The Black Diamond plant is an evergreen woody foliage plant of the Moraceae family, Ficus genus. It is a type of rubber fig.
The Black Diamond plant is native to India and Malaysia, and is now widely cultivated in various regions of China. It prefers high-temperature, humid, and sunny environments but can also tolerate shade, though it cannot withstand cold conditions.
The Black Diamond Rubber Fig is commonly propagated through cuttings and air layering. Propagation by cutting is relatively simple, with high survival rates and rapid growth. It is usually done at the end of spring or beginning of summer in conjunction with pruning. Select one-year-old semi-woody middle branches as cuttings, retaining three buds on each cutting. Remove the lower leaf and fold the upper two leaves together, securing them with plastic, or cut the upper leaves in half to reduce water evaporation. To prevent excessive loss of latex from the cut, promptly apply wood ash to the wound. Insert the treated cutting into a bed of river sand or vermiculite. After planting, maintain high humidity in the bed and frequently sprinkle water on the ground (but avoid waterlogging) to increase air humidity. Under temperatures of 18-25°C and semi-shaded conditions, roots will generally form in about 2-3 weeks. Air layering is also convenient for home use and has a high success rate. When air layering, select two-year-old branches, making a ring-shaped incision 1-1.5 cm wide. Then wrap moist moss or peat soil around the wound and tightly cover it with plastic film, securing both ends. After 1-2 months, the rooted branch can be cut off and potted.