Manor bagira when to start pinching ficus. How to properly prune rubber ficus

Ficus is a plant that, by its very nature, grows exclusively upward. However, for growing at home, this is not entirely convenient. For this, you need to prune the plant in order to form the flower shape you need.

Plant features

Rubber ficus (how to form a crown will be described in this article) is a plant that belongs to the genus Ficus of the Mulberry family. India is considered the homeland of this representative, namely its northeastern part, as well as the south of Indonesia and the western part of Africa. As an ornamental plant, it is grown outside of tropical areas. In addition to the decorative function, it can also perform an industrial one, since it is large trees that provide rubber.

When growing in its natural conditions, the ficus can reach a size of 40 m in height, while forming the so-called support roots. The main feature of the latter is that they descend to the ground and take root in it. If grown at home, the maximum growth, as a rule, does not exceed 10 m, if no pruning was done.

Beneficial features

In addition to the fact that rubber is extracted from this plant, the ficus is also considered the most useful flower, which can significantly improve the health of the air. This is due to the fact that air passes through the leaves like through a pipe. During this passage, it is significantly enriched with oxygen.

Another important advantage is the simplicity of the ficus in care.

Under conditions of home cultivation, it practically does not bloom, is not capricious and can adapt to absolutely any conditions. The only thing is to keep the plant away from direct sunlight, water and bathe on time and in the right amount.

Ficus growth physiology

Rubbery ficus (how to form a crown will be described later) can take all sorts of shapes using the pruning process. This will allow the plant to become a real unique decoration for any home. You can do this yourself, the main thing is to be patient and follow the basic rules.

How does rubber ficus grow? New shoots, as a rule, develop from the formed buds. There are two types of them:

• apical (located at the top of the plant);
• lateral, or axillary (located in the axils of the leaves, in those places where the leaf petioles are attached directly to the trunk).

The apical kidney develops at an accelerated rate, while the lateral ones inhibit their development or are completely blocked. If the upper bud is removed, it will activate the lateral buds and the shoots will begin to grow laterally. Thus, the formation of rubber ficus occurs.

Pruning rules

The time of crown formation is important. Before pruning rubber ficus at home, you should choose the right period for this: autumn or spring.

If you produce crown formation in the spring, this will allow you to get a more lush plant, since it is during this period that the plant is able to recharge itself with energy. As a result of this, you will get a flower that will be sufficiently stimulated, and in different directions to the same extent.

But if you decide to carry out the procedure in the fall or winter, it threatens one-sided development. There is a big risk that you will get a skewed plant as a result. In addition, it was during this period that the rubber ficus (you will learn more how to form a crown with the help of some devices) uses everything accumulated over the summer season. And if you cut off some of its shoots, you simply deprive the plant of these very reserves.

The process of crown formation itself consists not only of cutting off shoots and shortening them, but also indicating the direction of their further growth. As a rule, various tensioning devices are used for this.

Crown formation without pruning

Before pruning rubbery ficus, think about whether it needs to be done. It is possible to form a crown only by directing and fixing certain shoots. Using this method minimizes injury to the plant. After a certain time, these fixing devices can be safely removed.

It is also worth considering the age of the ficus. A younger plant tolerates this procedure more easily. But adult plants no longer have sufficient shoot flexibility, and it is very easy to injure them.

Rubber ficus: how to form the crown correctly?

These rules apply to single plants that grow in one trunk.

1. You need to wait until the growth of the plant is about 70 cm. After that, you need to cut off the upper stalk of the rubber ficus. This will allow the plant to develop its side shoots. A cut stalk can be rooted next to the main plant, thereby forming an unusual bush shape.
2. If you want to work on the shape of a small plant, just pinch the top of the plant. However, it should be understood that there is a high probability that only one sprout will grow from this point.
3. You can stimulate the growth of lateral shoots simply by bending the top of the head, and then fix it securely. When the kidney, which turned out to be the top, begins to grow actively, the trunk can be returned to its original position.
4. The following procedure will help stimulate the growth of additional branches: pierce the main trunk by a third of the thickness with a thick needle. If you make several punctures, only the lower one will be active. That is why it is better to start this procedure from the top.
5. The thin branch of the plant should be cut in a straight line. If you need to cut a thick shoot, the cut should be at an angle.
6. For the procedure, take exclusively sterile instruments, moreover, ideally sharp ones. Fire or rubbing alcohol is suitable for sterilization.
7. The extracted juice must be removed. Use a wet cloth for this. No additional processing is required.
8. A month after the procedure, the plant needs feeding. It is also recommended to transplant the ficus into a larger pot.

