Ficus Benjamina: Caring for the Houseplant at Home

Ficus is one of the most popular houseplants. This species looks equally impressive in both homes and offices. The Benjamin ficus variety is distinguished by its small leaves, which are clearly visible in photographs, a dense crown, ease of care at home, and high decorative qualities.

Characteristics of the variety

This species belongs to the evergreen perennials of the Moraceae family. Its members include trees and shrubs. It is characterized by erect stems that become woody over time. The bark is light gray with brown streaks throughout. Representatives of this species are distinguished by lush crowns consisting of drooping branches.

The plant's decorative value lies in its leaves. Depending on the variety, they can be a solid green or feature variegated "inserts" on a green background. The leaf blades are thin and glossy. They have an oblong oval shape with a pointed edge. The margins are entire. The midrib is not particularly prominent. The leaves are arranged alternately on the branches by petioles.

The Benjamin genus has a large number of cultivars. The most common hybrids are:

1. Safari. A small-leaved variety. Distinguished by its boat-shaped leaves with recurved edges. The leaves are marbled: numerous streaks and spots of a milky-cream hue are set against a dark green background.

   

2. Baroque. Medium-sized leaf blades are curled across the midrib. Characterized by a rich, dark green leaf color.

   

3. Naomi Gold. Distinguished by its large, wide leaves with wavy edges, there are two varieties: the common Naomi Gold, with dark green, uniform leaves, and the variegated Naomi Gold. The latter is distinguished by its two-tone appearance: dark green spots appear on a bright, light green background.

   

4. Kinki. A small-leaved variety. Distinguished by straight, light green leaves with an uneven, light green or cream-colored border.

   

5. Starlight. A medium-sized variety. Characterized by boat-shaped leaves with slightly curled edges. The dark green leaf has a wide white border, which sometimes covers the entire surface of the leaf.

   

6. Natasha. A small-leaved variety. Characterized by bright green, boat-shaped leaves with a recurved tip. The leaves are uniform in color.

   

7. Nicole. A small-leaf hybrid. Distinguished by its leaves bent along the midrib. The leaves are two-toned: light green with cream accents.

   

8. Monique. A large-leaf variety characterized by very thin branches and wavy, light-green leaves.

   

9. Wendy. This variety is characterized by small leaves, slightly curled along the midrib. The leaves are a uniform, bright green color. Wendy has an unusual trunk that periodically changes its growth direction. This characteristic gives this ficus its zigzag trunk.

   

10. Eldorado. This variety is very similar to the Safari ficus. The main difference is the size of the leaf blades. Eldorado has much larger leaves.

    

11. Curly. A medium-sized ficus with wavy leaves of an unusual color. The dark green leaves are dotted with milky specks of varying sizes. Some leaves are completely milky.

    

12. Twilight. This variety resembles the Starlight ficus in appearance. Unlike the latter, the Twilight variety's leaves have a thinner border.

    

Handling the plant requires extreme caution. A toxic milky sap appears where the plant is damaged. For this reason, the plant should be kept away from children and pets.

Caring for Ficus Benjamin at Home

Ficus thrives in warm climates with high humidity. Therefore, successful cultivation of its indoor varieties requires creating conditions as close to natural as possible.

Temperature and humidity

The room temperature depends on the plant's vital processes. During the active growing season, which lasts from April to October, the plant thrives at a temperature of 25-30°C. From mid-autumn onward, the temperature should be gradually lowered so that by winter it remains no more than 20°C. It shouldn't get too cold.

The temperature of the water and soil also plays a crucial role. Ficus plants are recommended to be watered with very warm water. Cool soil is unacceptable. These plants are sensitive to drafts, so avoid placing them near the front door or windows with transoms.

Ficus plants are grown in high-humidity conditions. They require constant misting and wiping with a damp towel. In summer, the plants can be placed under a warm shower.

Light

Varieties with solid-colored leaves require filtered light. These flowers can be placed in partial shade. Variegated varieties require more light. They are usually placed on south-facing windows, covered with a curtain during peak sun hours. Insufficient light will cause the flowers to lose their decorative color.

