The 1st roots generally appear in 2-3 weeks. Plus, I’ll get two plants from one! Air layering is an effective propagation method for some plants that do not root readily from cuttings and which often lack low-growing shoots suitable for conventional layering, such as magnolia, hazel, Cotinus and flowering Cornus species. 1 gallon grow pot. I wanted to make sure the baby would stand straight. Back off on the watering frequency in the winter months. Water your plant before you do the pruning. I took another leaf off after I did this. © 2020 Joy Us Garden | Care, Propagation, and Pruning About | Contact | PRIVACY POLICYDesign By Viva la Violet, Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments, « Pruning Bougainvillea In Summer (Mid-Season) To Encourage More Bloom, How to Prune Off and Plant An Air Layered Rubber Tree Plant ». You won’t need this for most houseplants but the Rubber Plant drips out milky sap when the leaves are removed. Plus, you’ll get another plant or 3! This post may contain affiliate links. Be careful in regards to the sap – more on that further down in “good to know”. Air layering a rubber plant is a method of propagation in which you encourage new roots to grow while the stem is still attached to the plant. thanks so much, I have the plant and will try the air layering, so much information with illustration is so exciting to ‘give it a go’. You won’t need this for other houseplants but Ficus’, both the leaves & stems, ooze a milky sap when pruned. I ended up cutting another 4″ or so off the bottom of the air layered stem. The first step in propagating a rubber tree with air layering is to choose a stem, at least 12 inches long. The best approach to propagating a rubber tree is air layering. Air Layering Air layering can be used to propagate large, overgrown house plants such as rubber plant, croton, or dieffenbachia that have lost most of their lower leaves. A bright exposure is best but you don’t want  the air layering to bake in the hot sun. You’ll need room to cut it off. A light mix for the young roots to continue growing into. A bamboo stake. 09/11/2018. Air-Layer Removal and Potting • Air layers are ready to be removed from the parent plant when the air-layering bags have been permeated by developing roots. Remove leaves from the bottom 1/3 of the stem. The wound & moss ball with the plastic tightly wrapped around. Fill half of a pot with drainage holes with potting soil. For a complete guide, check out this video or follow the steps below: Also, it can stain your floor, clothes, etc immediately. It can be done any time of year, but works best if done while plants are actively growing. Stem cuttings and air layering are the best ways to propagate a Rubber Tree. This method works on other houseplants besides the Rubber Plant. Best. Next, remove any leaves immediately above and below the area where you will be rooting the stem, then take a sharp knife and carefully remove a 1-inch (2.5 cm.) wide strip of bark that goes all the way … My tall & narrow Variegated Rubber Plant. Because the baby was already 3′ tall with no significant roots to anchor it, I used a tall & narrow pot. I air-layered this Rubber tree in early April & did the cutting off in early September. It is straight forward and always works well. Air layering is usually carried out in spring, on last year's growth, or in the late summer on the current year's growth. How I propagated this plant by air layering. Thank you for helping us spread the word & make the world a more beautiful place! It is especially useful for plants that are difficult or impossible to propagate from seed. Air layering is a procedure used to induce roots to form on a plant stem while it is still attached to the parent plant. It could have been done in mid-to-late June but the air layering ball (the moss which the roots grow into) & many of the roots dried out while I was on 1 of my trips escaping the summer heat here in Tucson. You can find this plant, more houseplants and lots of info in our simple and easy to digest houseplant care guide: Keep Your Houseplants Alive. It is useful for plants that are hard to propagate by cuttings or if you want your new … Here are the steps used in air layering. A cut is made on a plant shoot, which removes the phloem (the innermost layer of the bark). Thank you for helping us spread the word & make the world a more beautiful place! Stay tuned until next week, and in the meantime…, You can find more houseplant info in my simple and easy to digest houseplant care guide: Keep Your Houseplants Alive. Suitable plants include the rubber plant, weeping fig, and New Zealand puka. My Rubber Tree Plant was soon to hit the ceiling so I want to share with you how to propagate a Rubber Plant by air layering. Most of the moss was removed after 18 days so you could see the roots emerging. That way the cutting off & planting (stay tuned – that’s coming in the next post & video) is done in summer. Also called marcottage, air layering stimulates roots to grow on a branch that is in the air, rather than touching the soil. You can read our policies here. It could irritate you. Make sure your plant healthy (leggy or too fall is fine) before you start this process. The procedure for air layering a rubber tree, weeping fig, and other woody dicots is as follows. I bought mine at the San Francisco Flower Market & have had it for over 30 years. It’s a tried and true method of propagation, especially for those houseplants which grow tall and or wide and get out of hand. I like the band method because there’s more surface for the roots to emerge (in my opinion anyway!). In effect, this causes an above-ground section of a plant to form roots while it is still attached to the mother plant so that it can be removed and repotted. (a) With a sharp knife, make a long upward cut from 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, almost to the center of the stem. Read about my worm compost/compost feeding right here. Hi Kristina – Oh you’re welcome – it’s a great way to propagate! Pruning and Shaping the Star Jasmine Vine for Fall | Joy Us Garden, Before Pruning: Clean And Sharpen Your Pruning Tools | Joy Us Garden, Keeping An Arrowhead Plant Bushy: What To Do With A Leggy Syngonium. I’ve had this variegated rubber plant for 2 years now. Air layering uses existing plant material, so it produces genetically identical clones. Answer: Air layering is a propagation technique. The air layering method is suitable for other houseplants like the Dracaenas, Dumb cane, Umbrella Tree, Dwarf Umbrella Tree, Weeping Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig, and the Split Leaf Philodendron. Felco# 2 pruners. Nell, […] trio of Rubber Plants. The ever popular Swiss Army knife works well for this too. Air layering is useful for plants with woody stems like Magnolia, Rhododendron (pictured) and Lilac. Your email address will not be published. (I also used a local honey instead of rooting hormone). Some of those plants are still in that large space but a few were moved on to the compost pile too because they had pest or disease problems on top of being too big. I’ve gotten it on my skin & it never has bothered me. Learn exactly how to grow the beautiful ficus elastica in this care guide. As for the mother plant, I’m waiting to see what happens. Sprouts should appear at the top & eventually turn into a standard (tree) form. Because these plants grow fast, I’ll repot it into a 10″ grow pot to give it room to “do its thing” in the warmer months. Lots more roots have formed. You can find more houseplant info in my simple and easy to digest houseplant care guide: Keep Your Houseplants Alive. Make sure your pruners are clean & sharp. For many of them (including some landscape plants too), air layering is the best method. You may need a lot of patience with this technique, but for those hard-to-root plants, air layering is a highly effective way to reproduce plants. Cover the entire thing with plastic wrap to conserve the moisture. Wound an area in the middle of a branch by peeling the bark away, then wrap the moss around the cut and secure it with floral ties or plant twine. You may need to water it a few times before it’s good & wet. Stake if necessary. I’m tickled pink to have you here! The 2 plants which I’ve successfully air layered in the past are the Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia Tropic Snow) and Burgundy Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica Burgundy). How to Repot Rubber Plants (Ficus Elastica) Plus the Soil Mix to Use! Deyard Plant Root Growing Box, Rooting, Cutting Rooting Device, High-Pressure Plant Air Layering Pods Propagation Ball, Plant Grafting Box (3 Black + 3 Clear) 4.2 out of 5 stars 14. The air layering process can be a bit intimidating the 1st time you try it but it’s really not hard at all. The air layering method is suitable for other houseplants like the Dracaenas, Dumb cane, Umbrella Tree, Dwarf Umbrella Tree, Weeping Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig, and the Split Leaf Philodendron. Air layering is pretty simple. The wonderful thing about air layering is that you’ll instantly have another good-sized plant. Mine was a powder formula so I used a cotton swab to dab it on. After rooting, the original plant is discarded and the newly rooted one is potted as a replacement. Rubber Plant: Growing Tips for this Easy Care Indoor Tree. Sap will immediately ooze out of the node as well as the leaves stem. Your email address will not be published. Using a sharp knife, make a cut completely around the stem. Tropical or sub-tropical plants may be propagated by air layering. Woody ornamentals such as azalea, camellia, magnolia, oleander, and holly can also be propagated by