Reproduction of ficus at home / How to propagate ficus benjamina and large-leaved ficus by cuttings, leaves

Ficus is a popular indoor flower. First of all, this plant is valued for its decorative qualities. Having one or several ficus trees, a gardener can create a picturesque green corner at home. More than 500 species of ficus are known, all of them differ from each other. At home, ficus benjamina or large-leaved ficus is most often grown. House ficus is easy to propagate. Read our article about how to propagate ficus at home.

Optimal timing of the procedure 2. How to prepare for propagation of ficus 3. Propagation by leaves 4. Propagation by cuttings 5. Propagation by shoots 6. Care of a young plant

Photo by ru.depositphotos: The plant can be propagated in different ways, including by leaf.

Ficus propagation by leaf in 5 steps

Large-leaved ficus can easily be propagated by leaves:

It is advisable to take a leaf from an old woody shoot.
We cut the sheet at an angle of 45 degrees, retreating from the base of the sheet by about 5 cm.
We treat the cut in a root formation stimulator and place it in water. If the leaf is very large, then you can cut off part of the leaf, but not more than half. Reducing the leaf blade will speed up the rooting process, since the plant will not waste energy on maintaining life in the leaf and will direct it to root formation.
After 2–3 weeks, the first roots will appear. Throughout this period, you need to add fresh water and monitor the condition of the leaf.
We plant the leaf with roots in the substrate and cover it with a plastic bag without tying it.

Important! Ficus Benjamina does not reproduce by leaves.

Photo pexels/Skylar Kang: Only large-leaved ficus is propagated by leaves.

Step-by-step instruction

The best time to plant a ficus shoot is spring; summer sunny weather is better for rooting and subsequent adaptation of the plant. If the shoot is planted in the fall, the young plant will not have time to prepare for winter frosts and may simply die.

Before planting a ficus benjamina shoot, you need to select a cutting 10 centimeters long, which has previously been rooted into the ground. Further, all actions occur in several stages:

Prepare all the necessary materials described earlier.
Place drainage at the bottom of the pot to avoid excess moisture in the soil, since a large amount of water can lead to rotting of the roots.
Fill the pot with the prepared earthen mixture, then make a small depression in the center, about one and a half to two centimeters high.
Place the rooted cuttings in this hole and sprinkle a little with the mixture, then water generously.

Now the ficus can be placed on a windowsill or a special flower shelf, and the plant also needs special care to keep it healthy.

How to propagate ficus from cuttings: important tips for growing healthy plants

Both ficus benjamina and large-leaved are successfully propagated by cuttings. This is the easiest and most affordable way to propagate ficus. It can be propagated by apical shoots or stem cuttings. Ficus benjamina is most easily propagated by last year's shoots that have not yet grown old. You can cut it at an angle of 45 degrees, or you can tear it off with the heel. Large-leaved ficus takes root best with older, lignified shoots.

Ficus propagation by apical shoots

The top of the shoot with 2–3 leaves is cut off. The optimal length of the cutting is 12–15 cm. You need to cut the cutting of the plant with a sharp, disinfected tool. This can be ordinary scissors, pruning shears, a knife, or a blade. The cut area on the mother plant must be powdered with crushed charcoal.

Before propagating Ficus Benjamin, you need to remove the milky sap from its cuttings. This can be done by holding the cutting under running warm water or placing the cutting in water. The cut stalk is slightly dried. Vermiculite is poured into a plastic cup with drainage holes, not reaching the top edge of the cup 2-3 cm. Water it generously with warm, settled water. Next, follow the recommendations:

We dust the lower cut of the cutting in “Kornevin” or any other root formation stimulator.
We bury the cuttings in vermiculite by about 2–3 cm.
We place the glass in a transparent plastic bag, which we tie, creating greenhouse conditions.
Place the cutting in a bright and warm place where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight.
We periodically look into the bag, remove drops of condensation from the bag and, if necessary, moisten the vermiculite.
The transparent sides of the cup make it easy to see when roots appear. As soon as the roots grow more than 2 cm, you can transplant the cuttings into the ground. Since the cutting was in greenhouse conditions for a long time, it got used to them. And if we immediately change the conditions of detention, without accustoming the young plant to the dry air in the room, then the cutting may “get sick,” freeze in growth, or even die. Therefore, after transplanting, we cover the ficus with a bag on top without tying it. Just throwing it on top. You need to keep it like this for three days. And only then can you completely remove the bag.

Remember! The plant must be gradually accustomed to new conditions. This is an important condition when propagating ficus by cuttings.

