Regardless of the choice of plant - Benjamin's ficus, rubbery or dwarf ficus - the process of preparing for reproduction is the same. Harvesting of cuttings begins in spring and continues until early June during the period of active plant growth. A stalk 10 to 15 cm long is cut at an angle with a sharp knife or pruner. The choice of the place from which the planting material will be obtained is not so important. This can be both the top of the plant and the stem shoot. The main thing is that the ficus is not young, otherwise it will not multiply and put down roots. Choose a flower with lignified shoots.
Ficus cuttings
On the cut, you will see how milky juice begins to stand out from the cutting. This sticky composition clogs the pathways, covering the cut site with a tight plug, which prevents the young plant from developing. Therefore, we rinse the cuttings until the sticky residues disappear completely or leave them to soak for a couple of hours in warm water. Next, dry the prepared sections in the open air for 2 hours. Let's start rooting. The easiest option is to put the prepared twigs in water. To get them to root faster, make 2-3 vertical cuts along the base line, leaving only the upper leaves, and remove the lower ones.
Biostimulants, for example, 2-3 drops of Epin, help to speed up the rooting process. Activated carbon also does a good job. It is enough to crush 1 tablet and add it to a container of water.
Ficus Benjamin and other representatives of this plant root well at a temperature of 25 ° C and an air humidity of 80%. The creation of a mini-greenhouse helps to achieve such indicators. To do this, put on a plastic bag, a plastic cup or a bottle cut on top of the container. As the water evaporates, add liquid. It takes 3-4 weeks on average to root a ficus. Initially, white growths appear at the base, from which roots are later formed. When they reach 2-3 cm, we transplant the ficus into a nutritious soil. You should not overexpose the plant in water - its roots will start to rot, it will not work to grow a healthy and beautiful flower.
Ficus with large and dense leaves went to many flower growers from our grandmothers. This is a rubbery ficus. Along with the "grandmother's flower", Benjamin's ficus also gained popularity. This plant propagates by layering, leaves and cuttings. To obtain planting material, it is not necessary to specially cut the branches. When forming the crown in the spring, do not throw out the cut stems, but use them for propagation.
Rooting cuttings
We start rooting by preparing the substrate. For cultivation to be successful, the soil must be light and nutritious. Combine earth with sand, peat with perlite. Our advice is a mixture of turf and leafy soil with peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 0.5. If you have not rooted the cuttings in water beforehand, rinse them under running water to get rid of the milky juice, leave to dry for 2 hours, then treat the cut with crushed activated carbon. In the prepared substrate, we make a hole and deepen the stalk into it by one knot. We moisten the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to protect the plant from fungal infections.
Create a familiar mini greenhouse. We put a plastic bag on top of the pot and send the cuttings to root in a warm, sunny place. As the soil dries up, we moisten it. After 21 days, new leaves should form - this is a sign of successful rooting. After that, the mini-greenhouse can be gradually removed so that the young ficus gets used to the new conditions. Start small by puncturing a few holes in the plastic or plastic bottle.
Video: Reproduction of ficus Benjamin
You already know how to propagate a ficus, it's time to talk about proper care for it after rooting. Where to start is with lighting. The plant likes a good stream of sunlight, but cannot tolerate direct ultraviolet rays. The best option in this case will be diffused light, which will not allow the young ficus to stretch and weaken, while maintaining the natural shape and color of the leaves. Use if there is a lack of lighting. Temperature is another important factor. To alternate between active growth and dormancy, the indoor temperature should be 25–28 ° C in summer and 15–18 ° C in winter. This rule applies to all species, without exception, including the ficus Benjamin.
Seedlings of young ficus
Water is the life-giving power of ficus, so keep it balanced, avoiding waterlogging and dryness. Pay special attention to watering in the summer, while wiping the ficus leaves with a damp cloth and spraying it from a spray bottle. Combine substrate moisture with top dressing. During the period of active growth (spring-summer), feed the plant every 14 days with a solution.
Video: A simple way to propagate ficus
As Benjamin's ficus grows, rubber-bearing and dwarf species are transplanted into another pot, which should be 2 times larger than the previous one. We recommend replanting in early spring, removing part of the old soil from the earthen coma and adding a new nutrient mixture.
Ficus is a rather unique flower, because unlike other indoor plants, it only grows upward. Not every florist will be happy with this fact. Indeed, in this case, you will have to regularly prune in order to give the ficus the necessary shape. However, this task is not within the power of everyone, because only a few know how to prune a ficus.
