Ficus triangular
Content:
Ficus is considered one of the most popular and common plants that grows indoors. Its types are quite interesting and decorative, and also differ in their diversity. Even an experienced gardener will not be so easy to decide what kind of species he would like to grow on his site or at home. In this article we will talk about such a form as a triangular ficus. He is very famous in home culture, and the article will be of interest especially to those flower growers who do not yet have rich experience in growing such plants and in the subsequent care of them.
Ficus triangular: description
Ficus triangular: photo
Ficus triangular belongs to the very extensive Mulberry family, it is an evergreen plant, a shrub that is distinguished by small leathery leaves that are dark green in color and shine beautifully in the sun. The length of the leaves can reach five to six centimeters. The leaf blade itself is very thin, the veins on it are gray-green in color, and they are also capable of bifurcating from above. The species is distinguished by such a feature as a strong growth - in one year the bush adds from eleven to sixteen centimeters, and therefore it must be trimmed periodically.
Indoors, and in general in domestic culture, a ficus with triangular leaves can show frequent fruiting. There are both monochromatic and variegated plant varieties - they have light, almost white spots on their leaves. The ficus, located in the regions of central Africa, is considered the most common in nature, since it is in those conditions that it receives the maximum comfortable conditions and opportunities for further development. In more lively, natural conditions, triangular ficus can reach thirty meters in height, but not at home - there it barely reaches a height of one meter, it is considered the most convenient and suitable plant for decorating houses and rooms, office premises and places where there is always a large number of people. In general, triangular ficus is an excellent friend of florists and designers.
Ficus triangular: home care
Ficus triangular: photo
Gardeners are inclined to believe that a ficus with triangular leaves in indoor conditions is not whimsical at all. Yes, it is quite simple to grow it under these conditions, but, like any plant, the ficus has its own degree of needs for regular attention from the florist, for care, and you should still know some of the subtleties and recommendations in this matter, since it can really strengthen the plant, make it more decorative and vibrant.
Proper care should begin as soon as the plant has been purchased from a store or nursery. Those containers in which the ficus was located during planting are not suitable for the plant to be in it further, constantly. So the gardener should prepare a new container and soil mixture in advance. Before you buy a triangular ficus, the plant is carefully examined again, the leaves should be absolutely healthy in color, there should be no spots or suspicious plaque on them. The surface of the trunk and soil must also be completely clean, because only visually the gardener can determine that everything is really in order.
During the first transplant into a new container, the roots should be carefully shaken off and cleaned of an earthen coma, and also carefully examined.If rot is suddenly found on some of the roots, then the plant is washed and disinfected, the damaged roots are removed so that spores do not spread from them to other, still healthy parts of the plant. After purchasing for some time, the plant may experience stress and show all signs that it is sick. Do not worry, as this is an absolutely normal reaction to a change of situation, but if it suddenly drags on, then already in this case the gardener should pay attention to this circumstance and try to normalize the planting state as soon as possible.
Watering - in the summer, ficus with triangular leaves is moistened regularly, but moisture is taken in moderation. Two waterings in 7-10 days are enough. On very hot and dry, sultry days, the plant is moistened not only abundantly, but also a little more often, if, of course, such a need arises. In the autumn-winter periods, watering the ficus costs less, once a week is enough. The plant at this time is in a relatively calm state, so do not disturb it once again. There should be no accumulations of moisture in the soil and in the sump, since it is an excess of moisture that most often leads to the development of rot that affects the root system, ficus stems, and then the whole plant. It is also important to monitor the temperature of the water in winter and summer, and on particularly hot days.
In no case should you take very cold water for irrigation. Because of this, the plant can experience severe stress, the soil and roots will cool down sharply, which will negatively affect their general condition and decorative indicators. It is best to take lukewarm water or water at room temperature, which has already settled, it is ideal for watering this plant.
Ficus triangular takes root well in rooms with high air humidity. Be sure to regularly spray the leaves with water using a spray bottle, the water should also be warm, room temperature and settled. Spraying is especially important on hot, dry days and also in winter. Thanks to spraying, you can create the most comfortable microclimate for the ficus, and he will be only grateful to the gardener for this - the appearance will become noticeably brighter and fresher. If suddenly there is a need for this, then the gardener, if possible, can purchase an outdoor air humidifier, since it will be useful not only for plants, but also for the health of the person himself. In winter, it is advisable to set the container with ficus away from radiators and batteries and other devices for heating apartments.
If the triangular ficus is lacking moisture, then it will immediately show this with its whole appearance. In this case, you can pour a little wet expanded clay directly into the pallet, or place containers filled with water next to the container with ficus. water will evaporate, and this vapor will create humidity and microclimate. In the spring and summer, the indoor air temperature should be between 20 and 25 degrees. In winter, the temperature should be lower - 16-17 degrees. The flower must be carefully protected from sudden gusts of wind, temperature changes, as well as drafts that can negatively affect its condition and appearance. In winter, the air temperature should not be allowed to drop below 14 degrees, otherwise the ficus with triangular leaves will begin to experience health problems. If they are not identified in time, then this will generally lead to the fact that the ficus will die. On warm days, it is recommended to take the ficus out to fresh air, put it in places protected from harsh winds and from direct sunlight.
Ficus triangular is one of those plants that perfectly tolerates shade. It can even be grown on windowsills with north-facing windows - and there it will show itself perfectly.Direct sunlight is not perceived by the plant at all, therefore, in the summer, it must be set aside from the windows and create diffused lighting for the ficus. The leaves can be overheated and burns begin to appear on them. they not only spoil the external characteristics of the plant, but can also affect in the most negative way their internal state.