How to prune rubber ficus at home? Easy enough. Just follow the basic rules. For example, when pruning rubbery ficus, do not forget that it secretes milky juice, which is quite poisonous. All actions should be carried out with protective gloves.

Formation of an unusual crown

How to form an unusual rubbery ficus? Everything is very simple. You need to do this procedure not with a single plant, but by planting several ficuses in one pot at once. The flowers must be young, equally developed and the average height must not exceed 15 cm.

All lateral shoots must be removed without fail, and the trunk, as the plant grows, should be given the desired shape. The main rule: weaving should be done freely, since over time the trunks will thicken. To form a spiral, two plants in one pot are enough for you, for a "pigtail" - at least three.

You need to start weaving when all the plants in the pot have reached a certain height (as a rule, this is 13-15 cm). Each next turn must be done as the plant develops. To prevent the braids from unraveling, the trunks must be tied up. At the same time, the threads should be soft, ideally if you take woolen threads. They need to be bandaged every two months. If necessary, you can install a support.

These trunks look really impressive and unusual.

Instead of a conclusion

If your ficus bush has grown too much, then some of the shoots, mainly those that are directed into the crown, are removed. This will allow each leaf of the plant to receive the right amount of sunlight.

Having gained some experience, you can quite easily form whole sculptures from ficus.

Every florist who grows wants to see beautiful branched trees, and even with intricately woven trunks.

But not everyone knows how to form a ficus at home.

Moreover, these plants grow only upward and will not develop a lush crown without human help. We will talk about the methods and rules for creating a dense green crown.

Did you know? The ancestors of ficuses are typical for the Indian jungle 30-meter trees with giant horizontal branches and rounded meter-long leaves. In their shade, they can hide up to 300 square meters of land.

Description and features of culture

At first glance, it seems that the process does not require additional skills and knowledge, in fact, all of the above requires talent and patience. Let's take a closer look at how to make a ficus branch.

Regular

Any work aimed at developing the lateral branches of the plant using conventional technologies should be carried out between February and July. If you ignore this rule, the plant may have enough strength to develop a single sprout, in which case the ficus will grow in only one direction.

The method consists in pinching the apical shoots of a young ficus. Experiments on old specimens can end up ruining them, since it is very difficult to wake up dormant buds.
Thus, a bush can be created from a straight trunk. For its uniform rounding, flower growers recommend exposing it to the sun on different sides, periodically turning the pot.

Some craftsmen resort to using cytokinins - hormones that slow down the aging process of the plant organism and without removing the apical bud, they stimulate the development of its lateral branches.

This method is very effective, since during processing, hormonal substances do not delay deciduous processes, due to which the lower zone of the flower remains covered with foliage.

It is possible to do without additional means by bending the thin trunk into an arc so that its top is directed downward. Then the growth hormones will accumulate at the top of the bend and the lateral buds will sprout. The disadvantage of this method is the retardation of the development of the stems.

You can also influence the shape of the crown of an indoor tree by adjusting the lighting. This method is good for correcting malformed plants. In direct sunlight, they can get severe burns, but the diffused light from the south side is just what you need.

Another effective way to force a tree to branch is trim the bark above the bud.

Botanists call the technology kerbovka and advise making deep and wide cuts at the bottom of the lignified trunk.

Unusual (weaving, circular lattice, shaping of a standard tree)

Sometimes the beautiful plexus of ficus stems created by flower growers is breathtaking. It turns out that you can create such masterpieces at home.

To do ficus weaving, first of all, it is necessary to plant several equally developed shoots up to 15 cm long in one pot. Their two shoots growing side by side will make a wonderful spiral, from three - a braid, from four or more - an unusual lattice. It is important to foresee the places where thickenings will form in the future, and leave gaps, as well as pinch off the lateral shoots.

To obtain flat fence, the plants are planted at a certain distance on one line. And when the stems reach the desired height, they are connected with special clamps or with an ordinary thread, polyethylene tape. Moreover, as it grows, the compression is slightly weakened so that unaesthetic scars do not form on the bark.

