We grow ficus at home

Today, undeservedly forgotten ficuses are again at the height of fashion among flower growers. But there was a time when this unpretentious plant was in every home. Caring for it is minimal, but the return in the form of lush foliage is beyond praise!

The current selection offers such variegated forms that it is a sin not to have such beauty on the windowsill. How to care for ficus at home? In principle, not very difficult. Let's describe the most important aspects. If you follow them, caring for the ficus will not bring unnecessary trouble.

Composition of the earth and the choice of capacity

The material of the pot is absolutely irrelevant for the ficus, but its size is even very important. Do not plant the plant in too large a container, otherwise it will become a little insolent. And it grows up to a very decent size, because in natural conditions their height reaches 5 meters. Although, if your area allows, then feel free to grow ficus in a huge tub. He will thank you with huge leaves.

The composition of the soil is absolutely standard. 2 parts of good fertile garden soil are mixed with 1 part peat and 1 part clean coarse sand. That's it, nothing else needs to be added.

Naturally, a drainage layer is poured onto the bottom of the pot. Probably, this rule applies to absolutely all indoor flowers. Small expanded clay, small pebbles or gravel, granite chips - these are the most suitable materials. You should not neglect this point, because it helps to solve many problems. For example, the main function of removing excess moisture will prevent root rot and the appearance of various diseases.

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Lighting and temperature control

Ficuses love light. But not completely insane. Therefore, it is better to grow it in light shade, without direct sunlight. You can put the pot on a stand next to the window, but not on the windowsill. This light will be enough.

Ficus will grow well in the back of the room, without access to sunlight. In this case, additional supplementary lighting with special phytolamps is required.

The temperature of the content varies depending on the season. In summer, ficus will be most comfortable at + 24-26 ° С. In winter, he prefers + 17-19 ° С.

In principle, ficus easily tolerates a temporary decrease in temperature. The only thing is that at this time he slows down in growth. A drop to + 12 ° C is critical for the plant. Then it will simply throw off all the leaves and gather to say goodbye to you.

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Watering and humidity

Ficuses love high humidity. Therefore, they need to be regularly sprayed with slightly warm water. Or put additional containers with water, wet expanded clay, wet moss next to the pot.

After drying, stains may remain on the leaves. This is from too hard water. If the liquid is settled, filtered or purified, then there will be no stains. Another reason is dust on the surface of the sheet. About once every 12-13 days, wipe the leaves with a soft cloth or rag. Then dust will not accumulate, so you can forget about stains.

Watering should be regular. In the summer, it is recommended to keep the entire earthen lump in a slightly damp state. To do this, it is regularly moistened from above. Approximately every 3-4 days. Critical drying occurs when the top layer of earth in the pot dries out to a depth of 3-3.5 cm. In this case, expect a violent leaf fall.

When overflowing, the first sign is wilting and wrinkling of the leaves. The second is incipient root rot. Watch this. It is better to water often and little by little than to splash a liter mug into the pot once a month.

In winter, ficus is watered much less often. Approximately every 10-11 days. Again, you need to look at the moisture content of the soil. If in the cold season you keep the plant in a hot, dry room or next to a heating device, then you should reconsider the watering regime, for example, increase it more often.

Special beacons will provide a good service. They are stuck into the soil and watched over the scale. When the earth dries up at a certain level, it will change color. This will be the signal for watering.

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Top dressing and fertilizers

Starting in March and ending in October, the ficus is fertilized about once every 14-16 days. Certainly only after the next watering, so as not to burn the thin young roots. You can use any complex mineral fertilizer for feeding. Or buy ready-made sticks in a specialty store. They are stuck in a pot and after each watering, the ficus will take as much food as it needs. Granules (tablets) have the same property. They are also buried in the topsoil.

Just follow the dosage strictly! Do not exceed it, otherwise the ficus will begin to grow ugly deformed leaves. And choose those on the packaging which says "for ficus".

The plant reacts much more gratefully to organic goodies. It can be a herbal infusion, diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10. Or, once a year, replace the top 2-2.5 cm of soil with fresh, well-ripened humus. Just do not overdo it, otherwise the trunk simply will not withstand the entire mass of its leaves and may break.

Diseases and pests

Most pests of indoor plants are indifferent to ficus, except for the spider mite and scale insects. In this case, you will have to use insecticides. Choose any one that says "suitable for indoor flowers" on the packaging.Processing is always done twice, because once is not enough for the complete destruction of enemies.

