Features care and maintenance ficus

Contents:

• Basic information
• How to care for ficus microcarpa
• Transplant ficus microcarpa
• Methods of propagation

At first glance, ficus microcarpa fairly common and not much different from his cousin - Ficus benjamina. In stores this type of plant is sold in the form of small-sized trees. But this species of figs have one distinctive feature: it has a very fast grow roots, which makes it ideal for beginners bonsai. And the care of this plant is not very complicated.
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Basic information

If you met ficus microcarpa in its historic homeland, you would not know it in the 15-meter giant with huge aerial roots. Under natural conditions, it looks very impressive and has a rapid growth. His endurance is simply amazing: Ficus is able to grow on the rocks, gutters and sidewalk cracks. In Singapore, it can be seen even on the roofs of tall buildings.

Leaves of ficus microcarpa can be varied, but most are small rounded leaves without elongated axis as that of Ficus benjamina. The bark of this plant is quite thin and smooth, requires careful treatment, otherwise easily injured.

This type of ficus flowers forming Seacon - inflorescence, more like fruit than flowers. Later, they really are reborn in a completely useless and tasteless fruit. However, to observe the process at home very rarely, whatever the perfect plant care.

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How to care for ficus microcarpa

What care is needed ficus microcarpa why he fall leaves as it propagated and whether he needed a transplant immediately after purchase - all these questions invariably come with the purchase of ficus. We will try to answer the most popular ones.

From the first days of being in the house of ficus leaves can fall in, that always causes panic among the owners. Should not be afraid, just so that the plant responds to myocardial stress due to a dramatically changed living conditions. Make it a rule to regularly spray the plants with an atomizer, and try to keep the water fell mostly on the leaves, not the bark. And very soon the problem will disappear by itself.

Watering Ficus need only after a complete drying of the soil. Do not confuse the total dry drought - Ficus would not approve. Water for irrigation is required to defend about 12 hours, as a result, its temperature should be room temperature. In winter, reduce watering somewhat, in the spring and summer, during the period of active growth, - increase and begin to make fertilizer.

Watering is better in several steps, in small portions. The soil should be completely soggy, and 20 minutes after watering, if pan still water, it must be sure to drain. Remember, if ficus leaves are falling, it means that the water is too cold for irrigation and it can be a problem with the root system. You may need to check it and transplanting plants.

For the dressing use ready-made fertilizers for bonsai. You can choose as a fertilizer for root feeding and sheet, but be sure to stick to the dosage indicated by the manufacturer.

Ficus microcarpa loves thorough care, so try to avoid sudden temperature changes. Any deviation from the usual conditions is fraught with the fact that the leaves can fall in. The ambient temperature should be between 17 to 23 degrees. Too high a temperature can dry the air, and the plant is at risk of infection spider mites.
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Transplant ficus microcarpa

It is hard to proper care of the plant without a transplant. If it is a young plant, the change must necessarily take place every year in the spring, in pots larger diameter. In the future, given that the flower is almost not growing, transplanting only need to replace the soil. If the you are using an old pot, be sure to wash it thoroughly, and if you decide to replace it - choose the diameter of a couple of centimeters longer than the previous one.

When transplanting the roots need a good wash with warm water and a little shortened. In a pot they are placed horizontally. Sometimes, to the plant quickly took root after transplanting, pruning additionally produce (cut leaves and twigs). This will help prevent excessive moisture loss. Approximately a month after the transplant was performed, the plant should be fertilized. Fertilization will promote the active growing season.

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Methods of propagation

Those wishing to propagate a flower at home waiting for bad news. Ficus propagated by seeds, which we found quite difficult, as, indeed, grow and have a full plant. The easiest way to get from the ficus Babe - a reproduction of cuttings, but did not get such a strong root system, as in the instance brought from the store, no matter how good care you provide any plant. To get a strong outer root system, which, in fact, the plant is known, it is necessary to follow a special cultivation technology that at home difficult.

However, if you are not afraid to experiment, you can try to cope on their own, but the cultivation of this root system will take at least five years. You can multiply by a ficus root of the parent plant. Root stalk need planted in the ground so that the surface remains at about 2, 5 cm from the top and polyethylene wrap for creating greenhouse conditions. Watering cutting need not often enough 1 times a week.

Focus of condensate on polyethylene, as soon as he was gone, can be watered. Sometimes cutting will need to be aired, and it can easily rot. Wait, when new leaves have long, from two to four months. Polyethylene is removed after there was at least 4 leaves and new roots are visible. Keep the young plant must be under ambient light and watered as usual ficus.

In order to obtain the famous roots need more than one transplant, during which the need to constantly "denude" the root system is 2 cm. At the same time pinch out the tops of the shoots should be left up to 3 interstitials. Most likely, the specimen thus produced will still not be the same as that of the store, but worth a try!