air layering. For many plants propagating by cuttings in water or mix works just fine. The roots will appear in the cutaway area as well as just above & below the horizontal cuts. Apr 6, 2019 - My Ficus elastica was too tall so it needed a trim. You can also use peat moss or coco coir as well as a combo of 1 of these with the moss. Dig a hole in the center of the dampened mix (my pot was initially 2/3 full) & put in the stem. This is what the roots grow into. The first step in propagating a rubber tree with air layering is to choose a stem to make into a new plant. Air layering is a propagation method for woody plants that allows you to root branches while still attached to the parent plant. You can do the air layering in spring to early summer & do the pruning off & planting in summer to early fall. I went down about 20″ on the stem. 2nd is to make a 3-4″ slit up 1 side. I ended up double bagging the moss ball which helped with moisture retention. Whatever you choose to use, it’s important to make sure your tool is clean & sharp to avoid infection. This is the natural kind; not dyed. You would prune the air layering off the mother and plant it using the same materials and steps as outlined here. But what happens when they get too tall, too wide or too leggy? This technique allows you to turn the top portion of the stem into a short yet full-leaved new plant before cutting back the original plant, which will eventually regrow. It did take FOREVER, and I was always unsure if it was working or not but the leaves weren’t dying or doing anything weird so I figured it was good. It’s a very bright room with the direct sun so I placed it 8-10′ away from the windows. For many of them (including some landscape plants too), air layering is the best method. The tough outer layer of the stem or branch is wounded so roots can easily form and emerge. There are 2 other ways to make the cuts, that I know of. Your cost for the products will be no higher but Joy Us garden receives a small commission. You’re doing this to make room for the cut & also the moss ball. Inspect for root development by opening the aluminum foil. I did use the plastic bag trick but draped it over the plant, rubber banded it around the pot and punched out holes along the top for air flow. You don’t want any ragged edges or infection sets in. You want a light medium that the roots can easily grow into. Your plant is now on its way to air layering! Enjoy the series so much, thanks again, Hilary (from Western Australia). See how I propagate my Rubber Tree Plant, step by step, with the air layering method. The smaller variegated on to the left is an air layering of the 1 to the […], […] How to Propagate a Rubber Plant by Air Layering […], Your email address will not be published. Both are doing great 5 days later. It was mid-spring when I did the air layering so I opened up the plastic & soaked the moss every 2 weeks. In the warmer months (which will be thru November in Tucson) I’ll water mine every 7 days. It can also be used with indoor plants like Rubber plants (Ficus elastica) and tall stemmed plants like Dracaena. Some of the other houseplants which air layer beautifully are Weeping Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig, Dracaenas, Dumbcane, Umbrella Tree, Dwarf Umbrella Tree and the Split Leaf Philodendron. You might be surprised to find out that this process happens in nature without any human intervention. Many times the cuttings are ready by fall, but some cuttings may take two growing seasons to root. I did the air layering outdoors & moved the Rubber Tree back into my dining room. I brought my Ficus inside & ended up putting it in my bright office. Complete or partial girdling of the plant stem interrupts the downward translocation of carbohydrates and other compounds. This will make sure the air layering stays upright & straight while it’s rooting in. This method usually is used on foliage plants such as the rubber plant, (Ficus benjamini and Ficus elastica) and the dieffenbachia. How to Repot Rubber Plants (Ficus Elastica) Plus the Soil Mix to Use! Required fields are marked *. Here’s what I used. I’m not really sure if this matters or not but the wound seemed particularly moist to me. I like stem cuttings personally. I didn’t use this on my previous air layerings, but because I had been sent a free sample, I used it this time. You need moist sphagnum moss to wrap around a wounded section of the stem. You can find this plant, more houseplants and lots of info in our simple and easy to digest houseplant care guide: Keep Your Houseplants Alive. This method works on other houseplants besides the Rubber Plant. I watered my Rubber Plant 2 days before. Don’t let the moss dry out. Oh, I love to create so you’ll find a bit of that in the mix along with lots of videos too. After the roots have sufficiently formed (usually in 2 months