Growing ficus microcarp is a rather fascinating activity. This is the most popular representative of many of his "brothers", occupying a leading position in the number of varieties. Increasingly, this plant adorns public buildings and residential buildings. It is interesting for its shape, representing an intricate, miniature tree, with intertwined roots. In connection with these features, novice gardeners should figure out how to properly form a ficus, how to care for it at home.
Brief information
The natural habitat of the plant are tropical forests. It is found in China, Australia, Asia and Taiwan. Compared with indoor varieties in nature, the ficus microcarp reaches a huge size - 22 m. A powerful tree blooms beautifully and gives fruit, which cannot be expected from a miniature one in the apartment. Berries have a yellowish tint, and as they ripen, they become burgundy.
In the wild, the plant shows incredible vitality. It is able to break through the rocky slopes of hills, found in gorges, mountains and even on the roofs of abandoned buildings.
Description
The root system is the main advantage of indoor ficus, which he conquered many lovers of floriculture. Rapidly developing roots emerge to the surface, creating all kinds of incomparable bends. Thanks to such skillful confusion, each plant has an individual structure that is completely different from the other.
The leaves give a decorative appearance to the tree. They have a glossy surface that is waxed. Petioles are short, the leaves themselves are wide, lanceolate. Against the background of brown bark, a bright green hat looks simply gorgeous.
In indoor conditions, the tree never blooms and, on average, reaches up to one and a half meters in height. Fortunately, he retained good branching, which allows you to create intricate crown configurations. You will be able to observe a living exotic object if you provide ficus microcarp care at home. The photo in the article perfectly illustrates the features of the root system of the plant. Using certain techniques, the tree is shaped like a bonsai.
Adaptation
It is important for novice growers to know that a newly-acquired plant is undergoing an acclimatization process. No need to panic if the ficus of the microcarp has fallen leaves. This is a natural occurrence. Thus, the plant accumulates in itself the strength to adapt to the new environment. It even happens that the leaves fall completely. To reduce the duration of leaf fall, you need to start frequent spraying (up to 3 times a day). A flowerpot with a tree must be moved to a room with a high level of humidity.
Such a problem can comprehend the ficus when changing the place of residence. Usually young leaves appear after a month. If you follow the necessary recommendations, this will happen a little earlier. No need to transplant a bonsai tree immediately after it has been brought in from the greenhouse.
Frequent movements of the pot with the plant around the apartment lead to thinning of the crown and lifelessness of the leaves.
Bonsai tree
It will be appropriate to consider how professionals form bonsai in flower shops. This is a kind of art to create ornamental plants, which are very unpretentious and interior.
- To begin with, seeds of ficus microcarp are sown. When they germinate well, a root system is formed.
- The underground part is dug up, washed thoroughly, and the thinnest ossiform processes are removed.
- The prepared root with a smooth surface is planted in a new pot, which will serve as a permanent place for the plant. Only the lower part of the nutrient system is buried, and the large part is left in sight.
- The external root process is gradually covered with a layer of peel, darkens and transforms into the trunk. Since it still contains nutrients, it perfectly supports the development of the whole tree.
- The lower branches develop in the soil and eventually form a new powerful root system.
- Further, they allow the bush to grow independently or immediately plant well-grown branches taken from another plant.
After all the described manipulations, you need to observe how the ficus of the microcarp (bonsai) will further develop. Care for it is to adjust the intensive growth of branches. They must not be allowed to cover the unique trunk of an exotic tree.
Basic care
Once a tropical plant has appeared in the house, he needs to create a suitable atmosphere. It does not tolerate direct sunlight, dry air, drafts and not aired rooms. Ficus microcarp care at home is not so simple, but possible. If all the rules are followed, you will be able to grow a wonderful tree.
In addition to spraying, it is important to monitor the condition of the soil. It must be probed with the help of the deepening of the fingers, drying must not be allowed. Watering should be done little by little, as necessary, when the topsoil dries by 2 cm. Increased humidity promotes rapid root decay. For watering, water is used at room temperature.
After the adaptation period, it is necessary to transplant the ficus of the microcarp to a permanent place. Usually two weeks is enough for the plant to feel at home. In a bonsai shop, they are placed in a plastic container. It is better to change it to a beautiful flowerpot, filling it with special or universal soil.
