How to care for ficus at home

How to care for ficus at home? Today this question is more than relevant. Because the cultivation of this plant firmly occupies its position among the interests of gardeners. It is long past times when the simplest variety with green leaves grew on the window sill of each grandmother. The current selection offers a variety of plants for home maintenance.

Of particular interest are ficuses with variegated colors of the leaves and those whose stems are easily woven into various shapes. Despite the abundance of species and varieties, the care of ficuses practically has no differences. Let's understand in detail how to care for this representative of the green kingdom.

Choosing a pot

So. You have a ficus. Bought, donated, stolen - does not matter. Now it is a full-fledged resident of your home.And he needs appropriate care. First you need to pick him a suitable pot. Material capacity does not matter. This may be ceramics, plastic, clay, terracotta. Only not glass or metal. These materials quickly cool themselves and cool the plant root system.

If they were chosen after all, they will have to additionally provide for the insulation of the pot or do a weak heating from below. Why do you need extra trouble?

There must be drainage holes for the outflow of excess water. Otherwise, your ficus will quickly get sick and throw off the leaves. The size of the pot should be slightly larger than the root system so that it has room to grow.

Council Do not plant a ficus immediately in a huge container. The roots will not be able to immediately master such a volume of soil, and it will soon turn sour. That will bring few pleasant moments and does not benefit the pet.

Preparing land for ficus

You can buy ready-made mix in the store. On the package, it is written “for ficuses”. And you can independently collect a decent ground. But you will know for sure what they put there. For this you will need:

• good humus
• leafy garden land
• clean sand
• sod land
• peat

All this needs to be taken in equal parts. Then mix and disinfect. To do this, pour the mixture into a tight bag or bag and place it in the freezer for a day. After complete thawing, spill a strong solution of potassium permanganate. And after 12 hours, calcined in the oven at a temperature of + 105-110 ° C.

Such processing ensures that pathogenic bacteria, spores of fungi and larvae of pests are not afraid of your ficus.

Council Purchase soil must also be disinfected. Where is the guarantee that it is clean and will not infect your plant?

We are looking for a place for ficus

Well, you put your handsome in a convenient pot with good soil. And now what? Where to attach it? After all, you can not just shove it into a free place on the windowsill, grow as you like. He immediately showered you with leaves. We must find a suitable place for the ficus. And it consists of three conditions: proper lighting, optimum temperature and good humidity. We understand!

Lighting. Ficus loves the light, preferably more. So variegated color appears even brighter.With a lack of lighting, the yellow border of the leaves turns pale green. And the plant itself begins to pull out long thin shoots with small leaves. Therefore, the light is to be.

At the same time, the ficus categorically does not tolerate contact with leaves of direct sunlight for a long time. Especially at lunchtime. He immediately begin to roast and roll up the tips of the leaves, dry shoots. The plant itself is sluggish. Sometimes the ficus protests and sheds leaves again.

What to do and how to get out of the situation? Do not panic! Everything is solved. We put the pot on the eastern sill. Then the afternoon sun will not get him. No east? We put on the west or south. And pritenyem dense white curtain or paper. And this is not? Then to the north, but with the obligatory additional lighting. Owners of special fitolamps - Respect!

No north? Then why do you need a ficus in the garage? If you have no windows, leave the flowers alone.

Temperature. In general, all types of ficus are quite loyal to the temperature of the content. They feel great in the range from +18 to + 26 ° C. These indicators should be followed.

Lower air temperature slows down the active life processes of the plant. And when falling to + 10 ° С, development stops at all. Higher acts akin to sunburn. Especially in the winter near the central heating battery. Therefore, it is advisable not to put the pot near the radiators. Or cover it with a thick towel, blanket, rug.

Sometimes in the summer on the windowsill is too hot. After all, shading will save from the sun, but does not reduce the temperature. Then you have to lay out a number of bottles with ice. Or tanks with ice water.

It is best to take out the ficus in summer in the garden or on the balcony. There he will be ventilated, and the heat in light penumbra will not be so terrible.

Humidity. Some sources do not recommend spraying the ficus itself. Even otstoyannoy or melt water. Ostensibly it causes stains on the leaves. Nonsense. Spots will appear if you forget to wipe leaves from dust or periodically bathe the plant.

And on pure leaves and from good water there will be no stains. Therefore, boldly spray ficus with water at room temperature to increase the humidity in its microclimate. If you are still afraid, then increase the humidity during the heating season in other ways.

Place a shallow wide pallet next to it.Put in it expanded clay, pieces of peat or moss. Fill it all up with water. After impregnation, the remaining liquid can not drain, let them float. The water will gradually evaporate and saturate the air.

You can even just attach an additional container with water nearby. The effect will be similar. Or spray the air around the ficus with a spray. The moisture on the leaves will not fall, and the microclimate will be normal.

