Rules and recommendations for propagating rubber ficus by cuttings

It is believed that ficus trees bring prosperity and family harmony to the home. Many amateur gardeners strive to have this plant in their home. One common species is the rubber plant, which is undemanding in terms of growing conditions and easily propagated by cuttings.

Plant species characteristics with photos

The ficus tree is native to India and Indonesia, where it grows as an evergreen tree, reaching up to 30 meters in height. Many varieties of its decorative foliage indoor counterparts have been developed. The rubber plant is also known as the rubber plant, and its name comes from the presence of a substance in its sap that can be used to make rubber. It belongs to the Mulberry family.

Characteristic features of elastic:

• dense, oval-shaped leaves with pointed tips;
• the color of the leaves can be dark green, burgundy, or with light spots;
• the stem is strong, in mature plants it is woody;
• has milky juice with a high content of isoprene;
• the tree is capable of flowering, but produces flowers quite rarely;
• elastica rarely produces lateral shoots without outside help;
• prefers an average temperature of 16-18 degrees;
• reproduces in several ways.

Several varieties of this species have been developed, which differ in appearance and care requirements:

• Melanie;

  

• Belize;

  

• Robusta;

  

• Tineke;

  

• Black Prince;

  

• Abidjan;

  

• Tricolor;

  

• Shriveriana;

  

• Variegata.

  

This houseplant is easy to care for and doesn't require expensive fertilizers. It grows quickly and has a long lifespan.

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Preparing cuttings for propagation, rooting

The simplest and most popular method of propagating ficus is by cuttings. This procedure is best carried out between March and June. To ensure successful replanting, choose mature ficus trees that already have woody shoots. The procedure for preparing cuttings is as follows:

1. You need to cut a 10-15 cm long cutting at an angle. Either the top of the plant or a side shoot will do for this purpose.

   

2. The cut must be thoroughly washed under running water or soaked for a couple of hours in warm water until the milky juice that forms a plug on the cut completely disappears.
3. Make several vertical cuts at the bottom of the branch and remove the lower leaves. Only then can you begin rooting it.
4. The first option is rooting in water. Place the prepared cutting in water and wait for roots to appear. To speed up the process, you can use special biostimulants or activated charcoal.

The first sign of root formation will be white nodules forming near the cut, which will soon develop into roots. The next step in growing a new young ficus is planting the sprouted branches with young roots in soil.

Planting cuttings

To plant the prepared cutting, you will need a substrate mixture and a container, which does not necessarily have to be large, since after the active growth phase begins, you can transplant the elastica into a more suitable pot.

The following substrate must be prepared for the successful development of a young plant:

• peat – 1 part;
• sand – 1 part;
• drainage – 1 part;
• leaf soil – 5 parts.

For sterilization, it is also recommended to water the substrate with a solution of potassium permanganate and, once dry, proceed to planting. The procedure for planting cuttings is standard: make a hole, moisten the soil, loosen it, and then place the seedling in the hole, keeping as close to the center as possible.

Caring for young ficus trees

A young plant requires special care during the first two months, as it gains strength and becomes a fully fledged, independent ficus. It's important to follow these guidelines when caring for young elastica:

1. Choose a location with good lighting but not direct sunlight. This will allow the small ficus to grow and gain strength, maintaining the shape of its leaves and strengthening its stem. If it gets too much light, it will stretch upward, and the leaves will not fully open and will likely dry out.

   

2. Depending on the time of year, the temperature regime must be maintained: in winter – 15-18°C, and in summer – 25-28°C.
3. Avoid drafts, they are harmful to the developing sprout.
4. Proper watering is the key to a beautiful and healthy plant. Young elastica should be watered every 3-5 days, depending on the ambient temperature.
   Important!

   Be careful not to overwater it; maintain a consistent watering schedule, as dry soil will prevent the young plant from developing fully. It's also important to wipe the leaves or mist them with a spray bottle.
5. Fertilizing a young ficus during its active growth phase should begin in the second week after planting and be repeated every 10-14 days. This will strengthen the plant's roots and promote the development of new leaves. A general-purpose fertilizer for deciduous plants is suitable for this purpose.

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By following these simple rules, you can grow your own ficus from cuttings and soon have a new, eye-catching plant in your home.

Possible problems and solutions

The rubber plant is rarely susceptible to disease and isn't particularly demanding in terms of growing conditions, but it can still suffer from improper care or pest infestations. Common problems with rubber plant care include:

1. Incorrect watering can cause the plant to dry out or, conversely, become overwatered. If the plant dries out, adjust the watering schedule, and the plant will recover. If it was overwatered and the roots began to rot, you can try to save it by repotting it in new soil and removing the damaged roots.
2. Yellowing leaves are caused by too much light or too much heating. Simply move the ficus to a different location, and it will regenerate on its own.

   

3. Ficus leaves can also turn yellow due to excess fertilizer. To eliminate this, it is enough to water the plant generously several times and reduce the dosage of the preparations used in the future.
4. Elastica grows poorly and becomes unhealthy if the soil is too salty. This problem can be solved by repotting.

Ficus can also be damaged by insects. It's best to identify any pest infestations early and get rid of them. Signs of pest infestation on a ficus vary:

• aphids cover leaves with sticky clumps;
• as a result of the scale insect attack, brown-white bumps appear on the leaves;
• spider mites can be noticed by the appearance of a thin web that covers both the trunk and the leaves;
• Mealybugs are characterized by the appearance of fluffy white fibers and sticky liquid on the leaves and stem.

To rid your elastica of pests, thoroughly treat it with specialized chemicals, which are available at flower shops. Alternatively, you can use traditional methods:

• laundry soap;
• toothpaste;
• garlic;
• tobacco;
• nettle;
• calendula;
• elder;
• sagebrush.

Prepare an aqueous solution of the above-mentioned plants and products and thoroughly rinse the ficus with it to get rid of insects. This procedure is effective at the initial stage of infestation and requires several repetitions to achieve results.

Frequently asked questions about growing

The rubber plant is an easy-to-grow houseplant that can be grown and propagated at home. Caring for it doesn't require any special skills, and the cutting process allows you to propagate several ornamental foliage plants at once, which will add beauty and contribute to a healthy indoor climate.