Ficus is an attractive unpretentious indoor plant, which is why it has gained great popularity even among beginner gardeners. How to grow a new plant from a shoot is described in detail below.

Features and characteristics of ficus

Ficuses belong to the Mulberry family, and most of them are evergreens. The homeland of these ancient shrubs, vines and trees is the tropics of southern Africa and the Mediterranean, as well as the shores of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Did you know? Roofs are made from the leaves of the described plant in Central Africa and Mexico, and in India its roots are used to grow live bridges.

At home, upright tree species with one trunk are grown:

The characteristic features of all indoor species are:

• fast growth;
• unpretentiousness in leaving;
• the need for sufficient lighting - variegated species require more light, species with dark green leaves are more shade tolerant;
• the need for high humidity;
• easy propagation by cuttings.

Procedure Technology

Reproduction of ficus is best done in the spring. For work, it is necessary to take a knife with a sharp blade, which is pre-disinfected.

Did you know? One of the most famous ficus — Fig tree, or fig, which is sacred to Muslims and revered in Buddhism and Hinduism.

How to choose and prepare a shoot

Cuttings for planting are prepared as follows:

1. From the tops of the shoots cut off the semi-lignified cuttings 15 cm long. The oblique cut should be indented 0.5–1 cm from the node.
2. Cut the sheet in the assembly completely.
3. In ficuses with large leaves, you need to reduce the leaves by half or a third to reduce the evaporation area.
4. Immediately lower the stalk into water so that the juice from the slice does not harden.

Preparing the shoot for growing

There are two ways to germinate a stalk - by placing it in water or in the soil. For the first method, you will need a vessel of dark glass, and for the second - a plastic container. In both cases, you can make a homemade greenhouse by placing a container with a handle in the aquarium and closing it with a lid. Also, a finished terrarium with electronic temperature control is suitable.

The best conditions in a room or a greenhouse include the following parameters:

• temperature - + 25 ... + 27 ° C;
• humidity - at least 80%.

The rooting root should consist in equal parts of the following components:

• vermiculitis;
• sand;
• peat.

The mixed mixture is disinfected by placing it under the influence of water vapor for 30 minutes.

In water

To propagate the plant in this way, perform the following actions:

1. Prepare the stalk as described above.
2. Put the handle in water and place the vessel in a mini-greenhouse or put in a warm place.
3. After the appearance of the roots, after about a month, the stalk is transplanted into a separate pot.

Important! Dark glass or other opaque material inhibits the growth of blue-green algae, which interfere with root formation.

In the ground

When rooting in the ground, the sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Stand the cuttings in water for 2 hours, then dry slightly.
2. Plant in the prepared soil, having deepened the handle to the node located after the cut.
3. Place in a greenhouse or warm place, covering with a transparent jar.
4. After the appearance of new leaves, the sprout is transplanted into an individual pot.

To stimulate root formation, the stalk is treated with stimulants according to the instructions. Oblique scratches can be applied to the cut to increase the surface of the wound and develop a more powerful root system.

Plant Care Rules

Further plant care includes:

• maintaining a comfortable temperature up to + 30 ° C in the summer and + 16 ... + 20 ° C in the winter;
• lack of drafts;
• plentiful watering in the summer and moderate in the winter months;
• rubbing leaves from dust, maintaining moisture levels;
• top dressing every two weeks from spring to autumn;
• annual transplantation or replacement of soil in adult plants.

Important! Ficuses do not like big pots: with excess space, their growth stops.

Reproduction of ficus by shoots is an easy way to get a new plant that does not require special conditions of maintenance and complex care and is characterized by bright decorativeness suitable for any interior.