How and when to transplant a ficus. Which pot to plant a ficus in - the secrets of choosing the right one Which pot does the ficus like?

Probably no one will argue that ficus is one of the most popular plants that gardeners grow at home. This flower is represented by both low-growing representatives (bonsai) and whole bushes reaching a height of 2-3 meters. will allow everyone to choose what they like best.

Important point Something you should pay attention to when growing a plant is choosing the size of the ficus pot. Many do not pay due attention to such a moment, but in vain, since so much depends on it.

How to choose the right container shape

The ficus pot should be selected depending on the size of the flower itself. If the plant has just been purchased and it is still quite small, then it is recommended to take a closer look at a small flowerpot.

You need to be much more careful when choosing a pot for a ficus that has been growing at home for a long time.

Experienced gardeners advise paying attention to containers of standard sizes, in which the diameter is equal to the height of the flowerpot. If there is or at home, then such a pot will be an ideal option.

When planting a tree from which, you need to understand that choosing a flowerpot will be a little more difficult. Many novice gardeners purchase what they like best based on appearance, and this is fundamentally wrong.

Important! A bonsai pot should be flatter, resembling a plate in appearance rather than a flowerpot.

A container or thicket is something that is in great demand. In addition to the fact that such containers are very convenient, they will fit perfectly into any interior of an apartment or office.

When thinking about which pot to plant a flower in, you need to understand that any shape can be changed artificially. Of course, no one will deliberately remake the container, but there is an opportunity to cheat by weaving a flowerpot in which a vase can be placed. Tall products look beautiful and original, ideal for bonsai and other forms.

Pot size - how to choose it

Some believe that the pot for Ficus Benjamin can be anything. Even one left over from some other flower, for example, will do. If you act according to this principle, you may encounter the fact that the plant stops growing, begins to wither, and then dies altogether.

Experienced flower growers say that “We choose the size depending on the development of the flower roots.” There is no point in planting young plants that have small roots in large flowerpots, since the ficus will stop growing due to the fact that it will begin to actively develop root system. And until it entwines the entire earthen lump, the situation will not change.

However, this does not mean that you should wait until the roots appear from the drainage holes.

If the flower has not been replanted for more than a year, you need to take out the earthen ball along with the flower and carefully examine it. Having noticed a developed root system, it is necessary to transplant the ficus into a pot that will be several centimeters larger than the previous one.

Important! Rubber-bearing ficus They grow very quickly, so you will have to buy a new pot for them every year.

The mistake many gardeners make is that when planning to plant a tree, they transplant an already quite large flower into a container that is slightly larger than the previous one. This rule must be followed for those flowers that grow on the windowsill. For floor ficuses, you should buy fairly spacious flowerpots. Considering that adults and large plants they are not replanted, they simply change the top layer of the substrate every year; it will be very difficult to transplant the flower into a more spacious pot. The plant may simply not take root in the new place and die.

Material – what is better to pay attention to

Despite the fact that ficus trees are enough unpretentious plants and can “live” in almost any pot, it is still recommended to pay attention to the material from which it is made.

You need to understand that not all containers are safe; we are talking about toxic materials, from which flowerpots can also be made. Some manufacturers, in order to save a little on production, use poor quality plastic, which begins to release toxins when it comes into contact with soil, water or fertilizers. It is the latter that adversely affects the plant.

There have been cases when a flower began to gradually fade, but the reason could not be found. And only an accidental transplant into a new container saved the situation.

Therefore, when thinking about what kind of pot is needed for a ficus, it is best to choose proven materials.

These include:

• ceramics;
• clay;
• glass;
• tree.

The latter material is relevant for the manufacture of large tubs that can decorate any room.

As for clay containers, they are usually used for planting bonsai.

Ceramics is an expensive material, but it is beautiful, durable and, of course, natural, so if possible, it is worth paying attention to it.

If the florist is well acquainted with the manufacturer and has repeatedly purchased pots from the represented company made of plastic, then you can purchase them. At the same time, having noticed some negative changes occurring in the flower, and also having excluded all possible problems, it wouldn’t hurt to change the flowerpot by buying a pot made of natural material.

Which color do you prefer?

Perhaps this is the simplest thing that can be. Today there are so many on the market color solutions that choosing a suitable pot for ficus will not be difficult. Some gardeners advise paying attention to light colors, which harmonize very beautifully with green shades sheet plates. If you purchase a ceramic flowerpot, then you can take a closer look at products that have a whimsical and delicate design.

By choosing the right pot, the flower will grow quickly and develop well.

Ficus Benjamin does not have a pronounced dormant period, so it needs to be provided with approximately the same conditions throughout the year.

Pruning and rejuvenation

Ficus needs pruning in early spring, at the beginning of the growing season. This procedure allows not only to form a crown, but also to rejuvenate adult specimens - after pruning, axillary buds awaken, producing new shoots. Regular removal of dry, slow-growing and diseased areas avoids infection of the entire plant.

Reference! In order for the crown to grow evenly, the flowerpot should be regularly rotated relative to the light source.

You can trim the branches depending on the desired shape, but by a maximum of a third. The pruning shears must be sharp and disinfected, and the cut areas must be sprinkled with ash or activated carbon.

Microclimate

Temperature and humidity

The temperature comfortable for the development of Ficus Benjamin is +25–30 °C in the spring and summer, +14–16 °C in the cold season. If the thermometer drops to +10 °C or lower, the root system dies.

Ficus requires high air humidity: at least 50%, ideally about 70%. In autumn and winter it should be sprayed 2-3 times a week, in spring and summer - daily. Every month, for healthy growth and prevention of pests, you need to give the ficus a warm shower, after covering the earthen ball with polyethylene.

Lighting and a comfortable place for a flower

Requires bright, diffused lighting. It is necessary to exclude direct sunlight on the plant - they lead to burns on the leaves and their yellowing.

In autumn and winter, with short daylight hours, additional use of phytolamps is required.

