A beautiful tree with evergreen leaves,which is hard to miss is the Benjamin ficus. Fans of indoor plants know that it can decorate any room, but in order for the tree to remain beautiful, it is necessary to follow the care conditions. Someone may say that they are quite complicated and this flower has a capricious character, but now we will tell you how to care for the Benjamin ficus, and you will see that in fact, caring for it at home is not so difficult.
Choose a place for ficus
Considering that any indoor plants are notlike rearrangements, it is advisable to choose a place before the flower appears at home. This will make it easier to care for the plant. The place where the Benjamin ficus will be located should not be too dark or light, nor cold. Of course, like all indoor plants, the Benjamin ficus does not like drafts. The temperature should not fall below 15 degrees, and it is desirable that the room is well ventilated. Direct sunlight can lead to the death of the ficus, but the lighting should be quite bright, especially if your specimen has a variegated leaf color. Care also involves monitoring the air humidity: it should not be below 50%, and the optimal indicator is 70%. If the air is too dry, it is necessary to spray the leaves from a spray bottle and bathe the entire Benjamin ficus (if its size allows) in the shower at least once a month. After bathing, allow the plant to dry completely, otherwise it may freeze.
Watering and feeding of the ficus of Benjamin
It is difficult to imagine proper care without a schedule.watering. But you have to water indoor plants without it, because different times of the year require different watering intervals. Ficus Benjamin should be watered only when the soil lump has dried out sufficiently after the previous watering, but excessive drought should not be allowed. Check the soil - if it has dried out by about 1/5 of the pot, then you can safely proceed to water procedures. Considering the size that Ficus Benjamin reaches, it is better to water it in several stages so that the soil lump is well saturated with moisture. The water that remains in the pan after watering must be drained (approximately 30 minutes after watering: this time is enough for the soil to absorb all the necessary moisture). It is worth noting that proper care without fertilizer is unlikely to work. Ready-made mixtures can be used as fertilizer for the plant. Calculate the dosage based on the instructions. Usually, Ficus Benjamin is fertilized in early spring and continues throughout the summer (once every two weeks). During the dormant period, do not overload the soil with fertilizers. This can only contribute to the development of various fungi, which later serve as sources of numerous diseases. You can use foliar fertilizer, but be sure to adhere to the dosage, otherwise the Benjamin ficus will easily shed its leaves.
Plant transplantation
How do you know if a plant needs to be repotted?If you notice that the intervals between watering your ficus are getting shorter and shorter, and roots are starting to show through the drainage holes, then it's time. Young indoor plants are usually replanted every year, choosing a pot 2 cm larger than the previous one. Upon reaching the age of 5, the Benjamin ficus is replanted every two years. And long-lived ficuses of impressive size do not need to be replanted completely, but only partially replace the soil. Replanting is done mainly when the plant is going through an active period. Spring and summer, in principle, are ideal for replanting a ficus. Two days before replanting, the plant must be well watered. To replant, remove the plant from the pot and carefully shake off all the soil from the roots. Be sure to add a layer of drainage to the pot where the plant will be and place the ficus there. Add soil on the sides, tamping it down a little. Water and leave to take root. Care after replanting is normal.
Reproduction of the Benjamin Ficus
The period of active growth of ficus is perfectin order to propagate it. The main method of propagation is cuttings. Do not try to root young tops, choose those branches where the tissue is already sufficiently woody. Cut a cutting from 7 to 10 cm in size and be sure to remove the released milky juice. You can simply immediately place the cuttings in a container with water, and after some time change it. This procedure should be repeated during the day every three hours. When you have already gotten rid of the juice, leave the cuttings in a jar of clean water until the roots appear. Usually about two weeks pass before small roots appear, after which the cuttings are ready for rooting in the soil. When you put the cuttings in water, it is very important to tear off all the lower leaves so that they do not decompose in a humid environment. Pots with a diameter of 10 cm and any universal soil are suitable for planting cuttings. Do not forget about drainage, a layer of expanded clay is a must. Planting young plants is not much different from further transplantation, which we have already written about.
Problems in caring for Benjamin ficus
Foliage is the main indicator of plant health. The most common problems that affect such indoor flowers are described below.
- Leaves fall off and the tips dry out: the reason is too dry air in the room. It is solved by spraying;
- The leaves of the plant twist and wilt: this indicates a lack of heat for the ficus. If it is near a wall or glass, move it aside. Increase the temperature in the room as a whole;
- New shoots, thinned and too small leaves: lack of light or nutrition. Feed the plant and put it on a more lit area;
- The lower leaves fly around: this is not a problem, but the natural result of plant growth;
- Do not forget to periodically inspect the plant for pests. Ficus leaves adore cobwebs and shield aphids. Destroy them with ready-made insecticides.
Here are all the basic rules for caring for a ficus tree.at home. Don't be afraid to shape its crown and regularly trim off excess shoots, the plant will only benefit from this. Don't take it out onto the balcony in January and don't put it in drafts, then it will decorate your apartment for a very long time!
