excess water that drains out. It’s a…

  • Look, Ma! Roots Everywhere!

    Look, Ma! Roots Everywhere!

    I’ve been hard at work rooting my 2026 fig cuttings, and I’m happy to report that they’ve officially started developing roots. Warning: Secure your lunch pail before reading the next statement. I currently have approximately 470 cuttings rooting in a variety of ways: some in water, others as fig-pops, and more nestled into coco coir…

  • Fig Trees Belong in Every Garden

    Fig Trees Belong in Every Garden

    Barry’s Grove is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and based in the Village of Walden, New York, with a primary focus on the Hudson Valley region. The organization is dedicated to environmental stewardship through hands-on initiatives such as tree planting, stream stocking, and educational outreach that fosters a deeper connection between the community and…

  • Announcing The Fig Tree Learning Exchange Event

    This post is literally hot off the press. The Recreation and Parks Department of the Village of Walden, together with The Fig Tree Guy, is proud to host the first bi-annual Fig Tree Learning Exchange, a unique gathering created specifically for fig tree enthusiasts of all experience levels. I created a web page for this…

  • Hello, Roots! My First Fig Cutting of 2026

    Hello, Roots! My First Fig Cutting of 2026

    I am not kidding when I say that every single year, the moment I spot my first rooted cutting, I get a little teary-eyed. It never gets old. This year, I’ve officially kicked off the rooting process with—drum roll, please—400 cuttings. But wait… there’s more. I’ve got another 200 cuttings tucked away in the crisper…

  • Choosing the Right Pot Shape: A Practical Guide

    Choosing the Right Pot Shape: A Practical Guide

    If you own a potted fig tree, or really any kind of potted tree, you’ll eventually need to up-pot it, and that’s where the shape of both the current pot and the future one truly matters. Take a look at the two pots below. Most fig trees need either up-potting or a good root pruning…