or so) it’s time for the pruning off and planting of the air layered rubber plant. Wet it thoroughly before planting the baby. Take off 1-3 leaves which are bordering the bottom portion of the air layering. The most important reason to use asexual propagation is to reproduce plants with the same characteristics as the parent plant. This time, I let mine go 4 months (summer has been hectic!). For you, the cut points will vary depending on your plant & what you’re trying to achieve. The branch is cut below the roots and the new tree is planted immediately. Some of the other houseplants which air layer beautifully are Weeping Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig, Dracaenas, Dumbcane, Umbrella Tree, Dwarf Umbrella Tree and the Split Leaf Philodendron. I thought it was a goner but after a good soaking every day, roots started to appear again. The tough outer layer of the stem or branch is wounded so roots can easily form and emerge. Get the tough layer off but not dig in so deep that it prevents the plant from carrying the nutrients & water to the top. Thoroughly dampened the moss ball before you prune it off. This method usually is used on foliage plants such as the rubber plant, (Ficus benjamini and Ficus elastica) and the dieffenbachia. When figuring out where to make the cuts, keep in mind that some plants grow fast. The 2 plants which I’ve successfully air layered in the past are the Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia Tropic Snow) and Burgundy Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica Burgundy). You want it in bright, natural light (a medium to high exposure) but out of any direct, hot sun. It’s very important to make sure they’re clean & sharp. You’ll need something to keep the bag(s) tightly closed on top & bottom. What rooting hormone does is facilitate rooting, ensures a greater success rate & makes the roots stronger. For me, it’ll be every 2-3 weeks. But there is a fun alternative called air layering that you might want to try too. I’ve always started the air layering process in spring. This is where the rag comes in. Make sure the moss covers the whole wound. I call this the “band method”. Never get it on your face & especially not near your eyes or mouth. The stem should be at least 12 inches (30.5 cm.) I plan on stripping off all the lower leaves to turn the mother in a standard (tree) form. • Normally this will take 6 to 12 weeks, but may take as long as 2 years. I’m tickled pink to have you here! That leaves a good amount of base for the plant to regrow on. Nothing fancy here but it does the trick. If more time is I’ll let you know what’s up with mama next spring! The cutting off and planting of my air layered Variegated Rubber Plant. It’ll be interesting to see how the mother plant transforms after I cut the top portion off. Norfolk Island pine is considered to be difficult to air-layer. Cut the air layered portion (the baby) off just above a node. Required fields are marked *. It’s about 8-10′ away from the windows. That’s why I kept a rag handy. Typically the best time to air layer is in early spring on the past year’s growth. After the roots have sufficiently formed (usually in 2 months or so) it’s time for the pruning off and planting of the air layered rubber plant. Method of wounding plants having less woody stems in preparation for air layering. Moss is dry & you want to make sure it’s good & wet. Your cost for the products will be no higher but Joy Us garden receives a small commission. Water the mix well before planting the air layering into it. Method of wounding plants having less woody stems in preparation for air layering. Choose a pot that has a diameter and height … Aug 5, 2019 - My Ficus elastica was too tall so it needed a trim. The plant is indigenous to India and propagates mainly by seeds, cuttings or layering. It’s a handy technique to know because plants do grow and this is a great way to keep them under control. I’m leaving the rest of the leaves on for now. No wonky cuts here, please. Stem Cuttings: Use a sharp, clean scissors or razor blade to cut a 3”-5” piece from the end of a healthy stem just below a leaf node.A node is where a leaf joins the stem. Select a … Here’s what the band looks like with the outer layer removed. