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Fiddle Leaf Fig Propagation

NbreakspeareNbreakspeare Posts: 13
in Problem solving
I have made four cuttings from my existing Fiddle Leaf Fig plant and dipped each one in root hormone before setting them in water. I have changed the water after a week and wondering if I should dip them again in root hormone each time I change the water? Or is doing so the day I cut them all I needed to do? Thanks in advance!

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited May 2023
    It never occurred to me to use rooting hormone for cuttings in water. I never tried fiddle-leaved fig (mine's quite still quite small), but the rubber plant type of ficus root fine, if slowly (months not weeks), in plain water. In any case I think it makes little if any difference even for cuttings in compost, so I wouldn't bother.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NbreakspeareNbreakspeare Posts: 13
    Thank you Jenny. It was a tip I picked up via You Tube. The root hormone sticks to the cutting surface area. So it had a week submerged in root hormone infused water. Think I will just change the water and patiently wait as you suggest. Still can’t help check them every day for signs of roots!  :lol:
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    All but one of mine rooted just fine in normal water, but it does take a while. You'll see white spots that will eventually turn into roots.  The very end cutting (the top of the tree bit) was the only one to rot.  It was 5” of stem, but maybe too 'soft' of a cutting to root?  The older growth sections all did fine.  My fiddle leaf was hitting the ceiling, so I cut it back by half to encourage branching and now have four cuttings growing away - having potted on twice so far.  
    Utah, USA.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited May 2023
    Blue Onion said:
    All but one of mine rooted just fine in normal water, but it does take a while. You'll see white spots that will eventually turn into roots.  
    Ficus elastica are the same - little white/cream bumps form, and slowly grow into roots. 
    @Nbreakspeare I'll post a pic of the one that's "work in progress" if it would be useful.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NbreakspeareNbreakspeare Posts: 13
    Please do @JennyJ - thank you. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    These are a variegated rubber plant (Ficus elastica) but I would thing fiddle-leaf will be similar.
    1. "White bumps" stage, been in water for a couple of months I would think. As you can see, I only leave one full leaf on them plus the growing point.

    2. Here's an older one that I took a pic of just before potting up. Not all the white bumps had developed into roots but the roots that had developed were filling the spice jar that I use for cuttings in water.


    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NbreakspeareNbreakspeare Posts: 13
    Thank you for the photos @JennyJ - I finally have root growth on all four of my cuttings! 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Well done :) ! The one in my first pic now has a lot more white bumps but no proper roots yet. The other one is growing away in its pot and has a made couple of new leaves.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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