We take care of the ficus Microcarpa correctly
Growing ficuses does not take much time and effort: they need minimal care, therefore, more and more of these plants have appeared on store shelves recently. Today we will talk about the ficus Microcarp (ficus moclame), which in appearance resembles a miniature tree. Consider how to take care of the Microcarp ficus at home, propagate it if necessary or transplant it, get rid of diseases and pests.
Ficus Microcarpa
Appearance
If we talk about the wild ficus Microcarp, which is native to Asia, China and Australia, it reaches an impressive size. Some specimens grow up to 25 m in height, but the houseplant is just a miniature copy of the wild-growing ficus. Its height rarely exceeds 150 cm. And when forming the crown, you can always adjust the height of the tree.
The decoration of the ficus Microcarp is by no means a lush crown or flowers of extraordinary beauty, but a part of the root system located above the surface of the earth. It is difficult to find 2 plants, the bare part of the root system of which takes the same shape. Accordingly, several Microcarp ficuses can be kept in the house, which will not be similar to each other.
The leaves of the plant are small, resemble an ellipse in shape, in which one part is slightly pointed, and the other remains rounded. The size of the leaves does not exceed 10 cm in length and 5 cm in width. These are the maximum indicators. If we talk about the average, the leaf length is 7 cm, and the width is 3 cm. Like many ficuses, the leaves of this flower have a glossy surface. Light green leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, forming a beautiful and dense crown.
Growing ficus at home
Ficus Microcarpa cannot be called a problem plant. Home care involves timely watering, feeding, transplanting, ensuring a certain temperature and light conditions. But the cultivation of any flower begins with the choice of a place.
Seat selection
Ficus Microcarpa does not belong to light-loving plants, and direct sunlight has a detrimental effect on it. Accordingly, a shaded corner should be chosen for it. However, excessive shade will also not benefit the plant, so you need to try to find a place where the Microcarpa ficus will be in partial shade.
In the cold season, one should take into account the fact that Microcarpa ficus should not be placed near heating appliances.
Temperature regime
This type of ficus is quite thermophilic. The flowerpot feels comfortable at a temperature of 26-27 ° C. Minor deviations from the norm will not affect the condition of the plant, but a strong deviation from these indicators leads to yellowing and leaf fall, the appearance of dark spots.
A feature of the plant is that not only the aerial part of the ficus microcarp needs heat, but also its root system. Accordingly, in the cold season, the flowerpot should not be placed on cold tiles, or the flower should be kept on the windowsill. It is advisable to place the pot on a stand made of wood or any other natural material.
Watering rules and requirements for air humidity
Ficus Microcarpa is a moisture-loving plant, so it needs to be watered all year round, the soil in the pot should never be completely dry. As for the frequency of watering, it all depends on the time of year and the air temperature in the room. You need to focus on the state of the earthen coma in the pot. As it dries, add the flowerpot. In the summer, the flower is watered at least 2 times a week. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced.
Despite the fact that the ficus Microcarpa is a moisture-loving plant, you should not be zealous with watering. If the plant is flooded, the root system will begin to rot, which will ultimately lead to the death of the flower. An excess of moisture can be judged by the dark spots that have appeared on the leaves of the ficus.
It is worth noting that Microcarpa ficus is sensitive to the chemical composition of water, therefore it is undesirable to water the plant with running water. Only settled water is used for irrigation. It must be defended for at least 12 hours.
Ficus Microcarp is also demanding for air humidity. At the same time, normal humidity will not suit him, he needs an increased one. This slightly complicates the care of the plant, but this does not mean at all that you need to change the microclimate in the apartment. It is enough to carry out the spraying procedure. This must be done every day. In addition to spraying the flowerpot, it will not be superfluous to wipe its leaves with a damp cloth.
Plant feeding
Any plant, and Microcarpa ficus is no exception, needs additional feeding. You can apply organic matter and mineral fertilizers to the soil separately, alternating them with foliar dressings, or you can use special formulations. Experts recommend opting for the latter, especially if the goal is to get a beautiful ornamental bonsai-style tree.
Before fertilizing the soil, you must carefully read the instructions and strictly follow them. Do not overdo it. An excess of any substance can have no less detrimental effect on the ficus than a deficiency.
In order for the fertilizer to be absorbed as much as possible by the roots of the plant, it is applied to the soil after watering the flowerpot.
Ficus transplant
Transplant the flowerpot as needed. Ficus grows at a low rate, so you often won't have to transplant. If we are talking about a young tree, it will need to be replanted about 1 time per year. The matured flowerpot is transplanted no more than once every 2 years.
Immediately it is worth making a reservation that Microcarpa's ficus transplant is rather painful. If the root system is damaged, it drops the leaves, so you need to transplant the flowerpot extremely carefully. First, they take out the plant along with an earthen lump. The root system of the plant is not very powerful. All old substrate is carefully removed. If part of the land remains between the roots, then there is nothing wrong with that. You should not be zealous at this stage of the work.
