Secrets of successful cultivation of ficus microcarp. Ficus microcarpa, home care Ficus small-fruited care at home

Ginseng, also known as microcarp or small-fruited ficus, belongs to the Mulberry family.

In Latin, its scientific name is Ficus microcarpa ginseng.

Naturally, it is an evergreen tree. height 15-25 meters with a dense spreading crown, a powerful trunk and huge aerial roots hanging down.

In room culture, it is most often grown as a bonsai with a small trunk, but a huge rhizome, shaped like a ginseng root. Not by chance "ginseng" is translated as "ginseng".

The tropics and subtropics of Southeast Asia are the usual habitat of the tree.

This representative of the flora is also called "Indian laurel", "green island" and "Chinese banyan".

Its dark green leathery leaves are quite large - up to 15 cm in length.

They are oval in shape and have a glossy surface.

Ginseng is a ficus strangler.

Starting life as an epiphyte, as it develops, it takes root next to the host tree, braids it and strangles it, preventing it from developing.

The bizarre rhizome for which indoor ficus ginseng is famous is not found in nature.

It is grown on farms using a special technology that is kept secret.

The tree is fed with special preparations and kept in special conditions.

Co. when the root reaches the desired thickness and shape, the plant is transplanted into another container, leaving most of the rhizome on the surface of the soil.

At the same time, the trunk is cut off and new greenery is grown.

Bred on farms and indoor forms with an ordinary trunk.

In this case, the rhizome is hidden in the ground and the main beauty of the tree is given by a luxurious dense crown.

Home Care

ficus ginseng differs in unpretentiousness in leaving and endurance.

Following simple care rules will help him develop well, not get sick and be protected from pest attacks.

Important - The trunk of the tree is covered with a thin gray-brown bark, when damaged, a white milky juice is released.

It is advisable to prevent such injuries when caring for a "green friend" - the wounds on the trunk are delayed for a very long time.

Temperature

The tree prefers diffused light or partial shade.

The ideal place is next to a window, but as far as possible from heating appliances.

Important - It is advisable to decide once and for all on the permanent place of the ficus, because he does not like moving and, in response, can shed his leaves.

The most comfortable temperature for this representative of the flora is 20 to 23°C.

In the hot season, regular ventilation is required. At the same time, drafts are very undesirable.

In winter, the temperature column in the room should not fall below 16°C.

Watering and humidity

From spring to autumn, abundant watering is required, but without excessive zeal, and moderate in winter.

Waterlogging the soil can lead to root rot.

The need for watering is easily determined: drying of the top layer of soil to a depth of about 3 cm is a signal that it is time to moisten the soil.

It is important to ensure that the earth does not dry out completely and the water in the pan does not stagnate.

The tree needs high humidity.

It will be very grateful for daily spraying in the morning and evening.

It is better to take boiled water for this, otherwise a white coating will remain on the leaves.

Also, the plant will not refuse a warm shower once a month and regularly wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

It is desirable that during water procedures, as little water as possible gets on the trunk.

To increase the humidity, you can use a pallet with wet pebbles.

top dressing

In winter, top dressing is reduced to once a month.

Fertilizers should be applied along with watering in moist soil.

Bloom

The tree blooms with small flowers, which bloom inside a spherical receptacle.

Later they are transformed into fruits, the so-called siconia, shaped like large berries.

At home, the tree is extremely rarely covered with flowers, and even more so it does not bear fruit, since it must be pollinated by small wasps that live only in its homeland.

crown formation

The ficus microcarp has very plastic shoots, so its crown can be given any shape.

If the appearance of the purchased specimen is quite satisfactory, you can save it by regularly pinching the tips of the branches.

To form a branched crown, the top of the tree is cut off, leaving no more than 5 cm in length of branches.

An interesting shape of the crown is obtained if you choose one strong branch growing in any direction and do not interfere with its development.

The direction of the branches is sometimes formed with a wire.

To obtain a powerful trunk, it is severely cut several times.

It is worth saying that along with this procedure, a large number of leaves are also removed, which reduces the plant's need for moisture.

Transfer

"Indian laurel" needs loose and fertile soil with acidity pH 5.5 to 7.5.

You can buy a special substrate for ficuses or prepare it yourself from equal parts of coarse sand, peat, turf and leaf soil with the addition of fine charcoal.

Another option for a suitable substrate- taken in equal parts sand, humus and clay granulate.

Young specimens are transplanted every year or every other year in early spring with a complete replacement of the earth, and adults - once every 2-3 years transfer method.

Advice: To maintain a compact shape when transplanting, it is recommended to trim one third of the roots.

Post-Purchase Care

In the first two weeks after the purchase, the tree often sheds foliage - in this way it reacts to a change of residence.

