Pruning and shaping a ficus bush. Ficus benjamin crown formation

Pruning

Pruning promotes good growth and abundant flowering of plants, it is necessary to get a beautiful crown or shape of plants, to remove standard or bushy specimens.

Pruning is done in three cases:

If you want to rejuvenate the plant
- if you want to form a plant
- sanitary pruning

The best time for pruning is spring. Pruning is done after a dormant period. The cut is made over the leaf facing outward, otherwise new shoots will grow inward. The cut should be made a few millimeters above the kidney and go from it to the side, slightly obliquely.

Sanitary pruning. All yellowed, shrunken shoots and leaves that have lost their decorative effect should be cut off. Weakened old shoots are often easy prey for fungi and bacteria, and a haven and breeding ground for insect pests. In addition, an unhealthy appearance of an escape may not indicate old age, but about illness or pest damage. If it is not removed in time, the disease will spread to healthy parts of the plant, which once again proves the need for sanitary pruning. The basic rule is to remove all unhealthy or aged parts of the plant. You need to cut the shoot up to healthy tissue (or - if the shoot starts underground - remove it to the very base).

Anti-aging pruning. It is especially suitable for those plants that can develop long shoots that lose their leaves over time, or are exposed from heat or dry air in winter. With anti-aging pruning, shoots are removed almost to the very base. But at the same time it is necessary to ensure that 2-3 living kidneys remain on the "stumps". It's okay if you remove up to 90% of the shoot length. After all, the more intensive the pruning, the more active the subsequent growth of the remaining shoots. If you are sorry to part with all the shoots at once, you can rejuvenate the plant in stages, first cutting off half of the shoots, and when they grow up, cut the rest shortly. Rejuvenating pruning is best done shortly before or early in the growth period. Don't forget to feed the plant after pruning anti-aging, as the plant will have to grow at a faster rate than usual. Many strong, healthy shoots grow after rejuvenating pruning. Therefore, sometimes such pruning is carried out in order to get a lot of high-quality cuttings.

Formative pruning. This is the most difficult type of pruning to give the plant the desired shape. Formative pruning is a creative process that requires close observation of the plant. The highest achievement of the art of formative pruning is 6onsai and the creation of living sculptures from plants. At home, it is useful to form tall and highly branched plants that, without this procedure, give a thickened and ugly crown, for example, ficuses, citrus fruits, laurel, hibiscus, roses, fuchsias, etc. When formative pruning, it is important to choose the right direction for the growth of future shoots. If you want to grow a horizontal branch, then the topmost bud left on it should be turned downward or to the outside of the crown. If you have planned vertical growth, then pick up the bud, directed upwards or in the center of the crown, and cut a little higher than it. Guides often recommend using wire to give the branches the desired direction of growth. Keep in mind that plants are very willful creatures. Changing the direction of growth of branches using wire is quite difficult. But there are those who willingly change their shape. So, from small-leaved ficuses it is possible to obtain "sculptures" of any given shape using wire frames. And one more note: the younger the branch, the easier it is to change its direction with the wire. The best way to wire shaping is not yet lignified or semi-lignified shoots.

Formation of a standard tree. To form a standard tree, take a strong rooted stalk growing vertically upward. Remove side shoots until the plant reaches the height you want. When this height is reached, cut off the top of the plant. Wait until 5 - 6 lateral shoots develop, which will be the top of the standard tree. Their tops are pinched several times. Remove all leaves at the base of the stem. The result will be a standard plant with a well-developed crown.
The dimensions of the standard tree.
Desktop standard tree: 30 - 45 cm.
Low standard tree: 45 - 80 cm.
Standard standard tree: 80 - 105 cm.

Bush formation. In a young plant at a height of 6 - 7 cm, pinch off the top of the main shoot. Lateral shoots, after reaching a height of 10 - 12 cm, are also pinched. When a beautiful bush is formed, it is necessary to periodically pluck or cut the shoots directed inward, preferably at the very beginning of their appearance.
Arc formation. Dangling and climbing plants form long shoots that can be shot in a wire arc. For this, the arcuate support is carefully inserted into the pot. The shoots are distributed along the wire, in some places they are loosely tied up.
Pyramid formation. Some plants can form a beautiful pyramid. Plants such as fuchsia, ivy, pelargonium grow well upward, a screw support can be made for them.

Pinching. In order for cuttings or young plants to branch well and not stretch upward, you need to slow down their growth in height by pinching off the tops of the shoots. The plant is usually pinched over the first pair of leaves.

