Ficus Trees Propagation Overview
Ficus Tree Propagation Information Overview by Ficustrees.info
The Ficus is one of the easiest plants to propagate. One of the most efficient ways is to root from branch cuttings. Although the specifics for each species varies for maximum success. So if you own a ficus and aren’t sure if your particular species can be propagated in this fashion, my suggestion is that it never hurts to give it a shot and see. It’s always worth putting cuttings into the soil just to see if you come up with some baby ficus. I’ve found that when doing nothing special except the initial dose of fertilizer, my success has been about 80%!
Using larger diameter cuttings from your ficus, prune off all access side branches, and all but one or two leaves at the top, leaving you with a shorter stub or stick. After you’ve done this, stick your cuttings in the soil, or depending on what kind of ficus you are propagating, you may also use very coarse sand or fine gravel (a little smaller than bb’s). At least one node (the point on a stem where leaves are attached and buds form) should be below the surface. Cover the cutting’s in the soil, and make sure that there is plenty of light available (but not full contact with the sun). To increase humidity tenting can be helpful. The soil’s temperature provides optimal success when it’s between 70-75 degrees F., so a propagation mat may also be very useful.
Asexual propagation is the most common method for cultivated plants. As I’ve explained in more depth in the paragraphs above; propagation can be done by planting cuttings. Another method which seems to work very well is air layering. This method requires you, the propagator, to cut a slit in the plant’s stem (bearing in mind this will be your new tree, so choose your branch with this in mind). You should then see the plant’s latex sap, which will be oozing from the incision you’ve just made. The wound, which oozes with the plant’s latex sap, should then be packed with a rooting hormone. After this has been done you’ll want to either pack damp vermiculite and sand around the wound, or wrap the wound tightly with moist sphagnum moss (the moss is able to hold large quantities of water inside their cells). When you’ve done either of the two, cover the cutting with plastic, sealing at either end.
This process should take about six weeks for roots to start appearing. After six weeks have passed, check to see if roots are there, if so, then cut the excess branch right off. If the roots have already established themselves enough to grow on their own, then your new roots are ready to be potted. If the roots are not quite done after the six weeks, then plant your roots in a bag and keep them well watered until the roots have established. After the roots have established the new plant is ready to be potted on its own.
January 27, 2007
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Kalyn P posted on September 14, 2007:
How small in diameter can the branch be in order for air layering to be successful?
Lisa posted on June 20, 2009:
Juat a small bit of info from a just for enjoyment gardener. I have tried propagation with the ficus and have been very successful about 90% of the time.All I did was cut the branches to prune the tree and put them in the soil in the same pot in which the tree is already growing. And then water and wait. It seems that when you do this metod they begen to root much faster. As far as the direct sunlight. I have them in direct sunlight for about 6 hours a day(morning) and the shaded the rest of the day. This is very easy to grow this way. You just have to get them out with a transplanter shovel before they inter twine with the roots of the original tree.