Ficus small-leaved: rules of cultivation and care

People use indoor plants for a long time. It is because of this so often on the windowsills of the apartments the whole armada of the most diverse colors are blossoming: violets, crotones, cacti - all and not to list. Very popular with flower growers is the small-leaved ficus - a small but beautiful plant that yearends to its owner with green leaves. Is it so simple with this inhabitant of the house greenhouse?

general characteristics

Let's start with a description of this plant. Ficuses are small-leaved and large-leaved. They are found in the form of shrubs, lianas, even small trees - so that it is not difficult to choose the most suitable one. Both small-leaved ficus and big-leaved ficus are rather unpretentious to the environment, moreover, they tolerate the pruning well, so they can easily replace the whimsical bonsai - creating green sculptures from them as easily as from a whimsical Japanese tree.

The species of ficuses differ in size, shape (about it already mentioned a little higher) and in the color of the leaves (in some species they are evenly green, in some - with white patches or edging, there are figs and crimson leaves). Care of the ficus depends on its type. We'll talk about this later.

General care rules

Florists note that there are not many so unpretentious plants as small-leaved ficus. Caring for him to the banal is simple: in the winter, water moderately, containing the plant at a temperature of + 12-14 degrees; In the summer - abundantly.

Ficuses with mottled leaves prefer sunny places, they need more light than their counterparts with uniform coloring of the leaf. To feed the plant all year round is not necessary - it is enough once in two-three weeks in the period of active growth.

Transfer

With regard to such a delicate issue, as a transplant, it is worth considering the age of the ficus. For young plants, this procedure should be carried out every year. For adults, it is enough to have one transplant every few years, before that they must undergo pruning so that the plant does not waste unnecessary forces on maintaining the vital functions of its dead parts.

Ideal drainage material will be crushed stone, thanks to which the small-leaved ficus will become stable. It should be noted that the root system needs a lot of space, so it's best to choose a large container for transplantation. The transplantation itself occurs by the method of transplanting the plant. You can multiply the ficus and seeds, and cuttings, and air layers - it all depends on its kind.

Growing a tree

But some amateurs aim to grow not a small bush, but a real tree called "small-leaved ficus". Care at home for this plant in this case is slightly more complicated. Instead of the usual direct light, a scattered one is used (it is possible to set up a kind of screen-screens around the pot with a flower, which will create such an effect). Water from the tap is replaced with thawed (which is much softer and, therefore, more useful for the plant), preferably warm.

In winter, the ficus may require more light, so you will need to use additional light sources. To regulate moisture, flower growers install additional bowls with water, which will create a more humid climate for the plant. As amateurs note, under such conditions the plant can grow up to 40 cm per year.

Ficus Benjamin - foster in the world of figs

The most common among the florists is the Benjamin small-leaved ficus . In nature, it is a real tree, growing to a height of 20 m, but at home, its growth entirely depends on the owner. Some say that this species is one of the most capricious. Enthusiastic reviews of many owners who tell about their green favorites convince that it is not so difficult to grow a beautiful tall ficus, but first it is worth studying all the pitfalls, and then diving into the world of floriculture. So, what should be considered when caring for Benjamin ficus?

Lighting and shaping the crown

When caring for this plant, remember that it is vital for him to have good lighting - otherwise the crown is unlikely to form a truly beautiful one. From time to time, you need to turn the pot so that the leaves are on all sides under the sun's rays - this will help them to develop evenly. New shoots grow quickly and under the weight of the leaves begin to slope downwards, because of what the crown will grow horizontally, and not vertically, which looks rather untidy. Therefore, it is necessary to prune the shoots (this is done with sharp scissors, previously treated with alcohol, and only the sprouts themselves need to be cut, trying not to injure the leaves), giving the crown the necessary shape. Another version of the appearance for the ficus is the column.

For this purpose, several shoots are planted in one vase, which in time will need to be intertwined with each other: in this case the tree will not need additional support and will grow briskly upward.

