It is not difficult to grow a rubber-bearing decorative ficus. To get a beautiful tubular tree, it is regularly pruned, forming a crown.
The formation of the crown of the plant is most advisable to carry out in the phase of activation of the growth of shoots. In the spring, buds appear on the lateral branches of the tree. At this time, the ficus can be cut off.
The field of crown formation homemade rubber ficus Benjamin looks very impressive. Such a plant will be an adornment for any modern interior.
What does a novice florist need to know?
Before you grab the scissors and cut half the branches of the tree, read some basic rules:
- You cannot cut off shoots at any time convenient for you. It is necessary to focus on the most favorable period for the growth and development of new stepchildren. The end of February - the beginning of March are most suitable for this purpose.
- Use only sharp sterile instruments for work. A utility knife, nail scissors, or a small pruner will work. The blade must be disinfected before use so as not to infect the plant with pathogens.
- If the cut stem is more than 2 mm thick, then sprinkle the cut site with activated carbon powder or garden varnish so as not to deplete Benjamin's ficus, the formation of the crown of which will require a lot of strength from him to restore.
- Places of cuts of small branches will tighten on their own. The milky juice that has come out must be wiped off.
- Shoots are cut almost at the base, trying not to leave hemp on the main trunk. They not only look unaesthetic, but also contribute to the multiplication of fungal spores. The small stems on the side branches are cut directly above the bud at right angles.
Features of care after pruning
It is important to remember that formative pruning is needed for more than just a beautiful look. It helps to improve the health of the ficus, because due to the removal of damaged and dry branches, the possibility of developing diseases is excluded... Examining the plant in the process of pruning, you can notice pests and remove them in a timely manner.
When perennial shoots are removed, the development of young is stimulated, which contributes to a significant rejuvenation of perennial plants.
The decorative look will require the manifestation of creativity, and the result obtained will decorate the home with its decorative look. However, so that all efforts are not wasted, remember the basic rules for caring for plants after pruning.
- It is important to reduce watering in proportion to the amount of green mass that has been removed. This is explained by the fact that now the plant needs less moisture, which means that the excess can cause rotting of the roots. In addition, wet soil oxidizes faster and becomes unsuitable for ficus.
- After pruning, the plant should be removed from a place where direct sunlight can fall on it.
Important! The exposed areas of the trunk are now very sensitive and until a new green mass builds up, it is better to keep it under diffused light. - To help the ficus to recuperate faster, you can spray it with a solution of the Epin-Extra stimulator.This drug, despite its low cost, is very effective. The fourth part of the contents of the ampoule is dissolved in 1 liter of water and, after stirring thoroughly, the plant is sprayed. You can store the solution for 2 days. You can repeat the procedure for weakened plants after 10 days. The drug does not contain toxic substances, but before using it, you should read the instructions.
- To maintain a decorative shape, growing shoots should be pinched. This helps to improve both the appearance and the maintenance of the plant's immunity.
Summing up, we can conclude that almost any grower can grow a beautiful Benjamin ficus with a unique appearance. This plant is ideal for formation and takes any shape given to it. It is important not to forget about the basic rules of care and inspect the plant in a timely manner in order to identify the need for pruning.
How to grow a lush bush?
To turn Benjamin's ficus into a bush, crown formation at home is carried out by pinching. That is, the upper part of the stem is removed, thereby activating the growth of lateral shoots. The buds are divided into two types: axillary (growing from the lateral sinuses) and apical (responsible for plant growth upward). The apical buds receive more strength for development, so the ficus grows faster upward than in the side. When the upper part of the plant is removed and the development of the apical buds stops, the lateral buds wake up. If pinching the top is done during the rest period (in the autumn or winter season), then not all buds may wake up. It will turn out to be a one-sided bush. It is better to prune Benjamin's ficus in early spring, the formation of the crown will be symmetrical in this case.
How to plant a flower so that the stems intertwine?
First of all, for the further braiding of benjamin ficus stems into various shapes, you need to choose the right seedlings for planting. Their height should be approximately 10 cm, this size corresponds to the maximum flexibility possible in the plant. In addition, at this stage of growth, the plant does not yet have a bark, the existence of which negatively affects the elasticity. To create a minimal design, you need to take at least three cuttings. To get a more interesting picture, you will need a little more shoots.
To form a more interesting design, you should take so many seedlings to completely fill the future composition.
Shoots are selected of the same diameter so as not to spoil the overall picture of the decor. It is especially important to follow this rule when creating braids or circular weaving.
Planting stems is best done in the first months of spring. This will allow them to develop much faster. And in a month it will be possible to start experimenting with the creation of decorative compositions.