If you are an opponent of chemicals, then you can try to thoroughly rinse the leaves and stem with a strong solution of household or potassium soap. Only be sure to then rinse the plant with warm water to remove the remaining foam. Be sure to cover the potting soil with thick plastic or cling film.

Among the sores, ficuses have chosen various rot. If the leaves are affected, then at the initial stage it is enough to wash them with soapy water. With a large degree of damage, it is better to remove the diseased leaves completely.

Root rot can destroy even the most lush plant in a matter of days. There are no cure methods for it yet. You can only have time to cut as many healthy cuttings as possible and try to root them.

The causes of rot are excessive watering, drafts and a sharp drop in temperature. By eliminating these factors, you can avoid plant disease completely.

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Some valuable tips

1. Ficuses really do not like to be disturbed. This includes transplanting, changing locations, and even turning the pot. We chose a container, planted a plant and that's it. Don't touch it again. Do not move to another place, do not turn the pot its other side to the light. No unnecessary touches other than the standard wiping of the leaves during hygienic care.
2. Sometimes the owners want to have a compact fluffy ficus bush, and a lone stick sticks out in the pot. And it grows not wide, but into the ceiling. Stop. And who said that ficuses should not be pinched for better branching? We wipe the blade or knife with alcohol, carefully cut off the trunk at the desired height. The cut is processed with a finely crushed tablet of activated carbon. And we are waiting for the side shoots to appear. In turn, they can also be trimmed. Then shoots of the third order will begin to grow. And now you already have a coveted lush bush with gorgeous leaves.
3. We do not discard the cut off top. We put it in a glass of water. We wait two weeks for the roots, then we put them in a suitable pot in the right place.
4. Some owners do wonders at all. Three plants are grown in a pot at the same time to about a height of 1 m. Then the tops are pinched, and the stems themselves are braided into a loose pigtail. Thanks to its flexibility, this is very easy to do. But after the appearance of lateral shoots, an exclusive figure with a magnificent cap on the top of the head is obtained. It looks very impressive, and the care is absolutely identical to the care of a single plant.
5. In autumn and winter, ficus can shed a few lower leaves. Do not rush to look for the cause in improper care or maintenance. This is a completely natural process. The alarm should be beaten when leaf fall begins in spring or summer, and also takes on the threatening nature of the loss of the entire leaf cover.

How to care for ficus at home? Our grandmothers perfectly knew all the subtleties and secrets of the content. It's time for us to revive ficuses in every home. Moreover, it is not difficult at all. A few correct recommendations and love for the plant - that's all you need for quality care.

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Video: how to easily and quickly propagate Benjamin's ficus

Ficus is a well-known home plant from the mulberry family. Of more than one and a half thousand of its species, only 25 live in our home. The most favorite of them are rubber ficus, benjamin, caricum and lyre. The evergreen tree came to us from the African and American tropics. There him can be grown to gigantic sizes. 

Since ancient times, many national signs have been associated with him. It was believed that if you put a pot of ficus in the kitchen, then the house will always be cozy., peace, understanding between household members, and they will never go hungry. And in order for a baby to appear in the family, a ficus should be placed in the bedroom.

How to grow ficus at home

How can you grow a ficus from a twig or leaf, shoot or cutting

Ficuses are often bought in flower shops. But young plants can be grown independently. The most common among flower growers is cuttings. Moreover different ficuses need different conditions for engraftment... So, rubbery and lyre-like varieties of plants need a leaf with an intact eye on the stem segment.

Psychologists have proven that ficus at home is a guarantee of peace of mind.

Small-leaved ficus benjamin needs a 10 cm shank... And small climbing plants need a shoot with 3-4 leaves for reproduction.

Cuttings should be cut from plants in early spring. Then young ficuses will gain strength by the fall.

Cutting process spend thus:

1. Make a sharp instrument incisions above the kidney, or just below her.
2. The shoot is divided into cuttings in such a way that each of them had a leaf with an intact bud.
3. The escaping milky juice is allowed to drain, then wipe it off with a damp swab.
4. The handle is lowered for a few hours in a glass with warm water.
5. Before landing in the ground, cuts processed by Kornevin.
6. A process is lowered into a pot filled with a mixture of sand (or peat) and perlite.
7. Before that, his a leaf to reduce evaporation is rolled up into a tube and tied with a thread.
8. The plant needs a lot of heat to root properly, so it should cover it with plastic for a couple of months.
9. Same carry out periodic spraying and watering.

