In which pot should the ficus be planted. How and when to transplant ficus

Ficus is one of the most common indoor plants. To date, a fairly large number of varieties of ficuses are known, their main feature is their unpretentiousness in care and ease of reproduction. Even an inexperienced florist will be able to breed ficuses on their own.
Recently, such a type of indoor flower as Benjamin's ficus has begun to enjoy increasing popularity. Outwardly, it looks like a sprawling and fairly large bush that requires very simple care. The reproduction of this type of ficus can take place in several ways, which makes it possible to choose the most suitable one for yourself - by seeds or cuttings. How to propagate Ficus Benjamin?
One of the most common types of propagation of ficus Benjamin is cuttings. In this case, you will need to harvest the cuttings - with a sharp knife, you need to cut off the top of the plant. Semi-woody twigs are suitable, the length of which should be about 15 cm. You need to cut obliquely, while it is strictly forbidden to use scissors or other blunt objects, as they will greatly crush the shoots, which in turn will significantly slow down the rooting process.
All large leaves must be removed from the cuttings, otherwise there will be a strong evaporation of moisture, which should not be allowed. On one cutting, you can leave 3 leaves, but no more. Milky juice will stand out at the cut site, which hardens very quickly. It will need to be removed, otherwise it will create a cork effect, which will prevent the development of the root system. You can remove the juice simply by washing it off with running water, or by placing the cutting in a jar of water, which is changed every 2-3 hours. As soon as the juice ceases to stand out, it is necessary to leave the root in the fresh air for several hours and let it dry.
Rooting ficus in warm water will take quite a long time and you need to add an activated charcoal tablet to the liquid so that the process of decay does not start. It is also necessary to ensure that the leaves of the handle do not touch the water.

After a few weeks, the first growths will begin to appear, and over time, roots will sprout. After the formation of roots, the cutting can be transplanted into the ground. To do this, it is advisable to use a special substrate for indoor flowers, which can be purchased at any gardening store.
Propagation by cuttings can be carried out in another way, planting them directly into the ground. For this, cuttings are prepared in advance, as described above. Peat, vermiculite, perlite, wet sand should be used as a substrate. As soon as the milky juice is removed from the cuttings and the sections dry thoroughly, you need to sprinkle it with a small amount of crushed coal, and then place it in the ground.
After planting, the ficus stalk must be covered with a jar or plastic bottle, which will create ideal conditions for accelerated rooting. For this purpose, you can use special mini-greenhouses.
It is necessary to constantly ensure that the earth is always slightly moist and occasionally ventilate the stalk by removing the jar. Thanks to this, the beginning of the process of decay can be prevented. The ideal option would be if the earth remains slightly warm. For this purpose, a container with ficus should be placed on a warm battery. As soon as the first leaves begin to appear, it means that the stalk is completely rooted and you can begin to gradually accustom the plant to new conditions - periodically removing the jar and each time increasing the duration of the airing of the ficus.
In home methods, it is quite difficult to propagate the plant on its own with the help of seeds, but it is quite possible. First you need to take the seeds of Benjamin's ficus and pre-treat with special growth-stimulating agents and fungicides. At the next stage, the seeds are laid out on a light and fairly moist substrate.

