Ficuses are beautiful evergreens that will decorate any home or office. Even before the revolution, the presence of ficuses in the house indicated the viability and aristocracy of the owners. Ficuses belong to the Tutov family, tropical forests are considered their homeland. There are about 800 species and each has an individual beauty. In this article, we will consider in more detail the most popular species of ficus.
Main types
Under natural conditions, the most famous cultivar of ficus is fig (fig tree). The homeland of most plants is the Asian tropics. Therefore, all members of this family love warm, humid air. The names of the ficuses with a description will be discussed later. Varieties differ in appearance, size, shape and size of leaves.
The most common varieties of indoor ficus include:
- Benjamin.
- Rubber bearing.
- Bengal.
- Creeping.
- Lyre-shaped.
- Dracaena.
- Karika.
- Palmer.
- Ivy.
- Microcarp.
Some species of ficus are similar in structure to trees, others to vines. But the care requirements for all these colors are almost the same.
Evergreen shape
The largest subgroup of classification of ficuses, containing many varieties. The roots of these original plants come from India and neighboring countries. People living there with great trepidation belong to the evergreen representatives of the Mulberry family. One type of ficus with leaves in the shape of a heart is considered a sacred flower among Buddhists. Especially near the temples planted ficus, which is worshiped and carried out thorough care.
Bottle variety
The homeland of plants is considered the arid area of Mexico. This caused the appearance of such a bizarre form of ficus. Having a superficial root system, the ficus accumulates moisture in the lower part of the trunk. This is possible due to their special structure. At the top, the trunk remains narrow. At home, grown in shallow wide flowerpots.
Ficuses belong to the bottle group:
- Benjamin.
- Rubber bearing.
- Dwarf.
- Natasha
- Palmer.
- Rusty.
- Arrow-shaped.
Most of them are evergreen species, but deciduous variations are also found.
Ampelic species
In addition to tall representatives, the multiple genus of ficus contains lianiform subspecies. Their main difference is the smaller size of the leaves and the ability to spread and braid frames and supports. A spectacular element of interior decoration. Ideal for vertical gardening: as ampelous crops in hanging flower pots, or as ground cover in wide flowerpots along with tall species. In nature, they can be found in the lower tier of the tropical jungle.
Ampelic ficuses are demanding for a good microclimate: humidity of air, soil and diffused lighting. The most famous representatives of this group of ficuses are:
- Dwarf. It is characterized by rounded miniature leaves, the length of which does not exceed 3 cm. The plant is an epiphyte, native to Indochina.
- Mountain. It differs in leaves similar to oak, and a significant pubescence of the vines. The homeland is considered to be Malaysia, Indonesia.
- Creeping. A plant with strong accessory roots, suction cups, providing the ability to cling to any surface. Homeland - Japan.
- Rooted. It has thin vines-stems and elongated dark green leaves, reaching a length of up to 7 cm. Homeland - India.
Ficus rubbery
This species is considered to be the most famous. It is found in the wild in the rainforests of India and Malaysia and can reach a height of up to 60 meters. It grows rapidly, and for many years retains its decorative effect. The trunk in diameter reaches 2 meters. Leathery leaves reach a length of 30 cm. Their color changes from brownish to dark green as the plants grow older. There are subspecies with variegated foliage, with different shades of green, white or pink, and even tri-color forms. Suitable for growing in pots. Only at home should the leaves be periodically trimmed so that the crown does not lose its shape.
The varieties of rubber-bearing ficus include such popular varieties:
- Robusta is the highest member of the family.
- Belize
- Melanie.
- Black Prince.
This ficus is unpretentious in care, so beginners can safely choose it for breeding.
Ficus Benjamin
A popular ficus, another name for which is brilliant. Its graceful, thin branches, growing, form a sprawling crown, with thin and fine foliage. In the homeland, in the south of Asia and in northern Australia grows up to 30 meters. There, with high humidity, air roots are formed on the shoots, which, reaching the earth, themselves take root, and, growing, occupy a large area, forming a kind of arbor. Leaves can be either plain or variegated. At home, grow low varieties with decorative fine foliage. With good care, you can get a plant 2-3 m in height. The trunks are amenable to weaving and are suitable for creating bonsai.
This variety has several species that differ in leaf shape:
- Variegated Kinki - a dwarf variety with small narrow leaves, with a different color border on the edge.
- Ficus Natasha - has the smallest leaves.
Ficus Bengali
It looks interesting and unusual thanks to the velvety leaves up to 20 cm in length and the unique life form of "banyan". Able to quickly expand in breadth. Aerial roots formed on the lateral shoots take root, become stiff and eventually become similar to bearing trunks. One instance of this variety often becomes a whole grove.
Growing Features
When choosing a ficus for indoor gardening, you need to remember that these plants love good lighting. Variegated species are more resistant to the sun, and plain green can grow even in the shade. It is only necessary to protect ficus from direct sunlight, to protect the plant from burns. In winter, with short daylight hours, additional illumination is required. Moving ficuses is undesirable - they do not like this.
The temperature in the room must be kept between 22-25 ° C in the summer and 17-20 ° C in the winter. It is also important to provide protection against drafts. Ficuses instantly respond to temperature drops and hypothermia by dropping leaves.
With dry air in the room, flowers are more often irrigated with water at room temperature. When watering ficus, it is important to monitor the condition of the soil, watering the plant if necessary. In summer, more frequent humidification is required, but the earth should be sufficiently dry between waterings. A prolonged excess of moisture leads to rotting of the roots and, as a consequence, a fairly quick death of the flower.