Growing from a scion in water carried out according to this technology:

1. Cut off part of the stem with 2 leaves, remove the lower one, and cut the upper one by a third and wipe off the released juice with a napkin.
2. Put the stalk in a dark container with water so that the leaves do not reach the water.
3. In a bowl of water put activated charcoal tablets.
4. Keep the scion exposed to light (but not in direct sunlight) about a month. Add water as it evaporates.
5. After the roots appear, the process should be transplanted into the ground.

The scion can plant and straight into the ground... This is done like this:

1. Pour into the pot loose and light soil.
2. Process the cut of the appendage in the above way and plant it in a pot.
3. Above him build a mini-greenhouse from a glass jar or plastic cup.
4. Three weeks later the stalk will take root on it a young leaf will appear.
5. Since then, the mini-greenhouse has been periodically cleaned so that the plant gets used to normal conditions.

To grow ficus from a leaf, read the following instructions

You can grow a young plant from a leaf... Moreover, the leaf for planting is cut with a small piece of the stem. Then they act in this way:

1. The bottom cut must be oblique... Leaves for transplanting are selected from the main or lateral stems.
2. Rinse the juice thoroughly on the cut under the tap.
3. After that, the sheet is twisted with a tube and tied.
4. A stick a little longer than the cutting is passed through the tube and stuck into a pot of earth.

Ficus leaf juice is poisonous, contact with skin causes burns. Therefore, the processing of the leaves should be done with gloves.

Conditions for growing ficus at home

Ficuses are tropical plants, so they love warmth. It means that strong winds, drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations are contraindicated for them... You can ventilate the room, but without drafts.

Tropican women also love light, but not direct rays. You can put a flower near the window. In case of insufficient lighting, the plant will stretch upward, not giving side shoots or twigs. The optimal temperature for him is in the summer - no higher than 25 degrees, and in winter at least 15 degrees.

Does not like the plant when it is moved from one place to another. therefore you need to choose a good place for him once and for all and don't change it.

Remember - the frequency of watering directly depends on the season!

To water "Household" should warm, settled water... They do it like this: pour water abundantly into the pot until it pours into the pan. After half an hour, excess water is drained from there.

In the summer heat or during the heating season, when the air in the room dries up, well sprinkle from a spray bottle next to the tropicana... It is useful to spray small-leaved varieties at this time, and wash large-leaved varieties with a damp sponge. In summer, plants love a warm shower.

So that the leaves are shiny, glossy they are wiped with such a solution: add a teaspoon of mayonnaise to half a glass of warm, settled water.

Rubbing prevents pests on your ficus foliage

For a comfortable planting of ficus
Soil composition	2 parts of turf and 1 part of peat and humus
Pot	They choose this so that the roots fill most of it... When transplanting, the pot should be only 3-4 cm wider than the previous one.
Turf	With each transplant, the proportion of sod in the soil mixture is increased

The older the plant, the less often it is transplanted.... Adult specimens are relocated every 3-4 years, and old ones - once every 6 years. But at the same time, the upper earthen layer is changed annually. When a salt crust appears on it, the latter should be removed and the plant should be sprinkled with fresh earth.

In spring and summer, adult ficuses are fed with organic matter every 3 weeks, while using manure or ready-made fertilizers "Giant", "Rainbow" or "Palma". And during active growth, more nitrogen fertilizing is added. But they are only needed by plants that have not been transplanted for at least the last couple of months. After all, the relocation is done in a well-fertilized land, and that's enough.

In winter, no plant feeding is needed.... Otherwise, in conditions of insufficient lighting, it will strenuously stretch up.

In winter, saturate the plant with trace elements tea brewing will help... It is laid out in shallow holes in a pot.

Propagation by air layers

Ficus can also be grown using air layers. This process consists from the next steps:

• On the main or side trunks below the level of 2-3 upper leaves, an incision is made with a depth of one third of the diameter of the stem.
• A stick is inserted into it, so as not to overgrow.
• Notch location lined with wet moss and wrapped in foil.
• Moss is periodically moistened, preventing it from drying out.
• A month after the appearance of the roots, the stalk is cut off and planted in a separate pot with earth.

