How to Root Ficus Elastica Cuttings
Cuttings provide an easy way to multiply houseplants. The new plant will be an exact genetic copy of the parent and have all of the same traits. Ficus elastica, commonly known as a rubber tree or rubber plant, does well with the cutting method of propagation. Cuttings can increase the number of plants in your collection quickly or they can be used to trade with friends for other types of plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Perlite
- Peat moss
- Spray bottle with water
- 2-inch plastic flowerpot
- Sharp knife or scissors
- Rooting hormone
- Plastic sandwich bag
Instructions
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Mix the potting medium together thoroughly. Use one part perlite and one part peat moss. Make sure you have about two times the volume of the flowerpot or container you're using. It's better to have extra potting mix than not enough. Moisten the mix with a spray bottle of water to help it stick together.
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Fill the flowerpot to the top with the potting medium and gently press it down so it's about a quarter of an inch below the rim. You may have to add a little more potting medium, depending on how fluffy it is and how much it compresses.
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3
Poke a hole in the potting medium with a pencil or your finger about 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.
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Cut about 5 to 6 inches off the end of the growing tip of the mother Ficus elastica. Make the cut about 1/4 inch below a set of leaves or the node where a set of leaves used to be.
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Strip the bottom sets of leaves off the Ficus elastica cutting. Leave at least the top set of leaves on the cutting.
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Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone. Make sure the cut end gets covered. Rooting hormones are available in liquid and powder form at most garden centers and usually contain a fungicide to prevent fungus on the cut end while the roots are developing. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions on the side of the package.
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Put the cut end of the Ficus elastica cutting into the hole in the potting medium and gently firm the soil around it so it stands upright. It should be about 1 1/2 inches deep and at least the bottom node must be covered. If the leaves are large and make it topple over, cut them in half along the width.
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Cover the cutting with a plastic sandwich bag and stretch it around the pot if it will reach to form a small tent or mini-greenhouse to the hold moisture in. It doesn't have to be on tight.
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Place the cutting in a brightly lit area but not in direct sun. Check up on the plant daily. If the moisture builds up in the plastic bag, make a few holes to let air out. After a week or two, gently tug on the plant to see if roots have formed. Remove the bag and look for new growth starting on the top before repotting.
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Tips & Warnings
Time the process so you can thoroughly water the mother Ficus elastica the day before taking the cuttings. This ensures that the cut piece is adequately hydrated when severed from the mother plant. It will not have any roots for a while and depends on this moisture.
Take several cuttings at once because the process is not always successful. The larger number of cuttings ensures that at least one will survive. Excess cuttings can be discarded or given away. Only plant one cutting per pot or use a seed tray with a tall clear plastic dome made for cuttings.
Any size container can be used, but small 2- to 3-inch plastic pots work well. Large pots hold excessive moisture and smaller pots may dry out or be top heavy.
Instead of a flowerpot, use small clear plastic cups with drainage holes added so you can see new root growth through the side instead of tugging on the plant.
Don't let the potting mixture dry out. It should remain moist but not wet. This shouldn't happen with the plastic bag covering the pot, but if it does, gently mist the surface with the sprayer.
Avoid direct sun. It will heat up the plants too much and cause drying and leaf burn.
References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