Plant features
One of the well-known representatives of the mulberry family is the rubbery ficus, which is usually referred to as the ficus genus. The habitat of this plant is India, as well as southern part of Indonesia and western part of Africa... In countries with more severe climates, this flower is widely used as an ornamental plant. However, it is valued not only because of its attractiveness, because large varieties of this ficus are used as raw materials for the manufacture of rubber.
The specimens that grow naturally are impressive in size, which can reach 40 m in height. Moreover, they often form support roots. The latter are distinguished by the fact that they penetrate deep into the ground, where they take root. Home-grown rubber ficus is more compact, since most often it reaches a height of up to 10 m. After planned pruning, this variety begins to look even more miniature.
Beneficial features
For many, rubbery ficus is interesting not only because of its decorative properties, because when it is grown indoors, you can maintain a healthy atmosphere... The cleansing effect is provided by the leaves, which filter the air like a pipe. As a result of this filtration, oxygen-enriched air is obtained at the outlet.
Many growers are attracted to the rubber plant and the fact that it does not create problems in care. House-grown specimens do not form flowers, and at the same time they are demanding on growing conditions. The main thing is to make sure that the plant is protected from direct sunlight, as well as to water regularly and periodically arrange a warm shower for it.
Ficus growth physiology
Rubber ficus can be given any shape. To do this, you just need to properly trim it. As a result of this operation, from a nondescript plant at first sight, you can get unique home decoration... Moreover, even a novice florist can master this task, but first you have to familiarize yourself with the rules of pruning and adhere to them.
The change in the shape of the Benjamin ficus occurs due to new shoots, which usually emerge from the buds. The ficus has only two of them:
- apical (located at the very top of the bush);
- lateral, or axillary (located in the axils of the leaves, where the leaf petioles are closely adjacent to the trunk).
The apical bud shows the fastest growth, ahead of the lateral buds, which develop very slowly or show no signs of development at all. It is enough to remove the upper kidney so that the lateral kidneys can begin to develop well. Shoots usually start to grow in different directions. As a result of such manipulations, the plant begins to change its crown.
Before proceeding with the formation of the crown, it does not hurt to find out what time of the year it is better to do this.
Many believe that it is best to hold this event in spring and they will be right. The formation of the crown planned for this time of the year makes it possible to give the plant more splendor, since it is in the spring that the best conditions for growth are created for the ficus. Using a similar approach, a grower can grow Benjamin's ficus, which will be well developed, having fully formed shoots in all directions.
It is undesirable to postpone pruning of Benjamin's ficus to a later time, for example, autumn or winter, since in this case the shoots will develop within a specific area. This will make the ficus look skewed. It must be borne in mind that at this time of the year the ficus begins use nutrients that he has accumulated in the shoots. As a result of pruning shoots in the fall, you will leave Benjamin's ficus without these reserves, endangering his survival.
During the formation of the crown, it is necessary not only to change the length of the shoots, but also to correct the direction of their further growth. For this purpose, special tensioning devices are usually used.
Crown formation without pruning
Do not rush to prune rubber ficus. First, it is worth considering whether there is an urgent need for this. There is also an easier way to form the crown, which involves changing the direction and securing the necessary shoots. This approach to the formation of the crown allows you to minimize injury to the plant, which can continue to grow, delighting the owner with a beautiful view. After waiting for some time so that the branches can take a new position, the fixing devices are removed.
During trimming, it is necessary take into account the age of the plant... This operation brings the least harm to young bushes. You need to be more careful with adult plants: since their shoots are not very flexible, their shortening and other similar actions can seriously injure the plant.
Rubber ficus: how to form the crown correctly?
The rules below designed for single ficus bushes forming into one trunk.
In general, pruning the rubber plant is a simple undertaking. The main thing is that you need to exactly follow all the rules for its conduct. So it must be very careful with milky juice, which is dangerous to humans because of its toxicity. To avoid undesirable consequences, this work must be carried out with protective gloves.
Formation of an unusual crown
If necessary, even a novice grower can give the rubber plant pretty original shape.
In the process of pruning ficus Benjamin or rubbery, be sure to take care of so that the braid does not open later... For this, it is recommended to tie the trunks using soft threads. Best of all, if it is woolen. The dressing is usually done every two months.
In some cases, the installation of a support is required for the normal development of the ficus. In this case, you can easily see how spectacular and original appearance the rubber plant will acquire.
Conclusion
Rubber ficus, however, like other representatives of this family, are best known for their decorative effect. However, this does not mean that the grower will not have to take measures for this. If you know how to form a Benjamin ficus crown, then you can easily cope with the rubbery look.
