Propagating houseplants is usually an easy procedure. Simply take cuttings, or “slips,” of the new growth
and place them in a rooting medium. In a few weeks they are rooted and ready to be potted. Certain tropical houseplants, however, are difficult to root from cuttings, such as the common rubber plant (Fiscus elastica), fiddle-leaf fig (Fiscus lyrata), dumb cane (Dieffenbachia spp.), croton (Codiaeum variegatum), and corn plant (Dracaena spp.). These plants are successfully propa- gated by air layering. This technique also enables gardeners to rejuvenate plants that have become tall and leggy.