Air layers are one of the most popular ways to get a ficus shoot.

The best time for transplant layering - the beginning of spring.

Useful properties of the plant, its energy

Ficus - useful and medicinal plant... It fully performs the functions of a home flower, filtering the air from dust and absorbing toxic substances phenol, benzene, formaldehyde. In addition, it reduces the number of harmful bacteria in the room by almost half.

In some countries, Tropicana is used in folk medicine:

• With mastopathy and uterine fibroids... Infusions and decoctions are prepared from the leaves, lotions are made from gruel and they drink juice with honey.
• With pneumonia and bronchitis they are boiled down and compresses are made with them, like we have from a cabbage leaf.
• With hemorrhoids use ficus suppositories and apply gruel to the sore spot.
• It is also used with furunculosislike we have baked onions.
• For toothache rinse your mouth with juice.
• Leaves applied to hematomas... Also used are the so-called ficus cakes and ficus ice.
• From psoralen found in plants make shampoos, conditioners and masks for hair growth and thickness.

Is it possible to keep a ficus in an apartment

How does this flower affect the home atmosphere

Some wonder is it possible to keep ficus at home... Doesn't he have a bad influence? In some countries, it is believed that he brings happiness, good luck and prosperity to the house. Embodying a mighty tree with a source of wisdom, in the countries of the East, ficus leaves are used for incense, they are burned during meditation.

According to legends, a tropical inhabitant should be in a dwelling. to restore harmony, improving energy and getting rid of unhappiness and anxiety.

Homemade ficus is not poisonous, but rather curative... It does not harm children and animals. About 50 years ago, he was almost an indispensable attribute of every apartment. Under it, children played pirates or sailors, often using the leaves of a patient green household for their games. And pets, at times, gnawed them with vitamin deficiency.

Where is the best place to put your pet

Plant adapts perfectly in city apartments, not capricious, does not require complex care.

Lighting is one of the vital factors for a healthy ficus

But still, it must be remembered that for its healthy and well-groomed appearance, the following conditions are necessary:

1. Plants love bright rooms, on the north side or when the windows are heavily shaded, they begin to ache and lose leaves. Variegated varieties are especially sensitive to lack of sun. Large-leaved ficuses love the morning sun. Small-leaved specimens prefer diffused lighting.
2. Summer to avoid overheating it is better to put green households to the balcony in a light breeze... But you need to make sure that they do not cool down at night. After all, plants do not like sudden changes in temperature.
3. Early winter evenings they need additional artificial lighting.

Restrictions for home plant cultivation

The cases when ficus cannot be kept in the apartment not so much:

1. The rubbery variety gives off vapors of rubber that cause attacks of the disease in asthmatics.
2. Some types of plants secrete droplets of juice, which, if they come into contact with the skin, can provoke an attack of suffocation in asthmatics.
3. Allergy sufferers need to be careful when choosing a type of home ficus. Not all of them are safe for this category of people.

When choosing a place for ficus in the house, take into account the microclimate and how harmoniously it will fit into the interior

Ficuses are popular indoor flowers that bring harmony and peace to the home. They are unpretentious, live long, grow quickly, but love light rooms... They perfectly clean the air from dust and harmful substances. Among the many domesticated species of different shades, sizes and shapes, you can always choose a pet for yourself.

Ficus from the Mulberry family is an evergreen plant that can grow in the form of a tree, shrub, or liana. In many residential and office premises, it has become an integral part of the interior, purifying and enriching the air with oxygen. Its popularity is also due to the fact that caring for a ficus at home, while meeting its requirements for humidity and lighting, is very simple.

Ficus: types, varieties and nuances of cultivation

The numerous genus in its natural environment includes more than 900 varieties, some of which are also grown as pot crops.

Ficus rubber (elastic)

View with massive leathery leaf blades, painted in dark green color. In a room environment, it is characterized by poor branching. With proper care, allowing the exotic representative to fully develop from early spring to late autumn, its height can exceed 2 m. In case of damage from the culture, milky juice is released, which is used in industry to make rubber. The species, also known in the scientific literature as ficus elastica, has its own preferences in keeping: an abundance of bright but diffused light, a moderate temperature regime both in summer and winter.

Ficus Melanie

A variety of rubbery ficus with branching shoots, on which aerial roots form over time. Leathery dark green leaves, located alternately, when formed, have a reddish-brown tint, which is not characteristic of the main species. When cultivating the variety, you should not allow too low a moisture level.

