As a rule, most of us experience a constant lack of time, and therefore prefers to keep at home those plants that are characterized by vitality and unpretentiousness. Ficus Benjamin is quite suitable even for inexperienced growers, as it does not require special care, and if you follow only some rules of care, then it will develop well in any home, without creating any problems for the owners. What you need to make the plant feel comfortable and happy with the household will become the subject of conversation.
Psychologists say that memory retains the first words( phrases) longer. Therefore, the author considers it expedient to begin with exactly what the ficus of Benjamin does not like.
- Direct sunlight and darkness.
- Permanent change of installation site, as well as regular turning of the pot.
- Moisture overmoistening, water stagnation in the pan.
- Sharp temperature change.
- Cold.
- Skvoznyakov, and at the same time stagnant, musty air.
Now you can talk about the specifics of caring for this wonderful plant. Experts in Feng Shui say that it helps to gain clarity of thought, to concentrate, to be charged with positive energy. For this to happen, the main thing is to properly organize the contents of Benjamin's fig. And since caring for him is really minimal, there will not be any special difficulties in growing it at home.
Location
When choosing it, several recommendations should be followed:
- It must be stationary, that is permanent, not temporary. Regular transfer of ficus from place to place will affect the plant not in the best way - its leaves will turn yellow and fall off.
- Lighting should be good, but diffused.
Temperature mode
The optimum values are from +18 to +24 ºС.
Humidity
It is enough if it is at the level of 65 ± 5%.But even with such comfortable conditions it is desirable for the ficus of Benjamin to organize water procedures. With what frequency - depends on the specifics of the room. The reason is that the leaves of the plant( and these are its lungs) are quite large, and dust settles on them, which tightly closes the pores and makes breathing difficult.
What can I do:
- Spray the plant. In the flower shops there are special spray guns( plastic container with nozzle-sprayer).The price is low - in the range of 80 - 100 rubles. Simultaneously, the dust is removed from the ficus and the air in the room is moistened.
- Wipe the leaves( only gently) with a soft moist swab - cotton wool, sponge. The process, although long, but more effective. Periodicity - every 10 days( optimally).
Things to consider when cleaning:
- In a room with a ficus for raising the temperature, do not use additional reflex type heating devices. They drastically dry the air, so you almost every day to expose the plant to water procedures.
- It is also undesirable to put ficus next to radiators( pipes) of heating. This is not only a reduction in humidity in this segment of the territory, but also a rise in temperature.
Benjamin ficus irrigation
Necessity is determined by the state of the soil. If it is 2 - 3 cm from the top of the dry edge, then the plant should be watered, but not abundantly. Experienced growers recommend in about half an hour( this is enough for the roots and soil to absorb the required amount of moisture) to drain the remaining water in the pan. Otherwise, there is a high probability of decay of the root system, which will lead to the death of the ficus.
In addition, in a humid environment, various infections develop quite intensively, to which the plant is very susceptible. It is much easier to carry a shortage of moisture for a while than its excess. This is one of the features of the Benjamin ficus.
Top dressing
How often to conduct it, in the end can only be decided by the owner. Much is determined by the chemical composition of the soil, which was used to plant the flower. Observing its development, we can conclude that fertilizers( which we have already done ourselves) more often, or vice versa, are less frequent. Therefore, for starters, you should focus on the general recommendation for the Benjamin ficus:
- period "spring-summer-autumn" - about every 7 to 10 days;
- with the onset of cold weather and before the arrival of heat - at least once a month.
Recommendations:
- Do not constantly feed Benjamin Ficus with the same composition. It is desirable to alternate mineral fertilizers with organic.
- During the period of growth of a young plant in the soil, it is desirable to regularly make formulations with a high nitrogen content.
Transplant
It is produced only as needed( usually no more than once every 3 to 4 years).How is this determined?
- The root tips are visible in the pallet. Consequently, they are already crowded in the flowerpot.
- When watering the soil dries quickly, and the intensity of moistening increases.
Pruning
Experienced flower growers recommend to engage in the formation of the "crown" of ficus in the first or second decades of February. What are the branches to cut, the owner decides. It all depends on what form the plant wants to give - bansai, a stem or another.
