Ficus Benjamin stands alone in the world of domestic plants. This graceful culture very well purifies the air, creates a favorable and comfortable environment in the apartment. Residents of Thailand have built an evergreen shrub in the rank of sacred plants.
This perennial is not capricious and it is easy to grow it in an apartment.
Ficus Benjamin - a sophisticated tree that cleans the air well
The main thing is to know how to care for Benjamin's ficus in a pot at home. You can learn this from experienced gardeners who share their secrets and experiences in growing and caring for the tree.
Ficus Benjamin represents the genus Ficus. In nature, he is a resident of Asian countries and Australia. The tree-like shrub was liked not only by flower growers, but also by landscape designers. The plant is suitable for growing, both experienced flower lovers and beginners. Caring for him is simple. However, in order for the ficus to grow healthy, you must adhere to simple rules. Among which:
- proper watering;
- timely top dressing;
- competent preparation for the winter period.
Watering
Water the tree should be no more than once every 4-6 days. If the soil in the pot does not dry in a week, then you can wait with watering. You can not fill the perennial. In the cold season, exot is watered no more than 1 time in 10-14 days.
Top dressing
An exotic has a rest period. It falls in the fall and winter. Spring is a time of awakening. In April, fertilizer should be considered. It is allowed to feed the tree-like shrub with purchased mineral mixtures, on the packaging of which is marked "for ficus".
Note! The flower responds well to organics, for example, fly ash, chicken droppings.
The feeding scheme is as follows:
- in April, May - 1 time per month;
- in June, July - once every 20-25 days;
- in August, September, October - every 14 days.
Preparing for the winter
Late autumn and winter for a lean culture is a time of rest. The owner must correctly prepare the pet for this period. If in the warm season the tree is not allowed to be exposed to the sunny side under direct rays, then in the cool season the ficus needs a long daylight hours. It is placed on a south window or placed next to it. It is even recommended to install additional lighting.
In the cold season, the ficus is put closer to the light
The temperature during rest should not fall below + 15 ... +17 degrees. The optimum temperature is + 19 ... +21 degrees. Another important event that should not be forgotten is the reduction in the frequency of watering.
Pruning procedure
Pruning as a sanitary and anti-aging measure is carried out before the plant moves away from the dormant period, that is, in March - the very first days of April.
For the procedure you will need:
- sharp knife or pruner;
- fly ash;
- gloves
- alcohol;
- napkin.
Do not trim with blunt scissors. This will damage the plant. The notch should be even. All work is carried out promptly. The tool is treated with alcohol to disinfect.
Crohn's pruned in spring
Benjamin's ficus is trimmed in such a way as to maintain the symmetry of the bush. Apical shoots are removed no more than 8-11 cm. Sections secrete juice. He is cleaning with a napkin. Wounds sprinkled with ash.
Important! It is better to work with gloves so as not to damage the skin with juice, which can irritate tissues.
A quick way to get a magnificent tree is to correctly form a crown. Thick branches are cut at an angle. Incisions pass near the kidney. Thin and young shoots are removed by a third. Remove them 3 cm above the kidney. At the trunk, part of the kidneys is pinched. Branches that twist inside the tree should be cut off.
How is Benjamin's ficus propagated at home? In general, a plant can be propagated in several ways:
- sowing seeds;
- withdrawal of layering;
- cloning a sheet;
- planting cuttings.
The best way to propagate is considered to be cuttings. The rest are ineffective in an apartment. Work on propagation using cuttings involves three important steps:
- propagation by cuttings;
- rooting of the handle;
- selection of suitable containers.
Cuttings
The stem stem is taken from an adult healthy specimen. Usually stems are taken away in late spring, summer. At this time, the bush is the most fluffy and is in the prime of life. Autumn, winter are not suitable for the procedure.
Step-by-step technology:
- Propagate by cuttings begin by trimming a small stalk. 10-16 cm long enough. On a branch should be 6-8 leaves.
- Cuttings are taken from the top of one of the shoots.
- A sanitized sharp knife is used. Cut at a slight angle.
- The released juice is removed with a napkin. The wound is treated with ash.
- Half of the leaf plates on the stem cuttings are removed.
- The base of the twig is cut into 2-3 parts. Between them put toothpicks, matches.
- A twig is placed in a glass of water. Activated carbon is dissolved in water.
- A glass with a twig is placed on the window. Water is periodically added.
