Fig Cuttings with Droopy Leaves

Getting to the Root of the Problem

• Cuttings taken in late winter or early spring root best. Cut just below a leaf node, which is a little bump on the stem destined to become a leaf. When you pot up the cutting, the node becomes a root instead. Rooting hormones also encourage faster rooting. Available at garden centers, rooting hormones come in powdered or liquid form. Dip the tip of the cutting in the rooting hormone just before potting up the cutting. If you are using a powdered rooting hormone, tap the stem to remove the excess powder before sticking the cutting in the pot.

Keeping It Moist

• Water the pot thoroughly after potting up the cutting, and then allow the soil to dry so the bottom of the stem doesn't rot. The first watering lasts about three weeks, but check weekly to make sure. After watering the cutting, cover it with a plastic 2-liter soda bottle with the bottom cut out and the cap in place. This raises the humidity of the air around the cutting and helps keep the leaves hydrated. When the cutting begins to grow and form new leaves, remove the cap, but replace it if the leaves begin to wilt. Remove the soda bottle if the leaves remain turgid.

The Perfect Cutting

• Take fig cuttings early in the morning when the stems are well-hydrated and pot them up immediately. Six-inch cuttings that are about the thickness of a pencil are ideal, but you can use cuttings up to 12 inches in length. Longer cuttings mean that the moisture from the soil has a greater distance to travel to reach the leaves, and this increases the chances of wilting. Make clean cuts with a sharp knife or razor blade. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting before potting, and make sure the remaining leaves don't touch the soil.

Getting the Temperature Right

• Fig cuttings need a soil temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit to take root. If needed, set the cutting on a heating pad to keep the soil warm. On the other hand, placing a cutting under a soda bottle and then setting it in direct sunlight can roast the cutting. As long as the cutting is under plastic, keep it in bright but indirect sunlight.