This is not scary - with regular watering and spraying, the "newcomer" will soon adapt and put out fresh leaves.

In order for him to quickly get used to new conditions, it is useful to spray him with a solution once a week. "Epin".

Advice: If the pet was purchased in the transport soil, it is imperative to change it to a new substrate.

But this is done only a couple of weeks after he gets used to it.

Photos

In the photo ficus "Ginseng":

reproduction

cuttings

In spring, semi-lignified trees are cut from the tops of the shoots. cuttings 15 cm long and for a couple of hours they are placed in water so that the milky juice is washed off.

The substrate is disinfected before planting by calcining in the oven or freezing in the refrigerator.

Rooting is happening within 2 months, after which the plant is transplanted into separate pots.

Root cuttings

In an adult specimen, a piece of the root is cut off, which is planted in the substrate, leaving 2.5 cm its upper part to rise above the ground surface.

When watering once a week and regular airing after 3-4 months you can expect new shoots.

After the appearance 4-5 leaves remove the film and place the young bush in a bright place with shading and provide it with proper care.

Air layers

A ring of bark with a width is removed from the trunk from 2 to 3 cm.

The incision site is covered with wet sphagnum moss and covered with polyethylene.

After the roots appear in this place, the upper part of the bonsai is cut off along with the new root system and planted in another pot.

This method is used to rejuvenate specimens that have lost their decorative effect.

seeds

A rare method, since it is difficult to acquire seeds.

Sowing seeds is carried out in a substrate consisting of peat and sphagnum moss.

They take quite a long time to grow. "mini hothouse" and constantly moist substrate.

Important - It should be borne in mind that with any method of reproduction, the result will be a ficus with an ordinary trunk and a closed root system.

It is extremely difficult to get a powerful external root at home.

As already described above, this requires a special cultivation technology.

Diseases and pests

The tree most often gets sick from improper care.

The following problems may occur:

1. Green leaves fall - poor lighting, drafts, temperature changes, waterlogging of the soil, change of place.
2. The leaves first turn yellow and then fall off - insufficient watering, low humidity, poor lighting in winter.
3. Lower leaves turn yellow - lack of nutrients.
4. Dark spots appear on the foliage and root rot develops - water stagnation in the soil.

When establishing proper care, problems disappear: the green pet quickly recovers and acquires new leaves.

If a tree is affected by root rot, treatment should be taken immediately.

You need to get it out of the flowerpot, remove all diseased parts of the root and cut off part of the crown so that the “patient” spends all his strength on recovery.

Dangerous Enemies:

1. spider mite
2. Shchitovka
3. Mealybug.

If pests are found, insecticide treatment is carried out.

In order to prevent, regular inspection of the foliage and proper care is necessary.

Benefit and harm

Ficus microcarpa is not only an interior decoration, but also a very useful plant.

Potted tree effectively improves the microclimate in the house, purifying the air from such harmful substances as phenol, benzene and trichlorethylene.

In addition, it has numerous healing properties.

Tinctures and preparations made from milky juice and leaves are used to treat mastopathy and various neoplasms.

With the help of ficus, you can get rid of wen, warts and hematomas.

Also, funds from it help with arthritis, osteochondrosis and sciatica. The tree is not poisonous and is completely safe.

ficus ginseng deserves to live in your home for a long time.

With proper care at home for the Ginseng ficus, the tree can not only become an elegant decoration, but also purify the air in the room.

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One of the most spectacular decorative indoor plants is considered to be a miniature bonsai tree ficus microcarpa.

Caring for him at home is not particularly difficult, the main thing is to follow certain recommendations in growing this representative of tropical flora.

This plant will decorate any interior, bringing a touch of sophisticated

Ficus microcarpa. Care immediately after purchase

Ficus microcarp or small-fruited ficus is an evergreen tree native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Southern China, Southeast Asia, and Northern Australia. This plant got its name due to the small size of the fruit (translated from the Greek "mikros" - small and "karpos" - fruit).

Under natural habitat conditions, it reaches a very impressive size (up to 25 meters in height) and has a wide and dense crown. Most often, it is located on the trunks of other plants, leading the life of an epiphyte. The fact is that the numerous aerial roots of the flower are weak and cannot serve as a reliable support.

The leaves are oval, pointed at the ends, smooth, shiny, located on short petioles. The color of the foliage is dark green, the bark is gray. The fruits are small, initially colored yellow-green, but by maturity they change color to purple.

Ficus microcarpa, which is cared for in accordance with all the rules, is easy to shape and the result is an elegant indoor bonsai.

In specialized stores, you can buy both very young plants and more mature indoor trees, formed in various styles and shapes.

