how to propagate a fiddle leaf fig

I may have overwatered and I used fertilizer. Love your blog!!! Make sure that no part of the leaves are touching the soil, as this will cause them to rot. I had a pretty large tree which I’ve propagated but now I miss it’s height and want it to grow back! Choose a point with firm tip growth from leaves at least 10cm long, and place the cuttings in a 130mm pot with seed, cutting mix, peat and propagating sand. Place the jar in a warm, well-lit position. The first step to propagating a fiddle leaf fig plant is to take a leaf or stem cutting. When there’s enough roots, plant your cutting in a small pot. Fiddle Leaf Fig propagation. I cut out the totally brown leaf n left the other two partially burnt leaves. About our new Houseplant Propagation Promoter. Easiest answer is, you can grow many plants from one original plant. I’ve only had the tree 2 months. Replace the water with clean, chlorine-free water at room temperature if it looks dirty or cloudy. In this article we will share with you every little thing we have actually learnt more about how to propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig cuttings quickly using 2 techniques: rooting in water, as well as rooting in soil. Under a node (these look like a raised ring on the stem), create a ‘wound’ on the stem with a sharp knife or cutters. And the joy of cultivating your own plant from a cutting exceeds any love you’ll feel for a store-bought fiddle leaf fig plant! Done right, propagating your plant allows you the ultimate joy: to grow a brand-new plant of your very own from the beginning! The first step to propagating your tree is to take a cutting. Generally, you’ll want to pick one of the healthiest leaves or stem from the plant, and use that. With this easy-to-use product, you will be able to clone your best plants more quickly, even tough-to-propagate species like fiddle leaf figs. Hey Gill, it could very well be a type of mushroom! What Time of Year Should You Propagate Your Fiddle Leaf Fig? After three months, begin fertilizing regularly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food. It may take a year or so for your new plant to really get going, but with time, patience, and pruning, you’ll have a brand-new fiddle leaf fig plant to enjoy! You may need to steady the cutting so that it stays upright, with a small stake. You should be. Use sticks to hold the plastic up off the leaves if it seems like they’re staying too wet. Can you help identify what it is and what should be done to treat it? How to propagate a fiddle leaf fig from a branch. Make sure no part of the cutting’s leaves are sitting in water, otherwise they will rot. Some people recommend changing the water every few days, however I don’t do this and they’ve still grown well. All the best!! Thanks! A cutting with more than 3 leaves will struggle to take up enough water to grow. How long will it take?! Your picture under step five is from my blog Jewels at Home, and I would appreciate proper credit. Any extra leaves can be removed from the bottom if need be. Was it successful? Thanks to your blog, I’m trying to propagate my FLF in water. Be careful not to disturb the sphagnum moss, as the roots will be delicate. Or should I wait until it’s a little taller? The first step to propagating a fiddle leaf fig plant is to take a leaf or stem cutting. Buy Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food on Amazon Now! Step 1: Prepare Your Propagation Container. To encourage propagation of your fiddle-leaf fig, choose an offshoot you think would make a good plant or elect to turn the top few inches of the main stem into a second plant. Cut a small section of stem on a diagonal, ensuring there is 1-2 inches of bare stem at the bottom. The large branch on the left is growing really well but it’s getting a little bit heavy for the plant. Read the tutorial on making your own mudcloth-inspired planters. Similar to above, take a cutting of stem of the diagonal, with a sharp pair of cutters. So if you think about and try to imagine your plant with branches or multiple stems growing around the point you’re thinking of cutting it at, this should help you decide where and when to cut. Once you have a couple of roots you can plant your rooted cutting in moist soil. What is Fiddle Leaf Fig propagation? I know you probably already have a pair of scissors in your hand ready to give your fig tree the chop, but you need to wait! Generally FLFs like to mostly dry out before being watered. The exclusive formula of Houseplant Propagation Promoter helps support strong growth and photosynthesis, and it protects new cuttings against bacteria and toxins that can cause new cuttings to fail. Is there hope if the leaves fall off? Allow normal tap water to sit overnight to let the chlorine evaporate, or use distilled water. Hi Lindsey, I wouldn’t say its too soon – the best scenario is if your plant is happy and healthy in its space, then it should respond positively to the pruning. Ficus varieties generally take well to air layering, which is good news for Fiddle Leaf Figs! Sometimes a leaf pops off and you think, sure let’s propagate it! In my opinion, water propagation is the easiest way to propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig! Why should I propagate my Fiddle Leaf Fig? Another issue with this method is that there’s actually nowhere for the new growth to sprout from. Fig trees will produce well for about 15 years. Hey! Propagation in the spring will also allow plenty of time for your new cutting to thrive before winter sets in. Fiddle leaf fig cutting best practices Place a clear plastic bag over the top of the cuttings and mist your Ficus lyrata leaves daily to keep them moist. can’t rush Mother Nature. Cutting off a single leaf to propagate will grow roots but the leaf itself doesn’t contain the ability to grow into a new plant unfortunately! The added assist will assist your new tree develop strait. A single leaf will often grow roots when placed in water, but it is highly unlikely new growth will form from the leaf. Bringing Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Inside When Temperatures Cool Down If your Fiddle Leaf Fig normally lives outdoors and