How to grow rubber ficus at home?

Ficus rubber, owing its name to the high concentration of rubber in thick juice, in its natural growing environment is a source of raw materials for the production of rubber. In indoor floriculture, a plant from the Mulberry family is very popular among phytodesigners, who have come to grips with the issue of landscaping their own and someone else's home. Moreover, due to the undemanding culture, caring for rubber ficus at home is quite simple.

Rubber ficus: the nuances of growing

When growing a culture at home, a number of features of the ficus should be taken into account:

• Growth and development. In an apartment environment, the height of the ficus varies within 2 m, and the trunk rarely pleases flower growers with side shoots. The rapid pace of development leads to an annual growth of 40–45 cm in culture.
• Leaves. The decorativeness of the exotic representative consists in large, glossy sheet plates, painted in a single color or with a variegated pattern.
• Bloom. The phase begins only when the plant is pollinated by certain insects, therefore, it is almost impossible to become the owner of a flowering ficus in an apartment environment.

Home care

It is easy to properly care for a ficus if you follow a few important rules.

Lighting features

A representative of exotic flora prefers a large amount of diffused light, negatively regarding the open sun, which can harm the plant. If it is not possible to place a flower near windows of the east or west directions, the pot can be installed in partial shade, where the growth of the ficus will differ in average intensity, and the lower part of the stem will quickly become bare.

Carefully! When landscaping an apartment, you should not place a flower in places where there are drafts.

Temperature regime

When ensuring the appropriate temperature regime, it is necessary to focus on the following optimal indicators:

• During the intensive growing season, temperature values ​​vary between 20-25 ° C.
• In winter, the temperature regime is reduced, taking into account the maximum permissible mark of the mercury column of 15 ° C, below which cooling is not allowed.

Soil requirements

Ficus rubber fully develops on well-drained soil with a loose structure. A florist can prepare it independently from leaf, turf and peat soils with the addition of coarse sand in equal proportions. If desired, a ficus growing medium can be purchased at a flower shop.

Watering and humidity

The soil is moistened as the earthen coma dries up: in summer, the procedure is carried out three times a week, and in winter - weekly. With excessive watering, there is a risk of the flower dropping leaves. The increased air humidity is organized by regular spraying, which in winter is replaced by wiping the leaf plates with a damp sponge. All water procedures are carried out with settled water at room temperature.

Top dressing

To admire a healthy, spectacular ficus, twice a month during the period of active growth, fertilizing with liquid complex fertilizers is carried out, which necessarily include nitrogen.

Cropping and shaping the crown

Pruning of rubber ficus is carried out in early spring to keep the plant in dimensions acceptable to the grower. Trimming the tops in order to ensure branching is not carried out, since, as a rule, one of the upper growth points awakens. To stimulate the awakening of the lateral buds, the stem must be cut to a height of 5-6 internodes.

Also, one of the following techniques can be used to form a dense crown:

• Piercing the stem by ⅓ of the diameter - the central shoot begins to prick from above, gradually moving lower.
• Bending the ficus - the top of the plant is tilted and fixed until the bud that is on top is activated.

Plant transplant

Young ficuses are transplanted annually, but as they grow older, the time interval between procedures increases to 2-3 years, when the roots become cramped in the old container.

In the spring-summer season when transplanting:

1. A pot is selected, the diameter and depth of which is 5 cm larger than the size of the previous one.
2. A thick drainage layer is placed on the bottom of the pan.
3. A flower is dropped from above by transshipment.
4. The resulting voids are carefully filled with the prepared substrate.

Advice! If the specimen is too old, then it is better to renew the substrate layer to a depth of 4 cm instead of transplanting.

Pests and diseases - how to treat?

The culture has good resistance to the development of pathogens and infestation by harmful insects. However, sometimes scabies and spider mites are noted on the leaves of the ficus, which must be dealt with in the early stages with a soapy solution, and in case of severe damage, with an insecticide.