Immediately after the purchase, it is necessary to allocate a permanent place, reliably protected from direct sunlight and drafts. This indoor plant does not need bright lighting, on the contrary, it feels much better in partial shade and some distance from the window.

Ficus microcarp needs a sufficiently high humidity, and therefore it should be sprayed daily, starting from the very first day of appearance in the apartment.

Also, do not place the plant in rooms with dry air, near heating appliances, batteries. Do not forget to check the soil moisture, it is easy to do - just feel the substrate in a pot at a depth of one phalanx of your finger.

In the first 1-2 weeks of staying in a new place, the small-fruited ficus may begin to shed its leaves - this is how it reacts to changing conditions. Keep spraying and watering the plant regularly and it will soon adapt and produce new leaves.

If the ficus was bought in a small plastic pot intended for transportation, it will need to be transplanted into a more comfortable container. However, this should be done no earlier than 2-3 weeks after the end of the adaptation period.

Features of growing ficus microcarp

Location

Ficus microcarpa prefers a moderately lit place, away from direct sunlight. Like all types of ficus with dark foliage, it is shade-tolerant and can grow in partial shade.

Having decided on a suitable place for the plant, you need to try to rearrange it as little as possible, otherwise it may drop leaves. To stop this process, it is recommended to spray the ficus with a solution of the Epin biostimulator.

Temperature

The most comfortable temperature for small-fruited ficus is 17-23 degrees Celsius. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the plant does not experience sharp temperature fluctuations, otherwise it may lose most of the foliage. In addition, the cause of leaf fall can be a lack of moisture, the use of cold water for irrigation, drafts. Ficus microcarp, the care of which requires certain knowledge, is a rather whimsical flower, and you need to be patient when growing it.

Humidity

Small-fruited ficus needs daily spraying, 1-2 times a day, depending on the dryness of the air in the room where the plant is located. During its moistening, it is necessary to ensure that the main part of the water falls on the foliage, and not on the trunk. It is also recommended to regularly wipe the bonsai leaves with a damp cloth.

Watering

Like most representatives of tropical flora, microcarp ficus is very fond of moisture. However, excessive soil moisture is detrimental to the flower: its roots can rot, and the plant itself will die.

Water for irrigation is recommended to use soft, well-settled (at least 12 hours), room temperature. In the spring and summer, the flower requires more active watering, and in winter it is more moderate, while all the time it is necessary to ensure that the earthen ball in the pot does not dry out and the water does not stagnate in the pan.

Tracking the frequency of watering is easy: between waterings, the earth should have time to dry to a depth of at least 2-3 cm.

Feeding and transplanting

top dressing

You need to start feeding the plant from early spring to mid-canopy. For these purposes, you can use both a universal organic or mineral fertilizer, and a special fertilizer for bonsai. It should be applied to the ground that is still damp after watering, once every two weeks.

In the period from November to February, it is enough to feed the ficus microcarp once a month, while the dose of fertilizer should be half the usual.

The plant also responds well to foliar feeding when a small amount of a suitable fertilizer is added to the foliar spray water.

substrate

As a substrate for ficus microcarp, a mixture of equal parts of sand, clay granulate and picking earth is well suited. You can also purchase a special primer designed for ficuses in the store.

Transfer

It is recommended to transplant the plant every 2-3 years, in the spring. There is no need for an annual transplant, since the trunk of a small-fruited ficus grows very slowly. However, the substrate is recommended to be updated periodically, otherwise the flower will start to hurt.

Don't worry if the plant starts dropping leaves after transplanting - this is a normal process. After a period of adaptation, the foliage will recover.

During transplantation, you need to be very careful not to damage the roots. It is necessary to transfer the ficus into a new pot along with the old clod of earth, adding a new substrate in the required amount. The pot must be with holes for water drainage, and at its bottom - drainage 2-3 cm high.

Formation of small-fruited ficus

Due to the fact that the trunk of the ficus microcarp is able to grow intensively in width, and its shoots are very plate, the plant can be easily formed for every taste.

To get a powerful trunk, in young plants it is recommended to cut it repeatedly and strongly. Also, when shortening the trunk, a large number of leaves are also removed, which significantly reduces the ficus's need for moisture.

The direction of the branches can be formed with a wire. If they grow too thick, then with shoots up to 20 cm long, they can be pruned.

In the case of the formation of strong branches in shoots up to 5 cm, you can remove the top - this is how you get a branched crown of your bonsai.

Ficus microcarpa - care and possible difficulties

The appearance of dark spots on the leaves and rotting of the roots indicates excessive watering.

With a lack of moisture, the plant noticeably weakens and begins to shed its leaves.

Drafts, sudden changes in temperature, lack of light and watering with cold water can also cause foliage loss.