you live in a place that gets cooler than 55F (12C) at night, it’s best that it comes indoors to get out of the cold. That’s fair. These will eventually grow into roots. Ensure there is a section of at least four inches of bare stem to use for air layering (or remove some leaves to make space). Photo from Jewels at Home Blog: https://jewelsathome.com/. Founded in 2015, Dossier started as a place to record notes from Emily’s travels. It’s also a great way to see progress with your cutting – having it in water means you can watch the new roots grow! Thank you, Julie. You will need a pair of cutters and a jar of water. You may be intimidated by propagation, but it’s actually easy. Removing excess leaves … Follow the directions on the bottle and dip your stem in once before placing in water or soil. Aim to have 1-2 inches of stem under the soil. Claire. If they don’t take off, you can try again. You don’t have to prune it, it’s really up to you and how you’d like it to look! You can propagate most houseplants, with varying degrees of difficulty. New leaves are usually too small to propagate successfully. Maybe I’ll have to give it a go! In my opinion, water propagation is the easiest way to propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig! If you’d like to prune large amounts off your plant, be sure to cut the pruned sections down to a manageable size first. Stem cuttings – rooting a cut stem in water or soil. You should be pruning your existing fiddle leaf fig tree anyway, so why not try to root a few cuttings in water? Iam so upset. Air layering is a method of growing roots with a stem or branch that is still attached to the main plant. Pat down the soil around the cutting to ensure it’s touching the end of the cutting. This will look like slashing a section of stem upwards, like a tongue. Your email address will not be published. Fiddle leaf figs are actually relatively easy to propagate. Follow Emily on Instagram (@dossierblog) to stay up to date! A good sized stem would be a bit thicker than your little finger. Lesson learned: once your fig trees have good 1-2 inch roots, PLANT THEM IN SOIL. I have three FLF’s and each are about three feet tall. , Your email address will not be published. Since then it has grown to encompass all things creative from DIYs, to organisation and style. This is a good method to use if the section you’d like to propagate is quite large (as large cuttings don’t do as well with water or soil propagation). Hi Claire, Always glad to meet another fiddle leaf fig lover. It’s best not to fertilize a cutting until it’s potted and you notice new growth. When I put my branches in water to propagate, the leaves on the branch in the water began to feel very weak and soft right away. I live in Australia so our winter’s are quite mild. I have to cut it back or it will be cramped. Cut about 3 inches below the first leaf. This is a sign that your cutting is ready for some extra nutrients! They can often grow in damp environments so just double check that you’re only watering when the top 2″ of soil is dry to touch . Don’t worry, they will grow back after you cut them. Purchase a rooting hormone like Houseplant Propagation Promoter to help your plant grow new roots more quickly. A moisture meter like this one will be a big help! How to Propagate Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig Via Cuttings Step 1: Prepare a small pot with all-purpose potting soil, then water to moisten the soil. Select a sturdy container that is roughly 2 inches larger in diameter than the existing one. It's actually a simple process! When a single leaf is cut off to be ‘propagated’, there’s no dormant buds on the petiole that can grow into a plant. Click here to buy now. I know you probably already have a pair of scissors in your hand ready to give your fig tree the chop, but you need to wait! Choose a piece with between one and three leaves and a couple of inches of stem. Should the lower leaves be removed to give it a more tree like appearance? I read that water propagation was supposedly easiest, so I decided to put most of my cuttings in water. It’s a great way to start a new, sizeable plant from a large, mature one. Plant your new rooted cutting in moist potting soil and be sure to keep it evenly moist for the first two months of growing to allow the roots to take hold. You can also fill a small, clear glass jar about halfway up with water and use that as your propagation vessel. The fiddle leaf fig comes in two forms: bush and tree. Unless it is attached to a stem it’s unlikely. Hi Julie, I’m not quite sure if you mean the leaves on the propagated cuttings or on the plant itself? I’m guessing it might work better for certain plants where the bark is more easily removed. Soil Propagation is similar to the above steps, except instead of putting the cutting in water, it will go straight into soil. You will need a pair of cutters and a jar of water. The must-have plants of this season 3. After around a month, try gently wiggling the cutting. Place damp. The leaves seem to be getting weak and have some brown spots. If you’re unsure if your cutters are clean, I like to run them under boiled water for a few seconds. Or is this a waste?? Cover the area in clear plastic or a bottle and seal off the ends with electrical tape. Use a clean, sharp tool to take your cutting and immediately place it into water. These three methods include water propagation, soil propagation and air layering. Fresh tap water could harm the growth of new roots. Unfortunately plants can’t regrow leaves where they’ve been lost, but its possible for them to grow branches which can help fill in bare patches. After three months, begin fertilizing regularly with, pruning your existing fiddle leaf fig tree, rooting hormone like Houseplant Propagation Promoter, The Ultimate Fiddle Leaf Fig Propagation Success Story. When there’s an abundance of roots, cut the stem below the air-layered section and remove the plastic. Propagation a Fiddle Leaf Fig means taking a stem cutting and allowing it to root in water or soil to create a new plant! For all these propagation methods, you’ll need a pair of sharp, clean cutters. A good Fiddle Leaf Fig stem cutting is usually about 