Reproduction of rubber ficus

Reproduction of ficus by cuttings is the most effective method for breeding monochromatic varieties, the performance of which is within the power of every grower.

The procedure is carried out in the spring:

1. Stem cuttings are cut 10-15 cm long.
2. All leaves are removed, except for 2-3 pieces in the upper part, which are rolled up in a tube.
3. Each stalk is washed under running water until the release of milky juice stops.
4. The planting material is planted in a prepared substrate and covered with polyethylene for early rooting.
5. During the period of root formation, the plantings are moistened and ventilated.

Variegated forms of rubber ficus reproduce by layering. For the procedure to be successful:

1. The stem is cut to ⅓ of the thickness.
2. The damaged area is wrapped in moss, which is fixed with polyethylene and tape.
3. After the formation of the roots, the cuttings are cut off and planted in an individual pot.

What problems can a florist face?

There are several main problems that often arise when cultivating the discussed representative of the Mulberry family.

Yellowing of leaves

Leaf plates begin to turn yellow when the regulations for flower care are violated.

Possible reasons include:

• high concentration of fertilizers and other salts in the substrate;
• improperly selected pot size - too large capacity;
• development of root rot.

Shedding foliage

Old leaf plates of the lower tier fall off for natural reasons.

However, there are factors that provoke the discharge of young greenery:

• excess moisture in the substrate;
• lack of watering for a long period of time;
• the presence of drafts and sudden temperature changes;
• lack of light.

Suspended growth

If the ficus has stopped developing, then there are three reasons:

• lack of lighting;
• lack of nutrients;
• too tight a pot.

Spectacular rubber-bearing ficus with large, shiny leaves, fits perfectly into any interior and cleans the air from various toxins. It is rightfully considered one of the best indoor plants used for gardening, and therefore acquaintance with it invariably turns out to be pleasant even for an inexperienced grower.

Many types of ficuses are houseplants loved by flower growers. Rubber ficus is no exception, home care for which is not at all burdensome, and the appearance is very remarkable.

According to legend, the first European to see this plant was Alexander the Great, who made his famous trip to the east. The giant trees, and in fact, real groves with aerial roots and numerous powerful trunks, made an indelible impression on the great warrior and ruler.

And there was something to marvel at! The indigenous inhabitant of the tropical forests of India, Indonesia and Nepal, the rubber-bearing ficus, in the photo, grows in nature to a height of 40 meters, and, braiding other trees and growing aerial roots, builds living pavilions and even bridges.

Having become a houseplant at the end of the 19th century, this species has established itself as an unpretentious, fast-growing culture. By the 50s of the 20th century, despite the existing omens and superstitions, the rubber ficus got the crown of the most popular home plant in the USSR.

Caring for ficus rubber at home

Since the time of our grandmothers, the ficus has received the fame of a plant that feels good in any conditions, whether it be the southern windows, from where the sun does not leave most of the day, or the north side, deprived of light. Indeed, the rubbery ficus, as in the photo, is very hardy. But both the excess of light and its lack have a depressing effect on the plant. It is much better for a tropical guest to find a place on a well-lit windowsill protected from direct rays:

1. If the pot is in the dark, you cannot avoid stretching the internodes, crushing the foliage. Variegated ficus forms uniformly green.
2. In the sun, the foliage suffers from burns, brightens and can fall off, exposing even young shoots.

Keeping the flower in a warm, dry room leads to similar consequences. To maintain high air humidity and hygiene of rubbery ficus at home, plant care includes:

• irrigation of foliage with a shower or spray bottle;
• wiping large leathery leaf plates with a damp cloth.

Household specialized appliances are also used to humidify the air.

You should not use synthetic substances for polishing foliage. This will briefly prevent dust from sticking and improve the appearance of the plant, but will firmly clog the stomata, disrupting the respiration of a large ornamental crop.