To speed up the process, experts advise to carefully cut off the bark at the junction of the shoots to get a kind of grafting.

Important! From excess or lack of moisture in the rubbery ficus, foliage curls.

A circular lattice is obtained if young plants are planted in a circle. To get the trunk in the form of a stretched spring, a peg is stuck in the center of the pot, and flexible stems are wrapped around it, removing side branches as necessary.

The pinnacle of perfection can be called the shape of ficuses curled around a moss (coconut) column. Its moist base constantly nourishes the plant, stimulating the growth of aerial roots. This promotes intensive intertwining and fusion of the sprouts.

If these procedures seem too time-consuming to you, you can experiment with creating the shape of the trunk. To do this, on a young flower, it is necessary to pinch off the apical bud after it reaches the desired height. Usually, for floor-standing specimens, this is done at a level of 1 meter. The lateral branches are cut so that the cut passes over the bud facing away from the bark.

But this is not the limit of gardeners' fantasies: a unique shape can be created from a tall ficus, forming a multi-tiered stem from it. To do this, the first step is to remove the upper growth point, conditionally divide the trunk into several parts and give them a rounded shape. The spaces between the tiers are cleared of all branches and foliage.

Did you know? The oldest rubber-bearing ficus called "Homer's tree" grows in Buenos Aires. He was planted back in 1781. From time to time, the branches of the green giant sagged strongly, so they were reinforced with concrete supports.

How to form a rubbery ficus at home

Whatever technology you choose for your rubber ficus, so as not to ruin it, it is important to know how to properly form the crown, which you can choose from a photo on the Internet or in a magazine or book. In addition, you need to strictly follow the rules, which can be conditionally divided into several groups. Let's consider each in more detail.

Without pruning ficus

If you are going to stimulate the growth of side branches with the help of special preparations, lighting and other tricks, it is important to consider:

1. The growth of ficus branches can be regulated by manipulating the pot and directly with the plant itself. The principle of all procedures comes down to giving the sprouts an upright position.
2. Frozen in growth, the bud will go up if the container with the flower is tilted so that the future shoot looks up.
3. A horizontally tilted branch will grow branches in the upper zone.
4. On the drooping stem, lateral branches will actively develop, and the trunk will also strengthen.
5. One-sided specimens will sprout on the other side if they are turned with their bare trunk towards the sun.
6. A multi-tiered ficus can be obtained much faster when planting sprouts of different heights in one container.
7. Additional fluorescent lamps will accelerate the appearance of a rounded ficus crown.
8. In order for the woven trunks to evenly build up the green cap, the pot must be periodically turned towards the sun in different directions.
9. With sufficient humidity in the room, the ficuses take root. They are by no means removed, but sent into the soil.
10. Among the cytokinins, an impeccable reputation for the drugs "Kartolin" (may be labeled 2 or 4), "Benzyladenin", "Zeatin". It is important to use them, strictly following the attached instructions.

Did you know? In India, the homeland of rubbery ficuses, the locals used them to create pedestrian bridges. From the branches and aerial roots of plants growing on the shores of water bodies, a base and handrails were woven. In some cases, the length of such structures reached more than 30 m.

With cropping

There are nuances when forming ficuses with the help of tools:

1. In cases of creating a bushy crown, the cut of the apical bud should be at a level of 10-15 cm from the ground. A maximum of 4 sheets can be left.
2. The pinching of the lateral buds is carried out only on specimens turned away from the bark. Otherwise, young shoots will thicken the crown greatly.
3. All sections must be wiped with a damp cloth until the release of milky juice ceases. Then it is treated with charcoal crushed into dust.
4. With an increased density of the crown, part of the branches that are directed inward towards the central trunk are cut off.
5. Kerbovka is carried out with a sharp tool (preferably with a blade or scalpel).
6. Properly made bark incisions look arched, roof-like or transverse. If you are removing a portion of the bark above the kidney, do this by cutting out a rectangle, triangle, or crescent.
7. If you are faced with the task of correcting the irregular shape of the tree or forming a certain conceived figure, then you should resort to grafting. The method is carried out by transplanting one plant to another, it is very laborious and not always effective. The reason is the milky juice secreted from the sections of both parts, which prevents the ficuses from growing together.
8. After the cuts, there should be no stumps - this is a favorable environment for the formation of fungi.