The most comfortable place for a ficus is a window facing east or west; on the south, shading will be required, especially during the midday hours.

The room in which the plant is located should be regularly ventilated, and the flowerpot itself should not be placed in a draft or near heating devices.

Shade tolerance

Varieties with monochrome leaves tolerate a lack of light well, but their growth in such conditions slows down. Variegated varieties in the shade lose their decorative effect.

Where can I buy? Price fork

You can purchase Ficus Benjamin in specialized stores or order online. The cost depends on its variety, height, diameter of the flowerpot and varies from 500 to 10 thousand rubles.

What to do immediately after buying a flower?

A newly purchased plant needs 15–20 days to adapt to new conditions, then it should be replanted, replacing the transport container and substrate.

Expert opinion

Mokhov Andrey Petrovich

Graduated from KubSAU, specialty: agronomy

Ficus does not tolerate frequent movements, so you should immediately choose for it permanent place.

What kind of pot do you need?

The size of the flowerpot must correspond to the root system. It is better to choose a standard container with a diameter equal to height.

If we are talking about growing and planting bonsai, then the pot should be wide and flat, reminiscent of a bowl.

Among the materials, preference should be given to ceramics, clay, glass or wood.

Be sure to have drainage holes in the flowerpot. Expanded clay, perlite, small pebbles or clay shards are suitable for drainage.

What kind of soil is needed?

The soil must be nutritious, moisture-permeable, have good aeration, and have neutral or weak acidity (pH 5.5–6.5).

You can use store-bought soil intended for growing decorative foliage plants or ficus trees, or prepare your own soil mixture by mixing:

• turf;
• coarse sand;
• peat;
• leaf soil.

The risk of root rot can be minimized by adding charcoal to the soil.

To get rid of pests, the earth mixture needs to be calcined, steamed and spilled with a manganese solution.

Transfer

Ficus should be replanted in early spring, before the active growing season. Specimens up to 4 years old need to be replanted annually, after that - once every 2-3 years.

A transplant is necessary if:

• 15–20 days have passed since the date of purchase;
• the root system has grown and does not fit in the flowerpot;
• There are insects in the soil or the plant is sick.

Reference! To avoid the formation of a salt crust, it is enough to replace the top layer of soil.

You need to prepare the substrate, drainage and pot in advance, 3–5 cm larger than the previous one.

The transplant process step by step:

• water the ficus generously;
• Place drainage at the bottom of the flowerpot and sprinkle it with soil;
• remove the plant along with the earthen lump, shake off the roots;
• transfer the bush to a new container;
• Fill the voids with prepared soil and compact it slightly.

After transplantation, do not water the ficus for 2 days and do not feed it for 2 weeks.

Reproduction

This perennial propagates by cuttings, layering and seeds. Depending on the chosen method you will need:

• pruner;
• soil mixture;
• containers for planting;
• growth stimulants – “Kornevin”, “Heteroauxin”;
• polyethylene;
• sphagnum moss;
• woody or Activated carbon;
• water;
• fungicides - " Bordeaux mixture", "Alirin B", "Fundazol".

By cuttings

The most common and simplest way. The most suitable time for this is spring or early summer, a period of active growth.

For cuttings you need:

• cut cuttings 10–15 cm long;
• remove low-lying leaves;
• wash off the leaking juice, dry the cut areas, treat them with a growth stimulator (“Kornevin” or “Heteroauxin”) to speed up root formation;
• place the seedling in a container with settled water at room temperature, cover it with polyethylene, creating a greenhouse effect;
• when the roots appear, transplant the cuttings into the ground and cover the pot again with polyethylene or a jar until the first leaves appear.

Place the container with the seedling in a well-lit place at a temperature of +25–30 °C, excluding drafts and direct Sun rays.

By layering

To reproduce using this method you need:

• make a circular cut on the stem without touching the core of the wood;
• treat this area with a growth stimulator, wrap it in damp sphagnum;
• cover the moss with polyethylene so that the moisture does not evaporate;
• fix the structure with threads or wire;
• after the roots appear, cut the stem a little lower and plant in the soil;
• Treat the cut area with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.

Propagation by layering is most often used in bonsai cultivation to produce aerial roots.

Seeds

Seeds must be treated with a growth stimulator and fungicides (Bordeaux mixture, Alirin B, Fundazol), and sown superficially on light, moist soil. Cover the container with polyethylene and keep at a temperature of +25–30 °C and sufficient quantity Sveta.

This method is used by professional breeders to obtain new varieties and hybrids.

Fertilizer and feeding

In spring and summer, fertilizing should be done twice a month; in winter, the amount should be reduced by half, and in the absence additional lighting do not use at all. Universal fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants or ficuses are suitable (Bona Forte, Agricola, Pokon, Reasil).

Watering

Regularity depends on the conditions of the plant. It is necessary to focus on the degree of drying of the soil - if the earthen ball is dry at a depth of 2-3 cm, watering is required.

Water should be at room temperature, settled or filtered.

If you are going on vacation

During a long absence, it is worth using wick watering - lower one end of a cord made of fabric that absorbs moisture well into a container of water, and lay the other in a spiral on the surface of the soil around the plant and lightly sprinkle it with soil.

