How To Propagate Fig Cuttings

One fig tree per household is probably enough, but if you can dish out small fig trees grown by your own hand to others, would it not be a nice gesture? In this article we’ll learn how to propagate fig cuttings.

Fig trees will grow well in pots in sunny places too, turning into very characterful specimens with their large, lobed leaves, knobbly stems and a delicious harvest of fruit in summer. Newby young gardeners would love your gift! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to propagate fig cuttings.

Step-By-Step

1. Pick straight branches with both new and last season’s growth – you will notice that older growth is knobbly where the tips with new growth are smooth.
2. The length of the cuttings should be about 15 – 20cm.
3. If there are still any leaves present (fig trees are dormant in winter), cut them off leaving only the top one if you want to. It will drop off eventually.
4. Fill up deep pots with a well-draining commercial seedling mix, or use a mixture of palm peat, river sand and perlite. You can plant 4 – 6 cuttings together in a pot.
5. Dip each cutting into rooting hormone and sink it right down into the soil leaving only the top 1/3 above the soil.
6. Water them well and keep in a lightly shaded, warm and protected spot.

Notes

• The cuttings should take about six weeks to begin rooting.
• When you see new leaf buds and the first new leaves unfolding (in the new growing season) they can be planted out in individual pots to grow on.

READ MORE: How to grow figs successfully!