Information about this plant cannot be found in old Soviet home encyclopedias. The flower was considered one of the components of bourgeois life; after the revolution it was a shame to be bourgeois, and the ficus was mentioned only in creating a negative image of an element alien to the Soviet system.
Despite everything, the handsome man is alive and continues his victorious march through apartments, offices and winter gardens of entertainment institutions.
Ficus propagation, methods
You will need to choose a propagation method: cuttings, layering, through a leaf. You can, of course, try to propagate ficus with seeds, but this is such a long process; propagating ficus with seeds can be more difficult than other methods. As mentioned above, depending on the type of ficus and its growth form, we choose the propagation method we need. Many people use ficus propagation by cuttings, as well as other propagation methods, which we will consider below.
Dividing the main bush
This method is very simple, usually when you replant a ficus, and it is better to do this in the spring, when the plant wakes up and enters the phase of active growth and development. When you repot a ficus, you remove the plant from its pot. Before transplanting it into a new pot, you should inspect the plant for damage and the presence of new young shoots. They usually come from the root and are located next to the main plant. This method is well suited for propagating dwarf ficus (pumil) and sometimes for rubber ficus. Especially when the plants are still young and have not formed into one trunk.
Read on to learn how to propagate ficus macrophylla and other ficus trees when dividing the main bush.
Carefully separate the young plant and plant it in a separate container or pot. We plant the main plant in a new pot. We take care of the main plant after transplantation and the new one. Both need good care, as the ficus suffered stress. Therefore, new shoots or growth of existing ones can be observed after a few weeks.
What you need to know about ficus transplantation
Practice shows that frequent transplants harm the harmonious development of the flower. Often inexperienced gardeners have a question: how to understand that it is time to transplant the ficus into a larger container.
The appearance of roots in the holes of the flower pot will let the owner of the ficus know about the need to buy a new container for the plant and increase the volume of soil.
Perennial ficus trees are replanted every three years. Young flowers are replanted once a year as needed. Replant the plant carefully, paying attention to maintaining the integrity of the root system. At the beginning of spring, you need to take care of replacing the top layer of soil.
Ficus propagation by air layering
The ampelous or climbing type of ficus (pumila) can be propagated well by layering. As for other types of ficus, this method of propagation can also be used. To do this, you need to select the desired shoot and dig it in the same pot. If the shoot is long and bends well, it can be buried and secured in a separate pot, which will be located at a close distance from the main ficus pot. The shoot should be fixed in the ground. As soon as, after a while, this shoot forms roots, it can be cut off from the mother plant.
You can also use another method: for this you need to select the desired stem from the plant. and we will propagate it by air layering. We make an incision on the shoot. The juice that comes out after the cut must be removed with a napkin. We also determine the height of the cut. Typically, this method is used to rejuvenate ficus, which for some reason has lost its decorative appearance.
In the chosen place we remove the leaves; the cut should not be deep and not too long. Try to carefully insert a sliver of wood or a piece of toothpick into the cut. This will prevent the plant from tightening the cut. We treat the cut site with a root formation stimulator. Next, wrap the area with damp moss (you can use sphagnum). The area should be wrapped in film or a bag and secured. So that he doesn't fall down and move out.
We use tape or rope, but try not to overtighten. This can disrupt the sap flow in the main shoot on which we carry out the propagation method. Allowing the moss to dry out is not allowed, so we will moisten it only in one place. This place is the upper part, so there we will sometimes have to open the film and additionally moisten the moss. After a month, roots will form on the cut. You should wait until there are enough of them.
Then we cut off the shoot and plant it in a permanent place in a separate pot. We take careful care of the new shoot. It also needs high humidity and a lot of light and heat.
Rubber-bearing ficus: benefits and harms
The rubber-bearing ficus is capable of quite effectively purifying the air in the room from trichlorethylene, phenol and benzene. At the same time, it processes these dangerous substances into sugar and amino acids. In addition, Ayurveda adherents are confident that this plant is capable of absorbing the vibes of anxiety and anger, thereby purifying the energy of the room. Hindus say that if a childless couple who has long dreamed of children decorate their house with ficus trees, they will soon have a baby.
Like any houseplant, indoor ficus is ambiguous in the manifestation of its properties and impact on the inhabitants of the apartment.
Ficus rubber also has medicinal properties that are used in medicine. Products made from its juice and leaves are used to treat mastopathy, as well as to prevent cancer. Also, such drugs are used during the treatment of fibroids and uterine fibroids. Compresses are prepared from the juice, which are used for radiculitis, hemorrhoids, arthritis and osteochondrosis. Asthmatics need to be very careful with this plant because it releases rubber into the air, which can cause a suffocation attack.
Ficus rubber is a completely unpretentious plant! Beautiful appearance and low requirements make this flowerpot very attractive for indoor plant lovers.
