My grandchildren want to start their own trees. I would like advice on how to take a clipping and how they should start them for success. Thanks
Welcome Rubber409 This site has a lot of good advice. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13123.asp
Thanks for the link. I should have been more specific. I would like to know how to best start a rubber tree. Should I take a clipping from my existing one? Should I use a fallen leaf? Should I start it in earth? vermiculite or water? Any ideas will be appreciated.
You would need stem, not just a leaf for a ficus. Generally, make sure you have at least three leaf nodes on your cutting. Newer growth rather than old growth, too. Not really green though. Cut at an angle, trim off the leaves or cut to one third of each leaf remaining, let it air dry over night. Planting in potting soil, rooting medium, or sand/perlite/vermiculite would all be okay. Cover at least one node and at least one inch of stem for the shortest of cuttings. If you had an eight inch piece, maybe two inches deep. Any longer than ten inches is probably too long for rooting easily. You might try air-layering it instead, though. Cut partway through the branch where you want roots, at an angle again, wrap with moistened sphagnum moss, cover with plastic wrap and twist ties, keep moist until you see roots, then cut off and plant.