Council After you put the ficus on a certain place, try not to dangle it in the rooms anymore. It threatens one-sided dropping of leaves. That is, the plant will be half bald.

We water the ficus

So, the pot in place set, it seems, everything was done. Why does the ficus not want to grow? And why is he sluggish worth? Water it! Water the ficus need! He likes to drink. Like all plants. But constantly keep it in the swamp impossible. The roots will begin to rot, the plant will die.

You need to water the ficus only when the topsoil dries to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. How to determine that it is time to water the pet? Very simple. Do you still regularly loosen the pot? Here at the same time you will see when there is still enough moisture, and when it is already not enough.

If you do not want to poke around in the ground, then take a wooden stick, skewer, toothpick. Stick it to the bottom of the pot and take it out after 15 minutes. A light strip will be clearly visible on the light wood. Here on it and navigate.

By the way, the water should be at room temperature or slightly warmer. Plumbing is desirable to defend at least a day. Or boil. You can even freeze it in plastic bottles, and then thaw. Just be sure to pour off the sediment. All harmful impurities, hard salts and heavy metals remain in it.

Council Great facilitate tracking the level of humidity special beacons. They are sold in flower or agricultural stores. When the moisture in the soil decreases, they change color. This will be a signal at the time of the next watering.

Feed the ficus

In addition to watering, your pet sometimes needs goodies. After all, with good care, the ficus can grow up to 2 meters tall. It is in the room. And where can he get strength to increase the mass of leaves? Of course, fertilizer.

The ficus is responsive to any form of fertilizing. It grows equally gratefully from:

• liquid green fertilizer
• full mineral complex
• fertilizers in the form of long-playing capsules or tablets

The first two forms need to be made about once every 13-15 days, starting in March and ending in September. After this time, fertilizing is reduced, and from November to February they do not contribute at all.

Long-soluble fertilizers are convenient because they are enough to dig into the ground once every six months and you can forget about additional feeding. During irrigation, part of the capsule will gradually erode, and the ficus will receive its share.

A big plus of such fertilizers is that they contain a full range of essential minerals. And with them we must try to overdo it. On the package written instructions for use and the exact dosage for each plant.

Council If you decide to collect the mix of ficus fertilizers yourself, then do not indulge in nitrogen. It causes increased growth of green mass, but it is aesthetically poorly attractive. Shoots and leaves are loose and flabby. But big!

Pests and diseases

Well, they made a paradise for their ficus? He puffs safely in his pot, he pleases you with guns of leaves.You also adore him, feed him sometimes, water him. Do you think everything will be so? It would be nice if so. But besides you, the ficus is adored by some other comrades. And they are completely unwanted guests in your paradise garden.

It is a spider mite, aphid, scab. White fly too. All these insects safely suck vital juices from ficus leaves. From this, it loses its attractiveness, leaves wilt, become full of holes. Sometimes all fall off.

At the first sign of damage, the plant must be urgently saved. To do this, you can try to wash the shovels with a warm thick solution of potash or laundry soap. The first is sold in flower shops, the second needs no introduction. Just be sure to cover the soil from ingress of the solution with cling film, dense polyethylene or foil.

If such a procedure does not have the desired result, you will have to use chemistry. And do not worry. You do not ficus chop a salad! Therefore, we choose a systemic insecticide of long duration. And we use it in strict accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer. No gag. Otherwise, along with the pests poravite householdflowers and yourself with them.

Of the diseases of ficus most often affect various rot and fungi. No, of course, you originally disinfected the soil. But it can not remain sterile forever. Soon, it is colonized again by microorganisms. And if you also violate the maintenance regime, the plant will weaken. And even then it will not be able to resist the attack of pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

Remember: only weak ficuses are sick. A healthy plant has its own good immune system.

However, sometimes, despite all precautions, the ficus still picks up some sore. Then you have to act dramatically. Fungal infections will rarely withstand anti-fungicide treatment. To achieve the best effect, it is desirable to cover the ficus with dense polyethylene after processing for at least 2 hours. If necessary, the procedure is repeated in about a week.

A rot need to cut a sterile blade to a healthy tissue. Then, cauterize the wound with ordinary medicinal greens or powder it with crushed tablet of activated charcoal.

After surgery, it is recommended to transfer the ficus to another pot and a new soil in order to avoid reinfection.

Sometimes the disease is noticed too late. Then the plant can not be saved.In this case, try to cut as many healthy cuttings as possible. After all, you have to grow ficus again. And cuttings take root easily and grow very quickly. In this case, instead of one sick pet, you get a whole bunch of healthy young.

How to care for ficus at home? Actually it is easy. Ficus does not require crazy content or elite fertilizers. He is quite grateful even for the smallest care of him. And if you pamper him a little, then on your windowsill it will be lush, juicy and beautiful.

Video: how to properly care for the ficus