Fig trees can be propagated by cuttings without any problems, as they willingly and easily put down roots. Cuttings, also known as sprouts, are parts of shoots cut from the plant, which are placed in the substrate, where they sprout and develop into a new plant.
Propagation by cuttings
If possible, cut the sprouts in the spring. Both woody and green shoots of a healthy and vigorously growing fig are suitable. Follow these steps:
- Cut a twenty-centimeter piece of branch from a fig below the eye.
- Put the cutting a few centimeters deep in the water or
- ten centimeters deep in a mixture of sand and potting soil.
- Dipping in rooting powder will speed up rooting.
- Seal the glass or planter with a transparent plastic bag (greenhouse climate).
- Temperatures of around 20 degrees are ideal.
- Always keep cuttings in the shade.
After just two to three weeks, the little fig will sprout. If you have decided to grow in a water glass, you should transplant the small tree into soil before the entire vessel is filled with white water roots.
After planting, these roots first have to adapt to the soil, which costs the plant a lot of energy. If you wait too long before moving, the growth of the small fig will be delayed.
Which branch pieces are suitable?
The old gardening rule applies to fig cuttings:
“The more lignified the sprout, the more difficult it is to root. The fresher and greener the cutting is, the easier it is, but the more likely it is that the cutting will rot.”
Keep a close eye on the stem. If this feels soft and muddy, the offspring has unfortunately failed.
Propagation by head cuttings
Head cuttings are cut from a shoot tip with a short stem and a few leaves. Make sure the mother plant is healthy and free of pests. If possible, cut top cuttings before the fig flowers and bears fruit. For rooting, you can either place the cuttings a few centimeters deep in water or plant them directly. If you want to grow the head cuttings in soil, it is advisable to dip them in rooting powder beforehand.
Alternatively, you can use parts of the trunk without a crown, which are the case, for example, when pruning a fig that has grown too large or unsightly. After cutting, let the stem part of the fig dry in the shade for about 24 hours. The further procedure corresponds to that mentioned above.
tips and tricks
To ensure that the figs grown from the cuttings bear fruit, you should take care to cut cuttings from real fig trees.
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