In the substrate we make a recess for the cutting in the center of the container. This can be done with your finger or a stick. Carefully place the cutting there, trying not to damage the roots, and cover it with soil. Lightly press with your fingers so that the cutting “sits” confidently and does not fall over. When transplanting a vermiculite cutting into a special substrate, you can bury it slightly into the soil.

Photo by ru.detositphotos: Sections of cuttings must first be powdered in a root formation stimulator.

Features of propagation of home ficus by stem cuttings

For these purposes, the lateral or lower shoots of the plant are taken. It is best to take lignified branches from large-leaved ficus. Otherwise, rooting may not occur. Using a sharp tool, we cut the cuttings so that each has 2-3 buds. We make the lower cut at an angle of 45 degrees, and the upper one - straight. Next, we root either using the method described above, or the following (in cotton wool):

Lightly dry the cuttings.
Place a layer of wet cotton wool into the container. We place the lower cut of the cutting into this cotton wool, having previously dusted it in a root formation stimulator.
We periodically moisten the cotton wool and wait for the roots to appear.
When the roots appear, without waiting for long roots, we plant them in the ground.

Important! The method of rooting in cotton wool is also suitable for apical shoots.

During the rooting period, the grower must create the most optimal conditions for the growth of the plant - not over-watering, but also not over-drying. You need to water in small portions as the rooting material dries.

To propagate large-leaved ficus, you can immediately root the cuttings in the soil. To do this, you need to take a very loose and nutritious substrate. And we do everything else in the same way as with vermiculite.

Basic rules for planting plants

You can use a purchased seedling or propagate vegetatively. The sequence of actions remains almost unchanged. Depending on the species and variety, there may be slight differences in the procedure.

In order for planting a ficus at home to be successful, several conditions must be met:

choose the right pot size, wash and disinfect the container;
purchase a ready-made soil mixture or create a nutritious, light, well-drained substrate from available materials;
make warm water for irrigation, after leaving it to settle for a day;
prepare a transparent bag or glass jar to create greenhouse conditions;
strictly follow agrotechnical recommendations.

Preparing the substrate and pot

When planting ficus at home, the main importance is the correct choice of container and soil. The size of the pot during transfer depends on the parameters of the earthen ball. For young seedlings and seedlings, you need to take a small flower pot, the roots should not touch the walls and drainage layer, but should be located 2-4 cm further.

Choose a shape that is wide enough, but not flat. The material of the container for young ficus is plastic; for an adult it is advisable to use unpainted ceramics.

The substrate can be purchased ready-made or collected from turf and deciduous soil, river sand, peat in a ratio of 2:2:1:1. To reduce the risk of root rotting, add a small amount of charcoal or ash. Add vermicompost as a nutritional component. Before use, it is recommended to pour natural materials with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection, and calcine the sand in the oven.

Procedure technology

The recommended time for the operation is spring, so that by the time it gets cold, the plant has time to get used to the changed microclimate. In autumn and winter, it is permissible to replant to a new location only if the integrity of the container is damaged, an unpleasant, musty odor appears from the soil, the root system is colonized by pests, or diseases develop. It is important to plant the ficus correctly in a flower pot.

Place a drainage layer of expanded clay 2 cm high at the bottom. Next, add the prepared soil mixture; for a young seedling, fill the container almost completely. Make a small hole, carefully place it so that the roots do not bend, sprinkle with substrate. After planting, water thoroughly, removing excess liquid from the pan after 10-15 minutes. To create greenhouse conditions, cover with a transparent bag for a week. Adult specimens do not need this.

Transshipment method

Prepare the container and nutrient soil in the same way. Place drainage and 3-4 cm of fresh soil at the bottom. A plant in an old container can be lightly watered in advance and tapped on the side surfaces so that the earthen lump moves away from the walls of the pot. Turn upside down, gently twisting the container and holding the houseplant. Remove the tree, then the ficus can be planted in a pot. Fill the space between the earthen ball and the walls with nutritious soil mixture.

How to propagate ficus by shoots (air layering)

Sometimes large-leaved ficus is easiest to propagate by air layering. Especially if the plant is old. This method is not easy and is recommended only for experienced gardeners:

On a thick branch we find a point where the branch will not bend much. Otherwise it will simply break. Remove the sheet and make a vertical cut.
To ensure that the cut is always slightly open, we place a match in it. Then we wrap a small amount of moss around the cut and secure it with threads and film, leaving holes for air circulation.
Next, we take care of the ficus as usual for 3-4 weeks. We periodically check the location of the incision. When the moss has grown roots, remove the film, cut off the cuttings and plant it in a separate pot.