- popular indoor plants, characterized by a high growth rate and foliage growth. Therefore, they are favorite objects for the formation of small indoor trees with a crown of various shapes.

It is not at all difficult to grow a decorative ficus. Regularly carrying out its formative pruning, you can get a beautiful tub plant and even a tree grown in the "bonsai" style.

In the article you will learn everything about the formation of the crown and trunk of the Benjamin ficus at home, as well as about pruning and pinching the plant.

Basic rules for pruning

Formative pruning of Benjamin's ficus is carried out in early spring, in late March or early April. Before the start of active growth, there is enough time for the sections to be delayed, and the plant to recover from the stress received.

To carry out pruning, you will need a garden pruner, charcoal or activated carbon, a clean napkin and a disinfectant (alcohol or potassium permanganate solution).

Before the procedure, you need to disinfect the pruner with alcohol. or a solution of potassium permanganate to exclude the ingress of any infection and the development of the disease.

Thick branches are cut at an angle as close to the bud as possible. Thin shoots are cut above the bud, shortening them by 1/3.

After pruning, wipe the sections of thick branches with a clean napkin to remove the flowing milky juice. Then the slices are covered with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.

Sections of thin shoots can be left untreated, but it is better to remove the flowing sap, as it may leave white spots on the leaves of the plant.

In addition to formative, there is also a sanitary and rejuvenating pruning of Benjamin's ficus. Consider how to shape Benjamin's ficus.

Sanitary pruning

Sanitary pruning of a plant can be carried out not only in spring, but at any other time of the year as needed. It consists in removing dry, diseased and poorly developed shoots.

Dry branches should be removed as they look ugly... They are also removed for safety reasons: sometimes dry branches become sources of various fungal infections.

If any ficus disease occurs, the affected areas of the shoots are cut off and burned. For this, one should not wait for spring, such pruning is carried out as soon as possible.

Poorly developed shoots are removed, since they are not very decorative. They also increase the density of the crown, not letting light into it.

Anti-aging pruning

This type of pruning is carried out to return the decorative appearance to very old ficuses or plants, the shoots of which, for one reason or another, have lost their vitality.

Sometimes, with a strong and prolonged drying out of the soil, almost all the branches of the tree dry up... In this case, the ficus should not be thrown away, it is necessary to carry out anti-aging pruning.

This procedure is carried out in early spring before the beginning of the growing season. All dead branches are cut, and living ones are cut in half. Moreover, not only the main shoots are cut off, but also the shoots of the second order. All sections are carefully sprinkled with activated carbon.

When the crown is completely dry, Benjamin's ficus can be cut "into a stump" by removing all branches and cutting off the trunk. The remaining stump should be no higher than 7-10 cm. Gradually, the plant will restore the crown, growing new young shoots.

Types of crowns and ease of formation

There are several types of crowns that can be created by pruning Benjamin's ficus:

• Shrub;
• Stamp;
• Longline bole;
• Sculpture.

Most varieties can also be used to grow miniature bonsai trees.

Although Benjamin's ficus is a tall tree, it is very easy to grow a bush from it. To do this, a central shoot is attached to a young plant. As a result, side branches begin to grow actively. Within a year, you can get a lush and beautiful plant.

Stamp forms are distinguished by a pronounced trunk and crown. Distinguish between a single and long-tiered bole with a crown divided into several tiers, between which there is a trunk without shoots. Growing such a tree is a lengthy process that can take 3-4 years.

The sculpture is created from small-leaved varieties. The tree is given a pre-conceived shape. Pruning is done annually and very carefully, and the shape of the tree needs to be adjusted regularly.

This article is often read:

Bush

To form a bush, both undersized and tall ficuses are used. Small-leaved varieties are very popular: from them the bush turns out to be more lush. For the rapid formation of a bush crown, 2-3 cuttings are simultaneously planted in a pot close to each other.

After planting, as soon as a rooted stalk 15 cm high begins to grow, it is pinched from above, leaving at least 5 leaves. This stimulates the growth of 4-5 side shoots.

When the lateral shoots reach a length of 10-15 cm, their tops are also cut off.... In this case, the remaining upper buds should be directed not inside the crown, but outward.

All sections must be wiped with a napkin to remove the white juice, and sprinkled with activated charcoal.

