Before you start, there is one important thing to know. When cut, rubber plants release a white, milky latex sap that can irritate the skin and stain fabrics. Wear gloves while taking cuttings, work on a wipeable surface and dab the cut ends with a damp cloth to help stop the sap from flowing. It is also best to keep cuttings away from pets while you work.
Method One: Stem Cuttings
Stem cuttings are the easiest way to propagate a rubber plant and work best during the warmer months, when the plant is actively growing. Always take your cutting from a healthy, established plant.
- Take your cutting. Use a clean, sharp pair of secateurs to cut a 10 to 15cm section of healthy stem, making your cut just below a node. Ideally, your cutting should have two or three healthy leaves.
- Prepare the cutting. Remove the lowest leaf so that the bottom node is exposed. This is the point from which your new roots will develop. If the remaining leaves are large, you can loosely roll them and secure them with a soft tie to reduce water loss while the cutting establishes.
- Allow the cutting to settle. Leave the cut end to dry for around an hour, allowing the excess sap to stop flowing and the cut surface to begin sealing. You can then root your cutting in either water or soil. For water propagation, place the exposed node below the water line and refresh the water once a week. For soil propagation, plant the node into a light, open and free-draining mix, such as coco coir blended with a suitable potting mix.
- Give it the right conditions. Keep your cutting somewhere warm with plenty of bright, indirect light. Avoid placing it in harsh direct sunlight while it is developing roots. With the right conditions, roots will usually begin to appear within three to six weeks.
It is sometimes possible to root a single rubber plant leaf, but a leaf without a section of stem containing a node cannot develop into a new plant. If you want to grow a new Ficus elastica, always make sure your cutting includes at least one node.
Method Two: Air Layering
Air layering is particularly useful for tall, mature rubber plants that have become bare towards the bottom of the stem. Instead of removing the cutting immediately, this method encourages roots to form while the stem is still attached to the parent plant. The developing roots can therefore continue to receive water and nutrients while they establish, making it a useful technique for larger cuttings.
- Choose your section. Select a healthy section of stem below the leafy top of the plant. Using a clean, sharp blade, make a shallow upward cut approximately one-third of the way through the stem. Alternatively, you can remove a narrow ring of bark around the stem to expose the tissue beneath.
- Wrap the wound. Surround the wounded section with a generous handful of damp sphagnum moss. Cover the moss with cling film and secure it firmly above and below the wound so that it stays moist.
- Keep the moss moist. Check the moss regularly and make sure it does not dry out completely. After several weeks, you should begin to see new roots developing through the moss.
- Separate and pot up. Once a healthy cluster of roots has formed, cut the stem just below the new root ball. Carefully remove the wrapping and pot the newly rooted section into a small container filled with a free-draining mix.
Aftercare and When to Propagate
Once your cuttings or air layers have developed a healthy root system, pot them into a small container of free-draining mix and water sparingly while they settle. Warm temperatures and bright, indirect light will encourage faster rooting, while cooler conditions can slow the process considerably.
For the best results, propagate during spring and summer when your rubber plant is actively growing. If you are propagating during the colder months, give the cutting plenty of warmth and avoid placing it on a cold windowsill.
There is also no need to mist your cutting. A clear cover can help maintain humidity more effectively without leaving the foliage constantly wet. Once your new rubber plant begins producing fresh growth, you can gradually treat it like an established Ficus elastica and enjoy watching your once-leggy plant become a whole collection of new beginnings.