Ficus easily adapts to keeping in room conditions at a temperature:

• from 20 to 30 ° C in summer;
• 5–7 ° C cooler in winter.

The minimum allowable temperature for a plant is 10 ° C, and variegated rubber ficus, as in the photo, can withstand a stay at 15 ° C.

The most important step in caring for rubber ficus at home is watering. The plant actively drinks, its need for moisture is especially great in the summer. Between waterings, the surface of a loose substrate, well permeable to water and air, should dry out. And the excess moisture flowing into the pan is necessarily drained after half an hour after the procedure. In winter, a ficus that slows down growth needs less water, so it is enough to water it only once a week.

From spring to early autumn, complex fertilizing is applied under the ficus. It is more convenient to do this using ready-made products with a predominance of nitrogen for decorative deciduous crops. The interval between dressings is 10-14 days. If the plant was transplanted in the spring, it is necessary to apply fertilizers only a month after transshipment into a new pot.

Transplantation and formation of the crown of rubber ficus

It is impossible to imagine caring for a rubber-bearing ficus at home without such a procedure as plant transplantation. At the same time, it is extremely important to choose the right substrate and not forget about the powerful drainage layer at the bottom of the pot.

The younger the specimen, the looser and lighter the soil should be. It is optimal to mix equal amounts of sod and leafy soil, peat and sand for planting the rubber-bearing ficus shown in the photo. It is useful to add a little charcoal to the substrate, which will be a natural prevention against root rot and bacterial infections.

Young ficuses are transplanted annually, but then the frequency of the procedure is reduced, and transshipment with partial pruning of the root system is carried out when the roots appear from the hole in the bottom of the pot. Large specimens are too laborious to replant, and in this case they are limited to replacing the 5-centimeter upper layer of the substrate.

A characteristic feature and problem for plant owners is its rapid growth and loss of shape. When and how to form a crown in a rubber-bearing ficus, in the photo?

Ficus branches very reluctantly. Spring pruning helps not only shape the crown, but also force the stems to shoot laterally.

For the first time, it is carried out when the main stem does not exceed a meter in height. The shoots formed during the season are shortened the next year, forcing them to branch again, and all root shoots are removed. Having provided support and the rubber-bearing care required at home for the ficus, in a few years you can get a beautiful standard tree.

Reproduction of rubber ficus at home

Having an adult plant at hand, it will not be difficult for a grower to propagate a green pet. The fastest and easiest way to reproduce rubber ficus at home is to use apical and stem cuttings:

1. Cuttings in the apical parts of the shoots are cut off with a length of at least 10 cm, while the tissue, glee, is to be formed by the roots, must be semi-lignified.
2. Stem cuttings can have several leaves and buds, or be very short - with a single healthy leaf.

Before rooting, the lower leaves are removed, and the remaining ones are carefully twisted. Dried cuttings are placed in water or buried a couple of centimeters in perlite or a mixture of sand and peat. Rooting takes place in a room greenhouse and can last up to a month.

If a variegated specimen is to be propagated, then it is preferable to use air layers. The same method will help to get viable seedlings from an adult, as in the photo, of a rubber-bearing ficus with lignified stems.

We get acquainted with the rules of caring for rubbery ficus - video

The most popular plant of the 50-60s is rubber ficus. Home care is considered simple, the plant looks attractive and "solid".Previously, he could be seen in almost any apartment. It has not lost its popularity even now. Read about all the secrets of growing in this article.

Description and features

The second name of the flower is elastic ficus. In nature, some specimens reach 30 meters in height. The branches release long air roots that reach the ground - they provide additional nutrition. Popularly nicknamed it "the snake tree", scientifically this form is called "banyan tree".

The rubber ficus owes its popularity to its beautiful large leaves. The plant blooms extremely rarely. The flowers are inconspicuous, do not carry decorative value. Sometimes ficus blooms, but already in a mature state and only when the conditions necessary for this are created. After flowering, fruits are formed - small spherical syconia. They resemble figs in appearance. The fruits are not edible.