Pale leaves

And how to care for small-leaved ficus, the same Benjamin, for example, if his leaves suddenly turned pale? Here the problem is likely to be in an overabundance of light - the leaves just burned out under direct sunlight. The problem will be solved by a slight shade of the plant.

As mentioned above, the ficuses calmly belong to a temperate climate, but at the same time they do not tolerate heat and land. Everything for this plant should be moderate, otherwise it will discard the leaves, which will frighten its owner a lot.

Crumbling leaves

Sooner or later, all the owners of ficuses are faced with the fact that their pets start to discard the leaves. Answers to the question of why the small-leaved ficus crumbles, there may be many: the reasons differ from banal aging to the dissatisfaction of the plant with any conditions of its maintenance. In the first case, and do not worry: in principle, this is normal, if the ficus once in two or three years begins to "shed". If the reason for the changes is not this, you'll have to try to understand what the tree is dissatisfied with.

Difficulties in adapting

The problem may be that small-leaved ficus, only survived the transplant, is not used to the new pot. For example, instead of the usual pot of breathing chamotte, in which the roots breathe better, and the salts from which are more quickly removed, he received a deaf plastic. Exposing the plant in this case to a new transplantation means causing additional stress. Therefore, you will have to wait a little, giving the ficus time to adapt, and if this does not help, then return it to its habitual habitat.

Lack of lighting

Another reason why a small-leaved ficus throws off leaves may be a lack of light. The problem in this case lies in the fact that artificial light is not always a full-fledged substitute for natural light, and it's a pleasure not to forget - to constantly illuminate the plant with lamps. And one more difficulty may be that when you transfer to a place that is too bright, the ficus may turn pale (the burning out of the leaves has already been mentioned a little higher). So what to do in this situation?

Some growers go for a rather interesting trick. Opposite the plant, they set up a mirror that reflects sunlight. In this case, the flower does not get direct sunlight, which can hurt him even more, but it gets enough light. We should not forget that for the uniform formation of the crown, it is necessary to turn the plant from time to time, giving all shoots the opportunity to absorb such a necessary light.

Problems with watering

But this is not all the reasons why small-leaved ficus can lose its beauty. Fall leaves of this plant and when drought, and with excessive watering. Optimal watering of the plant 2-3 times a week in the summer and 1 time a week in winter - before the new watering the soil should be a bit more moist. In addition, once in two weeks, the ficus needs to be loosened - so the soil will breathe better and dry out. With an abundance of water, the soil will turn into a sticky clump - this is not the most beneficial conditions for plant development, as a result the florist will first get yellowing, and then discarding the leaves of the ficus. In the case of a lack of moisture, the leaves will also turn yellow at first, drying up, and then completely fall off.

Spray the plant, too, should be regularly: dryness is the same enemy of ficus as excessive heat. The frequency of spraying should coincide with the frequency of irrigation, although these procedures can be carried out on different days - so the plant will better absorb the received moisture. Flower growers are advised to use stagnant, soft water at room temperature. Watering should not be done on a clear schedule - saturate the ficus with moisture is necessary when the soil dries. In addition, it is recommended to do this in several ways, so that the soil evenly absorbs the liquid.

Water procedures

Continuing to discuss the issue of watering, I would like to talk about this ritual, often conducted by flower growers, like "bathing plants". In no case can you wash the leaves with a rag or the like - for such manipulations the ficus melkolistny will offend the offended leaves, counting the florist's actions by trying to oversaturate it with water. If it is necessary to "rain" the tree is brought into the bathroom, the ground is covered with a film and the leaves are simply sprayed from the top with a shower. After this, for some time, the ficus remains in the bathroom, otherwise the leaves may fall from the hypothermia.

Conclusion

Yes, green plants are very useful for the house: they moisten the air and harmful substances destroy, and the eye pleases. But at the same time, their content is always associated with the expenditure of effort. Therefore, go to the choice of a green friend as responsibly as to choose a pet. And then everything will work out for you.