Plucking ficus. Rubber ficus: how to form a crown

This is not the first time I have been asked this question in the spring.
I had a similar experience, so I will share how I stimulated my old ficuses for this feat.
During the winter, many ficuses lose their foliage due to the difficulties of wintering in an apartment. Dry air due to the heating system, little light, and at the same time cold windowsills are the main scourge for indoor plants that winter in the cold climate of our country.

But besides this, there is another reason - at the bottom, the trunks become bare over time due to natural reasons. The tree grows, the crown develops at the top, and at the bottom the trunk becomes bare. This happens to all trees in the wild.

So my ficus, having reached its maximum growth, as much as the room conditions and the size of the pot allowed him, bared the trunks in the lower part. And the top of his head rested against the ceiling. He felt cramped on the windowsill, but he couldn't put it on the floor either: it's too dark, because I live in the Urals - we have dark winters in recent years.

But I decided to try to fix the situation.

There are several ways to get a mature tree to grow young branches in the lower woody part of the trunk.

1.trimming the top of the head.
2. inclination of the trunk to a horizontal position.
3. stimulation of dormant kidneys by incision.

I didn't have one trunk, but several plants grew in a pot at once.
I went the simplest way. Cut off the top of the trunks.

But in order for young shoots to go from the lowest tier, they usually cut the tree low - almost a quarter, or even a third of the trunk.
But since I did not want to shorten the ficus too much, I decided to apply all three methods at once, but a little bit.

That is, the tops of the head were shortened by only 20 or 30 centimeters.

But she spread the trunks from the center to the sides with the help of a simple device. Any "wheel" that is in the house will do.
You can use such a support for flowers.

In this way, all individual trunks received sufficient light and at the same time a more horizontal tilt.

But I didn't stop there.
I lightly scratched the bark at the bottom of the trunk above the dormant buds where I wanted branches.
And she regularly sprayed these places with water with a drop of biostimulant - Epin.

And I also put the ficus on the balcony - where it was light. This is an important condition - to carry out all these events in the spring, when active sap flow begins and there is a lot of light.

Of course, here you have to take into account such a risk as direct sunlight. You need either a glazed balcony, or cut it when the ficus has already gradually got used to outdoor conditions.

And then new branches began to appear!
And at the top and at the very bottom.

I left only those that did not grow inside the crown, but outside.

And those that grew strictly horizontally were bent and tied to the main trunk to correct their position.

There were also those who grew completely downward. I also straightened their growth.

Soon my ficus became "fluffy" again. And after standing in the summer on the balcony, he acquired thick bright green foliage.

Many growers are interested in how to cut a ficus tree in order to create a crown in the most unusual, curly shape. When cutting, you should adhere to certain rules and nuances, and then the flower will receive an original, well-groomed and beautiful appearance. Ficus is great for those who prefer a creative approach to growing indoor plants.

Gardeners are debating whether it is possible to cut the ficus at home by yourself, and how to shape it so that the plant has normal growth. Many flower lovers successfully prune at home if there is a desire to give it any shape or if it is necessary for sanitary reasons.

For each type of pruning (lush small bush, branchy crown) there is a certain rule. Before you start pruning, you need to decide what the expected result is. Not every species of ficus (with a single cut off) will continue to grow well.

A pruned rubbery ficus can continue to grow with 1 shoot. It is possible to prune a plant with short inter-node distances. It is necessary to make a horizontal cut above the bud with an oblique shoot that has a thin or still green appearance. Whichever type of ficus is pruned, large stumps do not need to be left. They can be sources of fungal infection of the plant.

Sanitary pruning of ficus is carried out at any time. This must be done in order to prevent poorly developed, broken and dried shoots from infecting the entire ficus with an infection.

A rejuvenating type of pruning is usually performed when the flower has dried shoots resulting from a prolonged lack of watering and drying out of the soil (especially for dwarf plant species). When the trunk freezes in the upper part, you need to cut it "under the stump". The ficus root can quickly resume its growth. After a while, you will need to take a stem in order to grow a plant in a standard or artisanal form. The main thing is that he would have at least a few shoots. You can create a lush crown if the shoots are properly shortened or pinched.

Sanitary pruning and rejuvenation of ficus

Flower pruning for sanitary purposes is not done to give the plant an attractive shape. This is necessary to get rid of unhealthy and weakened branches. This procedure is permissible at any time of the year. You should keep a constant eye on the ficus and eliminate all dry branches that have been attacked by harmful insects. This is necessary in order not to spread the infection to strong and healthy branches.