Infection of a plant with a spider mite indicates too low humidity in the room where the ficus microcarp grows. Care for him in this case should be aimed at eliminating the cause of infection and controlling pests of indoor plants.

An unusual way of forming in the form of a miniature tree in the spirit of "bonsai" with a thickened stem is a feature that microcarpa ficus has. In its normal state, it is very similar to the popular ficus Benjamin. Home care for ficus microcarp involves not only creating favorable conditions for growth, but also maintaining a neat tree shape.

The leaves are neat, miniature. Unlike the classic ficus, there is no elongated awn at the tips of the leaves. The bark is thin, smooth, damaged by careless handling. In translation, the name means "small-fruited ficus." The name ficus ginseng, or ficus "ginseng", is often found. So he was nicknamed for the resemblance of a thickened bizarre stem with a ginseng root.

The ficus stem is a thickened, massive root. The unusual shape of shrubs is not a natural feature. They are made by specialists using a special shaping technology.

During flowering, it forms syconia - specific inflorescences resembling berries. At home, flowering cannot be achieved even when creating ideal conditions for growth. Flowers do not carry a decorative load - the appearance of the plant does not suffer from their absence.

Interesting! In nature, it is an evergreen shrub growing up to 25 meters! His homeland is East Asia. Sometimes it is called the "strangler" for the peculiarity of wrapping its long aerial roots around neighboring trees.

Shaping secrets

Ficus microcarp is grown according to a special technology aimed at the formation of intricately curved thick roots. By itself, the ficus is easy to shape, but it takes several years to create a characteristic type of tree. Approximately the formation process is as follows.

• Ficus is grown by sowing seeds or from cuttings. At first he looks normal. Under the ground, a root is formed - thick, powerful, branched. To enhance root growth and slow down the set of green mass, the plant is fertilized with hormonal preparations. Plant growth takes place at a certain level of temperature and humidity.
• Upon reaching the desired size of the root, it is dug up. The trunk of the ficus is completely cut off (only a small stump remains), the root is cleaned of soil and washed.
• The root is planted in a pot, deepening only its very tips into the ground. The main part of the root remains outside - above the soil level. The peel gradually coarsens and turns into a bark.
• With the help of special chemicals, the growth of stump branches is first stimulated, and then slowed down to maintain the miniature shape of the tree.

Only after that the ficus gets on store shelves. This shaping method is an opportunity to quickly get a bonsai-style tree. The real art of bonsai is much more difficult, takes more time.

Features of care

Your task is to maintain the original shape of the tree, to create favorable conditions for preserving its decorative effect.

• Lighting. Put in partial shade or shade. They hide from the sun, they don’t put them next to the batteries in winter. If possible, place on the north window.
• Temperature. Increased demand for heat. The optimal range is 25-30°C at any time of the year. In winter, they clean it from the cold floor and window sills.
• Watering. Water often in summer, less often in winter. Do not allow the earthen clod to dry out. With a lack of moisture sheds leaves, becomes lethargic. Filling is also not recommended - there is a possibility of rotting of the roots.
• Humidity. One of the important conditions for maintaining decorativeness is high humidity. It is recommended to spray daily, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth - at least 2 times a week.
• Top dressing. Apply fertilizer to the soil, use foliar top dressing. For spraying, mineral fertilizers are taken in low concentration. Any means for decorative and deciduous plants is suitable for entering into the soil. The best option is to use specialized fertilizers for bonsai. Top dressing is carried out after watering.

Advice! The upper part of the roots should be gradually exposed. This will not harm the plant. Surface roots serve not to receive nutrition, but to fix the plant in the soil. They do not have root hairs.

Keeping fit

After buying a ficus already formed in the form of a bonsai, you need to constantly monitor its shape. In stores, special tools are used - retardants. They slow down the growth of the plant, do not allow it to reach up. With the end of their action, growth will resume - the leaves will become larger, the branches will stretch upward. With a lack of nutrients, the ficus will begin to use up the reserves deposited in the fleshy roots. This will lead to a decrease in their size, compression.

In order for the microcarp ficus to retain its original appearance, shoots and roots are regularly pruned. Pruning is carried out only in the summer! All regrown branches are cut off, leaving 2 pairs of leaves on them. This is a creative process. It is necessary to focus not only on pruning technology, but also on the general appearance of the plant. Cut off first of all those shoots that violate the desired shape. For cutting use a sharp tool!

Reproduction methods

Like any ficus, the plant propagates by seeds, cuttings (lignified and green), parts of the roots and air layering.

