Air Layering a Rubber Plant

Air Layering the Rubber Plant

I wanted to try this method of propagating to see how it works. The concept is that you force the plant to grow roots above the soil. In a sort of makeshift mini environment. I have read a few different sources on how you do this. Here are the things you will need for this.

• Plastic bag (ziplock bag)
• twist ties
• soil or moss
• scissors
• Rooting Hormone

You want to identify where you want to grow the roots. If your plant is mature enough, you will see little bumps on the branch. This can eventually turn into roots with the proper encouragement.

You want to use a plastic bag. I have seen videos of this being done with a bread bag. I decided to use a ZipLock bag. First I had to cut the ziplock portion off and then along the side, so it is a long sheet.

Now it is a nice long piece of sheet.

You want to wrap the plastic around the branch and twist tie it at the bottom. This creates a bag that the soil will sit in. At this point, you want to add rooting hormone to the site. I didn't have any, so we are going without. 

*I have read that for method of propagating of branch types of plants, it would help to peal off a thin layer of bark. Because this is a rubber plant, I would not recommend doing that to this plant. When this plant is cut, either on the leaves or branch, she starts to secret a white waxy liquid that could cause irritation.  You always want to wear gloves when you are pruning, pinching or cutting this plant*

We the soil with some water. This will make it a bit easier to work with and place in the plastic bag. You can also use moss. I am using soil because that is what I have at the moment to work with. You don't want to wet it too much or it will then be muddy. Just enough so that it clumps together a bit.

Place the soil in the bag and twist tie it at the top to seal it in.

My rubber plant is so tall, that I decided to try this in two different spots on the plant. This will delay the time it will take because it is making the plant work twice as hard to create roots.

You want to keep an eye out for root growth. Keep the bags moist to help promote roots. This method was done on April 1st. I don't expect to see any results for about 6-8 weeks.

Rubber Plant Update

Rubber Plant Update

I wanted to show an update to my Rubber Plant since I cut off the branches

March 24th - Day 27

She has a new leaf!

March 26th - Day 29

New leaf is growing. There is a tiny little leaf at the base as well.

March 29th - Day 32

The clipping are doing better. The leaves are still droopy as the energy is being split between maintaining the leaves and creating roots. The leaves on the stem on the right is starting to straighten up, so the roots must be at a point that the plant can divide resources.

The cut off stems of the original plant have all started to bud some life.

March 31st- Day 34

The clippings

The first clipped branch now has two leaves!

April 1st - Day 35

Two small leaves and a tiny little one at the base.

(The bag in the back is 'air layering', which I will cover in the next blog)

Getting Down and Dirty

Repotting Dracaena

So today I re-potted my Dracaena plant. Here is an easy step by step on how to repot a plant.  You know you are ready to repot when you notice that the roots are coming through the bottom via the draining holes. She was still in the nursery container and I wanted to put her in a Terra cotta pot.

• Potting Mix
• Potting Bark
• Pot
• Pizza box
• Old Shirt
• Truvel
• Gloves

I am sure you are scratching your head, wondering why the Pizza Box. Well, I am doing it in my kitchen and I don't have newspaper. We just had pizza last night so it will make a great place to do this and avoid the mess.

I cut some of the small shirt to use at the bottom of the pot. This would help prevent the soil from falling through.

Once in place, start packing in some dirt. You want to fill it in about 2/3 of the way up.

I like to wet it a bit to make it easier to make a small opening to hold the new plant.

So now you have to take the plant out of the nursery pot. Try to tug it lightly, if you feel resistance, try squeezing the plastic pot gently.

The pot should then be able to come free of the pot.

Check your plants roots. As you can see, this plant has a lot of roots toward the bottom. You want to free up the root ball a bit. 

Most of the soil came off, which is fine. I plant to put it into the new pot since it has a lot of plant food in there. That is what the white balls are.

Place the plant in the new pot. Not too deep, but enough to cover the roots and enough to give it support to not topple over.

Add additional soil to cover up the roots.

Gently pat down the soil. Don't squeeze down the soil or it will be hard for the roots to push through and for the water to be absorbed.

Add the bark. This is good to help keep the moisture in the soil and for decorative purposes.

You want to gently water the plant. Do not over-water or the soil will become too loose and the plant might fall over from lack of support in muddy water.

The plant is all done. Make sure to wait about 20 minutes and empty out the collection plate. With a new re-potted plant, the soil might take a while to drain, so you might have to empty the collection plate a few time during the day.

Mother-In-Law's Tongue

Now that we re-potted the plant, we were able to use it for the Mother-In-Law's Tongue. I really like how she looks in it!