Ficus propagation by apical cuttings
This is a fairly proven and most popular method of reproduction. You need to select the shoot that you will use for propagation. It should be well developed and without signs of disease.
To make a good cut, you may need special tools. This could be a sharp knife or pruning shears. The instrument must be disinfected. Otherwise, you can introduce an infection both to the main plant and to the shoot for cuttings.
The cut should be made at 45 degrees. The length of the shoot can be twenty centimeters, but not less than ten. It all depends on the presence of dormant buds on the cutting and at what distance they are located. Both the main shoot of the ficus and the side shoot are suitable for cuttings. Especially if your ficus has grown and with formative pruning, you get several shoots that can be used for propagation.
Inspect the cutting to ensure that its bark is intact and without signs of damage. If desired, you can shorten the stalk or divide it into several parts.
Next, we take a container of water, it should be at room temperature, and we place our cuttings in it. We change the water in a glass or jar regularly, this will not allow it to stagnate. To prevent the cuttings from rotting, crushed tablets (activated carbon) can be added to the water. The container for cuttings (if it is a jar) must be wrapped in something dark, or use a dark container.
This is necessary so that the water does not begin to bloom in bright light. If you get very short cuttings. Then they can be fixed at the edge of the container. You can use a circle made of paper or cardboard. Be sure to tear off the lower leaves of the cuttings, and generally try to ensure that the remaining leaves do not touch the water. Only the lower part of the shoot/cutting should be in the water.
Place the container with the cuttings in a warm and bright place. The cuttings should not be exposed to direct sun, but the area should be well lit. If moisture begins to evaporate in your container. Water can be added to the desired level. Or replace it completely.
You can use cuttings for propagation directly into the ground. To do this, we simply take a container in which we will root our cuttings. We use a mixture of peat and sand, for better rooting, the ends of the cuttings can be treated with root formation stimulants.
We simply stick the cuttings into the prepared soil. But in this case, you will need to use a greenhouse. It can be made from a plastic bag or plastic bottle. This is necessary in order to maintain constant humidity.
Ficus trees do not take root quickly, so be prepared to wait a few weeks. If you used a container with water, then you can determine whether there are roots on the cuttings by simply inspecting the cuttings. When roots appear, we take the cuttings and plant them in a permanent place, in the required pot size. But when using ficus cuttings and its rooting in the soil, here we look at the appearance of new leaves on the cuttings.
As soon as new leaves appear, the cuttings can be replanted. But my advice is this: use a separate pot for each cutting, or use peat pots. This is necessary so that when transplanting to a permanent place, you minimally injure the young roots. Than if you planted several cuttings in one pot.
Description of the plant and growing conditions
Ficus rubber is one of the most common species in indoor floriculture. According to popular beliefs, it brings family well-being to the house. This plant is native to India and southern Indonesia. Under natural conditions, elastica is a large evergreen tree about 30 m high.
Ficus rubber is characterized by large, leathery, elliptical leaves of a rich green color. Young leaves may have a slight reddish tint. In indoor conditions, elastica practically does not bloom.
The milky sap of this plant is quite irritating and, under certain conditions, can lead to severe allergic reactions or dermatitis. This species was once grown on an industrial scale to produce rubber.
When placing elastics in a room, preference should be given to well-lit places, but without direct sunlight. With slight shading, it continues to develop, but its growth rate is significantly reduced.
With a prolonged lack of lighting, the trunk of the plant becomes very elongated and the shoots become bare. To avoid this, in winter the temperature is reduced to 15-16°C and the volume of watering is reduced to a minimum.
Due to the popularity of this plant, large specimens are quite expensive. But don’t be upset if you don’t have the financial opportunity to purchase it. You can grow a beautiful large plant with your own hands, especially if you know how to propagate rubber-bearing ficus indoors.
The soil for growing elastica must be fertile and loose. It is best to purchase a ready-made substrate for growing ficus plants. You can also make it yourself by mixing universal-purpose peat soil with turf soil, humus and sand in equal proportions.
Ficus propagation by stem cuttings
When propagating ficus using this method, ficus plants with large leaves are mainly propagated. This is a good way to use part of the stem that has either a leaf or several buds that will later become shoots. If you take a large stem, it can be divided into several parts and used for propagation.
This method is good if you decide to trim or rejuvenate your ficus, or if it happens that the shoot is broken. We take the stem we need, which we will propagate. It can be divided into several parts. The length of each should not exceed five centimeters. And on each piece of shoot there should be a dormant bud or leaf.
This method of propagation involves immediate planting in prepared containers and soil. Use regular soil or prepare a mixture of peat and sand. Be sure to add perlite/vermiculite. For good rooting, the soil can be disinfected. Or we use special drugs. or it can be calcined in the oven (especially for garden soil or soil from the street). If your cutting has a leaf, it needs to be rolled into a tube. This will prevent the leaf from evaporating much moisture and taking nutrients from the shoot. If there is no leaf, then we leave the cutting as is. In both cases, you should provide good humidity. Therefore, we make a greenhouse from a bag or a plastic bottle.
