Propagating Fatsia

Parent Plant

• The fatsia parent plant from which you harvest the cutting must be healthy and thriving. Examine the plant, before using it, to ensure that it is growing well without any pest infestations. Although fatsia plants do not commonly suffer pest problems, check the foliage for aphids and mealy bugs before taking a cutting.

Propagation Timing

• Take a cutting from the fatsia plant during the middle to end of the summer while the plant is still growing energetically. A fatsia plant that is less than 10 years old will root more effectively than an older, mature plant, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Although older plants still put forth new shoots, they may not root effectively.

Stem Cutting

• Clip a stem from the fatsia plant early in the day while the plant foliage is vibrant -- not wilted. If the fatsia leaves appear wilted, provide a thorough watering and wait until the plant rehydrates before taking the cutting. Choose a stem from the current year's growth that snaps when you bend it. Use sharp pruning shears or a knife and cut a terminal stem, about 6 inches in length, just beneath a leaf node. Remove all lower leaves completely so that only two leaves remain at the tip of the stem.

Propagation Process

• Fill a small planting container with potting soil and moisten the soil with a spray bottle. Insert the base of the stem into rooting hormone then insert it into the prepared container so that two leaf nodes are beneath the surface of the soil. Firm up the soil gently around the stem to keep it standing straight in the container. Put a clear plastic bag over the top of the container and hold it in place at the rim with a rubber band. Set the container in indirect light on a heat mat to provide bottom heat for the cutting -- between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Mist the soil daily and watch for new growth. When you see new leaves emerging from the stem, it is a safe bet that roots are developing beneath the soil. Remove the plastic bag and continue watering the new fatsia plant to keep the soil moist. As long as it continues to thrive and grow, you can transplant it to a permanent growing location within a week or two.