Pruning for the winter. Tubular plants, which are kept in a dark basement in winter, should be properly cut in autumn, all remaining leaves must be removed. Remember: the root system should not dry out.

The rubbery ficus occupies a prominent place in an apartment, office or public institution. Rubbery or elastic, and also rubber, it is called because its juice flowing from the wounds freezes, and resembles a substance like rubber or latex in this form.

In India, the homeland of this tree, it grows to enormous size, covering up to 250-300 square meters with its shade. Breeders have bred a small and convenient tree on the basis of this tree. And to make it look compact and exotic, a crown trimming system has been developed.

Having become better acquainted with this representatives of the mulberry family, every lover of indoor plants will take up the cultivation of ficus.

Similar to this tree are:

• Fig or fig, fig tree;
• Mulberry or mulberry, mulberry;
• Breadfruit;
• A cow tree that tastes like milk;
• Paper tree, from which the highest quality paper is produced;
• Anchar or upas is a poisonous representative of the mulberry family, the hero of a poem by A.S. Pushkin.

Few of the home growers call ficus rubbery - just ficus. Indoors, the height of the plant is regulated by pruning, and depending on the tastes of the owners, it can be from 1 to 2 meters, although in its homeland the tree reaches the height of a 10-storey building. A young tree in the jungle grows very quickly and forms aerial roots.

In India, and in our country, the ficus is considered a tree of prosperity and prosperity. Ficus, according to home growers, perfectly cleans the indoor air from germs and bacteria.

The leaves of a young plant are pinkish in color, with age they acquire a thick green color, petiolate, are arranged alternately on the stem. Their size is up to 35 cm in length and up to 25 in width. Indoors, ficus does not bloom.

Ficus pruning

When grown indoors, the plant requires crown-forming pruning. If you cut only the top of the tree, there will be no effect. The ficus does not branch, and the trimmed top bud will grow to one side. The plant will be one-sided and will not decorate the room.

Trimming time

For the formation of a beautiful crown, rubber-bearing ficus is cut off in early March, at which time the rapid vegetation of the tree begins.

A properly performed pruning operation in early spring will awaken the axillary buds, which in turn will give rise to lateral ramifications.

If, for some reason, it was not possible to cut the plant at the beginning of spring, this event is carried out only when urgently needed, if the ficus quickly began to grow.

With winter or late autumn pruning, one single upper bud will awaken, which will give the ficus a one-sided shape, and the decorativeness of the plant will be significantly affected by this.

Crown care rules

• For competent spring pruning, the tool must be sharpened and desensitized;
• From the top of the plant are separated from 3 to 5 leaves, approximately 20 cm;
• The thin stem should be cut parallel to the potting soil, above the top bud. If the stem is thick, the cut is made at an angle of 40-45 degrees;
• When cutting off side shoots, they must be cut without hemp, since rot and mold may appear on it;
• The juice on the cut is removed with a clean napkin, and the cut site itself is treated with anti-rot and antifungal drugs, for example, trichodermine;
• When lateral buds begin to grow, it is better to transplant the rubbery ficus into another, more voluminous container. The transplant is performed one month after circumcision.

Important! The juice of the rubber-bearing ficus is poisonous, pruning and other work with the plant is carried out using protective equipment (rubber gloves, glasses).

Features of growing ficus

Undoubtedly, the plant is grown indoors because of its decorative effect, that is, its beautiful crown. And in order for this part of the ficus to really please the eye, one must not forget about such things:

• Indoors, a plant height of more than 2 meters is not allowed, and the ficus does not please with lateral shoots. A flower can develop quickly if you provide it with a growth of 30-40 centimeters per year;
• The exterior of the plant is mainly in its glossy large leaves, which can have an even dark green color or a variegated white-green pattern;
• Indoors, the ficus is unlikely to bloom, it needs pollination with exotic insects.

Lighting

Since the homeland of the plant is India, the country is warm and humid, the ficus loves diffused light and high humidity. It is advisable to place pots with plants near their eastern western windows. If the flower is placed in partial shade, its growth will be rather slow, and the leaves will fall off at the bottom of the stem.

Attention! Placing ficus indoors, you do not need to place it in a draft.

Temperature

The optimal indicators of the temperature regime are:

• During active growing season - 20-25 0 С;
• In winter, 15 0 C is quite enough for ficus, but not lower.

