2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33
Ficus is a beautiful ornamental plant, which, due to its easy care, is a frequent decoration of offices, apartments, houses. The dense green mass of foliage attracts attention with its rich tone and volume. The plant cleans the air well, adapts to various conditions, unpretentious. By observing certain watering rules, you can keep the ficus healthy and attractive for many years.
Varieties
Ficus belongs to the mulberry family and has about 2 thousand plant species. Some of them are very unusual in structure and appearance. About 20 varieties of flowers are grown at home. They are not always alike, but share similar care and growing requirements. Here are the most popular indoor ficuses.
Ficus Benjamin
Ficus Benjamin is a small tree with dark green leaves wavy at the edges, unpretentious to the conditions of detention.
Rubbery
Rubbery is a beautiful outwardly plant that reaches two meters in height. Differs in characteristic large fleshy leaf plates, sometimes framed with yellow edging.
Bengal
Bengali is a tree, unique in its shape, has a large number of aerial roots descending vertically from the branches. Grows both in height and width, requiring ample space.
Dwarf
Dwarf - a shrub with thin flexible shoots, in a young plant the leaves reach 2-3 cm, have an oval shape, a bubbly surface, are evenly green and spotted in color.
Safari
Safari is a tree with dense marble resilient foliage twisted towards the center. It grows slowly, requires sufficient light.
Care
All types of indoor flower are not capricious. They take root well if they are protected from drafts, get enough light, and they are provided with regular, moderate watering.
Plant care includes the following basic activities:
- the correct location of the plant in the room;
- timely irrigation;
- high-quality feeding;
- transplant as needed;
- treatment in case of illness.
Content and coverage
For a tree, a place is selected near the window, on the windowsill on the east or west side of the house. The plant feels normal both at + 25.30 ° C in summer and at + 16.20 ° C in winter. Sharp temperature jumps have a negative effect on the vital activity of flowers. In the summer, it is permissible to take out the pots to fresh air, however, if the conditions are comfortable in the usual place, it is not recommended to move the ficuses once again.
Make sure that diffused light falls on the green mass. Direct sunlight can create burn spots on the leaf plates. Variegated varieties are also susceptible to light. With its lack, the marble color of the leaves disappears. The plant loses its decorative properties.
Ficus loves fresh air, but must be ventilated with care. Make sure that the flower is not affected by air currents. Avoid excessive cooling of the room. Draft can lead to foliage dumping. In this case, the plant may lose its crown on one side.
Watering
Ficuses are tropical plants that love humid climates. Thoughtful watering is the key to the health of the flower. It is necessary to provide moisture by regular spraying. The procedure is carried out a couple of times a day, especially during the dry summer period, when the central heating is operating. You can use special devices that humidify the air.
How to properly care for ficus, water, every florist knows. Given some of the features of the flower, it is not difficult to preserve its beauty.
Irrigation intensity is determined by the following factors:
- plant variety - individual varieties have individual water requirements;
- in the season - in the dry season, the soil dries out faster;
- the size and age of the ficus;
- features of the soil - there are soils that quickly pass moisture or, conversely, absorb and retain.
Plants with a developed crown, succulent foliage structure, large in size, require more abundant watering. If the shrub or tree is small, the procedure is carried out when the earth dries out to a depth of two phalanges of the finger. Large species located on the floor irrigate when the soil is 6-7 cm dry. Usually, one or two irrigations per week are sufficient, maximum three in the hot season. Correct watering is carried out in the following sequence:
- checking the readiness of the soil for irrigation;
- loosening before each irrigation - ensures the saturation of the roots with oxygen;
- preparation of water in prepared containers;
- uniform and slow soil moistening, for its better saturation;
- after a few minutes it is necessary to check the pan of the pot, if the liquid does not appear there, the plant is watered again;
- after half an hour, the water that has leaked into the coasters is poured.
To get rid of excess moisture, drainage is laid on the bottom of the pot. These can be small stones, expanded clay or red brick fragments. Humidification of trees is carried out early in the morning or late in the evening.
During watering, you need to look to completely wet the soil near the roots.
It is worth choosing a special soil for ficuses. It is on sale and has a set of properties necessary for the longevity of the plant. Such soil retains water, has increased looseness, and sufficient aeration. The composition contains coconut fiber, sand, special baking powder.
