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- Plant a 6 in (15 cm) fiddle leaf fig cutting in well-draining soil. Cover it in a plastic bag and let it grow under indirect light.
- Propagate fiddle leaf fig cuttings in small jars of clean water. Stash the plants in a place with plenty of indirect light, and replace the water when it gets cloudy.
- Use an air layering technique to propagate your fiddle leaf fig plant. Slice a shallow cut in the plant’s stem, add rooting hormone, and cover the cut with damp sphagnum moss.
Soil Propagation
Prepare a small pot with tropical indoor potting mix and water it lightly. Grab a small pot (something that will support a 6 in (15 cm) cutting) and fill it up with potting mix—a tropical plant-specific product is best. Once the pot is filled, sprinkle the surface with water until the potting mix is damp to the touch. Fiddle leaf figs thrive in a soil mixture that drains well and has a 6-7 pH. To really boost your fiddle’s drainage, mix cactus soil and tropical potting mix together at a 2:1 ratio. If you can’t find any tropical potting mix, opt for a plant compost that doesn’t have any peat in it. Whichever medium you choose, be sure to water it lightly beforehand.
Take a 6 in (15 cm) stem cutting from your existing plant. Grab a sharp knife or set of pruners and cut a 6 in (15 cm) section of stem from your fiddle leaf fig plant. Ideally, try to harvest a section of the plant that has a minimum of 2-3 nodes (the bumpy section of a stem where the plant buds). Whenever possible, choose a section of stem that’s just a little bit thicker than a traditional pencil. For the best possible results, take a cutting in spring or summer (when fiddle leaf figs typically grow). Always cut directly beneath a node; otherwise, the bottom section of the cutting may rot. Warning: Fiddle leaf fig cuttings need to be taken beneath a stem node. Because of this, leaf cuttings (without a stem node) won’t produce a viable plant.
Pull off any lower leaves from your fiddle leaf fig cutting. Leave the top 2-3 leaves as-is, but remove any leaves that could potentially get buried in your potting mix.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in the potting mix. Pour a little bit of rooting hormone powder (enough to coat the bottom 1 to 1 ⁄2 in (2.5 to 3.8 cm) of the stem) into a small paper cup. Then, stick the cutting in the powder-filled cup until the bottom portion is covered in rooting hormone. Dump out any leftover powder instead of transferring it back. You want to keep your rooting hormone as fresh and clean as possible for future use. If the hormone doesn’t stick to the stem at first, moisten the end of the cutting and dry it off (so it’s not dripping wet). Then, stick, the cutting back into the cup.
Poke a hole that’s wider than your cutting into the center of the potting mix. Stick a pencil into the damp potting mix, creating an opening that’s a little bit wider than the diameter of your fiddle leaf fig cutting. Make the hole around 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) deep, so the stem is well-supported. The larger opening prevents any rooting hormone from slipping off as you plant the cutting.
Transfer the cutting into the soil. Center the cutting over the opening you created in the potting mix and push it into place. Using your fingers, shift the soil around the base of the cutting so your fiddle is well-supported in its new home.
Put the cutting in a plastic bag and place it in indirect light. Slip the potted cutting into a plastic bag (like a small trash can liner). Once the entire plant is encased, secure the top of the bag with a tie. Keep your cutting in an area with plenty of indirect light so it can start to develop roots. A glass bell jar can also work for this.
Water the soil occasionally so it stays moist. Keep an eye on the soil in your planter or pot—if it starts to look dry, sprinkle it with a little bit of water until it’s damp to the touch. Thankfully, the plastic bag helps keep your cutting nice and moist most of the time. Keep in mind that fiddle leaf figs are pretty finicky plants overall. They prefer a specific amount of moisture, and may not flourish if the soil is too wet or too dry. Just keep an eye on your plant and see how it responds. It might take a little trial and error!
