Mossing is a way of propagating and rejuvenating plants. Here, the future young plant should root before it is separated from the old plant. There are different methods and it is possible to get relatively large young plants.
Propagation via moss is very laborious
You can also use mossing to give your rubber tree a special shape. This method is particularly popular when growing a bonsai. In this way, roots or branches grow in the places where you want them and you prevent bare spots on the plant.
How does mossing work?
With the so-called wedge method, you cut the selected shoot diagonally from bottom to top. Keep the resulting gap open with a wedge and keep it evenly moist for the next time. Rooting powder and/or peat moss facilitates the formation of new roots. Wrapping plastic wrap around the moss site or putting a cut plastic bag over it and tying it above and below the cut will help retain moisture.
Since rooting needs a lot of light, the foil or bag must be transparent. With a syringe you can easily water this spot. After about six to ten weeks, the first roots will appear. However, the young plant should only be separated from the old plant when the roots are plentiful and strong.
When is the best time to moss?
Ideally, you should moss off your low-maintenance rubber tree in the spring, around March. The second half of the year is less suitable, because root formation should be completed before winter dormancy. During this time, growth is significantly slowed down, which makes it difficult to remove moss. Even in spring it is still a very time-consuming method, but it produces relatively large young plants.
The essentials in brief:
- relatively complex
- Possibility of vegetative propagation
- produces relatively large young plants
- also serves to rejuvenate the rubber tree
- best in spring
- under no circumstances moss in the second half of the year
- results in interesting growth forms, for example in bonsai
tips
If you want to get a relatively large, handsome young plant through propagation, then mossing is the best method. Start early because it will take a few months.