How to Divide a Ficus Pumila

Water the root system of Ficus pumila to make it easier to divide.

Put on gardening gloves and then kneel on a pad so you can get close to the plant’s extensive root system.

Insert a gardening knife into the soil around the points of the root crown and carefully push it in as deeply as possible. Slice the knife through the root system, as if you are cutting a loaf of bread. You may need to pull and push the knife up and down slightly to work it through the roots of the area you want to divide. Ficus pumila’s root system can be very deep, so the knife may not go in as deep as the system. The main objective is to cleanly cut as much of the roots as possible so you can pull or dig out the desired section more easily.

Insert a gardening shovel into the freshly cut area and work it back and forth to loosen the soil away from the roots. If the roots are deep, use a standard-size garden shovel to loosen the plant. Momentarily leave the plant in the ground.

Snip the rootlets at the juncture where they attach to the wall or structure. Make angled cuts to preserve the health of the plant.

Put on safety glasses to protect your eyes from dirt, vines and bugs that may fall toward your face as you pull the snipped vines away from the wall. Because of the rootlet’s sticky adhesive, you may need to use both hands to pull it away cleanly. Discard the dissected rootlets.

Pull the divided section out of the ground and plant it immediately in its new home or pot.

Water the roots thoroughly. If you have root stimulator on hand, add it to the roots to encourage vigorous growth.