Additional Information. In a couple of weeks, characteristic growths will appear on the basis of the branch. Roots peep out after 10-14 days. When the roots reach a length of a couple of centimeters, the stalk can be transplanted into the ground.
Apical ficus stem is germinated in water
To root the shoot, you need a suitable substrate. It can be purchased at a specialty store or prepared independently. Planting takes place in the soil, consisting of peat, sand, humus.
A drain is placed at the bottom of the pot. The container is filled with a substrate. A small depression is made into which the cuttings are transplanted. The soil is watered. For better rooting, a new plant is covered with a film.
For a young bush, you should take a medium-sized stable pot. It is better if it is made from natural materials. Do not plant the stalk in a large pot. This can cause increased growth of the root system. Because of this, cultural development will fail. The pot should be small in size for the harmonious development of all parts of the plant.
Experienced growers warn that the ficus of Benjamin has a delicate root system. It develops in both horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, replanting a flower is a cautious process.
Step-by-step instruction:
- A new pot is being selected. It must have drainage holes.
- 24 hours before the transplant, the ficus in the old pot is watered abundantly. This is to make it easier to get the plant out of the tub.
- Before transplanting exotics, drainage is poured into a new pot, then a layer of sand and a nutritious soil mixture.
- Ficus is taken out of an old container with an earthen lump. Partially the earth is shaken off.
- The root system is placed in a new pot and sprinkled with a substrate.
- Exot will grow better if the plant is watered immediately after planting.
The right primer for Benjamin's ficus is a fertile substrate. You can buy a ready-made mixture in the store, enriched with various trace elements. It is allowed to prepare the soil at home. For this, in equal amounts are mixed:
- sheet earth;
- high peat;
- humus;
- a mixture of needles;
- garden land;
- turf.
In order to plant a young plant bought in a store, the substrate is prepared according to a different recipe. Peat, river sand and coniferous land mix. Sand should be smaller than the rest of the ingredients.
Note! It is necessary to transplant ficus every 1-2 years in the spring. He picks up a pot a little larger than it was. Another reason is unhealthy microflora in the soil. For example, it is too flooded, and there is a fungus.
Exot transplantation is a cautious process, due to the delicate roots
Why is ficus dropping leaves? There may be several reasons for this. Among others:
- Incorrect lighting. The leaves of ficus Benjamin cannot be without light, but under the scorching rays of the sun it will be difficult for her.
- Frequent or too rare watering. Water the plant once every 4-6 days.
- Landing place. A young plant must be transplanted from a purchased pot.
- Drafts and lowering the temperature. In this case, the ficus discards the leaves, and also fades and may even die.
- Lack of free space. Too close proximity to other specimens harms the exotic. Thick plantings should be planted. It is allowed to leave 2-4 trees in a pot.
- Starvation. This is a lack of fertilizer.
Diseases and Pests
Among other things, the answers to the question "why do ficus leaves turn yellow and fall?" are the presence of disease and the invasion of pests. Common Diseases:
- root rot;
- powdery mildew.
It is recommended to deal with ailments with the help of fungicides.
There may be several reasons for falling leaves
Due to errors in care (waterlogging of the soil, lack of nutrition, lighting), parasites can attack the tree. The most frequent guests on ficus:
- ticks;
- aphid;
- scale shield.
To destroy the army of insects, the leaves are treated with soapy water. It is allowed to use the drugs Actellik, Actofit, Admiral, etc.
Ficus Benjamin has a feature: his trunk can be braided among themselves, creating bizarre compositions. You need to do this from healthy, non-aging specimens, the height of which is at least 15-20 cm, the trunk thickness is more than 1 cm. Among the common types of weaving, the following:
- spiral;
- hedge;
- lattice;
- braid.
The simplest is the last view. Braid ficus with a pigtail for the strength of each grower.
Fancy weaving trunks
Tips for weaving braids at home:
- You need to pick up three plants of the same height.
- Transplant them into one pot.
- Trim the extra lateral leaves, exposing the trunks by 15-30 cm. You can trim before transplanting in one container or after the procedure.
- Before weaving begins, the soil is shed. This will allow the shoots to become supple.
- Next, the weaving process itself begins. It is noteworthy that you can form a pattern with or without a lumen.
Looking after Benjamin's ficus at home is easy. Among the main activities are periodic watering, subcortex, preparation for winter, pruning and annual transplantation. If you follow all the recommendations from experienced gardeners, then the interior will be decorated with a sophisticated beautiful evergreen flower, the trunks of which can be braided in different variations during formation.