After the second pruning, when the shoots of the third level reach a length of 10-15 cm, a rather dense bush is already obtained. With a strong density, you can cut 2-3 branches from the middle of the bush, thin it out.

When growing a bush crown, you need to evenly illuminate the plant or periodically turn it towards the light in different directions so that the shoots grow evenly.

Stam

Stamp crowns are forms with a pronounced trunk. For growing a stem, a single cutting is planted. In the process of its growth, all formed lower lateral shoots are removed, leaving 3-4 upper ones.

If you want to grow a standard tree 50 cm high, then the length of the lower part of the trunk without branches should be 15-20 cm.

Usually desktop specimens are up to 50 cm high, and floor ones are much higher: 90-100 cm.

After the lower part of the trunk is formed, they begin to build up the crown. When the plant reaches the desired height, the upper shoot is cut 5-10 cm.

After that, lateral shoots begin to grow intensively. They need to be left only within the crown. If they form in the lower part of the plant on the trunk, then they must be removed.

The stem crown of ficus can be given various shapes... The spherical crown is very popular and beautiful, but the oval shape, extended upward or to the sides, is no less decorative. When creating a crown in the shape of a ball, you need to leave shoots of the same length when pruning.

Tiered bole

The tiered bole is a tree shape with a crown divided into parts. A bare trunk without branches remains between its tiers. Such a tree can have 2 or more tiers.

Sometimes the tiers are built up gradually... First, a common standard tree with a round or oval crown is formed. Then pruning is carried out in such a way that the central shoot grows, directed upwards.

Gradually, it will be possible to form an extension of the trunk from it, and then a new layer of the crown. This is the longest process of forming a longline stem.

It is much faster to plant 2 cuttings at once and fasten their trunks with wire. Gradually below they will grow together into a single trunk. Above, the plants will be split.

Each of them can be grown like a regular bole, but their crowns will be at different heights. If you plant cuttings with different leaf colors, you can get a very beautiful tree with different colors of the crown tiers.

Longline stem can be grown from one cutting... It should grow upward, forming an elongated, tall, single stem. After the formation of the lower part of the trunk, its crown must be divided into 3 parts.

The lower and upper parts will be two tiers of the trunk, the central part - the bare trunk located between them. In the center, all side shoots are removed, the top of the tree is pinched. The longlines are formed like a regular single bole.

Bonsai

Almost all varieties of Benjamin ficus can be used to grow bonsai. But the Viandi variety is most suitable for this purpose. It has a slow growth rate and a wavy curved trunk. The cuttings of this variety are the fastest growing bonsai.

The technology of growing these dwarf trees for Benjamin's ficuses and for other species is practically the same. Bonsai are grown in low, wide containers filled with depleted soil, which promotes a slow growth rate. The roots of the tree are pruned 2-3 times a year, after which it is planted in the same container. Plants are also pruned 2-3 times a year.

In addition to pruning, great importance is attached to the formation of the trunk and branches.

The branches and trunk are wrapped with thick copper wire, and then gradually bend it so that the plant takes on the desired shape. Usually, after such procedures, after 4-5 years, the plant looks like a real tree in miniature.

Sculpture

It is very difficult to grow a crown in the form of a sculpture; it takes a long time to work on it. Only an experienced florist can create a tree in the shape of an animal or bird. It is easier to make a crown in the form of a geometric figure - a cone or a cylinder.

Even the formation of a simple geometric crown takes several years.

At the same time, it is necessary to prune the plant annually in the spring, cutting off the branches in such a way that the crown takes on the desired shape.

Usually, branches are left pointing outward, and the crowns growing deeper are cut out.

At the same time, the outer part of the crown branches out strongly, so it becomes easier to give it the desired shape.

Shaping the trunk - ficus braiding

Not only the crown of Benjamin's ficus looks very beautiful. Trees grown by the ficus weaving method are a real work of art.

These are tall plants, the bare trunks of which are intertwined. The most decorative element of such a plant is precisely the trunk; its crown is formed, as a rule, of a simple spherical shape of small size.

Many varieties of ficus are suitable for growing a plant with an intertwined stem, but they should have straight and thin shoots. The Viandi variety, which is often used for growing bonsai, is not suitable for weaving, as it has twisted curved shoots.

