The climbing fig is one of the most popular indoor plants among hobby gardeners. It is easy to care for, undemanding and can also be easily propagated.
Growing and easy to care for, the climbing fig (Ficus pumila) quickly makes many friends. So what could be more obvious than to look for ways to propagate climbing figs and thus ensure offspring at the flower window or simply to give away a piece of gardening luck.
The following are some tips for successful propagation. You will not be faced with any major challenges and even amateurs will be able to show good results.
Climbing figs can be propagated in two different ways:
- Cuttings
- Lowerer
Propagation by cuttings
Propagation from cuttings is generally more common and faster.
When is the best time to propagate cuttings?
Cuttings can be taken in spring. It's literally killing two birds with one stone when pruning is used to obtain cuttings.
What is needed for the propagation of cuttings?
Propagation by cuttings requires a sharp knife. In addition, planters are used that are filled with potting soil. You also need a plastic hood and a water glass.
- sharp knife
- Planters
- Cultivation soil
- Plastic Hood
- Water Glass
What should a cutting be like?
In principle, all shoot parts that are cut off in a length of between five and ten centimeters are suitable as cuttings.
» Tip: Rooting is particularly quick with cuttings that already have aerial roots.
The shoots should be strong and he althy, the better the chances of good breeding success.
How to proceed with the cutting?
The cutting is first cut. The interface should be clean and accurate. A sharp and germ-free cutting tool helps. After the interface somethingOnce dry, the cutting can be planted in the ground immediately. If the cuttings do not yet have aerial roots, it makes sense to first place the cuttings in a glass of water and wait in a warm and bright window seat until the first roots have formed. As a rule, this will not be long in coming, because climbing figs root comparatively quickly.
What should the planter be like?
Both plastic and clay pots are suitable as planters. The cutting is usually only left in the planter until it has formed enough roots to be transferred to the actual plant pot. It makes sense to always cultivate several cuttings in one planter. This causes a compact and bushy growth right from the start.
At what temperature do the cuttings root?
The cuttings root best at room temperature. Temperatures above 18 degrees are therefore a good prerequisite. The planter should be placed in a bright place, but should be protected from direct sunlight.
How long does rooting take?
Climbing figs form roots very quickly. It will only take a few weeks for the cuttings to take root. Strong young plants develop particularly quickly from cuttings that already had aerial roots when planted. If the cuttings are placed in the ground immediately after cutting, it will take a few weeks longer for sufficient roots to form.
» Tip: Rooting can be accelerated by putting a plastic hood over the cutting to create a mini greenhouse.
Cuttings without aerial roots can be preferred in a glass of water. After cutting, the cutting is placed in a glass of water and rooted in a light and warm place. After eight to ten days there are enough roots and the cutting can be planted in the ground.
How to water the cuttings?
The substrate should always be moist. It is particularly important to ensure that there is no waterlogging, as the young and sensitive roots would not tolerate this. It is therefore better not to water the substrate continuously, but only to moisten it with the plant sprayer.
If the cutting is covered with a plastic hood, it should be ventilated daily so that no mold forms under the airtight seal of the planter.
Propagation by lowering
Propagation by layering is a method commonly used by experiencedgardening, mainly with outdoor crops. A little more patience is required until an independent plant has formed here.
What is a sinker?
Climbing figs are climbing plants. As a rule, they stretch out their branches upwards. To win a sinker, a tendril is picked out and led into the ground. There the sinker takes root and an independent plant can be grown.
How to proceed in detail?
A larger planter is needed to perform this method, or you can place a second planter right next to the climbing fig. Grab a tendril and guide it into the ground. If there are already aerial roots on the shoot, nothing further needs to be done. If no roots are visible yet, the shoot can be slightly scratched with a knife. The sinker is guided into the ground and well covered. The tip of the shoot sticks out of the ground.
» Tip: Weight the sinker to keep it in the ground.
Now a little patience is required. After successful rooting, the sinker can be separated from the mother plant and an independent plant has emerged that can be further cultivated in a separate planter.
An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of both methods
| Method | Advantages | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Cuttings | ✔ Several cuttings can be obtained quickly. ✔ Cuttings can be obtained from the ends of the shoots that result from pruning. ✔ Rooting takes place quite quickly. ✔ Several cuttings in a planter result in bushy growth. | ✖ Cuttings can only be taken from sufficiently developed plants. ✖ You will need a planter, potting soil and a plastic hood as a cover. ✖ Care for the cuttings must not be neglected. ✖ Cuttings are delicate and prone to waterlogging. |
| Lowerer | ✔ The amount of work is quite small. ✔ The planters grow independently into independent plants. | ✖ Only one plant emerges from a planter. ✖ A large planter is needed. ✖ Rooting takes longer than cuttings. |