The container in which the seeds will be planted must be covered with a film and placed in a greenhouse. In order for ficus seeds to germinate, you need to constantly maintain the correct temperature, which should be in the range of 25-30 degrees. As soon as the first sprouts begin to appear, you need to provide the plant with bright lighting. If this is not done, very soon the ficus will begin to wither strongly and die as a result.
See also: cuttings of roses at home
Get rid of varicose veins in two weeks! Helps 100% How to transplant Benjamin's ficus?
Before you start the process of transplanting ficus Benjamin, you need to properly prepare the plant - it is placed in a container of water, after which it can be transplanted directly into a pot of earth. To speed up the process of engraftment of ficus, you need to purchase a special substrate.
Depending on the age of the ficus, the frequency of plant transplantation will be determined. Young ficuses need to be transplanted once a year until they reach the age of 4 years. After that, the transplant should be done every 2 years. It is very easy to determine when it is time to transplant an adult plant - the roots of the ficus begin to crawl out of the pot, and after watering the earth dries up very quickly.
It is recommended to transplant in the spring and summer, since it is at this time of the year that the ficus tolerates changing the pot much easier. It must be remembered that, even despite the unpretentiousness in care and the fairly strong immune system of the plant, it will be very difficult for it to endure a transplant in the autumn-winter period.
To transplant ficus Benjamin, you need to choose the right pot, which should be a few centimeters larger than the previous one, and you will also need drainage. The earth is pre-mixed with a small amount of baking powder (river sand, perlite, vermiculite) - the earth lump should be quite crumbly.
A not too thick layer of drainage is laid out at the bottom of the pot - no more than 2 cm. As soon as the pot and the ground are fully prepared, you can proceed directly to the transplant. The ficus is carefully removed from the old pot, the roots are thoroughly cleaned. You need to act very carefully so as not to damage the root system of the plant. If the clods of earth are very hard, the ficus can not be placed in water for some time. You should not try to make the roots perfectly clean, just remove large earthen clods.
The prepared ficus is placed in a new pot with a layer of expanded clay and sprinkled with a small amount of earth. Then you need to gradually add the earth and each time lightly tamp with your fingers near the roots, but so as not to damage them.
Care must be taken to ensure that the stem of the plant does not fall too low. As soon as the Benjamin ficus transplant is fully completed, you need to water the plant, but not very much. After about a week, the earth will dry out well and you can perform the next watering.
It is strictly forbidden to water the ficus after transplantation until the earth is completely dry, even if the leaves of the plant begin to fall off.

As you know, ficus is one of the most spectacular plants for home and office. But he is rather capricious and an incorrectly chosen place or irrigation regime will almost certainly affect the condition of the flower,. The ficus pot also matters and directly affects the growth rate.

How to choose a pot for ficus?

For young plants, standard pots are quite suitable, but adults need large tubs with a volume of several tens of liters. It is worth choosing a container taking into account the shape, size and type of plant.

1. What shape is needed for a ficus pot? For most representatives of this species, the standard model, in which the height is approximately equal to the diameter, is quite suitable. For example, such a pot is suitable for. The only exceptions are those plants that are grown using the bonsai technique. Then you need to pick up flat pots or bowls, in which the height of the sides is not more than 10 cm. In this case, for ficus Benjamin, you need a pot in the form of a bowl or container, preferably made of clay and without a glossy finish.
2. The size of the ficus pot is selected depending on the development and size of the root system. Ideally, the container should have a good drainage hole, from the roots to the walls of the pot should be at least 2 cm. The new pot should be only 2-3 cm wider than the old one. If you pick up too much capacity, this can lead to root rot or even death of the plant. And for some species, space is generally contraindicated.
3. What pot is needed for ficus in terms of material? Everything is simple here. For this plant, a container made of plastic, clay or ceramics is quite suitable. There is only one condition: the plant should not be exposed to chemical attack from the material. An ideal pot for a ficus no older than one year is made of uncoated clay; for an older plant, a tub of wood or plastic is quite suitable.

Ficus Benjamin is one of the most common and popular indoor plants, which has high decorative qualities and is able to delight its owners with green foliage throughout the year.

However, its cultivation is a rather laborious process, especially in the first months after planting, but if you know all the nuances and subtleties of plant care, this process will become simple and easy.

A little about ficus

Ficus Benjamin (the photo is in the review) is an evergreen plant of the Mulberry family. Under natural conditions, it can be found in the tropics and subtropics of China, India, Australia, Asia, and the Philippines.

In nature, this is a large bush or tree up to 10-20 m high, in room conditions it can grow up to 1.5-3 m. The crown of Benjamin's ficus is wide and very beautiful. The trunk of the plant is gray with small strokes. Branches are inclined down. Ficus Benjamin leaves are dense, glossy, oval with an elongated tip. Color from light green to very dark. The central vein is not clearly expressed.

Indoor varieties

Ficus Benjamin has a huge variety of varieties that differ in size, shape and color of leaves, stem shape. Let's consider some of them.

• Exotic. The leaves are flat and soft, the color is rich green, length - up to 8 cm, width - up to 3.5 cm. Internodes up to 4 cm. The bush grows quickly.
• Daniel. The leaves are dark green, plain, glossy, dense and flat, the edges are straight. It grows very quickly - it grows by almost 30 cm per season.
• Monique. It differs in more delicate, thin, hanging branches and light, elongated, slightly wavy leaves along the edge.
• Nicole. The leaves are more elongated, with a light edge.
• Safari. The variety is distinguished by a tricolor color and obvious spotting.
• Baroque. It is considered the most unusual, original and difficult to grow variety. Each leaf of this very miniature plant is twisted in the form of a spiral.