Ficus Robusta

An unpretentious variety of rubber-bearing ficus, which is distinguished by thick leaf plates with a characteristic color for the species. Due to its massiveness, it is an excellent air purifier in the room of detention.

Bengal ficus

In its natural habitat, this species is distinguished by the form of life of banyan trees, in which the ficus begins to develop on a larger plant. It puts down aerial roots, which, after reaching the ground and rooting, turn into a trunk. Oval leaves, painted green, have pronounced light veins. When leaving an apartment, you should be guided by general recommendations for the content.

Ficus Benjamin

A very popular species in indoor floriculture, distinguished by oblong leaf plates of various colors up to 12 cm in length and up to 6 cm in width (the color will depend on the variety). Branching shoots, which form a voluminous crown, are covered with dark gray bark with transverse brownish strokes. The features of the variety that affect the care of Benjamin's ficus include a dislike of frequent moisture, intolerance to direct sunlight and differences in the conditions of flower placement depending on the color of the leaves.

Ficus Kinki

Among all varieties of Benjamin's ficus, the Kinki ficus deserves special attention, which differs from the main form in its diminutiveness and variegated greenery with a cream edging.

Ficus Microcarpa (ficus bonsai)

A tree-like plant, which in nature reaches 25 m in height, has a dense crown. The long elliptical leaves are glossy and green in color. The variety begins to develop as an epiphytic plant, which, as it grows, crushes the trunk of the host. But due to the weakness of aerial roots, the species is not able to transform into a banyan tree. In the apartment environment, culture became widespread due to the unusual shape of the root system and the beauty of the lush crown. Also known as ficus bonsai.

Lyre ficus

The variety owes its name to the foliage resemblance to the lyre. Large, slightly wrinkled leaf plates, reaching 50 cm in length and 25 cm in width, are decorated with pronounced veins. Aerial roots are absent or underdeveloped. At home, it needs to create a microclimate close to natural, with high humidity and without temperature extremes.

Ficus Ali

A fairly new, but already conquered, variety of ficus Binnendijka. A variety with a graceful trunk and a very dense crown, consisting of rough shoots and oblong, shiny leaves up to 50 cm long. The color of the leaf plates, depending on the shape and variety, can be either monochromatic or with spots of other shades. When growing a representative of the tropics, it is worth considering the weight of the crown and installing a support next to the thin trunk that will allow it to withstand the load.

Sacred ficus

The name of the species is rooted in Buddhist religion, where the tree is considered sacred. In natural habitats, a deciduous or semi-deciduous plant has the life form of a banyan tree, but at home it is grown as a bonsai with a powerful bizarre trunk. Heart-shaped leaf plates are colored green. This is a thermophilic crop, when growing, the temperature should not be allowed to drop below 12 ° C.

Rooting (dwarf) ficus

The species is represented by herbaceous plants that have the ability to root with their own densely leafy shoots.Oblong or oval leaves can be monochromatic or variegated, which is a varietal trait. When purchasing a plant of this type, the florist must remember that the maximum temperatures for its cultivation are 8 ° C and 25 ° C.

Pumila White

A well-known variety of dwarf ficus, distinguished by a white continuous border along the edge of the leaf plate. The conditions for keeping the plant are the same as for all varieties of the specified species.

Triangular (triangularis) ficus

Growing in the form of a bush or tree species with elastic shoots covered with leathery triangular leaves. The color of the leaf plates is not monochromatic with a predominance of light green and white tones. In an apartment environment, it needs regular spraying, which helps to refresh the plant and maintain its decorative effect.

Ficus Retuza

In indoor floriculture, the species is preferably cultivated as bonsai due to the quirkiness of the trunk. Shoots are distinguished by good branching, which allows the formation of a dense crown. The shiny, green leaves are ovoid. She is unpretentious to the conditions of detention.

Variegated ficus

The name of the species indicates a feature that distinguishes it from other representatives of the genus and consists in the presence of leathery leaves of various sizes on the plant. It has become widespread in indoor floriculture due to its slow growth rate and a maximum height of 1 m. Green leaf plates are covered with poorly distinguishable dark blotches. Throughout the year, inedible fruits similar to olives are formed on the culture.

