In addition, leaf propagation is much faster and more reliable than propagating plants from seed. Air Layering. Leaf Cuttings: Many plants with soft, fleshy foliage have developed the ability to reproduce themselves from leaves. Peperomias, which are available to you in a wide range of variegations and leaf shapes and sizes, make excellent and easy care houseplants. Prep Your Station. Should I pull up the cutting to check for new roots? Rubber plants can grow up to 100 feet in their native homeland of Southeast Asia. If the jade plant is small or if you are only able to harvest a few leaves from the plant, you can still propagate jade plants with only the leaves. Propagating a rubber plant successfully starts with getting a great cutting. Leaf cuttings of most plants will not generate a new plant; they usually produce only a few roots or just decay. Some, but not all, plants can be propagated from just a leaf or a section of a leaf. About the Rubber Tree Houseplant . Leaf cuttings of most plants will not generate a new plant; they usually produce only a few roots or just decay. Keep reading to learn how to propagate a rubber tree so that you can give your friends a free rubber tree plant. Although it's native to Asia, it will grow outdoors in the warm climates of U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10b and 11. If you like this, you’ll also like my posts on how to propagate golden pothos from cuttings, how to propagate snake plants, and how to propagate prickly pear cactus.. How to start a rubber tree plant. Remove leaves from the bottom 1/3 of the stem. I can’t stress enough that the best way to propagate a Rubber Tree, or any indoor plant in general, is with a healthy, established mother (or father) plant. When starting a jade plant from a leaf, start by selecting a healthy leaf from the plant. Keep reading to learn on propagating a rubber tree so that you can give your friends a free rubber plant. Keep the soil moist. Propagating and pruning is messy, especially for Rubber Trees or Ficus Elastica. Click on the pictures for larger size. Rubber plant propagation is quite easy. The Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) could be the ideal houseplant for you if you want a tough but easy going indoor plant that can reach staggering heights within just a few years.The shiny glossy leaves look great in most homes and although young plants start off small they will fill the space in an empty corner quickly. The warm and humid spring and summer weather will provide an ideal environment in which to propagate rubber tree cuttings. A rubber tree plant can survive some chilly weather -- it is one of the hardiest figs -- but if your area has winter snow or cold snaps when the outdoor temperature stays below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, keep your rubber plant in a container on wheels. In addition to closely watching soil moisture, it's a good idea to keep your plant in a relatively small pot, which can’t hold enough water to drown the plant even if you're a little heavy-handed with the watering can. A classic houseplant, the rubber tree plant (Ficus elastica) grows up to 100 feet tall when grown outdoors. Although cuttings can be taken at any time of year, you will be more successful if you begin the process in middle to late spring. The tough outer layer of the stem or branch is wounded so roots can … You can also propagate a rubber tree plant from leaf-bud cuttings. However, when you grow rubber tree indoors as a houseplant, it only grows up to 2 m (6-8 feet) tall. How to Propagate. Stem Cuttings: Use a sharp, clean scissors or razor blade to cut a 3”-5” piece from the end of a healthy stem just below a leaf node.A node is where a leaf joins the stem. How to Re-Root a Rubber Tree Plant Due to their tropical origins, rubber tree plants grow best indoors, but they will also thrive outdoors in cool, moist areas with little to no frost.