Location in the house

Before you bring this plant into the house, you need to decide on its location - Benjamin's ficus, the photo of which is provided in the article, is very difficult to change places, and after moving it most often sheds foliage. If this trouble happens shortly after the purchase, then you should not be scared and upset, because this is normal. Providing proper care to the plant will help it adapt. The place in the room must be chosen well-lit, but without direct sunlight. The plant does not like drafts and cold. The air temperature should not be lower than 15°C, relative humidity - 50-70%.

Features of care

In order for Benjamin's ficus to be able to constantly delight with its green chic crown and attract all the eyes of guests, it needs to provide timely and proper care. It is not super complicated, but it is still necessary for the plant to provide certain conditions.

Lighting and temperature

Depending on the color of the foliage, the optimal area for the location of the plant is selected, taking into account the lighting. For dark green ficuses, light penumbra and diffused light are suitable, and bushes with variegated light leaves, on the contrary, are very demanding on the intensity of lighting, but areas with direct sunlight should be avoided.

Ficus Benjamin is a heat-loving plant, in summer the optimum temperature should be 25-30 ° C, in winter not lower than 18 ° C. When the temperature is insufficient, the leaves are shed.

Watering

In summer, watering ficus Benjamin should be moderate, as the surface of the top layer of the earth dries up. Recommended abundant spraying in the morning and evening, washing the leaves.

Water the plant for uniform moistening in several stages, draining excess water from the pan that has passed through the drainage.

In winter, watering is reduced. Water is used settled or filtered, the soil is loosened before watering.

Ficus should be watered carefully, because with an excess of soil moisture, its root system is prone to decay. The soil should dry out between waterings.

Plant nutrition

For the normal growth of the plant, the formation of a lush and dense crown of a saturated color, it is important to take care of complete feeding. For this, universal flower fertilizers are used. They are introduced from spring to late autumn. At the same time, mineral and organic varieties alternate.

The introduction of concentrated dressings is carried out when watering the plant. The dosage is calculated depending on the growth rate: the faster the ficus grows, the more often it needs to be fed.

crown formation

By pinching, pruning, weaving branches and trunks, a plant can easily be given a varied look.

There are some of the most common ways to form a ficus crown, including:

• single and multi-tier stem;
• bonsai;
• domed and spherical crown;
• various sculptures.

The formation of a tree is best done in the spring. It is easiest to form a young plant, because it is actively and rapidly growing. Pruning helps awaken dormant buds, from which new shoots then grow and the plant becomes more magnificent. In addition, with the help of pruning, you can ennoble a strongly overgrown and unattractive ficus. Secateurs before this procedure must be disinfected with alcohol or a weak solution.

In the plant to be pruned, it is necessary to determine the main bush, it is impossible to cut it by more than 20 cm, but the side branches are cut according to creative need and desire. Slices after trimming must be treated with crushed coal.

A standard plant can be formed from a ficus by removing the lower branches and forming a dense crown with pruning.

The intertwined trunks of several plants can look very interesting and impressive. To obtain such a decorative effect, several young ficuses are planted in one pot and, as they grow, their trunks are intertwined, braided into a pigtail or other shape.

Ficus Benjamin: transplant

Looking at how the plant grows and becomes prettier, one should not forget that not only the number of branches and leaves is added. Month after month, the ficus increases the volume of the root system, and the soil, even with constant top dressing, begins to gradually become impoverished.

Ficus Benjamin transplantation will help to correct this situation.

It is usually done when the roots of the plant are thickly braided with an earthen ball, and they emerge from the drainage hole. But it is better not to allow this and perform a planned transplant.

Before transplanting ficus Benjamin into another pot, you must select a suitable container. The younger the plant, the more actively it increases the root mass, so it is transplanted annually into pots, 2-3 cm larger in diameter than before. Adult ficuses are transplanted 2-3 times less often. At home, this is carried out in spring or autumn.

The best soil for ficus is ready-made universal, bought in a specialized store. But you can make your own mixture at home, consisting of equal parts of leafy and soddy soil, sand and grassroots peat. Drainage must be laid at the bottom of the tank.

Ficus Benjamin transplantation is carried out as follows: after watering, the plant is removed from the old pot, the old earth is removed, the flower is carefully transferred to a new container and sprinkled with fresh soil.

After transplantation, the plant adapts and it may begin to shed its leaves. There is no need to worry about this, the ficus will soon develop rapidly again.