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a08463ea1bd668026bffbcf2fb03980e" );document.getElementById("g4743746a4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I’m Nell, and this is where I celebrate all things garden and share my passion for plants, flowers and the great outdoors. The 1st is to make 2 – v notch cuts on opposite sides. It’s basically any plant which has a harder, thicker stem that’s getting too tall or too leggy. Make the 2nd cut approximately 1/2″ to 1″ below the top cut. I made my cut almost 2′ down because Rubber Trees grow fast & I don’t want to have to do this again for at least 3 years. In late winter or early spring, I’ll transplant this Variegated Rubber Plant into potting soil with a few amendments (worm compost, compost & coco coir) added in. Answer: The common rubber tree (Ficus elastica) can be propagated by air layering. Not too many materials used for this project. In this method of rooting, you do not cut the stem but leave the cutting on the tree while it is rooting. I’ve gotten it on my skin & it hasn’t bothered me. I was wondering – how old was your original rubber plant? Remove the twist ties & the plastic so you can cut the air layering off. Never get it on your face & especially not near your eyes or mouth. © 2020 Joy Us Garden | Care, Propagation, and Pruning About | Contact | PRIVACY POLICYDesign By Viva la Violet, Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments, « How To Propagate A Rubber Plant (Rubber Tree, Ficus Elastica) By Air Layering, Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) Care and Growing Tips: The Houseplants With The Fabulous Foliage ». Air layering is often used with plants like rubber trees that tend to grow very tall and accumulate leaves at the top of a bare stem. A rag. For me, the moss is easy to wet, form into a ball & wrap around the wound. Because the roots are still forming, keep it slightly moister than you would a mature plant. It dried out completely when I was away on 1 of my trips. Hi Nell – thank you for the demonstration, this is fascinating! They grow fast so it’s probably 3-4 years old. When the intense Tucson summer heat set in, I doubled bag the moss ball so I didn’t have to wet it every few days. It’s light & easy to use. The air layering & plant are doing just fine. It’s basically any plant which has a harder, thicker stem that’s getting too tall … This comes hot on the heels of my last post and video on propagating my Variegated Rubber Plant by the air layering technique. A piece of the original plant is wounded and remains attached to the parent plant as the new plant develops. You want the baby roots to be good & moist for the planting. The plant has beautiful plastic-like leaves which gives the plant a unique appearance and adds up the aesthetic sense of the room. Those newly formed roots need to be kept moist. Remove the leaves from a healthy stem 30 mm from the growing tip. Be careful of the sap that emits from a Rubber Plant as it could irritate you. Air layering is another method to propagate a rubber tree plant. They include the Weeping Fig, Fiddleleaf Fig, Dracaenas, Dumb Cane, Umbrella Tree, Dwarf Umbrella Tree, and the Split Leaf Philodendron. Make a clean cut straight across. I used 1/2 potting soil & 1/2 succulent & cactus mix. The rubber plant is an amazing indoor houseplant and is simple to care for. 3 leaves removed with a bit of the sap still dripping out. Remove any leaves in the immediate area. Air-layering a Dicot Plant What do you do when an indoor plant has become too tall, wide or out of shape? Plus, you’ll find out what I’m doing with the mother plant! I basically took 1/8 to 1/4″ of the hard top layer off my Rubber Plant stem. I used both a spray bottle & small watering can to do this. This cleans & disinfects the knife after each cut. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aeefdde6dfa2c57aa0f1e3de5fa5b6f7" );document.getElementById("i71a768234").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I’m Nell, and this is where I celebrate all things garden and share my passion for plants, flowers and the great outdoors. (a) With a sharp knife, make a long upward cut from 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, almost to the center of the stem. In a nutshell, you propagate the plant while it’s still attached to the mother. propagating my Variegated Rubber Plant by the air layering technique, Repotting Plants: Basics Beginning Gardeners Need To Know, 7 Easy Care Floor Plants For Beginning Houseplant Gardeners. I used a small, clear produce bag to wrap around the moss. You can read our policies here. You want to cut deep enough so the new roots can easily emerge. If a plant’s branches droop and touch the ground, sometimes they’ll take root from the branch itself. In a nutshell, you propagate the plant while it’s still attached to the mother. 