Ficus benjamina can also be propagated by layering, in which the stem has become woody. Most often, old ficus trees are propagated this way. But the technology is slightly different from the one described above.

Ways to stimulate rapid growth and root formation

After planting the rooted shoot in a pot, roots are formed in the callus tissue of the plants. This happens through mechanical damage to the stem, as a result of which the root system of the ficus is formed. To speed up this process, you can make a few small cuts on the stem yourself before planting the shoot.

Better growth of ficus is facilitated by the use of special chemical fertilizers. They will improve the formation of the ficus root system. Treatment with growth stimulants is carried out as follows: the shoots are soaked in the prepared solution before planting, or the cut of the cutting is treated with a preparation that comes in powder form.

Two tips for caring for young ficus

Follow the care recommendations to grow a full-fledged ficus:

Watering a young ficus. After transplanting the cuttings into a pot with a substrate, you need to water it only with warm and settled water. Rain or snow water is perfect. Water the ficus moderately - only after the top layer of the substrate has dried.
Feeding . The first feeding after planting the cuttings in the ground can be done after 3 months. You can use any universal fertilizer or a special one “for decorative deciduous trees.”

Photo by ru.depositphotos: Water the plant with warm water. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Read our other articles about indoor flowers: Calendar for planting and replanting flowers for the year 8 reasons why ficus turns yellow and what to do for the health of your indoor flower

Propagation of chrysanthemums by cuttings: useful tips for propagating garden and indoor flowers How to grow Decembrist at home: tips for planting, caring for and propagating succulents ________________________________________________________________________________________________ What rules do you follow when propagating ficus? Share your experiences and tips with other gardeners in the comments.

The importance of replanting after purchase

Having brought a plant from the store, you must immediately put the flower in a permanent place. You cannot touch it for about 2 weeks, creating the necessary microclimate. The bush may shed some of its foliage; this is a physiological process of adaptation to changed indoor conditions; there is no need to worry. In a home environment, the crop must be grown correctly, since the plant can lose its decorative effect or die. After purchase, replanting is necessary because the store-bought substrate contains chemical additives to maintain its presentation and is not suitable for long-term use.

About 2 weeks should pass before the procedure. The pot should be selected according to the size of the root system; most likely you will need a little more than what you had when purchasing. It is not necessary to use the transshipment method; on the contrary, it is advisable to replace most of the soil mixture. There is no need to rinse, nor do you need to try to remove absolutely all the soil. Further, the process is similar to replanting with a complete replacement of the soil. It is recommended to use a light nutrient substrate with a neutral reaction.

Ficus is often grown at home. The culture is fast growing and requires periodic replanting. Proper planting is the key to successful plant cultivation. The tree is demanding of environmental conditions, but complex care is not needed. It is enough to follow general agrotechnical recommendations.

Procedure technology

To get a new healthy, viable plant in a short time, you need to correctly take shoots from the ficus. You can use several at once to ensure rooting is successful, but usually one is enough. Before taking cuttings, you should prepare the necessary tools, available materials, containers, water or substrate, and only then carry out the procedure.

How to take a ficus shoot:

Choose a young, developed shoot with at least one healthy eye.
Cut with a sharp knife so that the bud remains on top; above it, you can remove the excess part of the branch at a right angle. It is advisable to cut the bottom of the rubber-bearing ficus at an angle; half of the internode without an eye should remain on the cutting.
Place the shoot in warm water for several hours, dry it, and treat the damaged stem with crushed activated carbon. If this is not done, the released juice will clog the passages, making it more difficult for the roots to break through.
Cultivate in water or substrate.

Tools used

You can get a shoot only with the help of sharply sharpened equipment. An uneven cut or breaking off a shoot will prolong the rooting process, which can lead to rotting of the cutting. It is permissible to use garden scissors for Ficus Benjamin, since they can easily and evenly cut off the shoot, and at the same time carry out the formation of the crown.

Tools

Before taking cuttings, we need to find out what tools we need. Prepare everything you need in advance so that you are not distracted by anything while working.

Knife. Remember: cut off the shoots exclusively with a sharply sharpened knife. There is no need to tear off a ficus shoot with your hands or try to cut it with scissors, as this will only harm the flower. A very important point: be sure to disinfect the knife you will use before the procedure.
Container with warm water. This is where we place the ficus shoots immediately after we cut them.
Dark glass vessel. After all the procedures, you need to place the cutting there until it takes root.