Problems during cultivation

Diseases. Table

Disease	Signs	Causes	Treatment
Anthracnose	Dark brown spots appear on the leaves	The disease is provoked by pathogenic fungi Kabatiella, Colletotrichum, Gloeosporium	Remove the affected parts of the ficus, spray it with fungicides (Rovral, Fitosporin)
Root rot	Yellowing and wilting of foliage, rotting roots	Systematic waterlogging coupled with cold air	Remove the ficus from the flowerpot and inspect the roots. If they are dark and soft, the plant cannot be saved. Otherwise, it is necessary to cut off the damaged parts, replant, replacing the soil and flowerpot, and treat with fungicides (“Alirin”, “Fitosporin”, “Carbendazim”)
Cercospora	The leaf blades below are covered with small black dots	The causative agent of the disease is the fungus Cercospora spp.	Remove infected leaves, reduce watering, treat with Alirin or Fitosporin

Pests. Table

Pest	Signs	How to get rid
Spider mite	White dots appear on the foliage, and thin cobwebs appear on certain parts of the plant	Treat ficus with “Fitoverm”, “Aktellik”, “Sunmite”
Thrips	The leaves become whitish, pest eggs are visible on the lower part	Treat with insecticides (Aktara, Iskra, Vermitek, Mospilan)
Shields	A sticky coating appears on the leaves and trunk	Remove pests mechanically using a cloth soaked in soapy solution, then treat the plant with a systemic preparation (“Aktara”), after 7–10 days spray it with an insecticide (“Konfidor”, “Commander”)

Problems with leaves and care errors. Table

Problem	Cause	How to solve
Leaves are drying	Lack of light or moisture	Use phytolamps, increase watering and spraying
The leaves are falling		This is a reaction to changes in conditions of detention - rearrangement to another place, drafts
Yellowing of the crown	Low temperature, excess moisture	Adjust the watering regime, insulate the pot with the plant
Ficus doesn't grow	Small pot, lack of lighting	Transplant the bush into a container larger diameter, use additional artificial lighting

Help us make the article better and more informative. Write in the comments what questions remain unanswered?

1. What shape does a ficus pot need? Suitable for most representatives of this species standard model, whose height is approximately equal to the diameter. For example, such a pot is suitable for ficus Benjamin.

   Ficus benjamina

   The only exceptions are those plants that are grown using the bonsai technique. Then you need to select flat pots or bowls with sides no more than 10 cm high. In this case, for Ficus Benjamin you need a pot in the form of a bowl or container, preferably made of clay and without a glossy coating.

How to propagate ficus benjamina at home

3 ways to propagate ficus benjamina

It is believed that ficus brings good luck and cleanses energy, so many housewives would like to acquire this home shrub. Ficus benjamina is very popular now. This is due to the fact that its trunks can be intertwined in beautiful designs, trim the crown, create beautiful Bonsai. Very often the question arises of how to grow ficus benjamina at home. This plant is quite unpretentious and is not difficult to propagate.

Spring and early summer are ideal for propagation, since during this period the plant begins to grow more actively, acquires new branches and foliage, and the root system also grows more rapidly.

There are several ways to propagate Ficus Benjamin:

• Cuttings;
• Reproduction using seeds;
• Microcloning.

At home, the first two types of reproduction are most optimal. Since cloning is used in industrial scale, or when breeding new varieties of ficus. In this case, gardeners receive an exact copy of the donor plant.

Propagation of Ficus Benjamin by cuttings

If you decide to use this method propagation of the plant, you should follow the following algorithm; in more detail you can watch the video below:

1. We cut branches from the top of the tree 10-15 cm long. We make the cut obliquely. The prepared cuttings should have 2-3 tiers of leaves.
2. When the shoot is cut, milk appears white, we wash it off with water, since dried juice can interfere with the full development of the roots. It is also possible to place the cut cuttings in a container with water; the water must be changed every 2-3 hours until the liquid stops coming out of the cut, then dry it for an hour.
3. Place the dried sprout in a jar of water. You need to make sure that the water is at room temperature, warm water the branch will give roots faster.
4. We place our plant in a lighted place, but without direct sunlight. We monitor the evaporation of the liquid, add the missing one.

Make sure that the leaves of your future tree do not touch the water, otherwise it may begin to rot. We also recommend adding a tablet of activated carbon to the water, it will also help prevent rotting.

If the conditions are not met, you may get an effect like in the photo below. The sprouts sprouted roots, but they could not be saved, the stalk began to rot, and the leaves fell off (the reasons for the falling leaves can be found here), since they were completely in water.

After the roots in the water have reached about 5 cm in length, it is time to transplant the sprout into a pot for further cultivation. For faster growth, you can treat the lower part of the seedling with a special root stimulator.

We propagate ficus in the ground

There is another way to propagate ficus using cuttings at home - planting cut branches directly into the ground. To do this, you need to select a special mixture of soil that young ficus plants love. If you want to make the mixture yourself, for this we take in equal parts:

• peat soil;
• sand;
• leaf humus.

You can also find packages with the finished substance in stores; they are also suitable for this procedure.

For such rooting, we prepare cuttings in the same way as in the instructions above. After that:

• take the dried cut and sprinkle it with crushed coal;
• we plant the sprout in the ground on one bud;
• cover the plant with a three-liter jar, thus creating a mini greenhouse for it, also suitable plastic bag;
• we water the soil moderately, until it grows it should not be dry, but at the same time you should not make a “swamp”;
• put the pot in a warm place, for example next to a radiator, but no direct sunlight;
• When the branch takes root, you will see new leaves, after which we gradually remove our greenhouse. We start with 15-20 minutes a day so that the tree gets used to the new conditions.

Propagation of trees from seeds

You have decided to try to germinate ficus at home from seeds, then store-bought specimens are better suited. At home, such ficuses bloom extremely rarely, one might say they don’t bloom at all, so purchased seeds are an ideal option. They have a high degree of germination and can also be stored for a long time if the storage and transportation rules are followed. There is no need to further process these seeds. The soil for sowing seeds is used the same as for cuttings; for feeding, you can add 10 g of bone meal for every 10 liters of soil mixture. We do not plant the seeds deeply; it is enough to sprinkle them with soil; the planting depth should be approximately 5 mm.

It is acceptable to plant several seeds in a wide, shallow container, since the seedlings are subject to further replanting. Next, spray the soil generously and cover with a plastic bag (you can also use a glass jar or plastic bottle). Before full growth, the soil should always be moist, but not “mud.”

The greenhouse created in this way must be opened daily for 10 minutes to avoid waterlogging of the soil and to remove excess condensation. When you see the first sprouts, you can remove the greenhouse for a longer period, but you can abandon it only until all the seeds have completely sprouted.