Creeping ficus

A compact shrub whose shoots twist well. And thanks to the suction cups on the underside of the small, slightly rough leaf plates, painted in bright green, the plant can easily fix on any surface.

Ficus Parcel

An extraordinary tree-shaped species, distinguished by elongated leaves, the pointed end of which resembles a sting. Leaf plates up to 18 cm long have a peculiar color - the green background is strewn with specks or strokes of light colors. Leafy shoots branch well. Despite proper care, which consists in maintaining a high level of humidity, moderate temperatures and avoiding drafts, the species develops rather slowly.

Ivy ficus

Due to the ability to wrap around the supports, at home, the species with the shape of leaves, like that of ivy, is grown as an ampelous plant. The culture is distinguished by its demanding watering, in which the soil must remain slightly moist, and the presence of space for the development of elastic shoots, covered with bright green leaf.

Deltoid (variegated) ficus

View with leathery leaf blades resembling the letter "delta" from the Greek alphabet. Shiny foliage with a length of up to 8 cm and a width of up to 7 cm is painted in a light green color, the monotony of which on the upper side of the leaf is diluted with white specks, and the lower one - with several black ones.

Ficus goblet

In the shape and color of the leaf plates, the species is not much different from other representatives of the genus. A distinctive feature is the presence of large brown scaly stipules. During the fruiting phase, yellow, edible fruits are formed. The plant is very undemanding and easily tolerates being in shade and any level of humidity.

Ficus Palmera

Sometimes you can hear the second name of the species - bottle ficus. Representatives of the variety are cultivated at home as a bonsai with heart-shaped leaf plates that have a pattern of clearly visible veins on the underside. Due to the thick trunk, in which moisture accumulates, the flower does not need frequent watering.

Ficus care at home

Although ficus belongs to unpretentious crops, its exotic nature requires compliance with certain rules.

Temperature features, lighting, humidity

One of the important features of the culture is the dislike for abrupt changes in location. Therefore, before purchasing a plant, the florist must take care of the place where it will grow. Preference should be given to windows of the east and west directions, from which it is possible to provide the light regime necessary for the ficus - a large amount of bright and diffused light. Varieties with solid leaves can be placed in partial shade.

Attention! In winter, with a short daylight hours, the flower needs additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.

It is not difficult for a heat-loving plant to provide the necessary temperature regime, which:

• in summer it is 25 - 30 ° C;
• in the winter season - 16 - 20 ° C.

For almost all representatives of the genus, with the exception of dwarf ficus, the maximum allowable value, below which the temperature should not fall, is 12 ° C.

A tropical plant requires a high level of moisture for normal development, which can be achieved by regularly spraying with purified water at room temperature.

So that no traces of water remain on the glossy sheet plates, they should be periodically wiped with a damp sponge, which will also free the flower's breath from dust.

Soil requirements

In order for the plant to become an interior decoration and retain its decorative qualities for many years, a representative of the tropics should be grown in a fertile soil mixture purchased in a store or prepared independently. When preparing the substrate with your own hand, leaf, sod land, peat and sand in equal parts are taken. If there is no extra time for such manipulations, then you can purchase a special substrate for ficuses.

Watering and feeding

When watering, it is necessary to control the moisture content of the earthen coma. This is important in order to prevent the soil from drying out, leading to the shedding of leaves, and its waterlogging, which provokes the development of gray rot. If the substrate has dried out to a depth of 2 phalanges of the finger, then it should be moistened with another portion of warm, settled water.

Important! In the case of large specimens, drying of an earthen coma of 6 phalanges is permissible.

In order for the plant to be lush and with beautiful leaf plates, it is recommended to systematically feed the flower with liquid mineral fertilizers at intervals of 10 days. For monochromatic forms, complexes with a high nitrogen content are used, which stimulate the growth of green mass. However, if the grower owns a variegated variety, then the nitrogen application should be limited so as not to lose the fancy pattern.

Cropping and shaping the crown

Ficus needs pruning for two reasons: rejuvenation and shaping the crown. Formative pruning allows you to get a bush, standard plant, bonsai and even a sculpture. But before starting a haircut, it is worth considering the specifics of the species: for example, in the case of rubbery ficus, pruning the central shoot will not lead to branching. Sanitary pruning is carried out every spring when diseased, damaged and old shoots are removed from the plant.