Repot your rooted plant after about 6-8 weeks. Test your plant by giving the cutting a slight tug; if the roots don’t give way, your plant is good to repot. Then, grab a larger pot, fill it with tropical potting mix (or a 2:1 mixture of tropical potting mix and cactus soil), and transfer your rooted cutting to it. Place this pot in a sunny area with plenty of indirect light (a window that gets lots of morning light would be ideal). As your new fiddle continues to grow, water the plant occasionally so the top 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) are always damp. If possible, try to keep your plant in a humid area of your home (or in a room with a humidifier) with your original fiddle.
Water Propagation
Cut a 4 to 8 in (10 to 20 cm) section of stem from your fiddle leaf fig. Using a sharp knife or set of pruners, snip a sturdy portion of the stem from your original fiddle leaf fig plant. Make sure to slice directly beneath a node (the bumpy section where another stem buds and grows) for the best possible results. Plan to propagate your plant during the spring or summer months—this is when fiddles normally grow. Get rid of any lower leaves on the plant, as you don’t want any leaves stuck beneath the water.
Stick the end of the stem cutting in water. Fill up a small, clean jar with tap water and stick the cutting in the water sliced-side down. Don’t worry about applying rooting hormone beforehand—for this method of propagation, you won’t need it.
Place the cutting in a well-lit spot that’s filled with indirect light. Move the jar to a spot in your home that gets plenty of bright light—fiddles in particular enjoy indirect morning light. Keep an eye on your cutting as it begins to grow, filling up the jar as needed. If the water starts to look cloudy or dirty, dump it out and replace it with clean water.
Repot the plant when the roots are at least 1 in (2.5 cm) long. Replant the cutting in a larger pot using tropical potting mix (or a 2:1 ratio of tropical potting mix and cactus soil). Keep the replanted cutting in a humid space next to a window that gets plenty of morning light, and water it occasionally so the top 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of soil are always damp. Check after 3-4 weeks to see how long the roots are. Keep your new fiddle leaf plant near your original one—this helps increase humidity. It might also help to set up a humidifier near your plants.
Air Propagation
Remove the leaves from a section of an existing fiddle leaf fig stem. Choose a sturdy stem that can support a new growth. Once you’ve settled on a spot, pull off any leaves from the base of the stem. For the best possible results, plan to propagate your fiddle leaf fig plant during the spring or summer months. Air propagation, most commonly known as “air layering,” involves propagating a new plant from a stem that’s still attached to the parent plant.
Slice into the stem around 12 to 18 in (30 to 46 cm) beneath the tip. Grab a sharp knife and create a 1 ⁄2 to 2 in (3.8 to 5.1 cm) slice directly beneath a node on the stem. Only cut into 33% of the stem—don’t slice all the way through. A node is a bumpy bud on a plant where another stem can grow.
Slip a toothpick into the cut and add rooting hormone inside. Then, coat the inside of the slice with rooting hormone, which helps encourage a new fiddle leaf fig to grow in that exact spot.
Wrap up the treated cut with moist sphagnum moss, twine, and tape. Take a large clump of damp moss and place it around the injured, root hormone-treated section of the stem. Using a few sections of twine, secure the moss so it stays put. For extra security, wrap up the top and bottom of the moss and twine with medical tape or electrical tape (leaving a little bit of the top part exposed).
Check the moss weekly and mist it as needed so it stays damp. Each week, inspect the moss and see how it looks; if it seems dry, spritz it with a little bit of water until it’s damp again. Keep an eye on your plant over the next few weeks and months—typically, air-propagated plants tend to form roots around the 2-3 month mark.
Repot the plant once you can see roots peeking out the sides. Grab a sharp, clean knife and slice off the now-rooted section of your fiddle, removing the twine, moss, and tape completely. Repot the new plant in tropical potting mix (or a 2:1 combo of tropical potting mix and cactus soil), and place it near a window that receives plenty of morning light. To help your fiddle thrive, water it enough so the top portion of soil is always damp. Keep your new fiddle next to original fiddle leaf fig to help boost humidity. Setting up a humidifier near your plants could also be a big help.
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