The optimal temperature for germinating seedlings is 20-25 degrees. After the seedlings grow a couple of leaves, they can be planted in a larger pot. This method of propagation and rooting is excellent for ficus Benjamin dunetti, since the dunetti variety is quite expensive, and by germinating it from seeds there is a chance of growing a beautiful tree at an affordable price.

For rooting, it is better to choose a large enough pot. Ficus does not like frequent replanting, so you need to change the plant’s container as needed; you can see how to replant a plant here.

For beginner gardeners, it is more advisable to propagate Ficus Benjamin using germinated cuttings in water. In order to make your task easier, we have prepared for you several videos below, where you can see in detail how to propagate this beautiful plant and what you need for its further cultivation, you can see in the article on caring for ficus.

Ficus benjamina - propagation | Exemplary Estate

Ficus benjamina has become a frequent decoration modern houses, and often those who do not have such a plant in their house wonder how it reproduces. The most famous methods of propagation of this plant are seed propagation and cuttings.

How to propagate ficus benjamina

Since in conditions indoor growing Since the plant does not bloom and, therefore, does not produce seeds, seed propagation of this plant causes certain difficulties for us.

Harvested cuttings

So in our conditions, propagation by cuttings is the ideal option.

Ficus benjamina: propagation by cuttings

Before you start cuttings, make sure that the mother plant, that is, the plant from which you will take cuttings, is absolutely healthy. Further, it should be taken into account that the most favorable time for cutting a plant is the period of spring or early summer; in winter or autumn it is best not to resort to this procedure. By propagating the plant at this time, you will ensure that the young plants, having taken root, will be able to get stronger and survive the autumn-winter period well.

Harvesting cuttings

Correct cutting

Most existing ficus species can be propagated by cuttings. Preparation of cuttings consists of cutting them from mother plant. Prepare a sharp knife and carefully cut the apical semi-woody branches from 12 to 15 cm long at an angle of 45 °.

You should not cut the cuttings with blunt tools and make the cut even, as this will contribute to poor survival of the cuttings and slow down their rooting.

Preparation of cuttings

Germinating cuttings in water

After the cuttings are cut from the mother plant, you need to remove all excess leaves, especially large ones. This is done so that the plant can devote all its strength to the formation of roots. The second stage will be getting rid of the milky juice at the site of the lower cut; it should either be washed off immediately, or the cuttings should be placed in a jar of water until the juice stops secreting. The water should be changed periodically, approximately every one and a half to two hours. The juice is removed from the cut because when it hardens, it forms a dense film and interferes with the formation of the root system on the cut.

Callos formation

After the leaves have been removed and the juice has been washed off, you need to spread the cuttings on a clean surface and dry them slightly for two to three hours.

Germinating cuttings in water

It is best to germinate cuttings in warm water, so they will germinate and take root faster. But in warm water, rotting processes can begin; to avoid this, you should add activated carbon to the water. Just one tablet per half-liter jar will be enough. The cuttings are immersed in water so that the water does not touch the remaining leaves. The container with the cuttings is placed on a well-lit windowsill, but so that the plants are not exposed to direct sunlight.

The cutting is ready for planting

If you notice that the water has evaporated, simply add required quantity water in a jar.

You can create a mini greenhouse around the container with cuttings, so the germination of cuttings will be faster. To create a greenhouse, simply place the container with the cuttings in a plastic bag and tie it. But it should be remembered that the greenhouse should be ventilated periodically to avoid the appearance of mold and rot.

Approximately two to three weeks after the start of germination, light growths will appear on the stems of the cuttings; this is callus, from which roots are subsequently formed.

Planting cuttings in the ground

As soon as the roots grow to a length of 1-2 cm, the plants can be planted in the ground. How to further grow plants correctly, read the article: Ficus benjamina: cultivation and care

Germination of cuttings in the ground

In addition to germinating cuttings in a container with water, you can germinate them directly in the ground.

For such germination you need to prepare a special substrate. Take sand, peat and perlite in equal proportions, mix well and the substrate is ready. The substrate is poured into seedling boxes or any other container for germinating cuttings and water well.

Growing cuttings in soil

The cuttings are prepared as in the previous case, removing excess leaves and washing off the milky juice from the tip of the cutting. After drying the cuttings, their sections must be disinfected by sprinkling them with crushed charcoal. Then you can plant the cuttings. If you get the soil very wet, let the excess water drain. The soil should be well soaked, but not wet to the point of mud. The cuttings are immersed in a moist substrate, deepening one or two buds.

After the cuttings are planted, create a greenhouse for the plants; for this, as in the previous case, place the container with the cuttings in a plastic bag and tie it. Don't forget to ventilate the greenhouse from time to time. You can replace the plastic bag by simply covering the plants glass jar, but this is optional.

For better education roots and faster survival, you can water the plants from time to time with a root stimulator, but do not overuse it.

Creating a greenhouse

Whether plants have taken root or not is determined by observing the appearance of new young leaves. As soon as they appeared, the plant took root. But after the appearance of young leaves, you should not immediately remove the greenhouse; you need to gradually accustom the young plants to environmental conditions. To do this, they begin to open the greenhouse every day and leave the plants without shelter, each time increasing the time, and so on until the plants are hardened. After the hardening period has passed, you can replant the plants to a permanent place, but you should not immediately take a pot that is too large.

Ficus benjamina. Home cultivation and care

In this article, Sovetland.ru will tell you how to properly grow the Ficus Benjamina plant, beloved by many, at home and how to care for it.

A little about Ficus Benjamin

One of the popular houseplants is ficus benjamina. IN natural conditions this plant can be found in Australia and Asian countries - Thailand, India, China. Reaching a height of up to 20 meters, ficus is famous for its wide, beautiful crown. Ficus is a symbol of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

Why is Ficus Benjamin so attractive? Rough, uneven bark, glossy leaves and aerial roots, which protrude above ground level - together they present a truly mesmerizing picture in exquisite oriental style. Ficus is also used to form bonsai - an oriental work of art.

In our climatic conditions, this handsome man of Asian origin can reach a height of up to 3 meters. In order for the ficus to constantly delight you with its chic green crown and attract all the eyes of guests to itself, it needs proper and timely care.

How to care for ficus benjamina

Transfer

Ficus propagation is carried out by cuttings into the ground or water. An important point to note: Ficus Benjamin is a rubber plant, which means that in order for the juice released at the cut to not interfere with rooting, the freshly cut branch should be held under running water for several minutes, which will remove unnecessary plant juice.

Oddly enough, such a large plant has a root system of only 10-15 cm in diameter, so there is no point in choosing a large pot for the ficus.

After planting a cutting or transplanting an already mature plant, the ficus bowl must be placed in a warm place with high humidity. It is better not to place the plant near the battery.

If you transplanted Ficus Benjamin and it abruptly began to shed its leaves, you should not be upset; after transplantation, the plant always needs a period of adaptation and recovery.

Top dressing

Ficus should be fed once every 2 weeks with standard fertilizers intended for indoor plants. After transplantation, ficuses are fed 5-6 weeks later.

Choosing the right pot for ficus

If you want to additional feeding, then you can apply spraying with a fairly powerful agent - Epin.

In winter, Ficus Benjamin does not need feeding.

Ficus Benjamin can be watered only with warm water - 35-50 degrees, not often, so as not to simply flood the plant. The leaves of the tree need to be moistened by spraying with warm boiled water(then there are no streaks left on the leaves). Dusty leaves lose their gloss - their natural shine, and general form becomes unattractive. If possible, wipe the leaves of young plants with a damp sponge. A warm shower is an integral part of proper ficus care. It is recommended to rinse the plant once every two to three weeks.

Creating comfortable conditions

The optimal location of the ficus is in bright and diffused light. It tolerates light shading well, but bright sunlight is destructive for ficus.

In summer time comfortable temperature for ficus 17-20°C. The temperature in the autumn-winter period should not be lower than 18°C. The temperature and lighting in the room must be constant, otherwise their fluctuations can lead to yellowing and falling leaves. You can move the ficus to a new place only as a last resort.

Diseases dangerous for Ficus Benjamin

One of the common pests dangerous to ficus trees is scale insects. This insect lives on the back of the leaf and looks like brown spots that can be easily picked off with a fingernail.

The scale insect does not appear out of nowhere. This means that if new plants are quarantined, excluding their contact with old-timers, then the appearance of scale insects can be avoided.

If an infection does occur, you will have to make a lot of effort to get rid of this pest. There are two main methods of control: special poisons and laundry soap.

Of the poisonous drugs, Aktelik is the most effective, but the plant can only be treated with it outdoors. 1 ml of substance per liter of water, spray branches, leaves and soil.

Repeated treatment after 2 weeks.

If you need to get rid of scale insects in winter, then you can use laundry soap as a means of control. Grind, add warm water, stir. Soak a cotton swab in the resulting solution and wipe each leaf and each twig.

After 1.5-2 hours, wash off the soap under warm running water. During this procedure, it is recommended to cover the ground with polyethylene to avoid alkali penetration and soil erosion. Repeated treatment after 2 weeks.

Crown formation

A plant with a thick, evenly formed cap always looks impressive. Ficus in this regard is like plasticine - in the hands of a skilled grower it will take on any shape. You can curl 3 ficus trees into one trunk with a pigtail, bend 2 plants into an arch, give it a heart shape, or grow a ficus with a spiral trunk. Crown formation must begin from the very moment of planting. To give the ficus a certain height, you need to pinch the top of the plant, then the crown will grow in width.

As you know, ficus is one of the most spectacular plants for home and office. But it is quite capricious and the wrong location or watering regime will almost certainly affect the condition of the flower, and it may get sick. The pot for the ficus is also important and directly affects the growth rate.

How to choose a pot for ficus?

For young plants, standard pots are quite suitable, but adults need large tubs with a volume of several tens of liters. It is worth selecting a container taking into account the shape, size and type of plant.

1. What shape does a ficus pot need? For most representatives of this species, the standard model, whose height is approximately equal to the diameter, is quite suitable. For example, such a pot is suitable for ficus Benjamin. The only exceptions are those plants that are grown using the bonsai technique. Then you need to select flat pots or bowls with sides no more than 10 cm high. In this case, for Ficus Benjamin you need a pot in the form of a bowl or container, preferably made of clay and without a glossy coating.
2. The size of the ficus pot is selected depending on the development and size of the root system. Ideally, the container should have a good drainage hole; there should be at least 2 cm from the roots to the walls of the pot. The new pot should be only 2-3 cm wider than the old one. If you choose a container that is too large, this can lead to root rot or even death of the plant. And for some species, space is generally contraindicated.
3. What kind of pot is needed for a ficus in terms of material? Everything is simple here. A container made of plastic, clay or ceramic is quite suitable for this plant. There is only one condition: the plant should not be exposed to chemical influences from the material. The ideal pot for a ficus no older than one year is made of uncoated clay; for an older plant, a tub made of wood or plastic is quite suitable.

   What kind of pot is needed to grow ficus

Ficus benjamina

One of the most common indoor plants is Ficus Benjamina. Among ficuses this is the most popular species. In nature, it is found in China, India, Australia, as well as in the Philippines and Hawaii.

Ficus are evergreen shrubs and trees. In nature, they grow up to 20 meters in height. In a humid tropical climate, numerous aerial roots extend from its trunk and branches, which become additional support and often form a multi-stemmed banyan tree.

At home, ficus benjamina can be quite large - the entire height of the room; with the help of pruning, its crown can be shaped as needed. A white milky juice is released on the cut.