Ficus Benjamin: crown and trunk formation
You can give a decorative appearance not only to the foliage, but also to the trunk. Thanks to its flexibility, beautiful wicker structures are obtained. If there is only one sprout in the pot, then it will not work. You need to wait for it to start up side shoots. Or, plant several sprouts at once in a circle or in a line. The height and age of the branches should be approximately equal. Otherwise, the weaker branches will begin to wither due to the fact that the strong will oppress them. You can start weaving the trunk only when the trees reach 20-30 cm in height. At this time, the first turn of the braid is made and fixed with a cord.
Over time, the weaving will need to be updated, because the thickness of the branches will gradually increase. If the lace will strongly press down on the trunk, then milky juice will come out on it. This should not be allowed. If there are only two stems in the pot, they are intertwined. It turns out to be a beautiful spiral.
Another option: splicing the trunks together. The trees planted in a row or circle can be grown together into a hedge.To do this, you need to damage the bark at the same height at two nearby growing seedlings and firmly tie them together in this place.
Pigtail
Some people believe that it won't take a lot of work to braid a pigtail. You just need to take a few ficuses somewhere and start braiding them. In words, in fact, everything is elementary, in fact, it is much more complicated, but not impossible.
In order to get what you want, you should adhere to the following rules:
- It is necessary to select several young cuttings (at least 3) and plant them in one flowerpot not far from each other. This is important, since it will make it possible to carry out not only a neat weaving of trunks, but also an aesthetic one.
- When the lateral processes go on the stems, they will need to be cut in such a way that only the tops remain.
- Before weaving directly, the flower is well watered. This will allow the stems to be more flexible and more amenable to the procedure.
Important! A time of 10-12 hours should pass between the two events, otherwise the desired effect will not be achieved.
If the thickness of the trunk is less than 1 cm, then it is better to postpone the weaving procedure until the indicators are within 1 -1.5 cm.
It is a mistake to think that at a time you can not only learn how to weave a ficus, but also do it quickly. Such manipulation will be extended, at least for a month. This is due to the slow growth of the trunk. At first, you can make several turns. Do not forget to tie the braided branches, because they will quickly disperse.
As for the method of weaving, or it would be more correct to say the strength with which all this will happen, it all depends solely on personal preferences. If you want to leave a gap between the stems, this can be done - such weaving will look very original. Wishing to bring your work as close as possible to the work of creating a braid - please. This option looks strict and elegant at the same time.
Some gardeners come up with some of their own variations, weaving, for example, the third stem, in a special way, distinguishing it from the general mass. It already depends on the imagination and wishes of everyone.
In the case when you want to achieve the effect of “one common trunk”, the bark should be cut off in the places of the future weave. Experienced gardeners say that the effect will not be long in coming, and in six months there will be a feeling that this is one ficus "sitting" in a pot, a ficus with such an unusual trunk.
How to direct the branches in the right direction?
If you are growing a young Benjamin ficus, the formation of the crown will require not only the timely removal of the apical buds, but also the trimming of the lateral shoots. It happens that pruning greatly exposes the crown of the tree, then it is better to refuse it. It is easier to direct the branch in the desired direction. A stiff wire is suitable for this purpose. It is wrapped around the protruding process and bends it in the desired direction. If inside the crown the branches intersect ugly with each other, you can straighten them using a wooden spacer.
Lattice
The lattice is considered a more complicated method of weaving, but, despite this, the beauty of the resulting specimen can be envied. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the classic lattice implies the presence of eight ficuses. True, given that not every territory allows you to buy a large pot and allocate a separate corner for it, you can use any number of plants, but their number should be even.
The steps for creating a lattice are as follows:
- Young shoots are planted in a flowerpot under one line, clearly measuring the distance from one cutting to another. Violation of this nuance will entail a deviation from the norm, and the weaving will no longer look so aesthetically pleasing.
- When the trunks reach a certain height (10-12 cm), they need to be intertwined.For these purposes, cardboard tubes are suitable, which must be installed in the center.
- After a while, young bushes are directed in the direction the gardener wants. The lattice does not have to be even, it can have an unusual bend, which will give the whole structure a special zest. The main thing in this business is imagination, so you should not push it into the background. In order to achieve the desired result, you can use a wire with a winding, which is then easy to remove.
Important! The fixation should not be too strong, so as not to damage the ficus.
Some gardeners create a trellis in a different way. It is simple but original at the same time. For these purposes, you need to take the trunk of a coconut and plant it in the center of the flowerpot. Considering that such a trunk has high humidity, the aerial roots of the ficus will begin to actively develop, quickly intertwining with each other.
However, it should be remembered that young shoots should be planted around the coconut trunk at a short distance. In this case, the ficus should not have side shoots. After a while, you can see that the layers are intertwined, creating a special composition. By the way, many gardeners, wanting to get something unusual, but not injure the plant, prefer this method.