• Seeds. The main difficulty of seed propagation is that it is difficult to get seeds. The substrate is a mixture of peat and crushed sphagnum. Seeds are small, hatch only in constant humidity and heat. Create greenhouse conditions, regularly spray the soil. Dive in the stage of appearance of true leaves.
• cuttings. Cut semi-woody cuttings with 4-5 leaves. Rooted in a sand-peat mixture, kept in diffused light under a polyethylene coating. Roots appear in 30-50 days.
• parts of the root. When planting the root cutting, a piece 2.5 cm long should remain above the surface. Keep it under the film. Watering is limited - 1 time per week. The need for watering is determined by the disappearance of condensate from the film. The greenhouse is ventilated every day, opening it for 5-10 minutes. Branches will appear in 2-4 months. Ficus is transferred to normal care after the appearance of 3-5 leaves.
• Air layers. Choose a healthy lignified twig. With a blade, a strip of bark is cut off annularly. Sphagnum is moistened, if possible impregnated with growth hormones. Apply it to the prepared section of the branch, wrap it with polyethylene. Sphagnum regularly moisturize. The roots that appear will be clearly visible through polyethylene. The branch is carefully cut off, the film is removed. Planted with moss in a small pot.

Advice! Any method of reproduction will give the most common ficus. You can experiment with one of the cuttings. When it grows tall enough, remove 1-2 cm of soil when repotting in the spring. At the same time, pinch the tops of all new shoots, leaving 2-3 internodes on them. Repeat this procedure annually. Gradually, the root will be outside, and the crown will become small and neat.

Growing difficulties

The plant rarely gets sick. The only common problem is leaf fall.

If green leaves fall off:

• Change of habitual conditions.
• Sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts.
• Excessive watering with root rot.

If the leaves wither and fall:

• Dryness of the soil.
• Low air humidity.
• Lack of lighting.
• Nutritional deficiency.

The problem is solved by adjusting the conditions of detention and observing the rules of care. Ficus is practically not affected by pests. In rare cases, it can become infected from other plants with mealybugs, scale insects or thrips.

Ficus microcarpa is an amazing, unusual plant that will become a real decoration of your apartment.

It has long become habitual. You won’t surprise anyone either with the variety of species, and there are more than 280 of them, or with the shape and color of the leaves. Nevertheless, interest in these wonderful plants continues to grow from year to year, as art, which is not yet very common in our country, is practiced. Perhaps the interest in ficuses is due to their attractive appearance and simplicity. Indeed, in nature, these plants grow in tropical, and subtropical, and even in temperate climatic zones. One of the most attractive and easy to care for is the ficus microcarp.

Ficus microcarp: description

Ficus microcarp, like all representatives of the genus (lat. Ficus), belongs to the family (Moraceae). As part of the family, a monotypic ficus knee (Ficeae) is formed. Representatives of these species are almost always evergreens.

Did you know? There is a variegated form of ficus microcarp. It's called Variegata.

Care in the first days after purchase

First of all, you need to decide on the place where you can put the tree. To choose it, you need to take into account the properties of the microcarp and its whims.

Notice right away that the plant does not like permutations from place to place.

It reacts poorly to very bright light, dry air and drafts. So it's best to place the new plant away from the batteries. More suitable roomswhose windows face the north, west and southwest sides. Form Variegata is best placed in rooms with windows to the east, southeast, as it needs brighter lighting.
It is necessary to spray microcarp from the first day of purchase. Do this two or three times a day. Don't let the soil dry out. Check the humidity to a depth of one centimeter.

After two weeks, the plant can be transplanted into a new, permanent container. Take care of drainage. Its layer should be at least one third of the height of the pot. Expanded clay, polystyrene can be used as drainage. The soil should be nutritious and loose. You can use ready-made land for ficuses. It is sold in specialized stores. After transplantation, as for the usual microcarp ficus.

If the plant has shed its leaves, don't worry. This is his reaction to the change of place.

Did you know? In the wild, ficus microcarp reaches a height of up to twenty-five meters. Some leaves can be up to fifteen in length and up to eight centimeters in width.

Optimal conditions for growing indoors

Ficus microcarpa is quite easy to care for at home. He is not very whimsical, despite. However, it has its own specifics that must be taken into account. First of all, it is lighting and temperature.

Lighting

Microcarpa prefers shading or diffused sunlight. Should be protected from direct sunlight. It is better to place away from windows. You can provide artificial lighting or backlighting. For this, fluorescent lamps with a power of 15 W and a color temperature of 2800-3800 Kelvin (dawn / sunset) are suitable.

Temperature

Another feature of the ficus microcarp is that the roots need warmth, as well as the aerial part. The optimum temperature for life and development is from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius. It should be noted that a decrease in temperature is permissible in winter. Lower temperatures can lead to illness. When the temperature rises above 23 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to provide additional spraying of the plant.

Important! Ficus small-fruited does not really like temperature changes.

