Ficus Retusa

sailfins

Hello all.I was just wondering if I cut a stem off my ficus ,one with a couple of leaves on it and put it in a glass of water on the windowsill if it would root.
anyone have luck propagating gensing ficus this way.I don't care for the swelled up root look.

Advertisement

RedPine

Then either use a larger more mature speciman or use another sport of retusa like goldengate. The cuttings will work in a warm window, however planting and adding a little root hormone and a humidty tent or even a full blown propagation set up using misters and bottom heat will improve results.

AMKhalid

you could do a couple simple things to greatly increase your chance of successfully rooting some cuttings...
I like rooting tropical cuttings in pro-mix in a small seedling container (pro mix = a high perlite content potting soil... i usually supplement it with about 25% volume more perlite). You should put a dome over it or something like that to raise the humidity. Grow them in the same conditions as the parent plant watering when necessary... Dont poke around looking for roots... just wait til the cutting starts growing a nice new shoot... that is a good indicator that it has rooted.

You'll probably have better success when the parent plant is healthy i.e. I would put the parent plant outside when nice weather comes and take cuttings when it is vigorously growing... prob make things easier... I am in zone 5 as well so I am assuming your ficus has been inside for the winter and is 1/2 dead right now (unless its been under lights)

goodluck

untothee

I really like Ficus a lot.
Getting them to root is extremely easy.-At least in my experience and what I've gathered from others.
I stick some in soil, some in water, some in the ground. Most root. I'd say my success rate is 99%.
To avoid the Bulbous roots I've planted them with a rock (root over rock style), or on a hard surface like tile or wood. Spreads the roots out.
Good Luck.
Take care.

sailfins

Well I don't think I will get a full blown propagation set up just for a couple of cuttings.and I prefere to use plant stock that I have instead of purchasing new stock ,So I will try the windowsill as well as the root hormone in soil.
thanks guys.
ficus retusa grows so fast that I should have what I need soon.I will also try the humidity tent.
I will test several things and see which is faster.I have lots of time on my hands.
thanks again

sauce

I believe the cuttings from your ginseng will produce the same bulbous trunk/roots. I think it is called genetics. If you don't like the look of it get a different species as Red Pine suggested.

__________________
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that's why they call it the present." Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) Thanks for the flag Zen!

untothee

I dislike the bulbous roots too. Sometimes they are interesting but rarely close to any greatness. A tough deal.


When your cuttings root plant them on a piece of tile or wood. It'll spread the them out and eliminate the bulbous roots.

This is how I handle them and it works out.

sailfins

I thought that the bulbous root was a result of exposing the root.If left underground then ...Either way its growing very well so its cool.whatevere I end up with.When I see another type I will purchase it.There aren't alot available right now in my area and price range.

sailfins

[QUOTE=sauceI think it is called genetics. If you don't like the look of it get a different species as Red Pine suggested.[/QUOTE]




When you know for sure then let me know