You can grow numerous small plants yourself from a vigorously growing fig tree with tasty fruits. Since the fig sprouts readily, breeding is relatively easy and can even be achieved by inexperienced hobby gardeners.
How do you grow fig tree cuttings?
To grow fig tree offshoots, cut off a branch about 20 cm long below one eye. Place the cutting halfway in a planter filled with sand and potting soil, keep the soil moist (not wet), seal the container with a clear plastic bag and place in a warm, bright location.
Growing a house fig from cuttings
You can cut offshoots from any branch of the fig. However, shoots that you cut from old, mature branches sometimes have the property of not sprouting fresh leaves directly from the cutting. With these seedlings, fresh shoots then grow directly from the newly formed roots.
How to successfully breed offspring
Separate a branch about twenty centimeters long below the eye from the mother tree as an offshoot. Make sure that the scissors or knife have a sharp cutting surface. If the cutting tool crushes the sensitive tissue of the fig, the offshoot will only very slowly form roots. If possible, disinfect the tool to prevent bacteria from entering the interface.
How to proceed:
- Fill the planter with a mixture of sand and commercial potting soil
- Place cuttings about halfway into the ground
- Keep the soil moist, but never wet
- Close container tightly with a clear plastic bag
The microclimate of this closed system is similar to that of a greenhouse and encourages the offshoot to form roots quickly.
In the first two years you should cultivate the small fig in a pot and only after this period transplant it outdoors. The young fig trees freeze back heavily in the winter months and, because the plant puts all its energy into forming new leaves, hardly produce any fruit.
Rooting offshoots in water
Tall mason jars or wide water glasses are well suited for propagation without a substrate because they allow a lot of light to reach the cutting. Fill the container with about a centimeter of water and place the cutting upright in the glass. Close the container with the lid or a plastic bag. A warm, bright but not full sun location is ideal. Under these conditions, the small fig begins to grow roots quickly.
Do not wait until the entire container is filled with the almost white roots before moving the cuttings. These roots are water roots. When placed in the ground, they first have to adapt to the changed living conditions, which robs the plant of strength and slows down development.
Tips & Tricks
Offshoots are sensitive to stress. Avoid changing temperatures, lack of light or excessive sunlight and ensure uniform growth conditions until rooting.