How to care for ficus microcarpa

It should be noted that the plant still requires some attention to itself. Only the correct location in the house, coupled with lighting, this type of plant will not be limited. In order for the tree to begin to please the eye, you have to work a little. Care is pretty simple. Like all plants, microcarp needs proper watering, and its wonderful roots and twigs need proper shaping and pruning. Through simple manipulations, the tree will turn into an incredible-looking decoration that pleases the eye.

Watering

You need to water abundantly and often. Especially during the period of active growth (spring-summer season). It should be noted that the regularity and abundance of watering depend on the dryness of the air, room temperature and light. You need to focus on the plant and the dryness of the soil. An earthen ball in a pot should not dry out, however, its excessive moisture can lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plant. The earth should have time to dry out at a depth of 2-3 centimeters.

There are also requirements for water. It should be soft and settled for at least twelve hours. Its temperature during watering should be at room temperature.

Humidity

Ficus microcarpa loves moist air. Therefore, you need to spray the tree once or twice daily, depending on the dryness of the air. Otherwise, the plant will look lethargic and become sensitive to, unable to resist. In addition to spraying, it will benefit the plant if you regularly wipe its leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

Soil and its fertilizer

Microcarp loves light fertile soil with a pH level of 5.5 - 7.5. The soil can be prepared independently. To do this, it is necessary to mix in equal proportions turf, peat soil, leafy humus and sand.

If ficus microcarp is grown in the bonsai style, then specialized fertilizers are used.

Also, the tree responds very well to fertilization through foliar spraying.

Important! To facilitate the process of assimilation of nutrients by the plant, fertilizers should be applied only to moist soil.

Pruning and crown shaping

In order for the tree to retain its attractive shape, it also needs to be trimmed periodically. It is better to start shaping the crown as early as possible. Ficus is malleable in terms of design appearance, makes it possible to roam fantasy. Why not an object for lovers of bonsai art?

To obtain a powerful trunk in a young plant, it is recommended to cut it. The direction of the branches is formed with a wire. Thick shoots up to twenty centimeters long can also be cut. The branching of the crown of the ficus microcarp achieves strong branches in shoots up to five centimeters.

Rules for transplanting ficus microcarp

Let's touch on how and when it is better to transplant ficus microcarp.
This species is best once every two years. The tree grows very slowly, and in the adult state the trunk practically stops developing. Ficus microcarp needs a transplant more to renew the soil or replace the substrate. This procedure also allows you to inspect the condition of the roots that are underground. It is better to transplant in the spring.

Important! It is better not to transplant an adult plant at all, but only to renew the top layer of the earth.

A pot for ficus microcarp does not play a special role. It is even better to use the same one that was. Just clean and wash thoroughly. If you take a new one, make sure that a sufficient layer of the “old” earth remains on the roots. Make sure the new pot has drain holes. Lay drainage (expanded clay or polystyrene) with a layer of 2-3 centimeters. Install a tree with earth on the roots and add new soil. Be careful with fragile plant roots.

Important! After transplantficus microcarpaSometimes sheds leaves.This is a consequence of the adaptation process. At the end of the "disease" period, the foliage will recover.

Reproduction methods at home

Ficus microcarp has several ways:, and. Most often, ficus cuttings and tree layering are used.
Cut, not stiff branches are taken for cuttings, placed for a day in an opaque container with warm (room temperature) water. It is important to know how to properly cut ficus for propagation. The branches are cut obliquely, at an angle, stepping back from the node about a centimeter. After a day, the water is drained, as it contains a lot of juice. Ficus microcarp juice is a very strong allergen. Be careful not to get it on your skin. The cuttings are again placed in fresh warm water with the addition of ash. When the roots appear, the sprouts are transplanted into a container with earth and covered with a transparent container. As soon as the young plant puts out new leaves, the container is removed. Also, cuttings can be planted immediately in the ground, immersing the stem of the cutting 3–5 centimeters into the ground. covered with container. It is necessary to monitor the humidity and spray the stems of plants with water. Ficuses take root in this way for a month.
Ficus can also be propagated by seeds. They are in specialized flower shops. Seeds are pre-soaked for a day in a growth stimulator solution. They are planted to a depth of half a centimeter, at a distance of at least one and a half to two centimeters from each other. The soil for planting seeds should be light and airy. The basis of the soil mixture should be peat and leafy soil. You will also need a lot of sand. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed until smooth. After planting the seeds, the soil is carefully sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with a film or glass. So that the soil is always moist, you need to monitor every day. Every day it is desirable to remove the protective film for fifteen minutes, let the sprouts and soil "breathe", evaporate excess moisture. When the seedlings have the first leaf, the sprouts stop each in a separate container.

Characteristics and tips for caring for ficus microparpa indoors, do-it-yourself reproduction, possible difficulties in growing and ways to solve them, facts to note, varieties.