Rejuvenating pruning will help if, for some reason, the indoor ficus began to dry, or the upper part was frostbitten when the plant was kept in inappropriate conditions.

You need to cut off the branches, leaving only a stump. Ficus will recover thanks to overgrowth from the roots. This method is suitable for dwarf plants such as the Carian ficus. An unpretentious plant is no less in need of care and maintenance than a capricious one. Only then will it delight everyone with its beautiful appearance.

Having correctly formed the plant, you can make it growing in an arc, in the form of a bush or trunk. Florists with a lot of experience behind them are capable of very complex types of pruning. This can be a form of sculpture, it is permissible to arrange the top in the form of an unusual composition. The physiology of the plant should be taken into account so that the crown is properly formed, the flower continues to live and grow.

New shoots almost always arise from the axillary and apical buds. The second type of shoots is located above the point of attachment of the leaf petiole to the stem of the plant. The apical bud develops more rapidly, but the lateral buds develop more slowly.

The ideal period for pruning is in the spring, when the plant begins to actively grow. Pruning in the fall or winter can cause the flower to continue to grow, curving to the side. In this case, even the most perfect care will not help him.

When pruning the plant, the cut should be done above the bud. At the same time, on thicker branches it should have a beveled appearance, on thin ones - a straight line. When trimming the lateral growth, one should take into account the direction of growth of the kidney over which the cut was made.

The outward-facing bud is retained to produce a shoot that will emerge from the crown. Places of cuts should be wiped with a wet rag until the juice is completely absorbed, and then sprinkled with a small amount of charcoal.

To trim ficuses at home, you need to prepare the following materials:

some charcoal;
medical alcohol;
potassium permanganate.

You should start pruning ficus at home in the last days of March. To prevent the plant from growing too tall, it is necessary to prune its top.

Before starting work, you should disinfect all tools so as not to infect the plant and not harm it. For good growth of axillary buds and shoots, it is necessary to trim the crown every year. This procedure will help them stay healthy.

The crown must be cut from the inside and from the outside, if the inside of the crown has shading, and the shoots growing inside are too overgrown. It is necessary to regularly get rid of flabby leaves and shoots that have thrown off all the leaves. The main shoot should be pruned once a year to a height of 15-25 cm. The removed shoots should remain with no more than 6 leaves.

A ficus growing at home is sometimes formed in a tiered form. But in order to implement this idea, only an adult flower is suitable, which has a well-formed central trunk.

You must adhere to the following trimming sequence:

1 When the plant grows to the correct size, you can trim the top off.
2 If a stem with 2 levels is planned, the crown of the ficus is divided into 3 parts: the 1st and 3rd parts are placed on top (levels with a spherical shape), the 2nd part is between the levels at which all shoots are removed.
3 When forming the 3rd level, the crown is divided into 5 parts. The 1st, 3rd, 5th parts are the future upper levels (they are made spherical), the 2nd and 4th parts become gaps between the levels, at which all shoots are removed.
4 Levels can be formed from top to bottom, but the top of the stem is not removed until the plant has reached the desired size.

Ficus doesn't require much attention. You just need to get rid of all overgrown shoots on the bare area of the trunk, cut off the shoots that grow inside the crown and drown it out. You can make large figures out of ficus, resembling an animal, a cube, a pyramid or a ball.

Ficus crown formation

Many people who have such a wonderful plant at home are interested in how to properly cut a ficus. Usually the crown is made from 2, 3, 5 standard tiers. You need to leave a lot of shoots (the distance between them should be about half a meter), and cut off the rest shorter.

Any number of tiers can be formed. For floor ficus, it is permissible to make several tiers, it can grow up to 3 m and more. You can also trim it in a circle, semicircle, or other shape.

Small ficuses make original sculptures great. The creation of simple forms requires only timely pruning of the bush. To implement a complex shape, you will need to use a wire frame. To do this, it is necessary to plant at least 3 plants in one container and weave their trunks together.

Usually ficuses, which look like vines, start up in an arc. It is suitable for mountain, arrowhead and dwarf plant species. It is necessary to put a fine mesh frame in the pot, forming an arc, and direct the shoots along it. Over time, the vines will braid the entire frame of the base.

How to form a ficus crown with a stem? A young plant with a pronounced main trunk is ideal for this purpose.

