Ficus benjamina: home care, repotting, and propagation, photos

Flowers

Ficus belongs to the mulberry family, which is made up of evergreen plants that grow as trees or shrubs. Some species also grow as vines. Today, we'll talk about the Ficus benjamina and its care at home.

Ficus benjamina is one of the most common varieties of this genus. It has 12-centimeter-long, oblong leaves in a variety of colors. The tree has a voluminous crown covered in gray bark with horizontal brown stripes. In the wild, this ficus can grow up to 30 meters tall, but indoors, its height is limited to 5-6 meters.

Caring for Ficus Benjamin at Home

The plant is not picky for home living, but still requires compliance with certain standards.

Temperature

The recommended temperature for ficus should not fall below 16 degrees Celsius or rise above 25 degrees Celsius. This species has a downside: if it doesn't like something, it will begin to shed its leaves, thereby losing its decorative appeal. See the photo for indoor care of the Ficus Benjamina.

Humidity

Humidity should be high, as the plant does not tolerate dry climates. It is recommended to mist it daily with room-temperature water. This procedure is essential in winter, but can be done less frequently.

Advice!

During the cold season, move the plant pot a few meters away from the radiator. If the air is too dry, the Benjamin begins to shed its leaves. In a moderate climate, the ficus can live from a few years to 20 years or more.

Location and lighting

The plant is quite light-loving; if it doesn't receive enough light, its leaves will begin to fall. However, indirect lighting is recommended. In summer, the pot can be moved to the balcony, but do this gradually to allow the plant time to acclimate to the light. In winter, supplemental lighting is recommended.

The room where the Ficus Benjamina grows requires frequent ventilation, but it's important to remember that it doesn't like drafts. When growing and caring for the Ficus Benjamina indoors, it's strictly forbidden to place it on south-facing windows, otherwise leaf drop is inevitable.

Watering

Water it sparingly, as overwatering will cause the leaves to fall off. Moisten the soil only when it begins to dry out. Water once a week in winter, and several times a week in summer. If the soil is not moist enough, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and fall off.

Top dressing and fertilizers

Fertilizer should be applied only when the growing season is over. This typically occurs in spring and early fall. Liquid fertilizer should be applied several times a month.

Important!

If spraying doesn't help clean the plant, you can use specialized cleaning products. However, it's recommended to use them no more than once a month.

Transplanting and pruning

Repotting and indoor care of the Ficus Benjamina depends on the plant's growth and species. To improve its health, repotting is recommended. Young ficus trees require annual repotting, but after four years, they can be repotted every few years.

You can also pay attention to the following signs that indicate that the plant needs to be repotted urgently:

The soil dries out quickly.
The leaves turn yellow and fall off, leaving the trunk bare.
The root system grows and begins to pass through the drainage holes and appear on the surface of the earth ball.
After purchasing a plant from a store, it's recommended to repot it after a few weeks. This allows it to adapt to its new environment.

Advice!

To ensure a quicker and smoother repotting of a Benjamin ficus, it should be done in the spring. It's best to choose a pot 4-5 centimeters larger than the previous one. The roots should fit comfortably in the new container. For a young ficus, it's best to choose a light soil: mix equal parts leaf mold and turf soil, adding some sand.

How to carry out the transplantation in sequence:

In order to remove the plant from the flower pot without difficulty, you need to water it beforehand.
Then the top layer of soil is removed.
Place drainage material at the bottom of the container and sprinkle lightly with soil.
Before replanting a ficus, the soil is removed from the root system.
To regulate watering, the container is selected according to the size of the root system.
The soil must contain sand, and it is also advisable to add charcoal.
After shaking the soil from the roots, it is carefully placed in a new container.
Add soil on all sides.

Trimming

The crown should be formed annually. ficusWeak and diseased branches that cross others should be removed. Thinning out shoots within the stems allows sunlight to reach the plant and helps prevent massive leaf drop.

For pruning, disinfect the pruning shears in an alcohol solution. It's best to leave no more than 20 centimeters of the main shoots, each with at least five leaves. Cut only above the bud. The cut should also be at a slight angle. A milky residue may appear on the cut; wipe it off with a cloth dampened with room-temperature water.

Propagation of Ficus Benjamina

Ficus can be propagated in several ways: by cuttings and layering. Let's take a closer look at each method.

Propagation by cuttings

You need to select a suitable cutting, and it's also ideal if the stem has at least four unfolded leaves. Growing and caring for a Ficus Benjamina at home doesn't require any special skills.

The base of the cutting should be carefully cut with a sharp knife. You can make several cuts. To prevent the two parts of the plant from touching, place a toothpick or match between them. This will encourage faster rooting.

Ficus cuttings can be rooted in several ways:

in perlite;
in water;
in light soil.

After the root system has grown a couple of centimeters, it should be moved to a permanent location.

Propagation by layering

This method is used by:

with small growth;
if you want to get a large amount of aerial root system.

Make a cut on the trunk or branch. Treat the exposed area with a growth promoter, wrap it in moist soil containing sphagnum moss, and cover the entire area with plastic wrap. Secure the edges with thread or tape.

Once the root system is visible through the film, it should be freed. It is recommended to cut the young seedling a few centimeters below the roots. Cover the cut area of the parent plant with charcoal.

https://youtu.be/QImSjtu9r0w

Diseases and pests

This plant is quite resistant to various pests and diseases. The main symptom of disease is leaf drop. By growing the Ficus benjamina, gardeners know they can prevent diseases in advance.

Insufficient light can cause yellowing and pale leaves. In this case, it's recommended to move the plant closer to a window. If brown spots appear, move the ficus away from the light, as this indicates sunburn. At low temperatures, the leaves curl, wilt, and fall off.

If there's a lack of moisture, leaves turn brown and dry out. Therefore, it's important to prevent or treat diseases promptly.

Ficus benjamina is often attacked by mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, and scale insects. These pests thrive in high room temperatures and low humidity. The most common signs of infestation include spots, webbing, and plaque on the leaves, as well as foliage that gradually wilts, turns yellow, and falls off. To get rid of mites and aphids, simply wipe the plant with a soapy solution. Other pests require insecticides.

Mealybugs cover the foliage with an oily white coating. They require long-term treatment, using a combination of the two. Frequent watering can cause root rot. Removing all rotted roots and changing the soil mixture is sufficient to combat this.

Difficulties in growing

The ficus is a rather capricious plant. When relocated, growth slows and foliage begins to fall. Even if the ficus is turned sharply, the foliage begins to fall off, even if it's perfectly healthy.

Leaf shedding occurs at high or low temperaturesindoor air, with excessive watering and insufficient amount of mineral fertilizers.

Yellowing of leaves is observed when pests appear. In this case, they may also fall off.

To prevent your ficus benjamina from dropping leaves, it's recommended to eliminate the cause. This way, you won't have to wonder why the leaves are falling.