At first glance, the ficus microcarpa is quitecommon and is not much different from its relative - ficus benjamina. In stores, this type of plant is sold as a small tree. But this type of ficus has one distinctive feature: its rhizomes grow very quickly, which makes it indispensable for beginner bonsai lovers. And caring for this plant is not particularly difficult.

Basic information

If you met a ficus microcarpa on itshistorical homeland, you would not recognize it in a 15-meter giant with huge aerial roots. In natural conditions, it looks very impressive and is characterized by rapid growth. Its endurance is simply amazing: ficus can grow on rocks, drains and cracks in the sidewalk. In Singapore, it can even be seen on the roofs of high-rise buildings. The leaves of the ficus microcarpa can be varied, but most often these are small rounded leaflets without an elongated axis, like the ficus benjamina. The bark of this plant is quite thin and smooth, requires careful handling, otherwise it is easily damaged. This type of ficus blooms, forming syconia - inflorescences that look more like berries than flowers. Later, they really do degenerate into absolutely useless and tasteless berries. However, it is very rare to observe this process at home, no matter how ideal the care of the plant is.

How to care for the ficus of a microcarp

What kind of care does a ficus microcarpa need, whyits leaves fall off, how to propagate it and does it need to be replanted immediately after purchase - all these questions invariably arise with the purchase of a ficus. We will try to answer the most popular of them. From the first days of being in the house, the ficus may lose its leaves, which always causes panic among its owners. There is no need to be scared, this is just how the plant reacts to the stress it has experienced due to dramatically changed living conditions. Make it a rule to regularly spray the plant from a spray bottle, and try to ensure that the water gets mostly on the leaves, and not on the bark. And very soon the problem will disappear by itself. You need to water the ficus only after the soil has completely dried out. Do not confuse complete drying with drought - the ficus will not approve of this. Water for irrigation must be settled for about 12 hours, as a result, its temperature should become room temperature. In winter, watering is slightly reduced, in spring and summer, during the period of active growth, it is increased and fertilizers are added. It is better to water in several stages, in small portions. The soil should be completely saturated with moisture, and 20 minutes after watering, if there is still water left in the tray, it must be drained. Remember, if the ficus leaves fall off, it means that the water for watering is too cold and it may have problems with the root system. It may need to be inspected and the plant replanted. For feeding, use ready-made fertilizers for bonsai. You can choose both root and foliar fertilizer, but be sure to adhere to the dosage specified by the manufacturer. Ficus microcarpa loves thorough care, so try to avoid sudden changes in temperature. Any deviation from the usual conditions will be fraught with the fact that the leaves may fall off. The ambient air temperature should be between 17 and 23 degrees. Too high a temperature can dry out the air, and the plant is at risk of being infected with spider mites.

Transplantation of the ficus of microcarp

It is difficult to imagine the proper care of the plantwithout replanting. If we are talking about a young plant, then replanting must be done every year in the spring, into larger diameter pots. In the future, given that the flower practically does not grow, replanting is only needed to replace the soil. If you are using an old pot, do not forget to wash it thoroughly, and if you decide to replace it, choose a diameter a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one. When replanting, the roots need to be thoroughly washed with warm water and shortened a little. They are placed horizontally in the pot. Sometimes, in order for the plant to take root faster after replanting, additional crown pruning is performed (leaves and twigs are cut off). This will help to avoid excessive moisture loss. About a month after the replanting, the plant needs to be fertilized. Top dressing with mineral fertilizer will promote active vegetation.

Methods of reproduction

Those who want to propagate such a flower at homeunpleasant news awaits you. Ficus reproduces by seeds, which are quite difficult to find here, as well as to grow a full-fledged plant from them. The easiest way to get a baby from a ficus is to propagate by cuttings, but then you will not get such a powerful root system as a specimen brought from the store, no matter how carefully you provide the plant. To get a powerful external root system, which, in fact, the plant is known for, you need to follow a special growing technology, which is difficult at home. However, if you are not afraid to experiment, then you can try to cope with it yourself, but it will take at least five years to grow such a root system. You can propagate ficus using a part of the root of the mother plant. The root cutting should be planted in the ground so that about 2.5 cm remains on the surface, and wrapped in polyethylene on top to create greenhouse conditions. The cutting does not need to be watered very often, once a week is enough. Be guided by the condensation on the polyethylene: as soon as it disappears, you can water. Sometimes the cutting will need to be aired, otherwise it can easily rot. You will have to wait a long time for new leaves to appear, from two to four months. The polyethylene is removed after at least 4 leaves have appeared and new roots are visible. The young plant must be kept in diffused light and watered, like a regular ficus. In order to get the famous roots, you will need more than one transplant, during which you must constantly “expose” the root system by 2 cm. At the same time, pinch the tops of the shoots, you need to leave up to 3 internodes. Most likely, the specimen obtained in this way will still not be the same as from the store, but it is worth a try!

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