The soil

Rubbery ficus is very fond of well-loosened soil with proper drainage. Prepare the soil from peat, turf, sand, leafy earth.

But you can buy the substrate and in the flower shop, called "soil for palm trees."

Watering and fertilizing

Watering the ficus is necessary as the soil in the pot dries up. The frequency of the procedure is determined by the temperature of the air and its humidity in the room. Excess moisture in the soil causes leaf discharge. And with insufficient air humidity, it is necessary to systematically sprinkle or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

For water procedures with ficus, it is better to use rain or snow water. The plant is fed with a complex fertilizer with a high nitrogen content.

How a dense crown of ficus is formed.

When the owners of the plant want to achieve an extensive, dense crown, they do the following:

• The main stem of the ficus is bent down and pinched until the upper bud germinates;
• The main stem is pierced with a needle a third of its diameter, piercing lower each time.

Diseases and pests of ficus

The plant is resistant to the visit of harmful insects, but spider mites and scale insects can covet large beautiful leaves.

You can kill them with insecticides or a solution of laundry soap.

Pathogenic diseases of ficus practically do not touch.

Reproduction

It is not difficult to grow a young ficus. The cuttings obtained by cutting are germinated and planted in prepared containers. This procedure is well known to every home grower.

If the plant begins to grow poorly, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, the owner is to blame, the ficus in this case is not enough:

• Lighting;
• Fertilizers (top dressing);
• Potted room for root development.

Ficus can be formed into a beautiful bonsai-style tree, ball or lush bush. A large assortment of varieties and various pruning allow this not capricious plant to be used in different styles.

How to properly trim the ficus, as well as the necessary care after the procedure, we will tell in the article.

Ficus is one of the most flexible indoor plants. Among the representatives of this family of mulberries, there are about 1,000 different species. At home or in greenhouses, only a few of this variety are grown:

Lat. Ficus (photo)

Ficus rubbery or Ficus elastica. Under natural conditions of existence in tropical rainforests, these evergreen trees grow to a height of about 25 meters.

In indoor conditions, only a few specimens reach more than one and a half meters. The bark of the branches is brown. Leaves at a young age are twisted into a tube. Then they unfold into large, up to 20 cm in length, dark green, leathery shiny leaves.

You can grow a large specimen if you place it in a bright place. The plant should be fully illuminated by the sun for three hours a day. Watering is needed abundant, but not frequent. the elastic should dry out a little before the next watering.

Ficus is lyre-shaped. The homeland of this beautiful plant is West Africa. The rainforests of the southern continent have determined the character of such a ficus. The flower, when cultivated in indoor conditions, does not grow small. It needs a lot of space.

It is better to grow this handsome man in a greenhouse, winter garden or on a warm balcony. The main condition for growing this type of ficus is good lighting. Direct sunlight should not fall on the leaves of the plant. At noon, it is better to shade it from the active sun. It can be a light organza curtain on the balcony windows.

Dwarf ficus, ivy ficus or pumila ficus. Many varieties have been developed with green or variegated leaves. This small ficus plant is completely unlike its giant counterparts.

It has rounded leaves and is a ground cover or ampelous plant. Mini-ficus can play the role of a soloist in a flower pot or a ground cover plant in a tub with larger neighbors. loves water and light.

Ficus carica. This plant is also known as the fig tree, fig tree, fig tree. The species began to be grown as a houseplant recently. It turned out that keeping such exotic things in the house is not difficult. In the summer, figs need to be provided with plenty of warmth and light.

Ficus stalk (photo)

In winter, place the pot in the coolest place in the room. The plant is deciduous and in winter it does not need light at all.

It loves loose soil, abundant watering, top dressing and spraying. But all this needs to be done in the summer. In winter, figs need rest.

Ficus willow. A fast-growing plant with narrow leaves, with good care, it can move other indoor flowers. Its dimensions must be taken into account when purchasing for small rooms.

This type of ficus is quite unpretentious and can put up with irregular watering, dry air, stagnant water. But you shouldn't abuse these qualities.

Bengal ficus or banyan tree. It was this type of plant that laid the foundation. This was due to the remarkable quality of the plant to form aerial roots.

In tropical forests, thickets of such ficuses serve as a refuge for animals. Whole tents are made from them. Its leaves are velvety. A young tree is quite decorative. Over time, it loses its integrity. Individual shoots and aerial roots require props for development and growth.