The content of the article:

Ficus microcarpa (Ficus microcarpa) or Ficus small-fruited is a shrub or tree that belongs to the genus of the same name, which is part of the Mulberry family (Moraceae). The native lands on which this representative of the flora grows are in the southeastern regions of China, the northern regions of the Australian continent, the regions of Japan and Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippine Islands.

This variety of ficus got its scientific name thanks to very small fruits, and from two Greek words: miniature "mikros" and the fruit "karpos" they got - microcarp. Due to the unusual root system that protrudes above the soil, such a plant is traded under the name - Ficus ginseng (Ficus ginseng).

If we talk about natural conditions, then this evergreen ficus can reach a height of about 25 meters with its shoots, but when grown in rooms, these figures are much more modest and do not exceed one and a half meters. The trunk of the ficus microcarp is covered with a smooth grayish-brown bark. It is interesting that such a plant begins to "live" as an epiphyte, that is, it is conveniently located on thick branches or the trunk of a larger tree. Since ficus gives rise to lateral root aerial processes from its branches, they eventually begin to wrap themselves up like a cocoon all parts of the host plant and bring it to death.

This is because with its roots, having stuck to the branches and trunk, Ficus microcarpa begins to suck out nutrients from a stronger representative of the flora. But, despite such “aggressiveness”, ficus roots are rather weak and cannot descend to the soil in order to take root in it and take the form of a banyan tree, when the root processes begin to look like a small forest of thin stems. It is these stems that then serve as a support for the wide crown of the banyan ficus.

A special noteworthy difference between small-fruited ficus and other members of the genus is that its root system becomes bare over time and, as it were, rises above the soil surface, forming something like a caudex - a root formation in some plants in which they accumulate moisture to overcome dry periods. The forms that the root system takes are quite bizarre and unique.

Due to the excellent branching, a wide and dense crown is formed, which is obtained as such thanks to the leaves. Their shape is oval-elliptical, the leaves grow in the next order on the shoots, located very often. The outline of the leaf plate at the top is pointed. Its length is 12–15 cm with a width of about 2–7 cm. The color of the leaves is dark green, the surface is glossy, shiny and leathery. The petiole is not long; its parameters rarely exceed 5 cm.

Like other varieties of ficuses, this plant also forms nondescript flowers in nature, which are located on the inner surface of the syconium - a hollow pear-like or rounded formation. In diameter, such an inflorescence can reach 0.5–1 cm (which is why the species name of the variety has gone). As the syconium matures, its color will change from greenish yellow to purple. The pollinators of flowers of this species are the wasps Parapristina verticillata.

After pollination of flowers, which rather resemble the brown inner pubescence of syconium, berry-like fruits begin to ripen. They are not used for food, but they do not have poisonous properties. However, it should be remembered that when grown in room conditions, it is almost impossible to achieve flowering in ficus microcarp. It should also be noted that, like all representatives of the genus, this ficus has the ability to secrete milky juice, which, if it comes into contact with the skin, can cause irritation, so you should not forget about it when leaving.

The growth rate of Ficus microcarpa is average, unlike its "brothers" in the genus, but this is covered by the fact that caring for the plant is quite easy, and if you do not violate the rules below, then even a beginner grower will cope with such a ficus.

1. plant lighting you need a bright, but diffused, which is possible only on the windowsill of windows east or west.
2. Content temperature ficus microcarp should be within 18–23 degrees in summer, and not fall below 16 in winter. If there is a strong heat, ventilation is necessary.
3. Air humidity in the room where the small-fruited ficus is contained, should be high. Perform daily spraying from a fine spray with warm and soft water of the deciduous mass of the plant. This is especially true on hot summer days or in winter, when heaters are turned on. After spraying, shading from direct sunlight is required.
4. Watering Ficus microcarpa follows in the summer regularly, but moderately (about once every 3-4 days). In this case, the state of the soil should serve as a guideline - if the upper part began to dry out, then it was time to moisten. It is impossible to allow both the bay and the complete drying of the soil in the pot. With excessive watering, the small-fruited ficus will begin to shed foliage. With the advent of winter, watering is reduced to 1 time per week. Use only warm, but soft water.
5. fertilizers for ficus, microcarp is introduced with the onset of spring, when the movement of juices begins and until September itself. The frequency is once every 14 days. Organic and mineral preparations are used, preferably in liquid form, so that they can be dissolved in water for irrigation.
6. General care tips. As soon as spring comes, but throughout it and until the end of summer, it is possible to prune too long shoots of small-fruited ficus or those that grow in the middle of the crown. This plant is suitable for those who have just started to get involved in the bonsai technique, as it is quite easy to care for. When forming Ficus microcarpa using this technique, it is recommended that each branch, when 6–10 leaf plates are formed on it, be shortened so that only 3–4 leaves remain on it. In the summer, you can keep a pot with a plant on the balcony or take it out into the garden.
7. Carrying out transplant selection of soil. When February-March comes, the young small-fruited ficus needs to be replanted every year. In this case, the diameter of the pot should be increased by 4-5 cm. When the plant grows up, such changes are recommended every 2-3 years. However, as soon as the diameter of the container becomes equal to 30 cm, then only 3 cm of soil from above can be replaced with a more fertile one. Before planting, 3 cm of drainage must be placed in a new pot (first expanded clay, then river sand).