General rules for pruning, which are recommended to be observed regardless of the type and variety:

• Before trimming, you should present the appearance of the plant after completion of the procedure.
• Carry out a haircut only with a sharp and disinfected tool.
• The cut should be made at an angle.

Plant transplant

Young specimens are transplanted annually into pots with a diameter 2 - 3 cm larger than the previous one. For adult, tall plants, the top layer of the substrate is renewed every spring. And the transplantation of adult specimens is carried out only after the roots appear in the drainage holes, which indicates that the earthen coma is completely entwined with the root system.

The procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

• A new pot is selected, at the bottom of which a layer of drainage material is placed.
• A flower is rolled into a new container along with an old earthy clod.
• The remaining free space is filled with fresh, nutritious substrate.

How to care in winter

Caring for ficus in winter involves reducing the volume and frequency of water procedures, as well as top dressing. But if the ficus continues to be kept under summer conditions (long daylight hours, high temperature), then moistening is carried out in the same mode, and feeding is carried out every 1.5 months with a half dosage.

Pests and diseases - how to treat?

Ficus has good immunity to disease damage. However, with systematic waterlogging in the soil, a root rot fungus can begin to develop, affecting the root system of the culture. It is impossible to cure this disease, therefore, in order to protect other plants from infection, you should immediately discard the flower, and heat the pot.

Of the pests on ficus, the following are most often noted:

• Spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects. To protect the plant from insects that feed on leaf sap, it is necessary to systematically spray it. If the pest has already inhabited the ficus, then an insecticide treatment should be carried out.
• Aphid. Insect colonies multiply very quickly and spread to other plants. To prevent this from happening, you can use a soapy solution. With a strong population, preference is given to chemical methods of protection.
• Nematodes. This is a soil pest that inhabits the roots of the ficus, as a result of which the inhabited specimen dies.

Reproduction of ficus

At home, ficuses reproduce by vegetative methods.

Apical cuttings

The procedure is carried out in the spring-summer period:

1. From the apical part of the shoots, planting material 10-15 cm long is cut at an angle.
2. The leaf plate in the internode 1 cm above the cut is removed or shortened by ⅓.
3. The milky juice is washed off under running water, after which the cuttings are dried in the fresh air for several hours, and then treated with a growth stimulant.
4. The cuttings are buried in a soil mixture of peat and sand in equal parts to the second internode.
5. The plantings are covered with a film, which allows you to create greenhouse conditions with the required level of humidity and temperature values.
6. When new young leaf plates are formed, which is evidence of rooting of cuttings, young plants are planted in individual pots.

Air layering

A similar method is used to rejuvenate the ficus, which in the process of growth has lost the lower tiers of leaf plates and began to look not well-groomed.

During the procedure:

1. On the bare trunk, oblique cuts are made in a circle.
2. The injured area is wrapped in wet moss and fixed with tape.
3. Sphagnum is systematically moistened.
4. After the formation of roots, the cuttings slightly below the damaged area are cut off and planted in a prepared pot with drainage and substrate for an adult plant.

Sheet

This method is not the same as the conventional leaf propagation used for other pot crops. To implement this technique, a stalk with one leaf plate is actually used.

To achieve success, follow this algorithm:

1. An oblique cut of the cutting is made along the node itself.
2. The planting material is placed in a mixture of sand and peat up to the petiole of the leaf plate.
3. The folded sheet is fixed with a thin strip of tape or electrical tape, depending on what is at hand.
4. With the help of the film, a mini-greenhouse is created, under which the moisture level of the soil mixture is constantly monitored.
5. The rooted cuttings are planted after the appearance of a young leaf.

What problems can a florist face

Growing a representative of the tropical flora can be accompanied by some difficulties:

• Yellowing, falling leaves and darkening of the stem. Excessive watering becomes the reason for this situation. To fix the problem, it is worth replacing the substrate with the concomitant removal of rotten parts of the root system.
• Brown leaves. It is observed with a deficiency of nutrients in the soil, which should be systematically enriched.
• Drying of the tips of the leaves. The difficulty associated with low humidity levels, which can be dealt with by regular spraying and a warm shower once a week.
• Formation of red spots. If the flower is placed incorrectly, the direct rays of the active sun can lead to burns that look like spots with a diameter of 1 - 3 cm.

Thus, adherence to simple rules for the care and maintenance of ficus is the key to the health and longevity of a beautiful representative of the tropical flora, which will decorate the interior of the room and purify its air from toxins.