As for the soil, for planting ficuses, it must be light and loose, it must perfectly pass moisture and oxygen. This should be a fertile soil composition, which will also be enriched with all the necessary nutrient and mineral components that are so important for the plant during its growth and development. In principle, a grower can purchase ready-made soil directly from a store or nursery, and it should be designed for indoor plants. A little sand and small broken bricks are added to it to create drainage, and so that a large amount of moisture does not stagnate in the soil.
Ficus triangular: photo
In principle, you can independently prepare a soil mixture, for this, leaf and sod land, as well as sand and charcoal, are taken in equal proportions. There is another option - they mix peat, leaf, turf and sand. These mixtures will create the most comfortable microclimate, and the acidity will be exactly what it should be for the ficus to develop safely. At the bottom of the container for planting, it is imperative to make a drainage layer so that excess moisture leaves the container, does not accumulate there, and so that this does not lead to rotting of the root part.
At home, ficus can bloom regularly, and in the same way, ficus bears fruit. The flowers are small, rounded, and have a brownish tint. They resemble berries more than the typical flowers of the plant. With the onset of summer, the flowers may fall off, they do not last so long on the bush itself, and the decorativeness of the plant is far from being in them, but in voluminous leaf plates.
Both the landing and the transplant should be scheduled either in mid-February, or postponed to March. Young plants must be transplanted into new containers annually. If the plant is already quite adult ,. Then the transplant is prescribed once every two years. If the container is more than thirty centimeters in size, then it is best to use a method such as transplanting for transplanting. A complete plant transplant is carried out only in case of the greatest need. But without this, it is better to disturb the plant in this way as rarely as possible.
The plant must be cut regularly and on time, as this will allow both the formation of the crown and the maintenance of the most decorative characteristics of the plant itself. In order to form a stem, and to do it correctly, on the most important stem of the ficus, it is necessary to remove all lateral stems and it is important to do this exactly until the required plant height is reached. After the very top of the stem, it is worth pinching, and then expect the appearance of new shoots - they usually hatch from the axillary buds. In the following years, shoots that stretch too far should be removed again above the bud, which turns outward from the side of the crown. Also, the gardener removes weak, painful or lifeless branches that are directed into the crown and thicken it. In order for the juice to stop coming out from the cut, it is necessary to blot these parts with a damp cloth, and dust them with charcoal on top.
As for reproduction, ficuses are usually propagated by cuttings, seed methods, or using air layers. It is preferable to use cuttings - it is the most effective, maternal characteristics will be preserved in the planting material, and in general, even those gardeners who have absolutely no experience, or it is minimal, can cope with this method.Ficuses are propagated in the spring, cuttings should be from fifteen to seventeen centimeters long, they should have about three pairs of leaves.
Cuttings are treated with root or other means that will stimulate the formation and growth of the root system. Next, the cuttings are placed in a container filled with perlite or peat. The temperature should be maintained at 25 degrees for the ficus to feel as comfortable as possible. Also, containers with cuttings are sent to a place with diffused lighting, grown in greenhouse-greenhouse conditions. This means that the cuttings must be covered with either polyethylene, or a glass jar, or a cut plastic bottle. About once a day, the shelter is removed so that the sprouts are ventilated, and so that putrefactive disorders or fungal spores do not form in a humid environment.
Diseases and pests, the benefits and harms of the plant
Ficus triangular: photo
Ficuses are plants that are distinguished by a high level of resistance to diseases, as well as attacks from pests. Problems usually arise only if the gardener did not follow agricultural techniques or violated the rules for caring for the ficus. If suddenly the flower began to throw off the leaves, then this indicates that the gardener did not follow the watering regime. It can also happen due to the fact that the plant does not have enough lighting, or at some point it stood in a draft. Also, if the grower changes the location of the ficus, then this can also cause the ficus to shed its leaves. If the violations are corrected in time, then the plant will recover very quickly.
The leaves may be wrinkled, and this indicates a lack of air humidity in the apartment. If the leaves have lost their color and were shed by the plant, then this means that the flower was affected by such a pest as the scabbard. If the lesions are minor, then insects and their waste products are removed with a cotton pad or cotton swab, which is moistened in an alcohol solution. If the lesion is very strong, then it is best to use insecticides - ideally, it should be an actellic solution, which is prepared in accordance with the instructions for using the drug.
If a thin cobweb appears above the leaves, this indicates that spider mites have settled on the plant. To get rid of them, the plant is regularly sprayed with water from a spray bottle, the air humidity should gradually increase. If the damage is too strong, then there is no need to treat the plants with chemicals. Only in such a complex volume can you quickly get rid of pests and create an immune layer around the plant.
Mealybugs are another pests that also often appear with dry air in an apartment. Mealybugs especially often breed in winter. The most effective way to fight worms is with a drug such as malofos. But this must be done on time, and it is advisable to prevent any pests and bacteria from settling on the plant at all. In this case, everything depends solely on the gardeners themselves.
If we talk about the benefits and harms of ficus with triangular leaves, then of course you should pay attention to some subtleties. For example, if a gardener is an admirer of Indian culture, as well as feng shui culture, then he starts this triangular ficus in his house precisely out of similar interests and motives. Also, triangular ficus can not only purify the air, but also have a positive effect on the energy in the room. Agree, this is incredibly great. But you should definitely remember that milky juice is considered poisonous, and contact with it may cause an allergic reaction.