Like other ficuses, the leaves of this species are shiny, leathery, and have short petioles. The color is dark green, there are many variegated forms - they have leaves with spots of white or milky yellow.

Ficus benjamina has small leaf blades, 6-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, pointed at the ends. The stems are drooping, the plant branches well.

Young shoots of this type of ficus are very flexible. Often several cuttings are planted in one pot, and as they grow, the stems are braided. The adjacent stems grow together over time and form beautiful growths.

In areas with a tropical climate, ficus benjamina is actively used for landscaping, creating garden sculptural forms and trimmed hedges.

Ficus does not require Benjamin special care and is quite suitable for growing as a bonsai.

In recent decades, many new varieties of this ficus have been developed. They differ in shape, size and color of leaves.

Ficus benjamina 'Kinky'

Ficus benjamina 'Starlight'

At home, ficus benjamina does not bloom or bear fruit.

Caring for ficus benjamina is not difficult. You just need to remember well that this plant does not tolerate cold drafts. The ficus leaves begin to fall, and this leaf fall can last a long time.

Ficus is a light-loving plant; variegated forms are especially sensitive to light. In autumn and winter it is better to keep it on a south window. But at the same time, in a fairly shaded place, the green-leaved ficus benjamina grows and develops normally, but its crown will not be as lush. The most suitable windows are eastern and western. In summer, this ficus can grow on a balcony or veranda

The plant is thermophilic. Watering at high air temperatures is plentiful. A large mass of leaves evaporates a lot of moisture and needs to be replenished. In winter, the ficus can be kept in a cool room (temperature not lower than 10 degrees). It needs to be watered less.

Spraying is useful. Water for spraying and irrigation is taken slightly lukewarm

A newly transplanted ficus should be watered carefully; its roots can easily rot in wet soil. But when the roots of the ficus reach the walls of the pot and entwine the earthen ball, then it is not afraid of excess moisture - all excess water quickly flows out of the pot.

The ficus is replanted when its roots completely fill the pot. The new container should be only slightly larger than the previous one. Good drainage is a must.

Ficus benjamina grows quite quickly at home, so the soil must be sufficiently nutritious.

How to choose a pot and replant a ficus at home

In spring and summer, fertilizers are regularly applied to ornamental leafy plants.

The soil mixture for ficus is made up of 2 parts leaf soil and 1 part each of peat and humus. Upper layer soil is replaced when a white crust appears on it - salt coating.

Ficus benjamina itself has a beautiful crown, branches well, and many varieties do not require any special shaping. But if the ficus has lost some of its leaves, its trunk has become bare, you can stimulate the formation of new shoots and leaves by pruning. Pruning should be done in February, before spring growth begins. The younger the ficus tree, the easier it is to shape by pruning.

Trimmed shoots are used for propagation. You can root cuttings in water during the warm season. The roots appear in 3-4 weeks. In some varieties, rooting is poor; it is advisable to use rooting stimulants.

One of the common pests of ficus trees is the scale insect. The infected plant gradually weakens and drops its leaves. It is almost impossible to clean the leaves manually; treatment with insecticides is required.

Ficus benjamina reacts the same way to all errors in care at home - it drops its leaves.

The most common reason for ficus leaves falling is a cold draft. A window open in winter can cause the death of a plant. Cold window sills are also dangerous for plants - cold wet ground can destroy the roots of the ficus.

Leaf fall can occur due to lack of moisture in the air and soil. Often the leaves of the ficus benjamina begin to gradually fall off in the spring with the onset of warm sunny days. This tells the plant that it needs more watering.

Ficus turns yellow

The first reason that can cause yellowing of leaves is improper watering.

The leaves turn yellow if the plant has not been watered for a long time, and they fall off one by one. In ficuses with large leaves, when they dry out, first of all the lower leaves turn yellow, in small-leaved ones - in different parts of the crown.

When overmoistened or overwatered, ficus leaves also turn yellow, but the main difference is this: when they overdry, the leaves turn yellow slowly and fall off one at a time; when overwatered, they turn yellow faster and fall off en masse: in large-leaved leaves there are 2-4 pieces at a time, in small-leaved leaves - 20 each. -30 leaves per day.

Do not rely on your own memory, but dig up the soil and touch it in the depths of the pot.

To avoid waterlogging of the soil: if there is water left in the pan after watering, it must be drained. In winter, water less often than in spring and summer.

When replanting in a pot, ensure good drainage. If there is no expanded clay, then lay broken red brick - it collects excess water well.

What kind of pot is needed for ficus?

Add pieces of birch charcoal to the soil - they prevent rotting processes. And add a few tablespoons of vermiculite to the soil.

Ficus diseases

New leaves become smaller, old ones turn yellow and fall off - the plant does not have enough nutrients, it needs to be replanted in nutritious soil.

Yellow spots appear on the leaves or the edges of the leaves turn yellow, the leaves fall off prematurely - due to excessive watering.

Watering should be moderate, i.e. the soil should have time to dry out.

Also, with excessive watering, the leaves droop, become lifeless and fall off.

Dry, wrinkled leaves on ficus plants - more often in ampelous forms - too dry air, dry soil, sunburn.

Sudden loss of leaves - different types may be caused for various reasons- waterlogging of the soil in ficus rubber and lyre-shaped, lack of light or a sharp change in climate in ficus benjamin.

This phenomenon can also be caused by watering cold water, low room temperature, lack of light, excess nutrients in the soil or cold draft. Good results in such cases, spraying with Epin solution gives.

Falling of the lower leaves - it is believed that the falling of the lower leaves in tree-like forms of ficus is a natural phenomenon (very typical for ficuses in indoor conditions), but this is not entirely true, the lower leaves, naturally, periodically fall off when aging, but the trunk, nevertheless, should not be completely naked. Exposure of the trunk occurs due to untimely transplantation, transplantation into poor soil, lack of fertilizing, violation of temperature and light conditions.