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How to grow ficus at home?

In indoor conditions, plants of various sizes are grown, which differ from each other in the height of the trunk, the shape and color of the leaves.

Most ficuses are unpretentious plants., thanks to which they are very popular with florists.

A useful video on how to properly grow a ficus from a leaf at home:

Reproduction

Ficuses reproduce in various ways: by leaves, shoots, cuttings and even twigs.

Shank

Most varieties of ficus propagate using cuttings, how can you grow a ficus from a cutting at home?

Answer: in spring or autumn, the apical cuttings 10-15 cm long you need to cut obliquely.

The lower leaves must be removed, and the upper ones must be shortened by half.

Immediately after separation of the cutting, rinse the cut with water at room temperature.

Then it is recommended to dry the cut part to remove the juice, which, in contact with air, inhibits the formation of the root system.

Important! The stalk of the plant takes root easily in warm water with the addition of charcoal.

The container with the future ficus must be placed in a warm, bright place.

Plant takes root in about 3-4 weeks. Initially, light-colored growths appear on it, from which roots subsequently develop.

After that, the plant can be planted in the ground.

Useful video on how to grow a ficus from a cutting:

Twigs

How can you grow a ficus from a twig?

Answer: for this you need to cut a long branch for seedlings.

The cut off shoot must be placed in a container with settled water for further rooting.

As it evaporates, water is poured into the container. After the twig takes root, it can be planted in the ground.

The soil mixture in which the branch is planted must be regularly loosened and moistened.

Useful video on how to grow a ficus from a twig:

Leaflets

How to grow a fix from a leaf at home?

Answer: for this, in an adult plant, a leaf is necessarily cut off with a piece of the stem (cutting). The cut should be oblique and located in the middle of the node, which is below the sheet selected for planting.

Attention: you need to cut off the leaves with extreme caution, since the secreted juice is poisonous.

Contact with the skin or mucous membranes can cause ulcers and burns.

Leaves for growing new ficus are best used from the trunk or lateral stems.

After cutting the leaf, its stalk is washed with running water and dried.

Then the leaf must be rolled up in the shape of a tube, fixed with an elastic band or thread.

The planting material folded in this way is fixed on a strong, long peg and placed in a previously prepared soil mixture.

The stalk must be completely submerged in the ground. The leaf germinates best in a warm room with ample humidified air.

Water the seedlings with soft water at room temperature.

Useful video on how to grow a ficus from a leaf:

By shoots

How to grow a ficus from a shoot?

To do this, you need to cut off a small piece of the stem with one or more leaves.

A process is placed in a dark container filled with water so that the leaves do not come into contact with the liquid.

It is advisable to add a small amount of charcoal there.

For 30 days, the scion pot is placed in a warm place, protected from direct sunlight.

As it evaporates, water must be added to the container. After the roots appear, the plant is transplanted into a pot with pre-prepared soil.

Important: the shoot can also be planted directly into the potting mix. The slice must first be placed in running water to remove the juice.

The scion is covered with plastic, glass or cellophane wrap to maintain constant temperature and humidity.

After rooting, the new plant is planted in a pot with loose soil.

How does ficus grow?

How to grow ficus correctly?

For normal development, ficus needs to be watered frequently.

Intensive growth of ficus occurs in summer, so at this time it needs more water than usual.
In autumn and winter, watering is reduced.

Water to moisten the soil should be 2 degrees higher than the room temperature.

Reference: Plumbing water contains calcium, chlorine and various impurities that can cause enormous harm to the plant.

Therefore, for irrigation, you need to use pre-purified, soft water at room temperature.

The leaves of the plant wrinkle and lose moisture when the air in the room is dry.

For normal growth of ficus, its leaves must be periodically sprayed and wiped with a damp cloth. It helps to cleanse the stems and leaves from dust, increasing photosynthesis and humidifying the air in the room.

With the right lighting, moistening, observance of the temperature regime, the ficus grows and develops well.

In the summer, the pot with the plant must be taken out into fresh air.

In winter, it is advisable to keep the room temperature at least 15 ° C.

Ficus perfectly decorates any interior, looks spectacular both in an ordinary city apartment and in a spacious country house.

A plant with lush foliage in a variety of green shades is easy to grow even for novice growers.

Useful video

This video explains tips for growing ficus at home: