Fig trees can only be grown outdoors in warm climates.
Fig trees are vibrant, evergreen plants that produce edible fruit. Originating from the tropics of Africa, these trees in their natural environment will self-propagate. To maintain the right environmental setting for growth, however, most gardeners grow fig trees indoors, preventing self-propagation. As an alternative to natural seeding, you can artificially propagate fig trees with cuttings from a healthy fig. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut a branch from your fig tree in winter. Even though fig trees are green and vibrant year-round, they undergo most of their growth in spring and summer. You will have a better chance at successful growth if you cut just before the growing season. The branch should be at least 12 inches long and at least 1 inch in diameter.
2. Slice a 6-inch slit in the branch's bark using a sharp knife. If you don't cut this slit, new root growth will take longer.
3. Place the slitted portion of the branch in a large pot with drainage holes. Use a mixture of garden soil and leaf mold as the planting medium, recommends "Simon and Schuster's Complete Guide to Plants and Flowers."
4. Place your potted fig cutting in 2 to 3 inches of standing water for two to three hours on a daily basis. Fig trees require only a little bit of water, and overwatering will cause leaf decay. Placing a well-drained pot in water will allow your plant to absorb necessary water during submersion. Excess water will drain out after the pot is removed from the water source.
5. Maintain an indoor temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. Any cooler temperature will kill the tropical fig plant cutting.
6. Place the potted plant in an area with plenty of indirect sunlight. In the wild, fig trees grow under lush tropical canopies, so you want to create an environment of partial shade and indirect light.
7. Maintain these conditions as the plant takes root and matures. The fig tree cutting sprouts roots within the first three weeks and grows several inches taller every spring and summer.
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