How Do I Propagate a Ficus?

The fig tree is one of the members of the ficus genus.

The ficus is a large family of deciduous trees that grow in Asia, Africa and the Americas. There are more than 755 species of ficus, the most familiar being the common fig (ficus carica). Ficus benjamina, or the weeping ficus, is commonly grown as a house or office plant. When sold at nurseries, this ornamental tree is often referred to as simply a ficus. The weeping ficus can be pruned to remain small and grows well indoors, making it an ideal house plant. Figs and other ficus trees also grow well inside, but most are from tropical or sub-tropical regions and will not grow outdoors in temperate climates.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Rooting medium
• Hormone rooting compound
• 4-inch pot
• Plastic bag
• Heating pad (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut a branch tip 3 to 5 inches in length from a healthy ficus tree. Select a branch that has a set of healthy leaves at the tip. Make the cut at a 45-degree angle using clean, sharp pruning shears.

2. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting. Clip them off with pruning shears or bend the leaf stem back gently until it snaps off.

3. Roll the cut end in hormone rooting compound. Hormone rooting powder stimulates the formation of new roots. Powdered and liquid varieties are available at garden centers and nurseries.

4. Fill a 4-inch pot with damp peat moss, vermiculite, perlite or a combination of these soil-less mediums. The rooting medium supports the plant while roots develop. A sterile, soil-less medium will prevent the cutting from rotting before roots can form.

5. Push the bottom half of the ficus cutting into the center of the pot and press the soil medium around it until the cutting stands on its own. Put the cutting where it will remain between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a heating pad (available at garden centers) under the pot if you lack a room with a consistent temperature.

6. Place a clear plastic bag upside down over the top of the ficus cutting and secure it around the lip of the pot. Punch a few small air holes in the plastic to allow air flow around the cutting.

7. Remove the plastic bag every few days and mist the inside to keep the humidity levels up. Check the soil moisture by driving your finger 1 to 2 inches into the pot. If the soil feels dry add water until it is evenly damp.

8. Remove the plastic bag when the cutting produces two to three new leaves. Check the cutting periodically during the rooting process by very gently tugging on it. It will feel firm in the soil if roots are forming successfully.

9. Transplant the rooted ficus cutting into a permanent pot. It will need at least a five-gallon pot for the first few years. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 or 11, transplant the tree to a permanent spot outside.

References

• Iziko Museum of Cape Town: Ficus
• California Rare Fruit Growers: Fig Fruit Facts
• Texas A&M University: Propagating Foliage & Flowering Plants
• University of Florida IFAS Extension Program: Ficus Benjamina

Resources

• National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Map