ficus cutting growing fungus

[KennedyMarx]

I took this cutting around three weeks ago. I checked it out today and noticed some growth coming out of the base of the trunk. I assume that it's some type of fungus. It's the one cutting that seems to be taking root so don't want to mess with it and hurt the newly forming root system. The plant hasn't dropped any leaves so I assume that it's healthy. Should I just leave it be for now?

 

[jk_lewis]

Maye ease off a bit on the water. The soil should be damp, not wet.

 

[treebeard55]

From what I see in the picture, I wonder if that's fungus? It looks like it might be proto-roots forming -- tho again, you're seeing it in person.

Damp soil, as JKL said; almost more important is to keep high humidity around it.

I've had some Ficus cuttings show a bit of fungus for a brief period, with no permanent harm. The Ficus seems to grow faster than the fungus! If it looks healthy otherwise, I'd keep an eye on it but not sweat.

 

[JudyB]

From what I see in the picture, I wonder if that's fungus? It looks like it might be proto-roots forming -- .

I had this exact same thought when I saw the pic.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I thought it might be some roots, but since this is my first real cutting I've seemed to keep going I wasn't sure. Didn't want to say "Check out these little root nubs!" and then have someone dash my dreams by pointing out it was actually fungal growth. I do have another cutting that I didn't think was going to make it, but it's pushing out a nice sized aerial root now.



I'll just keep it up for now and monitor it over the next a few weeks. Hopefully,if it is some kind of fungal thing the plant will outgrow it.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I thought it might be some roots, but since this is my first real cutting I've seemed to keep going I wasn't sure. Didn't want to say "Check out these little root nubs!" and then have someone dash my dreams by pointing out it was actually fungal growth. I do have another cutting that I didn't think was going to make it, but it's pushing out a nice sized aerial root now.

View attachment 28668

I'll just keep it up for now and monitor it over the next a few weeks. Hopefully,if it is some kind of fungal thing the plant will outgrow it.

Oooo hate to break it to you, but that's a fungal infection, not an aerial root

 

[GrimLore]

If that was mine i would lightly mist that area with a "light" mix of vineger and water - about 1/4 to 1. If it floats off in a day it gives you a better idea what is going on - I am no pro but that is how I handle odd looking things first step.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

What type of ficus is it? I have several nerifloria and a coulple of unknowns and if you are referring to the little dots or bumps at the soil line, that is just how the bark looks on nerifloria, it shows up more when wet, which is why it is more noticable at the soil line.

The other photo with the three "trunks" is a root. I have had ficus root just like that at the crotch.

Hope it helps,

John

 

[edprocoat]

What type of ficus is it? I have several nerifloria and a coulple of unknowns and if you are referring to the little dots or bumps at the soil line, that is just how the bark looks on nerifloria, it shows up more when wet, which is why it is more noticable at the soil line.

The other photo with the three "trunks" is a root. I have had ficus root just like that at the crotch.

Hope it helps,

John

Yep, I agree with you Mellow. The root at the crotch is a good sign, the cutting looks healthy and most Ficus have those little bumps, Tiger Bark and Taiwan Ficus are very pronounced but you will even see them when wet on Benjamina.

ed

 

[KennedyMarx]

What type of ficus is it? I have several nerifloria and a coulple of unknowns and if you are referring to the little dots or bumps at the soil line, that is just how the bark looks on nerifloria, it shows up more when wet, which is why it is more noticable at the soil line.

The other photo with the three "trunks" is a root. I have had ficus root just like that at the crotch.

Hope it helps,

John

Both of the cuttings are nerifolia/salicifolia/willow leaf. Hopefully on the second one there are some roots forming down below the soil line not just at the V where the three "trunks" split.

I took a mechanical pencil and brushed soil away from the base of the first cutting to check for any roots, but there were only those little bumps on the trunk. Had a few more of those little fungi growing on it, but not too bad. They brushed right off with a pencil lead. It's much easier to tell that they weren't any kind of root when you zoom in, they looked like little mushrooms:



I carefully pulled the cutting out of the soil, but there were no roots forming. I put it back into the soil with a little less of the trunk buried than before.

On a side note another one of my cuttings is actually showing new growth, but I have a feeling there's not really any roots and that's it's just using stored energy for the top instead of the roots.

 

[nathanbs]

May I suggest you use a finer grit and water less. With the particle size you are using I suspect you are dealing with extremes of too dry as there is a lot of air space or too wet because you keep watering it.

 

[KennedyMarx]

Thanks for the advice, nathanbs.

The cuttings are actually in a plastic container with a lid that I open a few times a day to let fresh air in. I haven't been watering them, aside from the initial watering before I put them in the container. When I have them out for fresh air I keep a humidifier blowing in the area to try to maintain some humidity in the air.