Ficus microcarp does not impose special requirements when choosing soil; fertile loose soil with weak or neutral acidity is suitable for it. You can use ready-made purchased formulations intended for ficuses or palm trees. Also make up the soil mixture from:

• equal parts of turf, peat, leafy soil and coarse sand;
• leafy soil, soddy land, river sand (in a ratio of 1: 1: 0.5) with the addition of a handful of pieces of charcoal.

Tips for propagating ficus microcarp at home

After this treatment, the cuttings are planted in pots filled with peat-perlite or peat-sand mixture. In any case, you will need to create the conditions for a mini-greenhouse by wrapping the container with the cuttings in a transparent plastic bag. The temperature during rooting should be maintained at about 25 degrees. The place in which the cuttings are placed should be well lit, but without direct sunlight. Caring for the cuttings is to air every day and make sure that the substrate in the pot is always moist.

After a month, it is recommended to gently tilt the stalk of the ficus microcarp to see if there are formed roots there. If they are formed, it is recommended to immediately cut off all the leaf plates, leaving only the top pair. When 14 days have passed, top dressing is carried out with diluted fertilizer, and after three months, it is recommended to transplant the cuttings into separate pots with a diameter of about 10 cm.

Small-fruited ficus can be propagated in addition to this method by layering, root shoots and sowing seeds.

Possible difficulties in growing ficus microcarp

If the plant does not have enough light, then the young branches will become thinner, and the size of the foliage will become smaller. The same thing happens when the microcarp ficus does not have enough nutrients. If watering is insufficient, then foliage may be shed, the plant also reacts to a sharp drop in temperature or keeping it at low heat rates, drafts, and watering with cold water.

When water stagnates in a pot, the root system begins to rot, and dark spots form on the leaves. You will need to remove the plant from the pot, remove the damaged roots, sprinkle the cuts with a fungicide and plant Ficus microcarpa in a new container with sterile soil, while watering must be adjusted.

Ficus microcarpa ginseng - facts on a note and photo

The characteristic form of the root system (the main difference between the ficus microcarp) is not immediately achieved, since such plants are grown on special farms located in South China or the United States of America. At the same time, it is important not only to maintain certain indicators of heat and moisture in the process of seed germination or rooting of cuttings, but also to use specific hormonal and insecticidal agents.

In the case when the root has already reached a certain size, then the ficus is carefully removed from the ground, while cutting off the already fully formed stem. Naturally, only small stumps remain. The root shoots that are taken out are cleaned of soil, washed and sorted. It is in this form that they are massively bought by various farms involved in the cultivation of flowers. The roots are then placed one at a time in pots, but at the same time not too much of them, deepening - most of them remain above the surface of the substrate. Over time, the thin skin covering the roots will coarsen and take the form of a bark. Then, using a variety of chemicals, they accelerate the process of formation of new young shoots with foliage that will grow from these roots.

Often even grafts from the branches of other plants are used. To preserve the compact outlines of small-fruited ficus, special substances are used - retardants. And after that, such plants are ready for sale.

Varieties of ficus microcarp

1. Variegata (Variegata) differs in the variegated color of the leaf plates, and this plant requires a higher level of illumination when leaving, otherwise all the leaves will gradually lose their color with light shades, acquiring a rich dark green color scheme.
2. Moclame is a species of ficus microcarp that takes on dwarf forms and lives as an epiphyte. It was its compact size that made the variety the most attractive for indoor cultivation. When leaving, it requires more illumination and places on the southern windows, but with shading at lunchtime. With the advent of winter, even on the windowsill of a window in a southern location, additional illumination with phytolamps is required so that the daylight hours are at least 10 hours a day. This will provide normal conditions for the ficus, otherwise the branches will stretch out too much, but at the same time the overall growth will stop. The shape of the shoots is distinguished by grace and with their help a continuous green crown is formed.
3. Westland. Another variety of ficus microcarp is distinguished by its small size, both foliage and fruits. Its shoots are completely covered with alternately growing dark green leathery leaves, which rarely reach 11 cm in length. It takes the form of a bush well and does not require special conditions for growing.