Brown spots on the tips and edges of leaves - When the room temperature is too high, the air is dry, or when overfeeding with fertilizers.

For ficus lyreate and ficus dwarf, overdrying of the soil is dangerous. If you forget to water them, the leaves and shoots dry out.

The loss of variegated leaf color in many types of ficus occurs due to lack of light or sunlight.

In some varieties it is almost impossible to restore variegation completely; for example, the Safari variety very often turns into an ordinary green ficus.

Ficus Pests

It is quite difficult to detect any pest on variegated ficus trees - their traces are masked by the natural coloring of the leaves. Therefore, if the ficus has begun to shed its leaves, take a magnifying glass and carefully examine them on both sides.

Scale insects: look like brown plaques on the surface of leaves, petioles and stems, suck out cell sap. The leaves lose color, dry out and fall off.

Control measures. For mechanical cleaning pests, wipe the leaves with a soapy sponge. Then spray the plant with Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water) or water and spray with Aktar solution.

Spider mites: initially, small discolored spots appear on the leaves; if you look at the leaf opening, pinholes are visible. Gradually the leaves turn yellow and dry out. With severe damage, cobwebs are visible in the internodes and on the back of the leaves.

Control measures. You can use drugs such as Fitoverm, Actofit, Agravertin, Akarin - at the rate of 10 ml per 1 liter of water, or Vertimek (1 ml per 1 liter of water). The treatment must be repeated after 3-5 days - if the weather is hot or warm (26-24 degrees) and after 7 days if the air temperature is 20 degrees or lower, since these drugs do not kill tick eggs.

Thrips - contribute to the appearance heat and low air humidity. On the underside of the leaf, thrips lays numerous colonies, and light dots appear on the upper side of the leaf. As a result, the upper side of the leaf becomes grayish-brown with a silvery sheen.

Control measures. The plant should be sprayed, if necessary, repeatedly with insecticides (fitoverm, decis, actellik, inta-vir).

Read more about pests of indoor plants in the "pests" section.

Ficus Fertilizer

General rule: fertilize with fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants in the dose recommended by the manufacturer.

Do not feed overdried plants; those that have been flooded are frozen

Do not feed ficus trees for a month after transplantation, during the winter months and on very hot days in the summer. Do not increase the dose of fertilizers.

Ficus plants need to be fed from April to August, once every two weeks with a special fertilizer for indoor plants.

Such fertilizers as “Giant”, “Ideal”, “Uniflor Rost”, “Rainbow” and others are suitable.

The tiny ficus must be fed carefully because, despite the fact that it grows quickly, when too large doses of fertilizer are applied, it loses its leaves.

Read more about fertilizers for indoor plants in the fertilizer section

Learning to identify ficus trees (photos, descriptions of varieties and species)

Brief characteristics of the plant

Ficus - evergreen tree, belonging to the mulberry family. It is widespread in India, Nepal, Japan, Burma, China and Ceylon. The following species are most often grown in rooms:

Ficus minima is a plant with a climbing stem and thin, wire-like branches. The leaves are small, asymmetrical, thin. Young leaves are heart-shaped, old leaves are oval shape. The plant can be a wonderful decoration for almost any room: apartment, large hall, office, winter garden;

Ficus benjamina has drooping shoots and dense green leaves. Some varieties of this species have leaves with yellow and white spots;

Ficus rubber is a plant with large smooth green leaves;

Ficus pandurata has large leaves that are shaped like a guitar.

There are also many ampelous forms, for example, ficus rooting with variegated leaves and ficus dwarf, characterized by small leaves.

Light-loving plant.

Moderate watering is sufficient.

Feeding is necessary once a month.

Accommodation

All varieties of ficus are unpretentious and undemanding to lighting and air humidity.

Which pot to plant ficus in: secrets of the right choice

In the spring-autumn period, ficus requires abundant watering.

Upmel forms require support - a wooden lattice or wire. Without it, the shoots will hang down.

Care

In summer, the plant needs abundant watering; in winter, watering should be reduced. In the warm season, the leaves and air in the room must be sprayed regularly. The plant should be fed once a month with mineral fertilizers.

Reproduction

Young ficus can be grown from apical cuttings. To do this, you need to cut a cutting on which at least two or three buds have formed, dry it a little, plant it in damp sand for rooting, and after a while transplant it into the soil.

Pests and diseases

Scale insects and spider mites cause great harm to the plant. Excess moisture, lack of lighting, and drafts can cause leaves to turn yellow or fall off.

Which pot should I plant my ficus in? Of particular importance, no, what material the plant pot will be made of.

It is important to pay more attention sizes. Don't forget about correct placement pot with ficus. Caring for it and timely replanting will help keep the plant in proper condition.

Household ficus trees come in a wide variety of types and sizes. Therefore, the question often arises of which ficus pot to choose. To do this correctly, you need to:

• Calculate size
• Select form
• Select material

The size of the pot directly depends on the state of development of the plant roots. The optimal size will be in which they will not reach the walls of the selected container by about two centimeters. You need to purchase a vessel that is not too large, with a good drainage system.

There is no ideal form of container for growing ficus plants. In most cases they will do ordinary products classic shape, sold in stores.

However, for those who like to grow plants using bonsai technology, flat models with sides of 10 cm or more are needed.

What is the container in which the “tree” will grow made? of great importance does not have.

It can be plastic, clay or ceramics, and for particularly large specimens, wooden tubs. The main thing when choosing a material is the absence chemical influence on a flower.

From the above we can conclude that when choosing a pot, you need to remember the condition of the roots, the size of the ficus and the method of growing it. The vessel must not be processed chemical compounds and fit into the interior.

It is easy to determine which pot to plant a young ficus in. For such a plant you will need a standard small pot with good drainage. If you need to replant a grown plant or a specimen recently purchased in a store, you need to know how to choose a container.

You need to ask yourself what pot to plant a ficus in that you bought in a store 3-4 weeks after the new pet appears in the house. The plant is already experiencing stress from a change in microclimate, but if you add a transplant to this, the flower may weaken or become sick.

