Ficus microcarpa: How to care for your indoor plant

Ficus microcarpa is a hardy plant with an intricate root system, the roots of which protrude above the soil surface and intertwine. The name ficus comes from two Greek words: "mikros" and "karpos," meaning "small fruit." Despite the impressive size the tree can reach, its fruit is truly miniature.

The plant is often grown as a bonsai. It has many names, including Indian laurel, gayumaru, Chinese banyan, and ginseng. With proper care, the ficus microcarpa delights with its exotic appearance, as seen in the photo, and sometimes with vibrant flowers, but these are very rare in indoor settings.

The Gayumaru is an evergreen tree of the Mulberry family. It has a magnificent, voluminous crown. In the wild, the tree grows up to 25 meters tall, but indoors, its height typically does not exceed 1.5 meters. The plant's root system is its distinctive feature: protruding above the soil surface, the ficus roots intertwine to form a variety of shapes.

Glossy dark green leaves are attached to the branches by short petioles and densely cover the crown. The leaves themselves are dense, shaped like a slightly elongated oval. The plant has numerous aerial rootlets and an upright gray trunk.

During flowering, the ficus produces syconia—small, purple, spherical inflorescences. However, when grown indoors, extra effort is required to ensure blooms appear.

Caring for Ficus microcarpa after purchase

The Indian laurel can be quite demanding, so its cultivation requires special care. Before purchasing the ficus, it's important to choose a permanent location for it, as the tree doesn't respond well to changes in location. It's also important to keep in mind that it doesn't tolerate drafts, dry air, or direct sunlight. You cannot place the plant near heating devices, as they not only heat but also dry out the air.

From the first hours after purchasing the tree, it's important to ensure optimal indoor humidity. Place the plant container on a tray filled with wet pebbles and mist the leaves daily. This will help alleviate dry air around the plant. If necessary, mist the foliage 2-3 times a day. Also, avoid allowing the soil to dry out. Generally, the plant needs to be watered every 2-3 days.

You shouldn't repot a plant immediately after purchase, as it needs time to adapt to its new environment. Typically, it takes 10-14 days for the plant to adapt, so after two weeks, it can be repotted in a new, more appropriately sized container.

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It's important to note that in the first few days after purchase, the tree may begin to shed its leaves in response to the new conditions. This is nothing to be alarmed about; it's usually just one of the plant's adaptation stages.

Secrets to caring for Ficus microcarpa at home

When growing a ficus tree, it's important to follow all care recommendations. Otherwise, the plant will begin to shed its leaves and become susceptible to various diseases, which will not only lead to a loss of its decorative appeal but also to its death.

Lighting

Indian laurel is a shade-tolerant tree that thrives in both partial shade and brightly lit conditions. However, the light falling on the plant should be diffused; direct sunlight is avoided.

If there's insufficient light, the plant's green leaves will fade. In this case, you can compensate for the lack of light with special photo lamps.

Temperature and humidity

Ficus is a heat-loving plant, with its roots needing warmth just as much as its crown. Therefore, it's best not to place the tree on the floor or windowsill during cold weather. It thrives in temperatures ranging from 17 to 24°C.

Air humidity plays a vital role in plant health. If grown in a dry environment, the tree will become weak and unhealthy. To prevent this, simply mist the plant daily with settled water and wipe its leaves with a slightly damp, soft cloth.

Watering and fertilizing

The plant requires regular and abundant watering, but avoid allowing the soil to become waterlogged, as this will cause the roots to rot. Watering frequency depends on other plant conditions, such as light, humidity, and temperature. When the top 2-3 cm of soil dries out, it's time to water.

The plant requires fertilizing only during the growing season, which begins in early spring and continues into autumn. Fertilizer can be applied directly to the soil or by spraying the foliage with a highly diluted solution of mineral fertilizer.

Liquid fertilizer should be applied only once every 14 days. The ficus will benefit most from the fertilizer if applied to moist soil. To feed the tree, use a general-purpose complex fertilizer for ornamental foliage plants, adding it to the water used for irrigation.

Pruning and shaping

The plant responds well to periodic pruning of branches and thick shoots. Moreover, this helps preserve its ornamental qualities. Pruning to shape the crown is done regularly, every spring. Drastic pruning is not recommended during other seasons, but contouring and shortening branches can be done at any time of year.

To ensure a strong, thick trunk develops in the future, a young tree needs to be pruned at a low height. Pruning can also be used to shape the crown. It's best to start pruning from the lower layers, slowly working upward to create the desired shape.

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The key is to prune the tree branches themselves, not the leaves. If pruning thick shoots, treat the cut area with garden sealant to protect the tree from microbes, fungi, and pests.

The tree's skeletal branches can be wired to direct their growth, and regular pruning of the main shoots to 5 cm encourages the crown to branch out and become more lush.

Methods of reproduction

Ficus can be propagated three ways: by cuttings, seeds, and layering. However, cuttings are the most common method. This is the simplest, fastest, and most effective.

Cuttings are taken from the tip of a shoot that has not yet hardened and is cut at an angle. To root, the cutting is placed in a container of room-temperature water, which should be periodically replaced with clean water. Roots typically appear on the cuttings within 3-4 weeks. After this, the cutting can be transplanted into the ground.

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Transfer

Ficus grows quite slowly, so it doesn't require frequent repotting; replacing the soil every 2-3 years is sufficient. Furthermore, the tree doesn't respond well to repotting, so some gardeners recommend not repotting a mature tree at all. For a mature ficus, replacing the top layer of soil is sufficient.

There's no need to repot a ficus each time, as the purpose of repotting is not to change the container, but to refresh the soil mixture. When choosing a new container, it's best to choose one that's 2-3 cm larger than the previous one.

Before repotting, the plant must be carefully prepared. This involves rinsing the roots in warm water to remove any old soil and shortening them by approximately 10 cm.

Stages of transplantation:

1. Place a 2-3 cm drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay or polystyrene foam can be used.
2. Adding new nutrient-rich soil. The plant isn't picky about substrate; the key is to choose loose, permeable soil.
3. Planting the plant in fresh soil. The tree should be positioned so that the top of its roots is above the soil.
4. Soil compaction.
5. Watering.

After transplantation, a tree may shed its leaves in response to a stressful situation.

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Diseases, pests and treatment methods

Ficus is fairly disease-resistant, but improper care can significantly reduce its resistance. Dry air, improper watering, and sudden temperature changes are the main factors that lead to ficus disease.

Overwatering can cause a fungal disease that causes spots to appear on the plant's aerial roots. To combat the fungus, prune away all damaged areas and treat the tree with a fungicide.

It's best to keep the tree away from other ornamental plants, as pests can easily migrate from other houseplants. The most common pests that attack ficus are aphids and spider mites.

Parasites typically hide on the underside of leaves. Aphids can also be detected by small black dots on the leaves. Spider mites reveal themselves by the fine web they spin at the base of branches. The fastest way to control them is to treat the tree with insecticides.

Quite often, the plant sheds its leaves entirely. This is usually a reaction to drafts, sudden temperature changes, lack of moisture, and stress caused by a change in habitat or replanting.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Ficus microcarpa is a whimsical plant that, with proper care, will be a beautiful addition to any interior. It requires pruning to achieve a decorative shape.