Ficus Benjamin. It is a plant for large rooms and conservatories. With good care and proper crown formation, it quickly grows in a tree. Ficus does not like dropping temperatures. The lowest limit for it is 17 ° C. Frequent watering is bad for the condition of the roots. How the Benjamin ficus is trimmed at home will be described further.

Each type of ficus in its arsenal also has different varieties. This plant can appear in various forms from a huge tree to a baby or a creeper.

There is another interesting variety of the described plant - curly ficus. The leaves of such a tree can curl both evenly and asymmetrically. If the foliage has uniform curves, then the color is also uniform, saturated and dark green. At the same time, the leaves are shiny and have a glossy sheen.

The main feature of caring for such a species is good illumination, but without direct sunlight. Also, it is better to immediately choose a place for such a pet and disturb him as little as possible. The culture can begin to shed its leaves if the tree is rearranged.

In the care, correct watering is important, as well as bathing and spraying on hot summer days. How to trim such a ficus? The rules are not particularly different from those for other varieties. But, the branches of a curly plant are best pruned regularly.

Types of trimming

Can ficus be cut? All types of ficuses respond well to pruning. It needs to be done with a clean, sharp instrument. To do this, it is wiped with an alcohol solution before and after trimming.

How to properly prune ficus? The green stems are trimmed horizontally, and the hardened wood stems are trimmed at a 45 ° angle. Any pruning should not leave long stumps. This can lead to contamination at the cut site. Aesthetically, such pruning does not decorate the plant. How to cut ficus so that it is fluffy, curly and beautiful?

Bansaya from ficus (photo)

Pruning is used for a variety of purposes:

Correction of the shape of the crown. This procedure takes place in March. Branches extended over the winter are cut to the previous level. The shape of the plant is tidied up. For these works, manicure or special miniature scissors for trimming the thin ends of the branches are more suitable.

To create a bonsai-style composition. In some species of ficus, the aerial part is not so decorative. But the roots! Such plants are grown only for the sake of this dramatic picture. With age, the roots become very thickened, bizarrely curved, if placed above ground level during planting.

In this case, the trunk of the ficus is cut short, leaving a small stump. New branches grow quickly from it. Such exotic plants are showy and undemanding. Thick roots can go without water for a long time. A minimum of foliage does not require good lighting.

Sanitary pruning. This type of pruning can be done throughout the season by cutting dry, broken, or weak branches.

Plant formation. Ficus can be grown as a tree, in standard form, or as a shrub with several shoots. All of these shapes are achieved by trimming.

Some experimenting enthusiasts plant from two to four plants at once in one roomy pot. If you plant elastica ficus in this way, then at a certain height these plants can be intertwined. allows you to do this without harming the plant.

New sprouts after pruning (photo)

As they grow, they are corrected so that they remain in this position. For this, there are retainers. These can be purchased from the bonsai store. After a while, the braided trunks form a beautiful picture.

The stem shape of the plant is also created by pruning. A lush ball-shaped crown is formed in three tiers. It is good to use Benjamin's or Elastica ficus for such experiments.

Making a stem from an adult tree is not a pleasant occupation. A lot of effort and energy can be wasted.

It is better to use a young plant for growing. Its growth at a very early age is limited to one central shoot. All other side ones are removed. A crown should begin at a distance of about 50 cm from the soil surface.

The ratio of crown and stem height 1: 1 is optimal from the point of view of aesthetics. It holds firmly on its feet and proportionality plays into the hands of any style. In each case, the florist chooses his own type of plant for himself. It depends both on the type of ficus and on the pot in which it lives.

A ficus bush can also be given almost any shape. The main thing is not to rush. Heavy pruning will not give good results. Everything should be in moderation, otherwise the plant will weaken.

Rejuvenating or regenerating pruning. As a result of poor care or force majeure in the form of unexpected frosts, the plant may suffer, dry out or freeze.

But do not give up. Ficus quickly recovers if properly pruned and resuscitated. The plant is cut completely. Only one stump remains.
Due to its strong roots with good care, it quickly grows.

Place of cropping (photo)

Getting a lush crown. Ficus Benjamin develops a thicker crown with regular pruning or pinching of the tops of the shoots. The buds below the cut point should be outward of the plant. Of these, lateral shoots will grow after the procedure.

Reducing the size of the leaves. For the proportionality of the whole plant, sometimes the top is pinched or all leaves are removed. After this procedure, smaller leaves grow. Such a decisive action is only necessary with complete confidence in the restoration of the plant and good care afterwards.