In order to weave the trunks, 2 or more cuttings are planted in one pot.... They must be of the same size so that one of them does not grow faster than the other and clog it. For the same reason, it will not work to weave varieties with different growth rates into one trunk.

There are a variety of ficus weaving patterns. The simplest of these are the spiral and the braid.

For a spiral, you need to plant 2 cuttings in one pot, to braid a braid, you need 3 plants. There are also more complex weaving methods, which will require many more cuttings, sometimes several dozen. Such trees are usually grown only by professionals, they are very expensive.

To grow a "pigtail", 3 cuttings of ficus with a size of 15 cm or more are planted in a pot close to each other. As soon as they begin to grow, you can start weaving. The lowermost part of the cuttings should not have lateral shoots. If there are any, they must be removed, and then the first weaving of the trunks should be carefully made.

In order for the intertwined trunk to retain its shape, the cuttings should be fixed... A thick woolen thread or copper wire is suitable for this. Shoots are fixed above the weave. After that, the plant is looked after as usual until the cuttings have grown enough to make the next weave.

Every 2 months, check the fixation points and, if necessary, loosen the thread or wire. In the process of growth, intertwined plant trunks thicken, and fixation can cut into them and injure the bark.

When the braid reaches the desired height, it must be tightly fixed with a wire or metal bracket above the place of the last weave. The fixation will be reliably hidden by the overgrown crown of the tree. After a few years, when the trunks are firmly fused together, the wire can be removed.

To perform other, more complex, weaving patterns, you may need not only wire, but also a metal frame around which the trunks of many plants are woven.

Now you know how to form a Benjamin ficus crown. You can find out about the superstitions associated with Benjamin's ficus.

Initially, the ficus has only one stem, but over time, new branches appear on it. And then you need to pinch the plant correctly to form a beautiful crown. To do this, it is enough to adhere to a few simple rules.

If the ficus grows only upward, without giving side shoots, then over time it can turn into a tall, slightly deciduous tree. But this can be avoided simply by periodically trimming and pinching the top.

The most popular method among experienced gardeners is the Japanese pinching method. The procedure is quite simple. When forming the crown, you need to twist the branch to the bud, from which new lateral shoots will subsequently appear.

The procedure is as follows:

• it is necessary to determine which branches will be superfluous when creating a beautiful crown of a tree;
• each selected branch should be carefully bent into a loop and bandaged to the trunk.

Important! If juice appears in the fold, it must be washed off the plant.

After a few weeks, the buds remaining to the fold will sprout new shoots.

Why pinch?

Ficus is a tall plant, some species grow up to 2-3 m. Pinching and cutting off excess shoots allows not only to keep the growth of the flower at the desired height, but also to form a beautiful crown. In addition, this procedure allows you to rejuvenate the plant.

How to pinch correctly at home?

In order for the procedure to be successful, the owner of the ficus needs to know the following:

1. It is important to choose the right time for pinching. Otherwise, the plant can easily die.
2. Ficus juice is poisonous and can cause burns or allergic reactions. Therefore, all manipulations with the plant must be carried out with gloves.
3. It is best not to combine pruning with another procedure, such as transplanting.

Ficus can be easily pinched at home if you follow the established rules.

Timing for the procedure

Experienced gardeners know that the ideal time to pinch a ficus plant is spring. It is during this period that the plant is activated, forming new shoots and buds. Therefore, the procedure will not become too stressful for the flower, and all "wounds" will quickly heal.

Important! Pinching in the fall or winter can kill the ficus.

Pinching instructions

Before proceeding with the formation of the crown, you need to decide on the choice of a knife. It should be sharp enough to cut thick branches straight away. The knife must be disinfected with alcohol or peroxide. If the plant is young, then unnecessary shoots can be simply cut off.

But if the ficus is already several years old, then you need:

• determine the point that will become the top;
• the incision should be made at a distance of 6–8 cm from the sheet;
• branches should be cut obliquely;

When pinching, rinse all cut points with water. Since the sap of the plant will slow down the growth of new shoots. To form a perfect crown, pinching and cutting should be done annually.

Important rules

The procedure for forming a crown largely depends on what the gardener wants to get. For example, to get the shape of a standard tree, you need:

1. Choose a young, immature ficus without lignification.
2. Then gradually remove the side shoots until there are 5 upper branches left.
3. When the ficus reaches the height, the upper shoot should be pinched, and the lateral ones removed.
4. For young stems without bark, you need to build a support. It will be required until the ficus finally grows.