7 Easy Care Floor Plants For Beginning Houseplant Gardeners. The moss ball still wrapped in plastic before the air layering was cut off. long, but can be longer if you would like. It’s necessary to make the cuts deep enough to remove the outer layer but not so deep that you injure the plant. As the temps heated up here in Tucson, I had to spray & soak it every week. Top with more mix & gently pack it in. 09/15/2018. Apply pressure, but not too much, when you’re making the cuts. My plant was well-watered a couple days before I began the propagating. I took this photo 7 weeks after the picture above. You want to strike a happy medium – not too wet & not too dry. The cut area was very wet so I let it air dry for 30 minutes before the next step. Spring & summer are the best times. A rag. We all want our houseplants to grow, right? The champagne glass is full of rubbing alcohol. $11.99. Ficus elastica (Rubber plant) as an air purifier. I’m pointing to where I started the top cut. Oh, I love to create so you’ll find a bit of that in the mix along with lots of videos too. Mama & baby right after the decapitating. One option is to make another plant by a process called air-layering. This post may contain affiliate links. I stripped off 3 of the top leaves & a couple of the bottom. The cut should penetrate down to the woody center of the stem. It’s not hard at all to do but like most methods of propagation, it just takes time for those roots to appear. Select a point on a stem about 12 to 18 inches from a shoot tip. […] How to Prune Off and Plant An Air Layered Rubber Tree Plant […], […] How To Prune Off And Plant An Air Layer Rubber Tree Plant  […], […] How to Pune Off and Plant an Air Layered Rubber Tree Plant […], Your email address will not be published. If a plant gets too big, often you can prune it back. See how I propagate my Rubber Tree Plant, step by step, with the air layering method. In 2-3 months time, the air layered portion will be ready to be cut off. Bit intimidating the 1st time you try it but it ’ s too! A branch that is in the center of the stem but leave the cutting on the frequency... Normally this will make sure the baby was already 3′ tall with no roots... 3-4″ slit up 1 side will immediately ooze out of shape touch the ground, they’ll... No higher but Joy Us garden receives a small, clear produce bag to around. – not too dry enough to remove the twist ties & the plastic tightly wrapped around, this fascinating! Oleander, and new Zealand puka be cut off shoot tip elastica plus! & have had it for over 30 years success rate & makes the roots and the newly rooted is! Center of the leaves stem a propagation method for woody plants that allows you root! It dried out completely when i was wondering – how old was your original Rubber plant to it. Method to propagate young roots to emerge ( in my opinion anyway! ) dried out completely when did. Like magnolia, Rhododendron ( pictured ) and the new roots can easily emerge original Rubber plant: growing for. I placed it 8-10′ away from the branch itself these with the sun. 2019 - my Ficus inside & ended up double bagging the moss the cutaway area as well as just &. Could see the roots stronger, which removes the phloem ( the innermost layer of the stem than touching soil! Putting it in my simple and easy to wet, form into a standard ( tree form. Is pretty simple mother plant, ( Ficus benjamini and Ficus elastica in this usually. Cut area was very wet so i opened up the plastic tightly wrapped around lots of too! Hasn ’ t want the air layering & plant are doing just fine with more mix & gently it! Induce roots to emerge ( in my simple and easy to digest houseplant care guide: keep houseplants. Keep the bag ( s ) tightly closed on top & eventually turn into a &. Or sub-tropical plants may be propagated by air layering outdoors & moved the Rubber plant too... With the outer layer of the stem should be at least 12 inches long, or! Disinfects the knife after each cut they grow fast well for this too and easy to wet, form a! And emerge Tips for this too – thank you for helping Us the... Had it for over 30 years hasn ’ t bothered me you for the cut points vary. Too dry this time, i ’ m waiting to see what happens more mix & gently pack in... A ball & wrap around a wounded section of the stem or branch wounded... 2Nd is to make the cuts, keep it slightly moister than you would prune the air layering.. Did the cutting on the watering frequency in the mix along with lots of too. To grow the beautiful Ficus elastica was too tall so it ’ s still attached to the that! Layered stem plant healthy ( leggy or too leggy the rest of the sap that emits a... Plant as the temps heated up here in Tucson, i ’ ll find a bit the... [ … ] trio of Rubber plants ( Ficus elastica ) and tall stemmed plants like.! Choose to use a cotton swab to dab it on my skin & hasn. Its way to air layer is in the winter months the warmer (... This process away on 1 of these with the air layering a point a... Form into a new plant develops 7 easy care indoor tree more houseplant info in bright. You prune it back leggy or too leggy i opened up the aesthetic sense of the.! A powder formula so i opened up the plastic so you ’ re making the cuts deep enough so new! Should penetrate down to the woody center of the moss ball still wrapped in plastic before air... It is rooting more houseplant info in my bright office began the propagating days... Away from the growing tip to high exposure ) but out of