Since the roots are not yet really poking through the drainage holes and since I know that this plant doesn't like to be waters too much, there is no need to repot this plant yet. 

Rubber Plant

Look! It's like a baby leaf! I am so very strange that this is exciting for me.

Mother In Law's Tongue

Mother-In-Law's Tongue (sanseveria trifoliate)

Could you believe that this is a name of a plant. Yes it it! The plant got it's common nickname of mother-in-law's tongue due to it's long, sharply shaped leaves. The plant is known as the snake plant for the same reason. You know what else is amazing. The fact that I have bought this plant today. I think I am out of control. I could not help it. I always wanted this plant. I just love how it grows and I want to experiment with propagating it later! They would make great gifts!

Some Tips when caring for this plant

• Do not over water. This plant actually does not like a lot of water. About Once a month.
• If you cut the leaves, it will not grow back

So welcome our latest addition.

A New Arrival (March 21st, 2013)

Plant Announcement

Walked past a small garden shop today. 

Yup, you guess it. I went in and got one. 

What did I get? 

I got a Dracaena 'White Stripe' plant.

This plant has the potential of being a long, thick stemmed plant, but we are a long way from there. She is pretty small. She has long green leaves in a striped pattern, thus the 'White Stripe' name.

There are some things you want to check for when you buy a new plant. First, does it look healthy to you. Are the leaves shiny and not droopy. Leaves that are brown/yellow or has droopy leaves can be a sign of pest in the roots or over-watering/under-watering. When you bring a new plant home, you want to keep it separated from your current collection. This way, you can observe the plant to make sure there are no pests that can potentially infest your other plants. This plant is currently in my kitchen, away from the rest.

You want to check out the plant. this plant is still in it's nursery planter. Personally, I find that plants do not like it there. Always check the bottom for the roots. As you can see this plant's roots are poking out from the drainage hole. This plants wants a bigger pot. Weekend project?? Yup! 

Rubber Plant

Want to know how my Rubber plant is fairing? The nubs are getting so much bigger! Really exciting to see this plant start to grow from more than just 1 point. She will be a much bushier plant.

Calathea

Nice to see the leaves of this plant open up. I would like to see more leaves, so let's hope it fills out.

March 20th - First Day of Spring

It's the first day of Spring! This is the perfect time of the year to think about 'pruning' and 'pinching' back your plants since it is the active time for them to grow. Cutting my rubber plant was the first time I attempted to do any 'Pruning' and I feel bad 'pinching' the new buds on my rubber plant. I guess if I want to do this right, I better put my emotions aside and do what is best for the plant!

I do like seeing the little nubs of life on this barren branch.

In the beginning (March18th, 2013)

Plants...

Yeah, I like them. I have a few in my home.

I water them, change them into bigger pots at times.

Other times, I kind of forget I have plants and I don't water to them to the point that if you breath on them, they would be happy.

At the moment, I am in the 'Green Thumb' mode. I have taken up interest in my plants and wanting them to grow and thrive. I love seeming the transformation. I currently have 5 plants. 2 of them are the offspring of others. 

My Prize plant is my Rubber plant 'Ficus Elastica'. I have had that plant for almost 10 years. She was only about 1 foot tall when I got her at Home Depot. She is now about 5 feet tall. I also have a 'Calathea Rotundifolia', also known as a Praying Plant because it slowly moves during the day as if it get's up to pray. This plant I have had about 5 years. 'Pink Peace Lily' is another that I have. That is a recent addition. Got that while out on my anniversary this year. Another Rubber plant that is from the cuttings of my original plant and a small clipping of a plant I have at work. Not sure of the name of that one yet. 

So I started this blog to document my plants. Yes, they their own blog for me to boast about! YAY....

So here's the deal. About 3 weeks ago, I decided to cut down my rubber plant. I should have taken a picture of it, so you can see, but I didn't. I wasn't sure about doing it cause I never actually pruned, pinched or anything like that. I just watered them and put them in bigger pots from time to time. Then watched them grow. The rubber plant got huge at about 5 feet and was not able to keep up on her own. She leaned against my window. I looked on the internet on ways to cut it and never found anything quite right. I did find a great video of an Overgrown plant that was eventually cut into pieces and ended up looking great! I ended up taking a saw to mine as well. First with 1 of the 5 stems and I planted it right into it's own pot. then about two weeks later, I chopped off the another 3. I left 1 long stem. Still there too. I planted the 3 orphan in their own pot too. 

Took a few weeks, but the steams are now showing signs of life. 

March 18th, 2013

Rubber Plant

Calathea Rotundifolia

Pink Peace Lily

Not sure what kind....