Such a stem can be multi-tiered. For this, the crown is divided into 4–5 parts. The odd ones will be the tiers of the crown, and the rest will be the gaps between them. For the formation of the latter, the shoots are cut 5–7 cm shorter than in the tiers.

In addition to the trunk, there are several other ways to design a beautiful crown. It is a bush and an arc. For the formation of the first type, it is important to ensure that the ficus does not grow up, but gives lateral shoots. This is controlled by the annual pinching of the flower.

The arc is created very simply - the upper part of the plant is bent down and fixed at the required height. The upper buds begin to give new shoots, due to which the plant becomes more voluminous. As soon as the lateral shoots reach the desired length, the fixation is removed. The branches of the ficus tree will remain in the same position, forming an interesting arc.

Further care

After the stress caused by the procedure, the ficus needs additional feeding. It is added immediately, or they wait 1-2 weeks for the plant to adapt. If necessary, you can transplant the ficus into a new pot. This is true for plants that no longer fit in the old container.

How to pinch so that it is bushy and lush?

For overly tall plants, the procedure for the formation of new lateral shoots remains relevant. The ficus owner can use several ways:

1. Japanese method. Suitable for small flowers that do not fit on a windowsill.
2. Pruning. If you remove the top of the plant, then the ficus will give new shoots. This will make the flower more lush. But it should be borne in mind that if the procedure is performed incorrectly, the ficus will continue to grow up.

Important! When using the Japanese pinching method, branches can be tied not only to the trunk, but also to pegs specially driven into the ground.

Can Benjamin be pinched if it only grows up?

Benjamin's ficus bushes on its own. But in some cases, it can grow quickly upward, without giving lateral shoots. This is often due to insufficient lighting or poor watering and feeding. You can pinch Benjamin in such a situation, but you need to do it right.

What if it stretches very much upward?

When the flower reaches up, it sheds the lower leaves in the process. Most buds form at the top of the plant. Therefore, you should not allow too much growth upward.

If the ficus needs to be made more voluminous and small, then they resort to pruning the plant. But it is important to remember that the cut should only go obliquely and is located above the kidney. In addition, gardeners use the following methods:

1. They lower the extra branches down and tie them to the trunk or pegs. This allows the buds on top to sprout strong shoots. The procedure is carried out several times in order for a sufficient number of lateral shoots to grow.
2. Sometimes kerbovka allows you to achieve the appearance of new shoots. To do this, a small incision is made above the sleeping kidney, about a third of the depth. The bark in this place must be removed in order to weaken the root nutrition.
3. In special cases, gardeners use a special stimulation of the flower with plant hormones - cytokinins. With their help, the lateral axillary buds begin to dominate, and not the apical ones.

Important! Any cuts are made with a disinfected knife, otherwise you can provoke the appearance of a fungus or infection.

Any ficus owner knows that the plant requires careful maintenance. Otherwise, you may be faced with the fact that the top of the flower rests against the ceiling. Therefore, the annual pinching held in the spring is a must. And you should start forming the crown of the desired height and volume as early as possible, while the ficus is still young.

The article pays attention to a number of topical issues today, each of which is directly related to figs and rarely where can be consecrated in such detail. It is recommended to read the article about.

How to make ficus lush, thick and fluffy at home

What to do to make the ficus take root faster, branch out and give lateral shoots, be beautiful

In order for the plant to start branching as quickly as possible and give lateral shoots, it is necessary to regularly prune, as well. New branches will begin to appear on the sides, the flower will become beautiful.

How to make ficus bonsai yourself a short master class

In order for the roots to form a crown according to the bonsai style that you have chosen, you need to cut the shoot several times, so the growth in height will be stopped. Trimming is carried out until the desired trunk volume is obtained.

You can use a garter or use a wire. The top is attached to the base of the tree. And with the help of wire, you can give the desired shape to the branches. After a few weeks, you can remove it.

How to form a ficus in the shape of a trunk

To make a ficus stem, you need to start removing side shoots almost immediately after planting, only 5 shoots remain. As soon as the desired growth is achieved, it is necessary to stimulate the growth of the lateral branches, for this, those on top are pinched.