You should know that only those specimens look the most vividly in relation to which regular pruning... After all, the beauty of the ficus can be ensured through the formation of the crown. Beginner growers can also beautifully cut Benjamin's ficus at home, because ficuses are very compact plants, so there are no special difficulties with this operation.
How to properly form the crown of a ficus
Ficuses of many species have long been among the most beloved indoor plants. Their wide distribution is also associated with the ease of reproduction.
These trees grow fast enough that each adult plant can give rise to many new specimens.When is it better to propagate ficuses
They do not bloom in indoor conditions, so they are propagated vegetatively. The best time for this is spring from the beginning of April to the end of May..
During this period, cuttings of ficuses take root most quickly. Young plants rooted in spring will be able to get stronger and noticeably grow until autumn.
Reproduction methods
There are the following methods of propagation of ficuses: apical and stem cuttings, cuttings with one leaf and air layers. Small-leaved cuttings with one leaf do not propagate, since this is very difficult due to the small size of such cuttings.
Apical cuttings
During the spring pruning of the tree, cut off the tops of the shoots are formed, which can be rooted and obtained young ficuses.
Cuttings should be more than 15 cm in length and have 2-4 large leaves. The branches from which they were cut must be semi-lignified.
To prepare the ficus stalk for rooting, you need to cut the lower part of it at an angle of 45º as close to the node as possible. The lowest leaf growing from this node is cut with a knife, the rest of the leaves are cut in half.
Prepared cuttings are placed in water for several hours so that the white juice does not freeze on the cut and does not interfere with root formation. After that, the cuttings need to be dried for 2-3 hours in the air. They are then rooted in one of 2 ways.
Rooting methods for cuttings
Ficus cuttings can be rooted in water or soil. The first way is the easiest. The cuttings are placed in a container with boiled water at room temperature so that their lower node is in the water. It is better to choose a container that is opaque or made of dark glass, so that blue-green algae do not multiply in the water, which prevents root formation.
When rooting cuttings, it is necessary to maintain the temperature above 25 ° C... High air humidity promotes early rooting. Usually the roots appear within 3-4 weeks. When they lengthen to 4-5 cm, the cuttings can be planted in the ground.
Cuttings are often rooted directly in the ground. To do this, you can take a standard ficus soil mixture, which contains turf and leafy soil, peat and sand in a 4: 4: 2: 1 combination.
Cuttings also root well in a mixture of peat and sand in a 2: 1 ratio. For rooting, you need a container with moist soil.
Ficus cuttings are buried in the ground by 1 knot and covered with plastic wrap on top or glass jars. The substrate should be moist, and the air temperature during rooting should not be lower than 25 ° C.
The container with cuttings must be opened and ventilated daily to prevent decay.
Under such conditions, after about a month, young leaves will appear on the cuttings. After that, you can gradually remove the film from them so that they get used to the humidity in a city apartment. When the cuttings are actively growing, they are transplanted into separate pots.
Stem cuttings
A long cut ficus shoot can be cut into 3-4 leaf lengths. These stem cuttings can also be rooted. They are prepared in the same way as the apical cuttings, cutting off the lower part at an angle and air-drying the cut.
Roots on stem cuttings form much more slowly than on apical cuttings., and many fragments of the stem do not give rise to roots and disappear.
To increase the number of rooted stem cuttings, you can use drugs to improve root formation. If rooting occurs in water, the cuttings are soaked in a solution of the drug. If they are rooted in the ground, you need to powder the cut with stimulating powder.
Propagation by cuttings with one leaf
Thick shoots of rubbery ficuses can be cut into short pieces with one knot and one leaf. The lower cut of such cuttings is made at an angle in the middle of the lower internode, the upper one - in the middle of the upper internode.
The ficus leaf is folded into a tube and fixed with an elastic band or adhesive tape.
Prepared cuttings with one leaf are rooted only in the ground... They are buried in damp ground up to the leaf petiole. The temperature for rooting them is the same as for rooting other cuttings. To create constant air humidity, cover the container with cuttings with foil.
Air layering
An aerial cut is a part of a ficus shoot with formed aerial roots that can be cut and planted in the ground.
To form aerial roots, 2 circular cuts are made on the ficus branch at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. Between them, the bark is carefully removed, and the bare area is sprinkled with powder for root formation.
After that, the cut is wrapped with wet moss and covered with plastic wrap, which must be tied on both sides.
If you keep the moss wet, the branch will put down roots in this place, which will eventually break through the film. After that, the layers can be separated from the mature tree and planted in the ground.
Cutting is the most common, but not the most effective method of propagation of ficuses.... Certainly, some part of the cut cuttings does not take root and disappears. But this is offset by a large number of them as a result of the formative spring pruning of the tree.