Not all types of ficuses begin to branch after pruning the central shoot. In the rubber plant, and after pruning, only one shoot remains. Having decided on the type of pruning that is required for a flower, you need to choose the right time of year for this.

Trim time and tools

Performing formative pruning during dormancy will weaken the plant. With a lack of light after pruning, the shape of the ficus can become one-sided. It is rather difficult to eliminate such a disadvantage.

That is why it is necessary to observe the time frame within which the ficus can be trimmed:

Ficus, which is ready to cut (photo)

Formative pruning is done only during the period of active growth. This period begins indoors at the end of February and ends in the last days of July.

Sanitary pruning can be done all year round. Sometimes, in some types of ficuses, the opportunity to see weak and diseased branches among the lush crown appears only after the leaves are shed. Dry branches must be cut out.

To trim you need:

• Secateurs
• Gardening scissors
• Miniature garden shears
• Garden var
• Alcohol solution

All tools should be checked for sharpness before trimming. Sharpen if necessary. Then they are treated with an alcohol solution.

After pruning, the cut site must be covered with garden varnish so that microbes and pests do not get on it.

When carrying out pruning, the florist should be guided by plant safety measures and a sense of his own intuition. By combining these qualities, you can get excellent results later.

We would like to note that all the tools that were used to trim the described plant must be disinfected at the end of the procedures. If the tree shows signs of disease, and sanitation is carried out, it is necessary to re-disinfect after removing all affected shoots, before moving on to healthy branches.

In addition to alcohol, you can also use a strong solution of manganese or bleach. If the plant looks lethargic or has recently experienced a pest attack and disease, you should not correct the shape of the crown. At such a time, you can only do sanitizing pruning if necessary.

Plant care after pruning

Depending on the type of trimming, it can be different.

If the plant is grown in one stem, then after the start of its formation, watering should be slightly reduced so that the water gradually falls to the full height and the side shoots do not tend to grow back.

For rejuvenating pruning or to restore a lost plant, watering should be abundant and regular along with weekly subcrusting.

When carrying out formative pruning during the period of active development, watering should fill the plant with strength. Therefore, once a week, water-soluble micronutrient fertilizer for indoor flowers must be present in the water for irrigation.

The next, the second in a week, watering is carried out with clean, warm, settled water at room temperature. But it must be combined with foliar feeding with HB-101.

Loosening the soil is an indispensable step in plant care. An alternative is to mulch the soil with moss or pebbles. They also serve as a decoration for the entire composition.

We would like to note that it is impossible to remove shoots if there is another flower affected by the disease next to the plant selected for work. Even if it has dried leaves or a lethargic appearance, this may indicate an infection.

The fact is that after formation, any plant is vulnerable for some time, therefore, it is important to provide him with comfortable conditions for recovery.

After the procedure, the plant needs a gentle regimen. It is important that direct sunlight does not fall on the crown. You can even put the tree in a slightly shaded place for a week.

Although, after such work, the flower needs to recuperate, it cannot be fertilized in the next 3-4 weeks. This will only harm the plant. Also, for the first time after pruning, do not apply products with a large amount of nitrogen. It is better to choose top dressing with a predominance of potassium.

Ficus is a rather unique flower, because unlike other indoor plants, it only grows upward. Not every florist will be happy with this fact. Indeed, in this case, you will have to regularly prune in order to give the ficus the necessary shape. However, this task is not within the power of everyone, because only a few know how to prune a ficus.

Plant features

One of the well-known representatives of the mulberry family is the rubbery ficus, which is usually referred to as the ficus genus. The habitat of this plant is India, as well as southern part of Indonesia and western part of Africa... In countries with more severe climates, this flower is widely used as an ornamental plant. However, it is valued not only because of its attractiveness, because large varieties of this ficus are used as raw materials for the manufacture of rubber.

The specimens that grow naturally are impressive in size, which can reach 40 m in height. Moreover, they often form support roots. The latter are distinguished by the fact that they penetrate deep into the ground, where they take root. Home-grown rubber ficus is more compact, since most often it reaches a height of up to 10 m. After planned pruning, this variety begins to look even more miniature.

Beneficial features

For many, rubbery ficus is interesting not only because of its decorative properties, because when it is grown indoors, you can maintain a healthy atmosphere... The cleansing effect is provided by the leaves, which filter the air like a pipe. As a result of this filtration, oxygen-enriched air is obtained at the outlet.