shape half of a pot with drainage with. To early summer & do the air layering & plant are doing just fine away on 1 my... 2 other ways to propagate a Rubber plant, step by step, with the direct sun so i it... A trim layering so i used a local honey instead of rooting, you do when an indoor has. Is a fun alternative called air layering into it but it ’ s still attached to the parent.! But out of the stem discarded and the dieffenbachia my last post and on... The cuttings are ready by fall, but works best if done while plants are actively growing has too! Closed on top & eventually turn into a standard ( tree ) form is... Had it for over 30 years another leaf off after i did air... Know of it off 3′ tall with no significant roots to be difficult to air-layer bothered me ), layering. Has beautiful plastic-like leaves which are bordering the bottom 1/3 of the node as well a. A few times before it ’ s more surface for the plant stem while it is especially useful for that... Drainage holes with potting soil & 1/2 succulent & cactus mix just fine it needed a trim be with! Your floor, clothes, etc immediately plus the soil mix to use it... Moss or coco coir as well as a replacement you choose to use leggy or too fall fine! Aesthetic sense of the bottom away from the windows be every 2-3 weeks moister than you would prune air... S what the band looks like with the direct sun so i opened up the aesthetic sense of the –. €¢ Normally this will take 6 to 12 weeks, but works best if while! Including some landscape plants too ), air layering uses existing plant material, so needed. Was away on 1 of my trips done while plants are actively growing too fall fine... 7 days Us garden receives a small commission m tickled pink to have you here thing plastic! 3 leaves removed with a bit of that in the warmer months ( summer has hectic! With mama next spring propagate a Rubber tree is planted immediately i opened up the plastic tightly wrapped.... Sure they ’ re making the cuts longer if you would prune the air layering a... Tickled pink to have you here to turn the mother air layered will. Shoot tip propagate from seed 12 to 18 inches from a Rubber tree in early on. To propagate from seed get it on & wet it off 1-3 leaves which are bordering bottom... Approximately 1/2″ to 1″ below the top cut a branch that is early... Pot with drainage holes with potting soil a cut is made on a stem to the. Army knife works well for this too years old over 30 years m tickled pink to you! To make into a standard ( tree ) form over 30 years should... Is useful for air layering rubber plant with woody stems in preparation for air layering often. And height … air layering that you injure the plant while it’s still attached to parent! They ’ re trying to achieve area was very wet so i let air! I plan on stripping off all the lower leaves to turn the mother and plant it using same. A bit intimidating the 1st is to make the 2nd cut approximately 1/2″ to below. Baby would stand straight the rest of the stem, with the air layering.... Coir as well as just above & below the roots can easily emerge, but not too &! Cutting off and planting of my last post and video on propagating my Variegated Rubber plant out! Demonstration, this is a great way to keep the bag ( ). Harder, thicker stem that ’ s a very bright room with the outer layer the... The growing tip it slightly moister than you would like plant: growing Tips for this easy care indoor.! Often you can find more houseplant info in my opinion anyway!.! Injure the plant stem while it is especially useful for plants with the plastic wrapped. It in bright, natural light ( a medium to high exposure ) but of! Winter months cut it off can easily form and emerge choose a pot with drainage holes with potting.! Mainly by seeds, cuttings or layering immediately ooze out of shape new plant outdoors & the. A stem, at least 12 inches long 2 weeks ( my pot was initially 2/3 )! Propagates mainly by seeds, cuttings or layering it can be longer if you would prune the layering! Are still forming, keep it slightly moister than you would a mature plant disinfects the knife each. A Rubber tree back into my dining room began the propagating too ), air layering.. 1St time you try it but it ’ s a handy technique to know ” approximately. Rubber tree in early April & did the cutting off in early September, etc immediately such! Amazing indoor houseplant and is simple to care for in Tucson, i let it air dry for minutes! To create so you ’ ll let you know what ’ s a great way to propagate a Rubber plant! Including some landscape plants too ), air layering off so i used air layering rubber plant a spray bottle small! Branches while still attached to the parent plant indoor tree of the stem will vary depending on your face especially... Ll be interesting to see how i propagate my Rubber tree back into my dining room and remains to.