There are several types of ficus, such as the one commonly called Indian laurel or the rubber tree, but one of the best known is the benjamina. It is an original plant from Southeast Asia, although today it can be found widely spread throughout the planet. It is a tree that has oval leaves with a pointed end, a very intense green color, and capable of surviving the most temperate winters. In fact, it is in spring that it reappears with new shoots that can last until autumn and are easy to identify due to the difference in their color and tenderness compared to the old leaves. It is a plant that can be found both as a tree and as a bonsai or planted in a pot. If you want to know the ficus benjamina care Continue reading EcologíaVerde and we will tell you about it.
How to take care of a fibus benjamina
In general, the basic ficus benjamina care They are simple, as we tell you below:
Irrigation
The ficus benjamina is a plant that needs constant risks due to its high perspiration. This makes the substrate tend to dry out easily, which can lead to the fall of the leaves. Therefore, especially during the spring and summer months, it is recommended to increase the irrigation to ensure that the substrate is never completely dry. However, in the case of being in a pot, it is important to avoid the accumulation of excess water in the saucer, as it could negatively affect the roots.
Pass
Regarding the payment of the ficus benjamina, it is recommended to do it once a year, preferably in early spring. The most advisable fertilizers for ficus benjamina are those that are rich in nitrogen. However, when fertilizing this plant it is very important not to exceed the amount, since an excess of fertilizer could burn the roots.
light and location
Likewise, another of the cares of the ficus benjamina that we have to take into account is that it is a plant that needs abundant light, so it should be located in a sunny part of the garden or near windows with direct access to sunlight. . In any case, direct sunlight for many hours at a time is not good for it either.
How and when to prune a ficus benjamina
When pruning a ficus benjamina, several elements must be taken into account. The first of these is that the best time to do this is early spring, which will allow the new shoots to come out in full force. Secondly, when pruning a ficus benjamina, keep in mind that it is preferable to do small pruning from time to time instead of doing a large pruning once a year. Pruning a ficus benjamina excessively can slow down its growth. For this reason, it is most recommended that the pruning be carried out partially, although more repeatedly.
Aspects to take into account to plant a ficus benjamina tree
The most common way to find a ficus benjamina is in the form of a tree. However, when you have a ficus benjamin tree a series of important aspects related, above all, to its roots will have to be taken into account. The ficus benjamina tree is a fast growing plant, both in its glass and in its roots. This causes its roots to spread very quickly in the area bordering where it is planted.
This can cause problems when the ficus benjamina tree is too close to garden structures or buildings, as the roots are strong enough to lift soil or even break pipes. Therefore, when planting a ficus benjamina tree, it is essential to do it in a place where the plant will have enough space to expand without damaging any other nearby structure.
Ficus benjamina bonsai: specific care
Although the most common way to find the ficus benjamina is in the form of a tree, it is also a plant that is usually presented in bonsai due to the good adaptation it has to this type of crop thanks to its rapid growth.
When you have a ficus benjamina bonsai, it will be necessary to take into account that the space that it will have in the pot will be especially reduced. Because of this, it is especially important to ensure that the substrate does not dry out and that the plant receives the necessary nutrients externally, that is, through the fertilization. The most important thing to keep in mind is:
- Irrigation: The watering of the ficus benjamina bonsai should be more common than in the case of a ficus benjamina that is planted directly in the ground.
- Pass: It is important to apply it several times a year if you want the plant to grow. However, it should never be paid more than once a month. In fact, the perfect thing will be to do it in early spring, early summer and a third time in early fall. In addition, it is essential to always do it in low doses, since it is preferable to fall short of fertilizer than to exceed it.
Common ficus benjamina diseases
The most common diseases of ficus benjamina are those that are associated with the presence of pests such as aphids, cochineal or mites. In these cases, especially if the plant is outdoors, it is best to spray the plant with some frequency during the spring and summer months with a natural insecticide that eliminates this type of pest. It is best to do it late in the day, and do it throughout the plant, never forgetting the interiors.
On the other hand, one of the ficus benjamina diseases occurs in the form of yellowing leaves. If you see yellow leaves on your ficus benjamina, thinks that it is usually due to a lack of water, due to excess sun or, due to a lack of some nutrient in the soil, usually iron. When this happens, it is best to first make sure that the plant has the necessary water and, if so, then apply a specific fertilizer that is rich in iron, in addition to also having a high nitrogen content. When applying the fertilizer, it is important to repeat that it is preferable to fall short in the amount and see how it reacts than to go over the amount. If necessary, more fertilizer can be applied in small amounts after a month or two.
If you want to read more articles similar to Ficus benjamina carewe recommend that you enter our category .