12″ to 18″ long, with 1-3 leaves, and at least 1-2 nodes where leaves are removed. I will follow your advice and wait for lower leaves to fall…. I propagated a single leaf from my FLF, it has started to grow roots , will this grow into a plant? PS- the pot in this post is a DIY! You can see the roots forming at the bottom of the plant after about three weeks. With soil propagation you won’t be able to see the roots as they form, but you also won’t need to worry about transferring the cutting until it eventually grows out of the pot. You can definitely wait! You can remove it if you like although it shouldn’t cause any issues for your plant. Propagating Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves . The best time of the year to propagate is in the spring. Once your fiddle leaf fig propagation is established, you can care for it like you would an “adult” specimen. Can I propagate from a cutting in the Winter? I recommend cutting a stem with two or three leaves (no more than that or they’ll require too much energy to grow). I realize I have to cut it in order to make it bushier, and would like to propagate what I cut off. Air layering seems really complicated and time consuming. If you’re wondering how to propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig, this post will give you three methods to try. Is there a certain time of year that I am able to propagate or can I do it whenever I’m ready?! Finally, make the cut below a node on the stem, as this is where the new growth will start from. How much of the stem should be soaked in the water? Hi, I have a cutting in water for 2 months and so far no roots. Fiddle Leaf Fig propagation utilizing stem cuttings. They are all growing, using your recommended fertilizer(CNS17), and are watered once a week. For water propagation, it’s best to use a small plant section that is 6 inches or less long. I have a 4.5’ FLF and I am wanting to prune and propagate one branch. Propagating a fiddle leaf fig plant means taking a stem or leaf cutting and allowing it to root in water or soil to create a new self-sustaining plant. If you enjoy figs (whether fresh, dried or in preserves) and if your tree is getting old or your generous neighbor’s tree is getting old, you might be wondering how to propagate fig trees as opposed to buying a replacement. Indoor Plant Basics, Pet Friendly Plants. One of my favorite plants is my Fiddle Leaf Fig. Wait for the blades to cool before using them. Of course! Keep the stem upright and change the water every week and within a month you should start to see roots developing. Propagating Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees in Water The number one requested way of propagating fiddle leaves on the internet was by water. Required fields are marked *. Propagating generally has three stages: Separating a section off the main plant, nurturing the cutting until it grows its own root system, then replanting it. It’s unfortunate, but I’ve researched it and even attempted it myself just to be sure. Literally nothing changed The cutting is big enough, with two leaves, and I cut off the other two leaves before putting it to the water. Nurturing this unique tree is a great experience, but even better is helping your tree produce another fiddle. Many thanks, Thanks for sharing – it sounds like you could have a powdery mildew. Place your rooting system in a bright place without direct sunlight, and check it every few days to make sure it has enough water and light. The easiest way to be successful is by cutting from a branch that is already producing new growth, which is more likely during the spring. Indoor Plant Basics, Pet Friendly Plants. The benefits of taking Fiddle Leaf Fig cuttings. While the roots are developing, you don’t want the plant putting energy into keeping so many leaves or length of stem alive. Should I wait more or this is the end? Do you have any idea what it might be? Keep in mind that pruning off a cutting for propagation will generally result in branching on the main plant, however if it is not growing season then you may not get the best branching results! . I have a very leggy, very healthy fiddle leaf that has hit the ceiling of my sun room. You might also like 1. Dossier Blog is a collection of notes on indoor plants, gardening, home & DIYs. Hi Donna, it really just depends what you prefer the look of. I have a great deal of success using a marcott – a different form of aerial layering. Gently loosen the plant from its current pot, lift it out while supporting its base, and place it in the new pot. Oct 11, 2019 - Wanting to propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig? While the best time is in the Spring, if you give your cuttings plenty of light they may be able to propagate in the winter. Propagation may seem technical or complex, but it’s actually easy. How To: Propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig by Anastasia June 3, 2020. The new plants can be quite large and rarely loose any leaves. This saves you money and allows you to clone your favorite fiddle leaf fig plant! It only takes 3-4 weeks for the roots to get started. Is there any way for it to recover or is it a lost cause? Will my cutting still grow new plant? I placed mine on a windowsill that gets some direct morning sun. Marcotting is pretty much the same, just removes the bark in a different way. Why would you want to propagate your plant? These are also where root tend to grow in propagation. Check the area from two weeks to see if there are roots developing. Your fiddle leaf fig will require a premium standard potting mix when planted indoors. Great until 2 days ago when I noted a whitish /grayish progressive discoloration the. Away in soil DIYs, to lessen the energy used by the from. Pruning fiddle leaf that has hit the nail on the leaf propagate most houseplants, with varying of! Time of year to prune this involves ring-barking the stem ( I a. Node is needed, and use that as your propagation vessel to mostly dry out before being.! You have a 4.5 ’ FLF and I am able to propagate with snipped. Heard some people recommend changing the water every week and within a month, gently... 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