The formation of a ficus in the form of a stem is carried out in this way:

1 On the main trunk of the plant, all lateral shoots are regularly trimmed, leaving only a couple of pieces at the top of the trunk.
2 When the plant reaches the required size (25-35 cm in height, if it is placed on the windowsill, and 55-90 cm, if on the floor), the trimming of the shoots on the sides stops.
3 Next is the pinching of the top of the plant.
4 When the branches on the sides are very elongated, you need to remove them above the bud facing outward.

Some people face a problem when the stem is not very stable. To make it stronger, you need to tie it to a peg, which can then be easily removed. All sections must be wiped with a damp cloth and sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

How to pinch ficus?

You can form a ficus by pinching, which is a very important procedure in terms of caring for a plant. You should know the rules so as not to harm the flower.

For pinching, you need to prepare:

a basin of water;
rag;
any disinfectant;
sharpened knife.

Spring will be the perfect time for pinching. It is at this time that shoots appear faster. The wounds that can be inflicted during this procedure will heal very easily in the spring, and the plant will be less likely to get sick.

You should wait until the ficus grows to the desired size. Before the procedure, you need to treat the instrument with alcohol or other disinfectant. For work, you need to choose a well-sharpened knife, since the trunk of this plant is very difficult to cut. You can pinch the ficus in 2 ways. If the height of the plant is fine and the top shoot is not very thick, it should be trimmed slightly below the point where it grows.

If the plant is tall enough, you need to prune it in another way. Determine the required height, find the branch that is located below this point, and cut it 6-9 cm above this branch. In this case, the cut will be oblique. Its bottom should be placed at the level of the kidney, on the other side of the trunk, and its top should be located just above the kidney.

Using a wet rag, you need to wipe off the juice that has dripped on the barrel. After that, the rag must be removed without squeezing it to the cut. The water itself will prevent further juice production. This completes the treatment of ficus wounds, then the plant itself will tighten them.

After 30 days, the plant should be fed. Then it will resume rapid growth. Some transplant the ficus into a pot that has a larger diameter, which is optional. It will be enough just to change the soil for the first year.

After the end of the procedure, the formation of the crown of the plant continues. This is done the following spring by pinching the shoots that are located on the sides. When cut, the ficus produces juice, which is quite poisonous. Gloves should be worn when cutting and pinching. The main thing is that the sap of the plant in no case gets on the mucous membrane of the mouth and nose. After pinching and cutting, the trunk of the ficus will not grow.

Carrying out the formation of the crown, you should be aware that not every variety of ficus will be able to transfer this procedure normally. Most often, wounds heal quickly, but lateral shoots do not always grow quickly. Therefore, you should observe the plant before pinching other shoots.

The crown can be formed by another method, for example, by planting several cuttings in a container at once.

Happy pruning and gorgeous ficus!

- popular indoor plants, characterized by a high growth rate and growing leaf mass. 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. By 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 viability.

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 off 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 ficus stem crown 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.

Ficus is a rather unique flower, because unlike other indoor plants, it only grows upwards. Not every grower 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 rubber ficus, which is usually attributed to the genus ficus. 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 be up to 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 produced at the outlet.

Many growers are attracted to the rubber plant and the fact that it does not create problems in care. Home-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, outstripping 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. Usually, the shoots 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 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 transfer 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 should 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 a crown, which involves changing 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 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 a rubbery ficus 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

The rubbery ficus, however, like other representatives of this family, is best known for its 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.

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 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 lattice will turn out if you plant 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 in such a way 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 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:

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.
Frozen in growth, the bud will go up if the container with the flower is tilted so that the future shoot looks up.
A horizontally tilted branch will grow branches in the upper zone.
On the drooping stem, lateral branches will actively develop, and the trunk will also strengthen.
One-sided specimens will sprout from the other side if they are turned with their bare trunk towards the sun.
A multi-tiered ficus can be obtained much faster when planting sprouts of different heights in one container.
Additional fluorescent lamps will accelerate the appearance of a rounded ficus crown.
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.
With sufficient humidity in the room, the ficuses take root. They are by no means removed, but sent into the soil.
Among the cytokinins, an impeccable reputation for drugs "Kartolin" (can 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:

In cases of creating a bushy crown, the cut of the apical bud should pass at a level of 10-15 cm from the ground. A maximum of 4 sheets can be left.
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.
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.
With an increased density of the crown, part of the branches that are directed inward towards the central trunk are cut off.
Kerbovka is carried out with a sharp tool (preferably with a blade or scalpel).
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.
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.
After the cuts, there should be no stumps - this is a favorable environment for the formation of fungi.