Reproduction of ficus Benjamin at home

The most favorable time for the reproduction of ficus is spring and early summer. This is due to the fact that during this period there is an active growth of foliage and roots.

Reproduction of Benjamin's ficus at home is best done using cuttings, since the cuttings give good roots both in soil and in water. The second method is seed, but it is used extremely rarely.

How to root ficus Benjamin?

The upper cuttings, on which there are leaves, are cut off and placed in a container with water. The leaves should not get wet, otherwise rotting may occur. As the water evaporates, it should be topped up periodically. After 2-3 weeks, callus tissue will appear on the stems in the form of growths. After some time, roots form at this place, after which the cutting is planted in the soil substrate.

If the cutting is planted in the ground, it can be covered with a jar to create the effect of greenhouse conditions. Before you root Benjamin's ficus, you need to prepare the ground. It is advisable to disinfect it by heating in a steam bath for 30 minutes.

Problems in growing ficus

Ficus Benjamin has some growing difficulties that you need to pay attention to:

• Dry leaf tips in winter indicate a lack of indoor air humidity. Most often this is due to turning off the heating. In this case, it is necessary to increase the frequency of spraying and organize artificial lighting. This will help the flower wait for spring.
• If a plant suddenly begins shedding leaves, this should alert its owner. So the flower can respond to sudden changes in the conditions of detention, for example, to a decrease in temperature, the appearance of a draft, a change of place, abundant watering in winter, when, on the contrary, it was necessary to reduce the amount of moisture.
• The change of season in any plant causes yellowing and shedding of leaves. Ficus is also no exception. But if Benjamin's ficus turns yellow at another time - what to do? There are two main reasons why this happens: the first is an excess of water that can kill the plant, the second is too low a temperature. These causes must be eliminated.
• If the flower does not grow and develop for a long time, you need to evaluate whether the size of the pot is chosen correctly. If the pot is too large for the size of the plant, the roots will begin to wither, stop growing and die. On the contrary, tight capacity prevents the formation and development of the crown.

If, after correcting errors in the care and maintenance of the flower, there is no improvement, you need to pay attention to the presence of diseases and pests.

Diseases and pests of ficus

Among the most common diseases that affect Benjamin's ficus, the following can be noted:

• Anthracnose. Dark brown spots develop into ulcers. If left untreated, the ficus will die. Control methods: removal of affected leaves, fungicide treatment, reduction of spraying and watering, frequent airing.
• Cerskoporosis. Small black dots appear on the back of the leaf. Treatment - as with anthracnose.
• Dropsy. With this disease, cork growths form on the back of the leaf. Treatment: remove affected leaves and provide proper care.

The main pests of Benjamin's ficus are spider mites, thrips and aphids.

The most dangerous among them is the spider mite. The pest damages the flower very quickly and adapts to many chemicals. That is why the fight against it should be started at the first signs of the disease. To destroy this pest, you can use folk methods, for example, garlic tincture, leaf treatment with laundry soap, or apply an insecticide.

Probably no one will argue with the fact that ficus is one of the most popular plants that gardeners grow at home. This flower is represented by both undersized representatives (bonsai) and whole bushes, reaching a height of up to 2-3 meters. will allow everyone to choose what they like best.

An important point to pay attention to when growing a plant is the choice of the size of the ficus pot. Many do not pay due attention to such a moment, but in vain, since a lot depends on it.

How to choose the right container shape

A ficus pot should be chosen depending on the size of the flower itself. If the plant has just been bought and it is still quite small, then it is recommended to look at a small flowerpot.

Much more attention should be paid to the choice of a ficus pot, which has been growing at home for a long time.

Experienced gardeners are advised to pay attention to containers of standard sizes, in which the diameter is equal to the height of the flowerpot. If it is at home or, then such a pot will be an ideal option.

When planting a tree, from which, you need to understand that choosing a flowerpot will be a little more difficult. Many beginner gardeners purchase what they like best based on appearance, and this is fundamentally wrong.

Important! The bonsai pot should be flatter, resembling a plate in appearance, rather than a flowerpot.

A container or a thicket is something that is in great demand. In addition to the fact that such containers are very convenient, they also fit perfectly into any interior of an apartment or office.

When thinking about which pot to plant a flower in, you need to understand that any shape can be artificially changed. Of course, no one will specially alter the container, but there is an opportunity to cheat by weaving a planter into which a vase can be placed. Tall products look beautiful and original, ideal for bonsai and other forms.