On cloudy days, flowers may require additional lighting. For this purpose, they can be illuminated with phytolamps or ultraviolet lamps. It should be remembered that the minimum distance between the flower and the lighting fixture should be at least half a meter.

Watering and fertilizing

There's no perfect watering schedule for a ficus. Water the plant based on its individual needs. During active growth, water as the top layer of soil dries, avoiding hardening or overwatering. In winter, water less frequently: a small amount once a week is sufficient.

The plant requires mineral fertilization. Mixtures for decorative foliage indoor plants are well suited for feeding. A good fertilizer should be rich in nitrogen.

Fertilizer is added twice a month during the growing season. During the dormant period, the ficus does not require fertilization.

Diseases, pests and control measures

Plants may be susceptible to the following diseases:

1. Root rot.
2. Anthracosis.
3. Cercospora leaf spot.
4. Botrytis.

Fungicides are used to combat diseases. They are readily available at any flower or hardware store. Florists recommend Topaz, Fundazol, and Fitocide.

Ficus can become a victim of the following harmful insects:

• aphid;
• scale insect;
• spider mite;
• mealybug;
• thrips;
• nematode.

Many gardeners recommend treating ficus trees with soapy water to eliminate pests. Insecticide treatments are more effective.

Propagation and replanting of ficus at home

The most common methods of propagating ficus are as follows;

• cuttings;
• air layering.

Propagation by cuttings involves the following steps:

1. A branch of about 10-15 cm (cutting) is cut from an adult tree.
2. All leaves are removed from the cutting, leaving only a couple of the top leaves.
3. The branch is treated with a growth stimulator (optional).
4. The cutting is rooted in soil for ficuses and covered with a cap.

The cutting requires daily misting and half-hour of ventilation. Repotting is possible only after several new leaves appear.

To propagate by layering, you need to do the following:

1. Make a cut in the stem. Its depth should be approximately one-third of the stem's thickness.
2. The incision site is treated with a growth stimulator (optional).
3. The cut stem is wrapped in damp sphagnum moss.
4. The moss is fixed using transparent film.

When aerial roots become visible under the film, the stem is cut and rooted in the soil.

You can also grow plants from seeds at home. The advantage of this propagation method is the large number of new plants it produces. However, there is a major drawback: growing a flower from seed is a very time-consuming process. Therefore, this method is primarily used by plant breeders.

Repotting is done every spring. Mature ficus trees can be left in the same soil for 2-3 years. Larger trees don't need to be repotted; they simply require replacement of the topsoil.

History of flower cultivation and signs

The plant's native lands are considered to be India, Australia, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia. It's impossible to say where the ficus first settled. In the wild, the tree grows up to 40 meters, and thrives in both sunny areas and dark forests.

This flower is widespread throughout the world. It is grown as a houseplant or in greenhouses. This ficus species is very popular among bonsai enthusiasts (growing an exact replica of a specific plant in miniature size). In warmer climates, the bushes are used to form hedges.

There are many signs and superstitions associated with the ficus tree. Among them are some that portray the plant positively, and others that are the opposite.

Perhaps the worst omen regarding having a ficus tree in the home stems from the Great Patriotic War. It was noted that soldiers never returned from the front to homes where the plant lived. This gave rise to the belief that keeping the plant indoors was unsafe.

The second omen of negative influence speaks of the plant's ability to attract envy, gossip, and strife into the home. This omen may be related to the fact that an exotic tree in the home was once considered a luxury item. Ficus trees were not affordable for everyone. Needless to say, wealthy people, even without ficus trees, were always the subject of envy and gossip.

Good omens say the flower brings happiness and good fortune. A ficus tree in the kitchen signifies an abundance of food in the refrigerator. It is believed to promote a long-awaited pregnancy. In Thailand, this plant is even considered sacred.

Frequently asked questions about growing

The Ficus benjamina isn't a fussy plant. With proper care, growing this ficus will bring more pleasure than hassle.