First attempt at ficus microcarpa propagation

[EnderStar101]

I received 2 ginseng ficus for my birthday this year and once I learned I could propagate from them to make more traditional trees I was stoked. I excitedly made multiple different cuttings throughout this week, some in water and some in soil, using rooting powder for all of them. My main questions are regarding the time frame I can expect visible results from the cuttings and whether the time of year (early spring) will slow down the process at all. Should I wait until warmer weather to take more cuttings?

If anyone else has experience and/or advice propagating ficus then I would love to hear/see it!

 

[Colorado]

I am absolutely terrible at cuttings for some reason, but even I have had about 100% success with ficus microcarpa cuttings, lol.

Soil and water will both work. I never bothered with rooting powder (maybe this is why I’m terrible at cuttings with other species ). Probably will take a few weeks to see visible roots, but I can’t really remember for sure as it’s been awhile since I did them.

I don’t think the time of year matters much as long as it’s in a warm and sunny placement. Summer is probably better, though.

Have fun!

 

[EnderStar101]

Probably will take a few weeks to see visible roots, but I can’t really remember for sure as it’s been awhile since I did them.

so a few weeks before seeing anything at all or before the roots have actually formed? also, since you've done it before, do you still have any of those cuttings? I'd love to see how they ended up.

 

[SWfloirda]

When I took these cuttings in 2020 I took a lot of pictures with dates in the first post from this thread. Keep in mind I live in Florida. They were about as thick a a thumb when I took them. They are all still alive.

S

Thread 'Ficus microcarpa cuttings'

Sep 27, 2020

I had one last larger ficus to chop but I already had plenty of individual cuttings so I put ten of them into this 7 gallon nursery pot with used soil. I was going to be happy if 3-5 lived. They all did. The first picture is April 13th the last in this group is from May 5th.

• SWfloirda
• Replies: 35
• Forum: Tropicals

• 

 

[EnderStar101]

Are ficus microcarpa really so easy to propagate that y'all are confident I'll end up with some successful ones despite it being my first attempt? Ficus are just that vigorous?

 

[Colorado]

Are ficus microcarpa really so easy to propagate that y'all are confident I'll end up with some successful ones despite it being my first attempt? Ficus are just that vigorous?

Yep. I don’t have any of mine any longer because I sold all my tropicals. But here’s one on my cuttings. I started it in this tiny pot, then put the pot into a larger pot and let the roots escape. Ficus will thicken up significantly in a container, unlike some other species.

 

[Michael P]

Keep your cuttings warm and in high humidity.

 

[shohin_branches]

Are ficus microcarpa really so easy to propagate that y'all are confident I'll end up with some successful ones despite it being my first attempt? Ficus are just that vigorous?

Yep. You can just stick them in water to let them root. Every time I trim mine I make a bunch of cuttings to give away at club meetings.

 

[hemmy]

Are ficus microcarpa really so easy to propagate that y'all are confident I'll end up with some successful ones despite it being my first attempt? Ficus are just that vigorous?

Yup! This pic isn’t F. microcarpa, but it’s the biggest cutting that I have rooted! It sprouted at the smaller branch collar and I wired that up before removing the largest chunk of wood. Unfortunately, I moved and gave it away.

 

[EnderStar101]

Wait what??? That huge thing rooted????? That's legitimately nuts, making me hopeful for my cuttings

 

[Michael P]

That's why we love them!

 

[hemmy]

Wait what??? That huge thing rooted????? That's legitimately nuts, making me hopeful for my cuttings

That was a Port Jackson fig, F. rubiginosa, but I have rooted F. microcarpa that were 4”D. The only one I couldn’t get to root was a F. macrophylla, Moreton Bay Fig. But I know others have rooted them. I think my issue was time of year and maybe too young of shoots.