Ficus is considered one of the most common plants grown at home. They are very beautiful. There are over a thousand species of ficus. Representatives of the mulberry family, they came to us from distant tropical latitudes. New Guinea, Southeast Asia and the Solomon Islands are considered the birthplace of ficus. These are mainly evergreens, with the exception of deciduous varieties - fig trees.
Ficuses are both trees and shrubs. Their leaves are most often whole. Their length reaches 70 cm. Leaves, as a rule, are painted in a delicate green color, although there are species with a two-tone color.
Varieties of ficus benjamin
It is considered a "hit" indoor floriculture. Ficus Benjamin is very often used in landscaping. Under natural conditions, this tall evergreen plant reaches a height of up to twenty meters. Most often it is found in the subtropical regions of China, India, Australia.
This ficus got its name in honor of the famous English scientist Benjamin Jackson, although there is a version that he was so named because of the benzoin contained in it. On the windowsills in apartments, home gardening lovers grow a wide variety of Benjamin ficus subspecies — Daniel, Monique, Nicole, etc. All of them need certain care conditions that you need to know. It should be borne in mind that these representatives of the mulberry family practically do not bloom at home. But if a miracle happens and the pet will please its owner with buds, they are unlikely to make a big impression. The flowers of this plant are small and nondescript.
In this article we will talk about how to grow Daniel ficus at home, about caring for it.
Description
Bright green dark-green leaves of this variety of Benjamin ficus are up to eight centimeters long. With proper care, Daniel Ficus looks like a very healthy and viable plant. In nature, it is an evergreen tall tree with a highly developed aerial root system.
Ficus Daniel, whose photo is presented below, is considered a fairly common indoor plant, which grows rapidly, while not requiring special care skills from a person. It is ideal for growing in a spacious room with high ceilings. Ficus Daniel is particularly popular with fans of bulky indoor plants.
Its initial form is a small shrub. The plant has a thin vertical stem, from which flexible branches extend to the side. The leaves have a glossy surface. They have an oval shape with a pointed tip. The color of the leaves, depending on the age of the ficus Daniel, varies from light green to dark. The plant is easily amenable to formation: from its young branches, experienced plant breeders weave braids and spirals, make circles, and various figures. This property increases interest in the ficus Daniel.
Home Care
Those who are going to purchase this wonderful plant, considering the green symbol of Bangkok, do not worry. Caring for Ficus Benjamin Daniel is simple. It is enough to follow simple complex rules, water and serve complementary foods in a timely manner, and then this pet will delight its owners with incredible beauty, giving only positive emotions. After the purchase, do not immediately transplant it. It is worth giving him about a month to acclimatize, as the store conditions are sometimes very different from home.
Growing Features
This variety of ficus, as, indeed, and all of its "brethren," refers to photophilous plants. At the same time, sun rays are categorically contraindicated in this southern culture. Therefore, choosing a place for her, you should stay in the bright and slightly shaded area in the apartment, where there is a large amount of diffused light. For ficus Daniel, the southeast, east, or southwest sides of the house are ideal. In summer, it is recommended to take it to the balcony, loggia or garden, so that it "breathes fresh air." In this case, the "shadow side" rule should be observed.
It is very important to place a pot of culture in the apartment so that it is not in a draft. Due to the rapid growth of ficus Daniel very soon reaches a large size and will no longer fit on the windowsill.
Lighting and temperature
The plant needs, though bright, but diffused light. It is best placed on the east or southeast window. In the summer months, under the direct rays of the sun, the pot should not be placed. In the heat of the ficus, shading is required.
The best summer temperature regime is considered to be from twenty to twenty-five degrees of heat. As for the winter period, the readings on the thermometer should not go below 15 degrees.
Soil requirements
The optimal soil substrate for ficus Daniel is considered to be weakly acidic or neutral soil, quite loose, nutritious and water-intensive. You can also use ready-made soil for ficuses, although many growers themselves prepare the soil by mixing in equal volumes of sod and leaf land with the addition of coarse-grained sand in half the amount. Specialists recommend adding a small amount of bone meal.
Rules for boarding and transplanting
The container for planting ficus Daniel must meet certain requirements: regardless of shape, its vertical size should be a quarter or at least a third of the growth of the plant. Another prerequisite is the presence of a normal drainage hole. For ficus, stagnation of water in a pot will become extremely unfavorable. This can lead to decay of the root system, therefore it is also better to select the material of the container porous. It can be, for example, ceramics without a continuous glazed layer.
At the bottom of the container, it is imperative to place a drainage layer of expanded clay, fine pebbles or ceramic battle.
In the process of planting ficus in the main pot, as the soil falls asleep, it is necessary to monitor not only the filling of the voids between the root processes, but also so that the basal neck would not be deeper, but flush with the ground. If we are talking about a large plant, you need to take care of the support that supports its trunk.
Young ficuses should be transplanted every year. You need to do this either in the spring or in the summer. Mature plants transship once every few years. The signal for transplantation is the strong entanglement of the earthen coma by the root system.
Fertilizers
From April to September, twice a month, ficus needs feeding. Fertilizers should be alternated, feeding universal and mineral complexes with a high content of nitrogen component. The top dressing should not get on the leaves and buds. In winter, fertilizer is not required.
Pruning
With the provision of normal care, the ficus of Benjamin Daniel at home is greatly expanded. Therefore, from time to time, pruning is required, which the plant tolerates quite easily, forming new shoots and branches after it.
In addition, the stems of young plants are quite flexible. Therefore, from several ficus plants planted in one pot, a wicker or trellised stem system can be formed. Pruning is done in early spring. The milky juice released during this is washed off. Due to its good growth and very active branching, which begins after trimming, Daniel ficus is considered to be an excellent material used to create crowns of various sculptural forms, as well as for the formation of spectacular bonsai trees.
Diseases and Pests
All pathologies of the ficus are the result of improper care for it. Drafts, insufficient or, conversely, overly plentiful watering, lack of light or direct sunlight, dry air in the room or the constant movement of the pot are all reasons that hinder the healthy and comfortable development of Benjamin Daniel's ficus.
The most common diseases are aphids and scale insects, as well as spider mites.
In order to notice the disease in time and begin to fight it, you should periodically inspect the inside of the leaf. At the initial stage of the disease, you can stop if you wipe the foliage with a weak soap solution. Well, more complicated and neglected cases should be treated with chemicals that are sold in specialized stores.