The leaves are dark saturated green, leathery, with a pointed end, in the shape of an ellipse. Young leaves are rolled up in a tube, hiding in brownish-red stipules. After unfolding the leaf, the stipules dry out and fall off.

Interesting! Not so long ago, the milky sap of the flower was used for the production of rubber on an industrial scale. That is why it bears that name. The plant sap contains latex, alkaloids and enzymes. Causes skin irritation.

Varieties and varieties

Many interesting varieties have been bred by breeders. The main differences between them are in the size and color of the leaves.

• Ficus Robusta. It is considered one of the easiest to grow. The leaves are large, uniform dark green.
• Ficus Belize. Variegated variety. Requires increased attention. The combination of three colors is interesting - the middle of the leaf is colored green, the edges are white and pink.
• Black Prince. Differs in expressive burgundy leaves. Unpretentious care.
• Tineke. Variegated variety with white and pistachio specks around the edges. Considered moody. It grows only when favorable conditions are created.
• Melanie. The main feature is its compact size. The leaves are relatively small - no more than 20 cm in length, dark. No special conditions are required. Easy to bush, forms a beautiful crown.

Advice! Ficus grows very quickly in height. In stores, plants are treated with special preparations - retardants. They slow down growth, maintain a compact flower shape. At the end of the action of the drugs, the plant begins to grow rapidly. Regular pruning of rubber ficus will prevent it from growing too tall.

Care advice

No special conditions are required. But competently organized care of rubber-bearing ficus at home increases the decorative effect and lifespan of the plant.

• Lighting. For inexperienced amateur flower growers, it is considered a shade-tolerant plant. It is customary to put it in a corner. Prolonged stay in a shaded place leads to stretching of the stem, crushing of leaves, loss of characteristic color in variegated varieties. Diffused bright light is recommended for all varieties. They are placed next to the window, protecting the tulle from the sun. It grows poorly at windows facing the north side.
• Temperature. Loves warmth. Easily adapts to the average temperature of the apartment. In summer - 20-30 ° C, in winter - 18-20 ° C. Cannot stand a strong cold snap. For variegated varieties, the minimum temperature is 15 ° C, for species with monochromatic leaves - 10 ° C. Suffers from drafts and sudden changes in temperature.
• Watering. Watered carefully, avoiding excessive waterlogging of the soil. Short-term drought tolerates more easily than excess moisture. The soil in the pot should be completely dry between waterings.
• Humidity. Adapts normally to dry air. It grows better in high humidity conditions. Spraying with warm, soft water is beneficial.
• Hygiene.Due to its large size, dust accumulates on the leaves of the ficus. At least 1-2 times a week, they are wiped with a damp soft cloth. Young small plants are washed under the shower. To increase decorativeness, leaf polishes are used. It is not recommended to use them often.
• Top dressing. To stimulate flower growth, fertilizers are applied twice a month. Adult specimens are fed less often. Preference is given to products with a high nitrogen content. Reacts well to organics.
• The soil. The soil for rubber ficus should be light and loose. Mature plants are transplanted into denser soil for resistance. The optimal composition is sod, leafy soil, sand and peat. Particles of birch charcoal are added.
• Transfer. At a young age, the transplant is carried out often, as the roots grow. The need for another transplant is indicated by the rapid drying of the soil or the appearance of roots from the drainage holes. They try to grow adult plants without transplanting, so as not to stimulate their further growth. Instead of replanting, replace the top 5 cm of soil.

Advice! Choose a pot for rubber ficus not too large. An excess of free space will lead to active growth. Consider the space for a thick drainage layer when choosing the height of your pot or tub.

Reproduction of ficus

Two methods of propagation are practiced - by cuttings and air layers. Both methods are simple and effective.

