Fiddle Leaf Fig Propagation in 6 Easy Steps

If you’re a fiddle leaf fig aficionado trying to grow your herd, you may start to consider fiddle leaf fig propagation.

Why would you want to propagate your plant? Easiest answer is, you can grow many plants from one original plant.

This saves you money and allows you to clone your favorite fiddle leaf fig plant!

You may be intimidated by propagation, but it’s actually easy. You should be pruning your existing fiddle leaf fig tree anyway, so why not try to root a few cuttings in water? It only takes 3-4 weeks for the roots to get started. If they don’t take off, you can try again. Done right, propagating your plant allows you the ultimate joy: to grow a brand-new plant of your very own from the beginning!

What Is Fiddle Leaf Fig Propagation?

Propagating a fiddle leaf fig plant means taking a stem or leaf cutting and allowing it to root in water or soil to create a new self-sustaining plant.

You can propagate most houseplants, with varying degrees of difficulty. Fiddle leaf figs are actually relatively easy to propagate.

What Time of Year Should You Propagate Your Fiddle Leaf Fig?

The best time of the year to propagate is in the spring.

This is when your plant is naturally prone to new growth and investing in its root system. The easiest way to be successful is by cutting from a branch that is already producing new growth, which is more likely during the spring. Propagation in the spring will also allow plenty of time for your new cutting to thrive before winter sets in.

How to Propagate a Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

The first step to propagating a fiddle leaf fig plant is to take a leaf or stem cutting. Then you’ll “root” the cutting, which means you’ll place it in water or very moist soil to allow it to grow new roots. Here are the steps to propagating your plant.

Step 1: Prepare Your Propagation Container

• You’ll want to have a container ready for your cutting with clean, chlorine-free water.
• Allow normal tap water to sit overnight to let the chlorine evaporate, or use distilled water.
• Make sure the container is a good size and shape to support your cutting and keep it upright.

Step 2: Take Your Stem Cutting

I recommend cutting a stem with two or three leaves (no more than that or they’ll require too much energy to grow).

Cut about 3 inches below the first leaf. This will give your new plant a short stem and enough leaves to sustain it. Choose a few of the healthiest leaves on your plant to take for your cutting. Don’t worry, they will grow back after you cut them. Use a clean, sharp tool to take your cutting and immediately place it into water.

Step 3: Use a Rooting Hormone

Purchase a rooting hormone like Houseplant Propagation Promoter to help your plant grow new roots more quickly. Follow the directions on the bottle and dip your stem in once before placing in water or soil.

About our new Houseplant Propagation Promoter

The exclusive formula of Houseplant Propagation Promoter helps support strong growth and photosynthesis, and it protects new cuttings against bacteria and toxins that can cause new cuttings to fail.

With this easy-to-use product, you will be able to clone your best plants more quickly, even tough-to-propagate species like fiddle leaf figs. It also comes with a free Complete Propagation Guide, which includes photos and step-by-step instructions. Click here to buy now.

Step 4: Place in a Bright Place

Place your rooting system in a bright place without direct sunlight, and check it every few days to make sure it has enough water and light. Replace the water with clean, chlorine-free water at room temperature if it looks dirty or cloudy.

Step 5: Wait One Month

It usually takes about one month for your cutting to develop roots. You can see the roots forming at the bottom of the plant after about three weeks. Allow them to grow for another week or so until you’re ready to replant.

Step 6: Plant Your New Rooted Cutting

Plant your new rooted cutting in moist potting soil and be sure to keep it evenly moist for the first two months of growing to allow the roots to take hold.

A moisture meter like this one will be a big help!

After three months, begin fertilizing regularly with Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food.

It may take a year or so for your new plant to really get going, but with time, patience, and pruning, you’ll have a brand-new fiddle leaf fig plant to enjoy!

Propagation may seem technical or complex, but it’s actually easy. And the joy of cultivating your own plant from a cutting exceeds any love you’ll feel for a store-bought fiddle leaf fig plant!

Be sure to check out The Ultimate Fiddle Leaf Fig Propagation Success Story with photos showing every step of the process and how to properly prune and shape your fiddle leaf fig.

Grab the Essentials for Your Fiddle Leaf Fig:

• Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Potting Soil
• Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food
• Root Rot Treatment
• Houseplant Leaf Armor to protect against insects, bacteria, and fungus (As an added bonus, it also cleans and adds shine to your plant’s leaves!)
• Moisture meter to always know when your plant is thirsty.
• Houseplant Propagation Promoter to propagate more quickly and with more success.

To learn more:

• Sign up for our free Fiddle Leaf Fig Care 101 Webinar or our free Fiddle Leaf Fig Course, and make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter.
• Download the free Propagation Guide
• Read The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert, your complete guide to growing healthy fiddle leaf fig plants. The book is available in full-color paperback or Kindle edition on Amazon now!
• Click to join our community on Facebook: Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Group.