It is important to keep the new specimen away from other houseplants. In flower shops, greenhouses and greenhouses, pests sometimes appear or plants become infected.

It is important to leave the new pet in the quarantine area for about a month to make sure that it is healthy and will not infect other flowers. After all, there are insects that attack almost all crops and are difficult to remove. An example is spider mites.

When thinking about what kind of pot is needed for a ficus, we recommend choosing a container that has the following proportions - the height is equal to its diameter. This recommendation applies to the selection of containers for Ficus Benjamin and Rubber crops.

You should not try to delay the next transplant by choosing a “house” that is too large for the described plant. This may have several negative consequences. So, the flower will begin to spend a lot of energy on building up the root system, which can negatively affect its decorative effect.

Also, when watering in a container that is too large, water may begin to accumulate, which the roots cannot reach. This will cause stagnation of moisture, and, as a result, rotting of the roots and disease of the flower.

For decoration purposes, you can use ficus pots. They are made with their own hands or purchased in specialized stores. In the first case, you can use vines for weaving, decoupage and other techniques.

How to replant a ficus

If the plant grows well and does not get sick, there is still a need to replant the ficus. Typically, the following terms of “moving” can be determined for a ficus:

• 3 year olds – once a year
• five years - no more than once every three years
• More adults - once every six years

The new “apartment” is selected to be approximately a couple of centimeters in volume, larger than the previous one.

To ensure a successful transplant, you need to adhere to the following simple rules:

Your flower will not experience much stress if everything is done carefully and competently.

Care

Although it is not a very picky plant, caring for ficus requires certain knowledge:

• It should be located in a well-lit room without direct light.
• The temperature should not exceed 30º in summer and not fall below 16º in winter.
• The room should be well ventilated.

Ficus does not require frequent watering. In summer it will be sufficient to water as the soil dries out. However, this must be done generously. In winter, do not allow excess moisture, as this has a bad effect on the root system.

The soil for adult plants should have a fairly dense consistency. Organic fertilizers and mineral mixtures are used for bait.

The settling dust is washed off with a warm shower a couple of times a month, and you can wipe the leaves with a wet sponge every day.

Timely care of the plant will give it the opportunity to develop harmoniously.

Ficus propagation

Ficus, like all plants in nature, has seeds. But at home, this process is easier and more effective to carry out vegetatively. There are three main possibilities on how to implement it:

Using cuttings. The shoot (14-17 cm) is cut off and the leaves are removed. The cut area should be washed and dried.

The prepared cutting is placed in the ground or in an aqueous solution. At the initial stage, the shoot must be kept in the dark and under a film, creating a greenhouse effect.

Using a cutting with a leaf. The shoot with the leaf is cut off. The main thing is that the cut is made at an angle along the barrel assembly.

After the shoot is installed in the pot, the leaf is twisted and fixed. Then it is also covered with film.

Creating air layering. An incision is made around the shoot and the crust is removed. Moss is attached to the damaged area and wrapped in film.

The top and bottom parts are tied. Moss must be kept constantly moist. Soon roots will appear in this place. Next comes the transplantation of the shoot with layering into the ground.

Young shoots need to be transplanted into pots without glaze, as it is less permeable to air and moisture.

You need to grow plants at home in the spring, having good soil for landing.

Conditions for the plant

Ficus is rightfully one of the most beautiful and spectacular types of home flora.

Correctly chosen pot and care, timely replanting, competently performed reproduction are the key to a prosperous and long life for your pet.

Attention, super FLIGHT!

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Ficus is diverse decorative species and ease of care. But despite the ease of cultivation, some trees die soon after purchase. One of the common reasons for this is improper transplantation.

How to transplant a ficus

Ficus transplantation is an important part of care. The root system grows quickly, it is crowded in the pot, and nutritional deficiency occurs. It is enough to replant a healthy plant every 2-3 years: move the root ball to a container of larger diameter and add new soil. But for a purchased tree the procedure is more complicated.

The pot for replanting the ficus must match the size of the root system.

It is a mistake to believe that the substrate in which flowers are sold in stores is optimal soil for growth and development. On the contrary, such soil contains additives to maintain its presentation and is not suitable for long-term cultivation. Therefore, replanting a ficus after purchase is a prerequisite for longevity.

There is no need to rush: the ficus needs 7-12 days to acclimatize in its new home. After adaptation, the tree is transplanted from the transport container into a new pot and prepared soil. You can buy special soil for ficus or make a mixture yourself, taking peat, sand, leaf humus and turf soil in equal proportions.

How to replant a purchased plant:

1. Moisten the soil and carefully remove the root system along with the lump of substrate.
2. Clean the roots from store-bought soil. If the root system has grown greatly, then you should lightly tap the earth to shake off excess substrate. There is no need to rinse the roots.
3. Place expanded clay on the bottom of the new pot for drainage and a layer of prepared soil. Place the plant in the pot and fill the voids with soil, lightly pressing down to compact it.

When choosing a pot, you should not take the container for growth: the diameter of the bowl should be 3-4 cm larger than the root ball.

How to care for a ficus after transplantation

Watering the ficus after transplantation should be moderate. Excess moisture will lead to rotting of the root system. You can water the ficus immediately after planting in new soil or within 2 days after. The signal for subsequent watering is dry soil in the pot.

The need for watering is checked wooden stick inserted into the soil: stuck particles of soil mean that the soil in the pot is not dry enough, postpone watering for a couple of days.

Do not get carried away with spraying: in cold weather, 1 procedure per month is enough, in summer - up to 3. For broad-leaved species, hygienic wiping of the leaves with a damp sponge is suitable.

Many species have a hard time with a change of location; it is advisable to immediately determine a corner for the future tree. Optimal place- protected from drafts, sunny or partially shaded.

Compliance with these simple rules will ensure that your ficus grows healthy and long-lived.