Cuttings Of Cluster Fig Tree / Ficus Racemosa Growing Roots In Water - Part 1

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Cuttings taken on : June 9, 2016

I recently spotted a cluster fig tree sapling, growing on the roadside pavement and decided to prune it first and collect it a month or 2 later. I reduced its height from almost 3 feet to half a feet and got some cuttings in the process.

This is how the sapling looks now, almost a month later. Dense new leaves & branches are covering up the thick, beautiful, green trunk underneath. I plan to prune it once more and then collect it a month later. Trust me, the hidden trunk already looks like a miniature tree. This kind of aggressive growth isn't not possible in a pot on my balcony, with limited sunlight. So, ground growing is better. 

 

July 6, 2016

I had plans to collect this sapling a year back but someone had beaten me to it, probably plucked & thrown away, as it was growing in the wrong place, too close to the apartment building. But then it grew back, seemingly more stronger and no one had touched it ! I guess the plant was destined for my care :-)

Water Rooting - June 16

 

June 26

The thickest cutting is almost sprouting roots. Water is changed everyday, else woody trunks like these starts smelling bad and soon rot.

July 7

 
 

Stones are for support only. Medium is coarse sand + pebbles.



UPDATE - July 14

Cutting no. 8

 
Cutting no. 10

Algae growth has started on the roots & trunk. I clean them with forceps, while in water.

Cutting no. 2

Setup to keep cutting upright & centered, so that root growth is more uniform.

The new roots are pruned a few times to encourage side branching and soon have a dense structure. I cut them just before they touch the edge of the container.

Cutting no. 11

Cutting no.7

Cutting no. 11 is a mystery, don't know how I got it. Probably, I  picked up a discarded piece just to experiment, not expecting it to root but it did.

Cutting no.4

Part 2 of this article