Caring for ficus kinky at home
Known among gardeners as the fig tree, the house plant ficus kinkiy is a variety of Benjamin's ficus flower.
Ficus Kinki
Biological characteristic
Ficus flower Green Kinky is a dwarf evergreen variety of the well-known Benjamin, which outwardly looks like a tree-like shrub, covered with a crown of small (no more than 4 cm long) leaves. Numerous branches fall from the lignified upright trunk.
In translation, the name green kinky means green curly.
The homeland of the ficus Kinki is the West African and Australian tropics, where in natural conditions it grows as a full-fledged tree, reaching a height of 25-30 m.
A distinctive feature in the description of the decorative ficus by Benjamin Kinki is the color of its foliage. The edge of the ficus leaves is framed by an uneven strip of beige with yellow or light green color.
Benjamin's flower, despite superstitions and omens, has gained popularity among flower growers due to its small size. Despite its demanding care, this subspecies has taken pride of place in the list of indoor ornamental vegetation grown at home.
Growing approaches
The process of growing and caring for the Kinki ficus at home suggests that it will be of no small importance to create comfortable conditions for the plant that are most closely similar to the natural germination environment:
- it is a light-loving indoor flower that will actively grow and develop only in sufficiently lit rooms, mainly with diffused light, and not in direct sunlight;
- in a hot period, despite its thermophilicity, the flower does not tolerate too high temperatures, therefore the most suitable place for its location will be that which is located far from standard heating batteries and far from artificial heating systems;
- the minimum temperature limit should not be dropped below 15 ° C.
Ficus Benjamin is consistent, the flower responds poorly to movement and transplantation. Frequent moving of the ficus flowerpot can lead to foliage falling off. Leaves fall off because of cold drafts.
Moisture readings where the flower grows do not have a strong effect on the plant. It can tolerate both dryness of room air and high humidity. However, maintaining a stable environment will certainly be a positive thing in the care of a potted flower.
As a protection of ficus from the thermal effects of heating systems, regular spraying and wiping of its foliage can become.
Care scheme
Home care for Benjamin's ficus requires regular watering, transplants in case of emergency and timely feeding.
Watering procedure
For the ficus Kinki, it assumes excessiveness and accuracy, since excessive waterlogging of the soil leads to the appearance of a fungus, decay of the root system of the plant and its subsequent death. From small flower pots that are suitable for growing ficuses, moisture does not evaporate as quickly as from wide containers, therefore excessive watering can cause moisture to accumulate.
A long stay of ficus without moisture can also negatively affect the condition of the plant, the leaves of which begin to prioritize yellow and fall off.
Mineral dressing
Just like when growing and caring for any home flower, when caring for a ficus, one should not forget about mineral fertilizing. When found in a land depleted over time, a home flower experiences a vitamin deficiency. Simultaneously with the oversaturation of the soil with mineral fertilizers, the plant begins to feel discomfort. In both cases, this leads to foliage falling.
In order to avoid adverse consequences with a lack or excess of mineralization of the soil in which the Kinki ficus grows, you should take care of and fertilize the soil for the plant in accordance with the recommended scheme:
- the time of active feeding falls on the onset of spring, when, after the winter state of dormancy, the plant begins to grow,
- feeding can be carried out before the beginning of the autumn season, after which the flower is not fed, continuing the usual care without using fertilizers in the ground,
- for the mineralization of the soil, complex fertilizers are used no more than 1-2 times in 1 month.
Reproduction methods
The ficus of Benjamin Kinky is propagated by cutting cuttings or by seedlings. Seed planting, which is better suited to natural conditions, is not recommended by growers who are more inclined to propagate by cutting cuttings.
Transplant and pruning principles
Among the necessary measures in the process of growing and caring for a ficus, its transplanting and pruning is noted.
Transplant process
The initial plant transplant is required immediately after purchasing the indoor flower, since the substrates in which the plants are sold are not subject to constant cultivation and must be changed. For transplanting, you will need a flower pot in which the flower could grow for at least a year, or better - 2 years.
If you leave the Kinki ficus after purchase in the substrate in which it was sold, the flower eventually sheds its leaves and dies.
For the initial planting and subsequent flower transplants, it is recommended to choose a ceramic or plastic pot and use soil mixtures specially designed for growing ficuses. The basic rule for growing ficus is a pot that is not large in size and not too small. When the flower becomes uncomfortable, Benjamin's ficus begins to shed its leaves.
The frequency and frequency of subsequent transplants depend on how much the houseplant grows and how quickly and intensively its root system grows. Usually, you can transplant ficus by transferring the flower into a new, larger flower pot while preserving the old coma. In such a transplant, it remains to fill only the resulting free space.
Pruning rules
It is possible to form the correct crown of the Kinki ficus only by cutting it, which in no way affects the well-being of the room color.
The formation of a lush crown can be ensured if several shoots of Kinki ficus are planted in one pot. Subsequently, not only the ficus crown will become effective, but also their intertwined stems.
In the process of forming the crown, excess leaves and branches are cut to give the desired shape.