The method of propagation of ficus by air layers is the most effective, but laborious.
Among the huge number of indoor plants, one of the most spectacular is. Purifying the air from harmful impurities, it has been decorating the interior for more than a century.
We will tell in more detail about how the rubbery occurs, as well as about the rules for the care and protection of the plant from diseases and pests, in the article.
Ficus belongs to the Mulberry family. India is considered his homeland. Here he becomes a huge tree reaching forty meters in height.
In its natural habitat, it forms powerful aerial roots, which, intertwining, sometimes create very bizarre "structures".
It is not uncommon for the roots to come out when grown in a pot. The aerial root of ficus is one of its features.
The leaves are arranged one above the other, have an oval shape with a clear division in the middle.
The tips are pointed. The color of the plates is deep green, glossy. Ornamental varieties also have a different color. The most common representatives:
- Belize. Beautiful, white-pink foliage border and reddish stems.
- Decor. The young crown has a bronze tint.
- Variegata. Variegated yellow-green leaves.
Each species is beautiful in its own way. However, the most popular is the rubber-bearing ficus Robusta. Its dark, fleshy greenery has adorned a huge number of apartments since the days of the USSR.
Previously, ficus was grown in whole plantations. This was done for industrial purposes: rubber was extracted from the stems and roots, which was used to create rubber products.
The culture is quite unpretentious. Loves good lighting, especially variegated views, but can even grow on northern windows. True, in the dark, the plant will stretch up more, and the foliage will become noticeably smaller.
The most comfortable temperature in summer is 18-25 °. In winter, 15 ° will be sufficient.
The tree is distinguished by its hardiness and relative resistance to drought, as it has the ability to retain "excess" moisture in the stems, roots and leaves. However, this does not mean that the ficus can not be watered at all. On the contrary, in the heat, humidification should be carried out twice a week, and only with the onset of cold weather, watering can be minimized, remembering the "favorite" once every two months.
In addition, the plant will be grateful if it is "bathed" with a shower or simply sprayed from a spray bottle.
For lush growth, it will also be useful to fertilize, which should be applied every 10 days.
Breeding options
Rubber fucus is an amazing plant! It will not be difficult to get new trees, and even an inexperienced florist can cope with this. The following methods are used:
Cuttings. For blanks, the apical segments are used, on which there are 5-6 leaves.
After the branch is separated, it is thoroughly washed to remove the juice. Then with liquid for several days. The water is changed periodically.
To speed up the rooting process, you can add honey, aloe juice or industrial growth stimulants to the container.
Air layering. On a straight, even shoot with 4-5 leaves, two cuts are made with a distance of 1.5 centimeters. Then the bark is cleaned between them.
The site is treated with a root former and wrapped in a moisture-retaining material (perlite, moss, sponge). The operation site is sealed with a film.
After the formation of sufficiently strong aerial roots, the branch is separated from the mother liquor and placed in a nutrient substrate.
Escape with a leaf. To form a full-fledged tree, one leaf will not be enough. Such a workpiece, of course, forms roots, but the stem does not appear. Therefore, when choosing this propagation method, you need to use a sheet plate along with a piece of wood.
Ficus (fíkus) ready for grafting
The lower edge of the cutting is made obliquely, and sometimes it is additionally split by inserting a piece of a match into the gap. The greens are folded into a tube and secured with a rope or elastic band. Then the shoot is placed in water or directly into the ground.
For reproduction to be successful, work must be carried out in winter. It was at this time that the ficus secretes the smallest amount of juice, which can become an obstacle to the formation of roots.
A good period for harvesting will be the spring-summer season, when the flower grows and develops most actively.
Proper care and formation of ficus
After the cuttings have acquired their own root system, they must be planted. Which soil to choose?
The substrate should be loose, have good throughput and be as nutrient-dense as possible. To prepare it, you need to take sand, leafy and sod land, humus and peat. All components are taken in equal amounts.
1.5-2 cm of drainage is poured into a "leaky" pot, then a little soil mixture, and only then - a young seedling. The roots are gently straightened and completely covered with soil. It is necessary to compact the earth layers just a little, so as not to violate the air permeability of the soil.
In the future, care for young growth is the same as for an adult ficus: maintaining heat, moderate watering, sufficient lighting and timely fertilization. Top dressing is recommended from the second year of life.
Do not forget about the transplant. "Newbies" change containers from smaller to larger annually. Strong ficuses "move" only in case of acute need, when the roots will already crawl out of the container. For "old men" it is enough to renew the topsoil.