For this cutting method, you need to choose an already mature shoot that is well developed and completely woody.
Diseases and pests
Ficus rubber is not very susceptible to disease, but pests can still attack it:
- Scale insects - to destroy them, use Actellik and wash the leaves with soap suds;
- thrips - disappear after treatment with an insecticide;
- aphids – destroyed after spraying with a special anti-insect preparation;
- spider mite;
- mealybug.
But diseases can occur not only due to parasites, but also due to improper care. The most common phenomena are:
- dry tips of leaves - the cause is dry air;
- leaves curl and wither - it’s cold in the room;
- dry light spots on the leaf of the rubber ficus - a lot of sunlight;
- brown spots – insufficient watering;
- the stem begins to rot - there is an excess of moisture in the soil;
- leaves acquire a yellow tint - insufficient humidity, lack of minerals and nutrients;
- the edges of the leaves darken - drafts;
- small leaves and slow growth - lack of fertilizers.
The natural process is a slight fall and yellowing of the lower leaves. You can plant a new plant, thereby the lower tier of greenery will look fresher.
In some cases, frequent spraying can lead to fungal spotting. This occurs due to stagnation of moisture on the foliage and spots of various sizes appear. This condition cannot be treated in any way and does not pose a threat to the life of the rubber ficus.
If small white spots appear along the edges of varieties with dark leaves, then this is most likely an accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals. This is normal and does not require treatment.
Powdery mildew can appear if the room is poorly ventilated. The disease may progress, then the plant should be treated with a fungicide.
Ficus propagation by seeds
This method is used when there are ripened ficus seeds. It doesn't matter how they got to you. Did you buy them at an exhibition or in a specialty store? Or they were presented to you by friends. Ficus plants that have gone through the process of flowering and seed ripening can be propagated by seeds. Unfortunately, ficus trees do not bloom at home, but in their homeland they bloom under natural conditions.
Seeds should be prepared before planting. To do this, soak them in water for a day, adding a growth stimulator to it. We take ready-made soil, which can also be purchased at the store, and add sand to it. Before planting, seeds should be washed with running water. It is better to choose a container for growing seeds that is not deep and rectangular in shape. This is necessary for the seeds to germinate and sprout. Next we will transplant them into other pots. The container for germinating seeds must have good drainage. This will prevent stagnation of moisture and make it possible to avoid rotting of the seeds.
We fill the container with soil and if the seeds are large enough, you can make holes for planting, but not deep ones. If the seeds are small, then sow them superficially. Sprinkle the top with soil or coarse sand. There is no need to water - just spray the container well with a spray bottle. Next, you need to take care of constant humidity and temperature. Keep the container in a warm and bright place. As soon as the seeds germinate, we wait for two or three leaves and can be transplanted to a permanent place in separate pots.
Ficus propagation by leaf
To do this, we use a good and healthy leaf. The tip where the cut was made needs to be treated with a stimulant and you can put it in water (more like the method of propagation by cuttings) or you can immediately plant it in a prepared container with soil. When planting directly into the ground, the leaf must be rolled up and slightly dried.
Afterwards we plant it in the ground and cover it with a bag or plastic bottle. Keep in a bright and warm place. From time to time you can remove the bottle for a while. This will make it possible to ventilate the leaf and prevent it from rotting. But it’s better to use a bottle, cut off the bottom, while leaving the top with a lid. We cover our ficus, and to ventilate and saturate our ficus leaf with oxygen, just open the cap of the bottle.
To summarize, we can say that almost all ficus plants can be propagated at home. Some things are more complicated, some things are simpler. When using the cutting method, you can propagate almost any type of ficus.
When using the method of propagation by layering or rooting a shoot, this is best for ampelous ficus, such as dwarf ficus (Pumila) or for other ficus, if it allows you to root the shoot and tilt it towards the ground. It is better to propagate the rubber plant by leaf; it has a leathery leaf and is better suited for propagation by leaf. Good luck to you.
The cuttings have given roots
After the roots appear in 2-5 weeks, the young ficus is transplanted into soil, which you can buy or prepare yourself according to the following calculation:
- turf humus - 2 parts;
- leaf humus - 1 part;
- peat – 1 part;
- sand - 1 part.
The small ficus is protected from drafts and shaded from strong sun. Water the sprout moderately, once every 5 days, not forgetting to loosen the soil. After 2 months, a drop of liquid fertilizer for ficus is added to the irrigation water once a decade.
After a year, the resulting plant will become an adult and can be used:
- to create a new decorative corner;
- for replanting in the same pot as the mother, who for some reason does not want to branch;
- for a gift to lovers of indoor and country floriculture, connoisseurs of the beauty of ficus rubber.
In addition to our article, we recommend watching video instructions on the correct propagation of rubber ficus from cuttings.