Drainage is poured into a pre-prepared pot. It is advisable to use expanded clay and charcoal as drainage. When choosing a pot, you need to take into account that it should be slightly larger than the previous one. Since the root system is shallow, you can opt for small, interestingly shaped pots. A tree is placed on the drainage layer and the voids are filled with soil.
The plant needs loose soil. It is best to purchase the substrate from a specialist store. You can do it yourself. To do this, you will need turf, peat and leaf land, sand. All components are taken in equal amounts.You do not need to add peat land, but in this case, you need to take 1 part of sod and peat land, and ½ part of sand. It will not be superfluous to add a little charcoal to such a mixture.
Pruning and shaping the crown
Pruning must be done in order for the ficus to form a beautiful crown. But crown formation is not the only goal pursued by pruning. At the same time, the tree is rejuvenated. Pruning is done twice a year: in spring and autumn.
There are no definite rules for pruning. It all depends on how each tree grows, and what shape I would like to see. During the formation of the crown, it is necessary to ensure that the length of the branches does not differ much. Otherwise, the tree will look sloppy. If some branches are growing at a fast pace, then you can perform unplanned pruning. It should be borne in mind that the more often the branches are cut, the smaller the leaves that grow on them.
If pruning is performed out of time, there will be no thickening of the trunk, which should also be pruned periodically. This is done so that the lower part thickens faster.
Reproduction of ficus
Reproduction of ficus Microcarp is a rather difficult task. The easiest way to get a plant with a well-developed system is from seeds. But it is quite difficult to find plant seeds even in specialized stores. And the climatic conditions of our country differ significantly from the climatic conditions in the homeland of the tree, so growing from seeds does not always end successfully.
The easiest way to propagate the ficus is by cuttings. A stalk is taken from any branch, cut with a sharp blade or knife, while making an oblique cut. It is advisable to prepare several cuttings at the same time. Despite the fact that the survival rate of the ficus cuttings is quite high, sometimes the shoots do not give a root system or root poorly. For harvesting cuttings, only strong and fully formed shoots are used.
After cutting the cutting, put it in a container of water and wait until the roots appear. It takes 2 to 3 weeks to form the roots. Accordingly, the water needs to be changed several times during this time. After the appearance of the root system, the cutting is transplanted into the ground. The same soil is suitable for planting shoots as for transplanting a plant. It is advisable to cover the shoot for a while with plastic wrap after planting: this will speed up the rooting process. And so that roots form on the handle faster, you can treat the cut edge with special compounds that are sold in stores.
You can also try to propagate ficus Microcarpa by layering or using part of the root system of an existing plant. But do not expect that reproduction in this way will help to get a ficus with the same powerful root system as that of a mother plant grown by specialists.
Diseases and their treatment
In general, the ornamental tree is resistant to all sorts of diseases and pests. However, sometimes it is attacked by aphids, spider mites, scale insects or mealybugs. Often weak plants are attacked by pests, and the plant becomes vulnerable with improper care and non-compliance with the temperature regime, excess moisture. Accordingly, if you take proper care of the tree, it will be resistant to disease.
If harmful insects are found, action must be taken immediately. First of all, it is necessary to wash off all parasitic insects with water. Just holding the ficus under running water will not be enough. Small insects will remain on the leaves. It is necessary to clean the crown of the ficus from parasites with a damp sponge, apply a soapy solution to the leaves, which can be easily prepared at home.
When preparing a solution, in addition to soap, it is advisable to add alcohol to the water. For 1 liter of water, it will be enough to add 1 spoonful of alcohol.Under the resulting soapy film, those pests that could not be washed off with water will die. After a few days, wash off the soap solution from the leaves, which does not allow them to "breathe" properly. Special products are an alternative to soap solution.
As for diseases, the ficus is susceptible to fungal diseases. When treating them, it is necessary first of all to get rid of damaged leaves and shoots, then the whole tree is treated with special means. It is advisable to replace all soil. This must be done because fungal infections can live in the soil. An alternative to replacing the soil is to disinfect it.
Signs of disease
Both with an attack by pests and with the appearance of a particular disease, similar symptoms are observed:
- the plant leaves turn yellow or curl;
- dark spots of unknown origin appear on the leaves;
- even with sufficient watering, the leaves are constantly lowered down.
With advanced diseases, the tree sheds its leaves. This symptom suggests that the plant no longer needs to be treated, but reanimated.
And finally, it is worth noting that there are several varieties of microcarp ficus, each of which deserves attention. So, for example, a variety of ficus Microcarp called albumarginate is distinguished by a specific color of the leaves. This plant form is variegated, that is, the leaves are painted in different colors. Along with green, white is present in the color. This variety propagates at home like any other, by cuttings. Ficus ginseng also attracts attention.
When buying a plant, you need to pay attention to its appearance. The plant should have a thick stem and intact bark. It is especially important to pay attention to the thickness of the trunk for those who are fond of the bonsai culture. Bonsai are characterized by an exceptional thick stem. It does not matter how large and lush the crown of the ficus will be. If we talk about signs and superstitions, the ficus Microcarpa has a positive energy. Therefore, keeping it in the house is not only possible, but also necessary.