Pot size - how to choose it

Some believe that the Benjamin ficus pot can be anything. Even the one left from some other flower, for example, will do. If you act according to this principle, then you may encounter the fact that the plant stops growing, begins to wither, and then completely dies.

Experienced flower growers say that "We choose the size depending on the development of the roots of the flower." It makes no sense to plant young plants that have small roots in large flowerpots, since the ficus will stop growing due to the fact that the root system will begin to actively develop. And as long as it does not braid the entire earthen ball, the situation will not change.

However, this does not mean that you should wait until the roots already appear from the drainage holes.

If the flower has not been transplanted for more than a year, you need to get an earthen ball along with the flower and carefully examine it. Having noticed a developed root system, it is necessary to transplant the ficus into a pot that will be several centimeters larger than the previous one.

Important! Rubber-bearing ficuses grow very quickly, so you have to buy a new pot for them every year.

The mistake of many gardeners is that, when planning to plant a tree, they transplant a rather large flower into a container that is slightly larger than the previous one. This rule must be observed for those flowers that grow on the windowsill. For outdoor ficuses, you should buy quite roomy flowerpots. Considering that adults and large plants are not transplanted, they simply change the top layer of the substrate every year, it will be very difficult to transplant a flower into a more spacious pot. The plant may simply not take root in a new place and die.

Material - what to pay attention to

Despite the fact that ficuses are quite unpretentious plants and can "live" in almost any pot, it is still recommended to pay attention to the material from which it is made.

You need to understand that not all containers are safe, we are talking about toxic materials from which flowerpots can also be made. Some manufacturers, in order to save a little on production, use poor quality plastic, which, when in contact with earth, water or fertilizer, begins to release toxins. It is the latter that adversely affect the plant.

There were times when the flower began to fade gradually, but the cause could not be found. And only an accidental transplant into a new container saved the situation.

Therefore, when thinking about which pot is needed for ficus, it is best to choose proven materials.

These include:

• ceramics;
• clay;
• glass;
• wood.

The latter material is relevant for the manufacture of large tubs that can decorate any room.

As for clay containers, they are usually used for planting bonsai.

Ceramics is an expensive material, but beautiful, durable and, of course, natural, so if possible, you should pay attention to it.

If the grower is well acquainted with the manufacturer and has repeatedly bought the pots of the presented company, made of plastic, then you can also purchase them. At the same time, having noticed some negative changes that occur with the flower, and also, having eliminated all possible problems, it will not be superfluous to change the flowerpot by buying a pot made of natural material.

What color to prefer

Perhaps this is the simplest thing that can be. Today, there are so many colors on the market that choosing the right ficus pot is not difficult. Some gardeners advise paying attention to light colors that harmonize very beautifully with the green shades of leaf plates. If a ceramic flowerpot is purchased, then you can look at products that have a bizarre and delicate pattern.

Choosing the right flowerpot, the flower will grow quickly enough and develop well.

It is considered one of the most spectacular house plants or representatives of the office. But do not forget about the whimsicalness of the plant. An incorrect location or a chaotic irrigation regime can significantly affect the health of the ficus. Diseases will not keep you waiting. Properly selected for ficus directly depends on the rate of plant development.

How to choose a pot for ficus?

Standard pots are great for young plants. Adult representatives are more capricious. They need containers with a capacity of a couple of tens of liters. The correct selection of a ficus pot is based on the type of plant, its size and shape.

The form

What shape should a ficus pot have? The standard model can fit the lion's share of ficus representatives. The diameter and height of such containers are usually equal. Such a pot is perfect for. But even at this point, there are exceptions. These are plants grown using the bonsai technique. In such cases, attention is focused on the choice of flat pots. To grow ficus Benjamin by, it is necessary to choose the capacity of the clay structure without the presence of gloss.

The size

Depending on the size and level of development of the root system, a ficus pot is selected in size. The container must be equipped with an excellent drainage system. There should be a distance of about 2 centimeters from the walls to the roots. A new pot for planting is chosen a couple of centimeters more spacious than the previous one. Too large a ficus pot can lead to a number of unpleasant moments, among which rotting of the root system and death of the plant are distinguished. There are some types of ficus that do not tolerate space at all.

pot material

You will definitely not have any problems with this. Ceramic pots, clay and plastic are excellent for ficus. The only condition is that there is no chemical effect on the plant from the side of the pot. The optimal pot for young ficus is clay without gloss. Adult representatives can be planted in plastic or wooden containers.

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