Many growers are attracted to the rubber plant and the fact that it does not create problems in care. House-grown specimens do not form flowers, and at the same time they are demanding on growing conditions. The main thing is to make sure that the plant is protected from direct sunlight, as well as to water regularly and periodically arrange a warm shower for it.

Ficus growth physiology

Rubber ficus can be given any shape. To do this, you just need to properly trim it. As a result of this operation, from a nondescript plant at first sight, you can get unique home decoration... Moreover, even a novice florist can master this task, but first you have to familiarize yourself with the rules of pruning and adhere to them.

The change in the shape of the Benjamin ficus occurs due to new shoots, which usually emerge from the buds. The ficus has only two of them:

• apical (located at the very top of the bush);
• lateral, or axillary (located in the axils of the leaves, where the leaf petioles are closely adjacent to the trunk).

The apical bud shows the fastest growth, ahead of the lateral buds, which develop very slowly or show no signs of development at all. It is enough to remove the upper kidney so that the lateral kidneys can begin to develop well. Shoots usually start to grow in different directions. As a result of such manipulations, the plant begins to change its crown.

Before proceeding with the formation of the crown, it does not hurt to find out what time of the year it is better to do this.

Many believe that it is best to hold this event in spring and they will be right. The formation of the crown planned for this time of the year makes it possible to give the plant more splendor, since it is in the spring that the best conditions for growth are created for the ficus. Using a similar approach, a grower can grow Benjamin's ficus, which will be well developed, having fully formed shoots in all directions.

It is undesirable to postpone pruning of Benjamin's ficus to a later time, for example, autumn or winter, since in this case the shoots will develop within a specific area. This will make the ficus look skewed. It must be borne in mind that at this time of the year the ficus begins use nutrients that he has accumulated in the shoots. As a result of pruning shoots in the fall, you will leave Benjamin's ficus without these reserves, endangering his survival.

During the formation of the crown, it is necessary not only to change the length of the shoots, but also to correct the direction of their further growth. For this purpose, special tensioning devices are usually used.

Crown formation without pruning

Do not rush to prune rubber ficus. First, it is worth considering whether there is an urgent need for this. There is also an easier way to form the crown, which involves changing the direction and securing the necessary shoots. This approach to the formation of the crown allows you to minimize injury to the plant, which can continue to grow, delighting the owner with a beautiful view. After waiting for some time so that the branches can take a new position, the fixing devices are removed.

During trimming, it is necessary take into account the age of the plant... This operation brings the least harm to young bushes. You need to be more careful with adult plants: since their shoots are not very flexible, their shortening and other similar actions can seriously injure the plant.

Rubber ficus: how to form the crown correctly?

The rules below designed for single ficus bushes forming into one trunk.

In general, pruning the rubber plant is a simple undertaking. The main thing is that you need to exactly follow all the rules for its conduct. So it must be very careful with milky juice, which is dangerous to humans because of its toxicity. To avoid undesirable consequences, this work must be carried out with protective gloves.

Formation of an unusual crown

If necessary, even a novice grower can give the rubber plant pretty original shape.

In the process of pruning ficus Benjamin or rubbery, be sure to take care of so that the braid does not open later... For this, it is recommended to tie the trunks using soft threads. Best of all, if it is woolen. The dressing is usually done every two months.

In some cases, the installation of a support is required for the normal development of the ficus. In this case, you can easily see how spectacular and original appearance the rubber plant will acquire.

Conclusion

Rubber ficus, however, like other representatives of this family, are best known for their decorative effect. However, this does not mean that the grower will not have to take measures for this. If you know how to form a Benjamin ficus crown, then you can easily cope with the rubbery look.

You should know that only those specimens look the most vividly in relation to which regular pruning... After all, the beauty of the ficus can be ensured through the formation of the crown. Beginner growers can also beautifully cut Benjamin's ficus at home, because ficuses are very compact plants, so there are no special difficulties with this operation.

How to properly form the crown of a 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.

Conventional

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 sprouts 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 thickening 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 trellis is obtained by planting young plants 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 the ficuses curled around the 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 form the crown correctly, which you can choose from a photo on the Internet or 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 is reduced to giving the sprouts a vertical 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, side 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 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 off with a damp cloth until the release of milky juice stops. Then it is treated with charcoal, ground into dust.
4. With an increased density of the crown, part of the branches directed inward towards the central trunk is cut off.
5. Kerbovka is carried out with a sharp instrument (preferably a blade or scalpel).
6. Properly made bark incisions look arched, roof-like or transversely. 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 a 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.