What kind of water to use?
Categorically it is not recommended to water the ficuses with tap water … The chlorine contained in it will ruin the growth and appearance of the flower. Watering is carried out with soft water that does not contain salts and lime. In order to get one need to assert or filter the tap … Water is collected in advance. It is placed in a container and is not used for 2-3 days, during which time chlorine evaporates, and negative impurities settle to the bottom.
You can use boiled or melted water, but you should not take rain or melt snow . In the presence of polluting industries, precipitates carry with them harmful oxides, contain sulfur, metal ions. It is better to freeze and then wait until regular water thaws. The temperature for watering should be comfortable for the plant, the most suitable is a room (+ 19.22 ° C) … When watering, do not shake the water so that the sediment does not end up in the soil.
If there are fish at home, you can take water from the aquarium when you replace it. This liquid contains many useful minerals, organic substances secreted by pets. It is an excellent organic fertilizer for plants. However, this advice does not apply to marine fish, their water is salty, harmful to flowers.
Features of the procedure in the cold and warm season
In winter, watering the plant is determined by the individual parameters of the temperature and humidity of the room. The quality of tree lighting also plays a significant role.
The following principles are observed:
- at a low temperature of + 16.17 ° C, indoor flowers are irrigated infrequently - once every 10 days;
- at + 18.21 ° C and moderate air humidity, one-time watering per week is enough for the plant;
- with centralized heating and increased dry air, watered every 3-4 days, it is recommended to spray the crown with the same frequency.
In the cold season, water in moderation. Make sure that the soil does not dry out, however, increased moisture is also not allowed. At low temperatures, excess water will lead to rotting of the root system .falling foliage.
In the spring, the plant requires more frequent watering. From March, if the temperature is right, active growth of the green mass of trees begins. It's time to think about mineral feeding. Fertilizer is added to water and used immediately after dilution of the solution … For normal growth of ficuses, two dressings per month are enough. In the spring, a plant is transplanted. This is the most comfortable period for trees. The pot is chosen a little for growth. Ficus is watered immediately after transplanting … The signal for subsequent irrigation is dry soil in the pot. But in December it is better not to do this.
In summer, spraying is combined with watering
To avoid excessive moisture in the soil, cover it with plastic wrap while treating the leaves with water. Stick to watering in moderation.
The plant absorbs liquid faster in the hot season, but it is impossible to overmoisten the soil. Water 2-3 times a week.
Some ampelous varieties are irrigated every other day, when they are located in fairly well-lit places. Wipe the leaves from dust with a damp cotton cloth, feed the plants every half month. In the fall, with a decrease in light and heat, the amount and abundance of watering is gradually reduced, depending on the growing conditions, spraying is stopped.
Errors
Some plant diseases are caused by improper watering.
Growing ficuses, flower growers note that his diseases are often associated with improper watering. If a flower is irrigated haphazardly, it does not have time to absorb moisture, mold appears on it, and rot infects the roots. To save a ficus that has been flooded, a plant transplant will be required.
After you remove the flower from the pot, cut off the damaged parts of the roots, disinfect, place in dry disinfected soil. Sprinkle the top of the soil with activated carbon. For a couple of weeks, if it is not very hot, do not water, but spray with "Epin". Sluggish leaves cannot be returned, but it is possible that the plant will recover over time.
With a lack of watering, ficuses suffer no less … Yellowing and rapid loss of foliage is observed. The growth of new shoots stops. The plant becomes vulnerable to spider mites. Consider how to help such a flower.
If the soil becomes excessively dry, submerge the flower pot in a pan of water. Wait until bubbles stop appearing on the surface of the water. Then take out the flowerpot, let the moisture drain.
Restore plant-friendly conditions, spray more frequently when hot. Wipe down the foliage; dust may interfere with the absorption of light and moisture. Provide top dressing.
Ficus is a great decoration and pride of any home. The plant has bright foliage, grows quickly, and is easy to care for. It does not have a dormant stage, therefore it is green and lush in winter. Observance of moderate watering, feeding, sufficient lighting - these are the few factors that will ensure the health of a potted flower, and it will delight the eye for a long time.
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