• By cuttings. Cuttings are cut diagonally. The tops and parts of the stems take root well. The cut cuttings are washed with water until the release of white juice ceases. Prepared cuttings are kept in wet sand or water. Classic varieties take root faster. Cuttings of variegated varieties are recommended to be treated with Heteroauxin or Kornevin. Rooting is accelerated by lower heating of the greenhouse.
• Air layering. The method is suitable for variegated varieties. A third incision is made on the trunk, a match is inserted into the incision. The section of the stem with a cut is wrapped in wet sphagnum and plastic wrap. Moss is regularly moistened. When roots appear, the branch is cut off and planted.

Reproduction of rubber ficus by seeds is a laborious, painstaking process. Sowing with seeds is justified only for obtaining a new variety.

Diseases and pests

Ficus is susceptible to attacks of scale insects, mealybugs, spider mites. If they are found, the plant is bathed in the shower and treated with insecticides. The rest of the problems are associated with inaccuracies in care.

• Leaves curl and wither. The temperature is too low. The plant is rearranged in a warm place, protected from drafts.
• The tips of the leaves dry out. Low humidity in the apartment. It is recommended to spray the plant.
• Falling leaves. There are many reasons - excessive, poor watering, lack of light, cold, drafts. Falling of the lower leaves in mature plants is normal.
• Shredding of leaves and slow growth. Signs of a lack of trace elements in the soil. It is recommended to transplant the plant into fresh soil or to increase the frequency of fertilization.
• White bloom on the leaves. The manifestation of powdery mildew. Appears with high humidity and poor ventilation of the room. The damaged leaves are removed, the flower is treated with fungicides.

Large leaves of ficus in the daytime actively absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. The plant promotes natural air purification in the apartment.

Ficus rubber or elastica is a common decorative deciduous houseplant. Its main value lies in its spectacular glossy leaves and undemanding growing conditions.

One of the easiest ways to get young plants is to propagate the rubbery ficus with leaves. This culture does not have a pronounced dormant period, so the procedure can be carried out throughout the year.

Description of the plant and growing conditions

Rubber ficus is one of the most common types in indoor floriculture. According to popular beliefs, he brings family well-being to the house. This plant is native to India and southern Indonesia. In natural conditions, elastica is a large evergreen tree about 30 m high.

Ficus is characterized by large leathery elliptical leaves of rich green color. Young leaves may have a slight reddish tint. In indoor conditions, elastica practically does not bloom.

The milky sap of this plant is quite irritating and, under certain conditions, can lead to severe allergic reactions or dermatitis. Once this species was grown on an industrial scale for the purpose of obtaining rubber.

When placing elastica in a room, preference should be given to well-lit places, but without the presence of direct sunlight. With a little shading, it continues to develop, but its growth rate is significantly reduced.

With a prolonged lack of lighting, the trunk of the plant is strongly stretched, and the shoots are bare. To avoid this, in winter, the temperature is reduced to 15-16 ° C and the amount of watering is reduced to a minimum.

Due to the popularity of this plant, its large specimens are quite expensive. But do not be upset if there is no financial opportunity to purchase it. You can grow a beautiful large plant with your own hands, especially if you know how to propagate a rubber-bearing ficus in indoor conditions.

The soil for growing elastica should be fertile and loose. It is best for him to purchase a ready-made substrate for growing ficuses. You can also make it yourself by mixing universal peat soil with turf soil, humus and sand in equal proportions.

Reproduction by leaves at home

To grow a young elastica plant, it is enough to get its leaf with a small piece of internode. Perhaps someone from your acquaintances or work colleagues will simply share the planting material. The rooting rate in leafy cuttings is quite high.

Attention! Inexperienced growers very often try to root individual leaves without a bud. In this case, rooting occurs, but the leaf itself does not start growing. This is due to the lack of a growth point, because it is she who, after the rooting of the leaf, gives life to a new plant

Any plastic container is suitable for planting a leaf. At its bottom, a drainage layer of expanded clay or polystyrene must be laid, and holes are made in the bottom for the drain of excess water.