Pruning and transplanting
Many species of ficus are grown at home, creating a plant of any shape using pruning and proper care.
The soil for planting needs weak acidity. The composition should consist of equal parts of peat, sand and sheet land. Every spring, young plants require a transplant, and adults only need to increase the capacity or update the top layer of the soil to a more nutritious one. Do this through transshipment.
Breeding
To breed ficuses, they resort to several methods of obtaining young shoots: cuttings, propagation by leaf or air layers.
The most common method of propagating ficus is cuttings, which is carried out in the summer. The most suitable for this are woody shoots at the age of 1-2 years, which are cut in the spring, before budding, preferably from the top of the stem. Cuttings 10-15 cm in size are freed from leaves, immersed in water to wash off the milky juice that is separated at the cut site, and then dried.
Tree-shaped ficuses of the Benjamin and Rubber-bearing varieties take root well in water, but require more time to root. The washed cuttings are lowered into a vessel with water, covered with a film and set aside in a warm place, which has a beneficial effect on germination. Roots appear after 30-40 days, and after the first leaves appear, cuttings are planted in flower pots.
It is easier to breed ampelous varieties, since they require much less time to root. Some species are easier to breed with air layers.
Regardless of the variety, the propagation of ficus is quite simple to carry out at home, most importantly, follow the recommendations listed above.
Home Care
Caring for home ficuses is quite easy - it is enough to provide optimal temperature and light conditions, properly feed and water the plant, spray the ornamental culture to moisturize and periodically treat it from pests.
The most important thing in the care is regular watering - the key to decorative attractiveness and a healthy state of the plant. For this purpose, use settled or melt water, while not allowing both drying out and supersaturation with moisture.
Broadleaf ficuses are watered occasionally, and small-leaved varieties with superficial roots dry out faster and need more frequent watering. In summer, you need more moisture, and in winter less. Ampelic species should be watered constantly and plentifully.
Like any plant, ficus is fertilized with mineral complexes and organics. In winter, the flower is at rest, and it is not required to feed it.
Plant nutrition has a positive effect on the exterior of the culture, but it is important to remember that the fertilizers used must correspond to the seasonality and stage of perennial development.
In nature, ficuses can reach gigantic proportions, in home breeding their growth is restrained and form a crown.
Dust accumulates on the huge leaves of the plant, so it is sometimes advisable to wipe them with a damp cloth or wash.
These simple rules on how to care for ficus will come in handy when breeding a room flower.
Ficus Diseases
When growing a decorative perennial, it happens that the appearance of the plant worsens, growth slows down, ficus falls off. What to do in this case? Initially, it is necessary to find out the cause of this phenomenon and immediately begin to eliminate it in order to save the flower.
There are several reasons that can lead to yellowing, wrinkling and falling of leaves: limited watering and prolonged drying of an earthen coma; excess moisture, especially in combination with low temperature; lack or excess of nutrients; stressful situation due to repeated movement of the ficus; placement nearby with heating appliances; drafts; lack of normal lighting. Frequent changes in illumination can lead to discoloration of the leaves.
Inadequate care, weak immunity and frequent waterlogging of the soil contribute to the defeat of ficus by pathogenic bacteria and fungus. The flower loses its decorative effect, withers and discards leaves, foci of infection from the roots spread to the stem. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to cure the plant, it will have to be thrown out with the flower pot, because the fungus can remain in the soil for a long time.
Pests and control methods
Even with indoor cultivation, ficuses can be affected by parasitic pests: scale insects, spider mites, aphids, thrips, and mealybugs.
It is possible to determine that a plant is affected by scabies by the presence of convex yellow-brown spots on leaf plates. Eating plant juice, small insects leave plaque, which becomes the main cause of the development of soot fungus. At the first signs of pests, it is recommended to clean the leaves with a slightly warm soapy solution, followed by treatment with Actellik every 7 days for a month.
The result of the life of spider mites - a thin spider web under the leaves, indicates infection of the plant with this parasite. The pest multiplies very quickly, feeds on vegetable juice, which leads to wilting and falling of leaves. One of the control options is the use of alternative methods: frequent spraying of the plant, treatment with a soap or garlic solution, rubbing thick-skinned leaves of ficus with alcohol. You can quickly destroy the spider mite with any insecticaricidal drug.
Mealybug - a parasite covered with a white powdery waxy coating, appears when the air in the room is dry. It sucks the plant's juice, which slows its growth. Keeping the flower clean, timely removal of dried leaves, regular spraying will help avoid damage by this pest. If such a nuisance did happen, you need to immediately clean the ficus from the worms and their cotton-like secretions. This procedure is carried out with a soft brush or cotton sponge moistened with soapy water or alcohol, then sprayed three times with tobacco infusion or garlic, cyclamen broth or alcohol marigold tincture. Processing of the aerial parts of the plant is also carried out with an interval of 7-14 days by one of the listed preparations Confidor, Fitoverm, Biotlin, Tanrek.
Trips - the main carrier of viruses, can quickly infect other plants, settles mainly on the inside of leaf plates, which subsequently become crowded and turn yellow. To kill thrips, a soapy solution is first applied, and then sprayed with Piretrum, Aktara, Aktellik and Tanrek insecticides.
You can grow any of the indoor species yourself, most importantly, you need to know how to care for ficus.