Soil requirements
An exotic tree loves to grow on enriched, well-permeable soils with neutral acidity. To prepare the mixture, the following components will be required: deciduous mixture and turf land in 2 parts, peat and sand in 1 part. To disinfect the soil, add a little activated or charcoal.
If during planting all the necessary substances were added to the ground, at first it is not fertilized. The growing season begins in March and lasts until October. It is during these months that feeding should begin. For the normal development of the plant, it is better to buy fertilizers designed for ficus microcarp. This is especially important if you are using the bonsai technique.
Fertilizers are poured after moisturizing procedures. Foliar top dressing is also mandatory, since the tree instantly responds to them. It is important to observe the correct concentration of the compounds indicated in the instructions.
Transfer
Ficus needs a transplant every 3 years. It should be noted that the root system of the plant is very sensitive and does not tolerate damage. Some growers find it advisable to restrain its growth. For this, a shallow pot is selected, which will not allow the roots to grow quickly.
How to transplant ficus microcarp? This process will require the following actions:
- A more spacious flowerpot is selected.
- The drainage layer is separated from the ground using a plastic net, which is covered with coarse sand.
- A small amount of earth is poured onto the partition.
- The plant is removed from the old pot, freed from the soil and washed with warm water.
- All roots shorten and remove completely small processes.
- Slices and various damage are treated with charcoal.
- Bonsai set on a substrate and sprinkled with the remaining soil, leaving a third of its parts on the surface.
At the end of the work, the soil is compacted and watered with settled water.
A tree is replanted if it is necessary to reduce the number of roots or enrich the soil. By the way, in the process of this lesson, you can interweave the roots, in accordance with the desired style.
Breeding
In addition to propagation by seeds, experts practice cuttings. The branches are cut, cleaned of milky juice and put in water for several weeks. To speed up the process of root sprouting, a little crushed activated carbon is added to the container with cuttings.
Cut branches can be rooted in a substrate of peat, perlite and earth. Cuttings are placed in a mixture and maintain humidity and desired temperature.
Difficulties in leaving
Most often, flower gardeners encounter such a difficulty when the leaves of a ficus microcarp fall. What to do in such a situation? It will be easier to prevent such diseases than to deal with them later. First you need to figure out why this is happening.
- Ficus is a heat-loving plant, but at the same time located to moderation. He needs heat, so you need to make sure that the temperature in the room does not fall below 18 ° C. Subcooling, like excessive heat, can harm the plant. In summer, spraying can be increased.
- Excess moisture leads to rotting of the roots, and as a result, to the appearance of characteristic spots on the crown.
- Leaves may fall due to lack of moisture. At first they wither and look sick and drooping.
- Sudden changes in temperature, drafts and watering with cool water are the causes of withering of the crown.
- Reduced humidity creates suitable conditions for the appearance of a spider mite.
As soon as any manifestations of the disease of the plant have been noticed, it is necessary to immediately create the right conditions in the room. When the roots rot, they need to be removed from the soil, washed and trimmed damaged parts.
Pruning
Crown trimming is an important component in the care of ficus microcarp. Photos with well-groomed plants allow you to see the effect of this technique. Shortening the shoots allows the trunk to form and become more powerful.
If you want to get bonsai from a young seedling, you need to slightly cut off the upper part of the spine representing the trunk. Thanks to this, it will grow stronger and significantly increase in size.
The formation of the crown begins with the lower branches, gradually moving up to the top and giving the crown the desired configuration. For processing thick sections use garden var. To set the main branches in the right direction, they are fixed with wire. The shoots are shortened by 4 cm, after which the crown looks more magnificent.
The main pruning is carried out in early spring, before the active growth of the plant. Then just cut the extra branches that protrude beyond the contour of the formed tree.
For an exotic plant, there is almost no dormancy; if rest happens, it is very insignificant. For this reason, you can shorten the branches at any time of the year. This procedure does not injure the tree at all and is easily tolerated by it.
Conclusion
Looking at the photos of ficus microcarp, it is impossible not to admire them. Despite the fact that they have long come into use, interest in them is still growing. The miniature tree can rightly be considered one of the most impressive indoor plants.