The soil for planting must be loose. For example, for these purposes, a universal substrate for growing indoor plants mixed with vermiculite is well suited. You should not deeply deepen the stalk when planting. His kidney must be above the soil surface. For stability, the stalk can be propped up with a toothpick, any wooden or plastic stick.

Attention! Elastica has a thick milky juice, therefore, before planting, the planting material should be thoroughly rinsed in running water. If this is not done, the rooting process takes much longer.

After planting, the container is well watered. A plastic bag is put on top of it, which will create a greenhouse effect and speed up the rooting process. If all conditions are met, the cutting will give roots in 3-4 weeks.

Reproduction of ficus by apical cuttings

Very often, during the cultivation process, the ficus grows. Its trunk becomes too long and less leafy. In this case, formative pruning is carried out, after which the apical cuttings remain, which are convenient to use for independent propagation of the ficus.

To do this, you can use not only the tops themselves, but also the middle parts of the shoots.But at the same time, all cuttings must meet the following requirements:

1. Be about 7-8 cm long.
2. Have 2-3 internodes with well-developed leaves.
3. Their lower cut should be under the kidney itself.

Cuttings are prepared for planting as follows:

1. Immediately after cutting, to remove the milky juice, they are washed in a large amount of warm running water.
2. The sheet is removed from the lower assembly using a sharp knife.
3. The large lower leaves are carefully rolled into a tube with the bottom side inward and fixed with an elastic band.

Cuttings prepared in this way are planted in a loose substrate. Planting should be slightly inclined. It needs to be deepened by no more than one internode. Immediately after the end of planting work, the container is well watered.

To speed up the process of root formation, you can build a small primitive greenhouse from a plastic bag. Also, the bottom heating has a significant effect on the rate of root growth. If possible, a container with cuttings can simply be placed above the radiator.

It is also possible to root the planting material of the elastica in water. But this method is more used in the warm season during the period of intensive growth. For him, cuttings are harvested and prepared in the same way as for the above methods.

After preliminary preparation, they are placed in a container with boiled settled water. At its bottom, to prevent the development of putrefactive processes, you can put a small piece of charcoal.

During the rooting period, the water level must be monitored and, if necessary, topped up. Even short-term drying will lead to the death of root primordia. After the appearance of the first roots, the planting material is planted in a loose substrate, and a container with cuttings is placed in a small greenhouse.

Of the more modern means for rooting planting material, peat tablets can be used. They include special growth and root growth stimulants, which allow you to achieve almost 100% of the result.

The process of preparing planting material for rooting in peat tablets is no different from the methods described above. The tablets themselves must be soaked in warm water before planting. After they have swollen enough, they are gently squeezed out.

A small depression is made in the center of the tablet, into which the shoot is then planted. After planting, the tablets are placed in a suitable sized plastic container, preferably with a transparent lid. On sale you can find miniature plastic greenhouses specially adapted for these purposes. Further care of the planting material consists in periodic watering and airing.

Air layering

At home, rubber ficus can be propagated using air layers. For this, a long, overgrown shoot is usually chosen, which can then be cut off. On it, in the area located above the sheet, a vertical incision is made in the bark with a sharp knife. A small piece of wood powdered with Kornevin powder is inserted into it. For example, for these purposes, you can use a match, a toothpick, or just a small chip.

After that, the place of the incision is covered with a layer of moist moss or sawdust. Then a plastic wrap is wrapped over it. If the conditions are met, after 1.5-2 months, it will be possible to see the first roots through it.

After the development of the root system, the shoot rooted in this way is cut from the mother plant and planted in a separate container. With the help of layering, it is possible to carry out not only the rejuvenation of the old specimen of rubber ficus, but also its reproduction.

It is not at all difficult to grow a large specimen of a rubber-bearing ficus with your own hands. The main thing is to follow the necessary cutting technology and adhere to the rooting recommendations.

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