Ficus Benjamin: the formation of a crown in the form of a ball
You can give a rounded look to both a standard tree and a bush. For this, the young plant is given time for its branches to grow and grow green mass. At the age of two years, the tops begin to pinch once a month, provoking the growth of lateral branches. This is done in the warm season so that the crown forms evenly. In this case, it is necessary to carry out regular feeding. After another year, the foliage of the ficus will become lush, it can already be cut in the form of a sphere. This shape looks especially impressive on the trunk. But it is worth knowing that as the young shoots are cut off and the side shoots grow, the leaves will begin to become smaller. This cannot be avoided with pinching and pruning.
Plant stem processing
To make the weaving seem more attractive, you need to form the correct crown. For this, excess shoots and shoots are trimmed. If this is not done, the leaves will begin to weigh down the processes and tilt downward.
For your information! If done correctly, the flower will develop normally, but additional processing is also needed.
How to trim
You cannot cut more than five branches at a time. The cut site must be treated with an antiseptic or activated carbon powder. Do not use too many products to cover open areas.
How to make a ficus stem
A stem is a tree with a bare trunk and a lush crown. To grow such an instance, do the following:
- buy or plant a single shoot in the center of the pot;
- as it grows, all lower branches are cut off with a sharp knife;
- a one-year-old plant should have five upper shoots;
- then the plant is grown to the desired height;
- when Benjamin's ficus (crown formation, pruning and pinching of which is carried out in the spring) grows to the desired height, they begin to trim it;
- it is better to tie a support to a thin stem, since a young specimen can bend over until it gets stronger;
- the lower side branches will have to be pruned constantly to get the desired result.
If you plan to grow a stem with several levels, then you need to form a central shoot. It will be the foundation that allows you to grow a healthy tree.
Creation of unusual shapes
There are several options for creating bizarre forms of the aerial part of the ficus. Each method is simple to create. You can decorate the trunk of a plant, or you can weave a pigtail, a fence, create a spiral, circular thread. To do this, you need to plant the shoots in a specific sequence.
Unique shape
Interesting shapes are also given to the crown. There are several options: bush, single or two-tiered bole, sculpture, bonsai. Each result is distinguished by its individual beauty and preparation scheme.
Sanitary dead wood removal
During growth, weak or diseased branches appear on the ficus. They dry out over time and give a sloppy appearance. In addition, they draw strength from the tree and are an ideal place for the development of pathogens. They are removed regardless of the season. The dry part is cut off with scissors, while the edge can be treated with nothing.
Sanitary plant pruning
Sanitary pruning is carried out as needed at any time of the year. It consists in removing diseased, dry and underdeveloped shoots.
Dry branches are removed as they look very unsightly. It also needs to be done for safety reasons. Dry branches can become sources of various fungal infectious diseases.
If, nevertheless, the plant becomes ill, the affected areas must be cut off and burned. This pruning is carried out until spring, as soon as possible.
Weak shoots are removed because they are not very decorative and do not allow light to pass through, increasing the density of the crown.
How to rejuvenate an adult specimen?
Has a beautiful big tree thrown off its leaves and withered? Don't rush to throw it away. Understand the reasons for this behavior. If the reason lies in a long dry period or the effect of low temperatures, then the tree can be saved. It is necessary to provide him with an optimal temperature regime and good conditions of detention. Cut all dried branches at the root. Or remove all the growth altogether so that young growth grows in its place. The plant will be able to recover due to the developed root system. However, this method will not work if it is the roots that are initially damaged. And it was because of their illness that the leaves fell.
For experiments, it is better to pick up a young Benjamin ficus. The formation of the crown of adult specimens is more difficult. They do not grow green mass as quickly. There can be no question at all about intertwining thick trunks or splicing them.
Ficus should be given an aesthetic look from the moment of purchase. Always use clean, disinfected tools for shaping. And in order for the foliage to grow quickly and please the eye, the ficus needs to be provided with good conditions for growth and development.
Weaving rules
To form an unusual trunk shape, it is recommended to plant at least three young ficuses of the same height, no more than 15 centimeters, in one container. Their trunks should be half woody.
As we grow up, we will give them the necessary shape. Two plants will be enough to twist the trunks into a spiral, but with three this weaving will look more impressive.
The pigtail of their three ficus processes begins to braid when they reach 13 centimeters in height.
Each next turn must be done as the plant grows. During the first time, we need a soft woolen thread to tie the trunks so that they do not unravel. The thread needs to be rewound over time.
Typically, this will happen every 2 months. If, while rewinding the thread, you notice white milk, then the stem of the plant is already damaged. Just do not rush to get upset. Nothing terrible happened. Ficus will soon resume its powers. You need to tie the trunks with threads strictly at an angle of 45 degrees.
If your ficus pigtail is high enough, then it is recommended to install an additional support that can be removed over time.