Some growers are engaged. If the crop is grown with a tree in one trunk, then the work is limited to the periodic removal of dried leaves.
To obtain bushiness, you need to prune. First, the apical growth point is pinched off, and after the appearance of lateral shoots, the process is repeated with them.
By the way, the remaining "unnecessary" pieces can be used as material for cuttings.
It is worth remembering that the juice secreted by ficus is relatively poisonous. It can irritate the skin, so it is advisable to practice the formation of the plant with gloves.
Diseases and pests
Ficus (fíkus) grown at home
The most common insects are:
- Thrips. The foliage is covered with a shiny bloom, red spots appear below.
- Spider mite. Dried blots on all parts of the plant, white or grayish dust, cobwebs.
- Shield. The flower becomes sticky to the touch.
- Mealybug. Light, rough areas appear on the inside of the leaves.
Pest control measures are very similar.
To begin with, the tree must be rinsed under running water, then treated with an insecticide or some folk remedy.
Spider mites are quite dangerous pests that are not easy to get rid of. The reason is that mite larvae are resistant to many drugs. Therefore, when choosing a remedy, it is worth paying attention to the features of its action and to individuals at what stage it affects.
Sometimes, when affected by ticks, the foliage begins to turn yellow and wither, later dry and fall off. It is imperative to start treatment on time, otherwise the flower will weaken so much under the influence of the pest that it may not be able to withstand the treatment with strong chemicals.
The first step is to isolate the infected plant. This recommendation is best followed when attacking any pests. Then increase the humidity level. After all, dry air is preferable for ticks.
And yet, both in bathing and in spraying, one must observe the measure. Otherwise, decay of the rhizome or stem will begin. It is better at such events to keep the pot at an angle or cover the soil with something so that moisture does not get into it.
The flower can be sprayed with Aktellik or Neoron. The procedure is carried out at least 2 times. During the first treatment, neoron only damages the larvae. Therefore, re-spraying is required.
In addition to drugs aimed at destroying ticks, there are those that sterilize females. These measures are also effective.
In addition to processing the plant itself, we recommend disinfecting the place where the flower was located. For this, the window sill and glass are washed with baking soda. It is also better to iron curtains. Even after a complete cure, it is better to keep the flower in quarantine for some time.
When attacking scale insects, we recommend both local exposure and treatment with drugs. The first method is that with a brush or cotton swab, the bumps with pests are lubricated with alcohol or soap solution. And after that, they are removed with a brush or cloth.
In addition to insects, fíkus rubbery can “suffer” from care errors.
Bad smell. Most often, this symptom signals root rot, which occurs due to poor drainage.
To eliminate the "sore", the plant must be removed from the soil, examined the roots, removed the dead and sick, powdered healthy parts with activated charcoal and planted in a container with new soil.
Falling or yellowing of leaves. Most often, such a nuisance occurs when the water regime is violated. Ficus or waterlogged, or, conversely, lacks "drink". To remedy the situation, the soil should be either dried or watered.
The flower doesn't grow. In the case of a developmental arrest, the reason is simple: the pot is too small. It is enough just to transplant the culture and everything will be normalized.
As you watch the video, you will learn about.
Let the rubbery ficus bring good luck to your house and delight you with its splendor all year round!
Young ficuses of all types need an annual transplant, plants over five years old - once every two to three to four years.
The diameter of the pot for small ficuses should be 2 centimeters, and for large ones - 6 centimeters larger than the previous one.
You cannot transplant a small ficus directly into a large pot, especially this applies to a dwarf ficus. This will inevitably lead to acidification of the soil, the root system will rot, and the ficus will die. If you are wrong with the size of the pot, then transplant ficus in another pot, smaller in size, it is never too late.
Deepening the root collar can negatively affect the leaves: green leaves suddenly begin to fall off, sometimes dark brown spots appear on them.
When transplanting ficus, the soil in the pot must be lightly tamped with your thumbs. You can't leave voids next to the roots. However, it is also not worthwhile to tamp the soil in the pot too much, because the earth will become too dense, air will not flow to the roots, in this case the tips of the leaves will begin to turn black, green leaves may fall off in this case too.
After transplanting the ficus, the lightly compacted soil in the pot will settle down after a while, and it will need to be filled up to the required level so that the root collar is level with the ground.
And even during the year, if the soil from irrigation begins to wash out from the upper roots of the ficus, it is necessary to periodically pour the earth into the pot.
After transplanting, thoroughly moisten the soil in the pot and remove the ficus in partial shade. Do the next watering of the ficus only after the top layer of soil in the pot dries out.
