Pruning and shaping a ficus bush. Formation of the crown of ficus benjamin

pruning

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

Pruning is done in three cases:

If you want to rejuvenate the plant
- if they 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 outward-facing leaf, otherwise new shoots will grow inward. The cut should be made a few millimeters above the kidney and go away from it, slightly obliquely.

Sanitary pruning. All yellowed, shriveled shoots and leaves that have lost their decorative effect should be cut off. Weakened old shoots are often easy prey for fungi and bacteria, a shelter and breeding ground for insect pests. In addition, an unhealthy type of shoot may not indicate old age, but a disease or pest damage. If it is not removed in time, the disease will pass 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 down to healthy tissue (or - if the shoot starts underground - remove it to the very base).

Rejuvenating pruning. It is especially suitable for those plants that can develop long shoots that lose their leaves over time, or become bare from high temperature or dry air in winter. With anti-aging pruning, the shoots are removed almost to the very base. But at the same time, you need to make sure that 2-3 live kidneys remain on the "stumps". It's okay if you remove up to 90% of the shoot length. After all, the more intense 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 short. Anti-aging pruning is best done shortly before or at the very beginning of the growth period. Don't forget to feed the plant after rejuvenating pruning, because the plant will have to grow at a faster rate than usual. After rejuvenating pruning, many strong, healthy shoots grow. Therefore, sometimes such pruning is carried out in order to obtain many high-quality cuttings.

Formative cutting. This is the most difficult type of pruning, giving the plant desired shape. Formative pruning is a creative process that requires careful observation of the plant. Highest Achievement the arts of formative pruning are 6onsai and the creation of living sculptures from plants. At home, it is useful to form tall and highly branched plants, which, without this procedure, give a thickened and ugly crown, for example, ficuses, citrus fruits, laurel, hibiscus, roses, fuchsias, etc. When forming pruning, it is important to choose right direction growth of future shoots. If you want to grow a horizontal branch, then the topmost bud left on it should be turned down or into the outer part of the crown. If you have planned vertical growth, then pick up a bud pointing up or to the center of the crown, and make a cut a little higher than it. Manuals often recommend using wire to give the branches the direction they want to grow. Keep in mind that plants are very willful creatures. It is quite difficult to change the direction of growth of branches with a wire. 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 a wire. Shoots that are not yet lignified or semi-lignified shoots lend themselves best to wire forming.

Formation of a stem tree. To form a standard tree, a strong rooted cutting is taken, growing vertically upwards. Delete side shoots until the plant reaches the desired height. When this height is reached, cut off the top of the plant. Wait until 5-6 side shoots develop, which will be the top of the stem tree. Their tops are pinched several times. Remove all leaves at the base of the stem. The result is a standard plant with a well-developed crown.
Standard tree dimensions.
Table 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 out the shoots directed inward, it is better at the very beginning of their appearance.
Arc formation. Hanging and climbing plants form long shoots that can be launched along a wire arc. To do this, the arched support is carefully inserted into the pot. The shoots are distributed along the wire, in some places they are freely tied up.
Formation of a pyramid. From some plants you can form a beautiful pyramid. Plants such as fuchsia, ivy, pelargonium grow well up, you can make a screw support 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. Pinch the plant usually over the first pair of leaves.

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

Rubber ficus occupies a prominent place in an apartment, office or public institution. Rubber-bearing or elastic, and also rubber, it is called because its juice flowing from the wounds freezes and resembles a substance such as rubber or latex in this form.

In India, in the homeland of this tree, it grows to a huge size, covering up to 250-300 square meters. On the basis of this tree, breeders bred a small and convenient tree for placement. And to make it look compact and exotic, a system for trimming its crown has been developed.

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

Similar to this tree are:

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

Few home growers call ficus rubber-bearing - 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-story building. young tree grows very fast in the jungle and forms aerial roots.

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

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

pruning ficus

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 cut off upper bud will grow in one direction. The plant will be one-sided and will not decorate the room.

Trimming time

Rubber ficus for shaping beautiful crown pruned in early March, at this time the rapid vegetation of the tree begins.

Correct trimming operation in early spring awaken axillary kidneys, which in turn will give rise to lateral branches.

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

During winter or late autumn pruning, one single upper bud will awaken, which will give the ficus a one-sided shape, and the decorative effect of the plant will suffer significantly from this.

Crown care rules

• For competent spring pruning, the tool must be sharply sharpened and disinfected;
• 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 soil in the pot, above the top bud. If the stem is thick, the cut is made at an angle of 40-45 degrees;
• When cutting side shoots, they must be cut without hemp, as rot and mold may appear on it;
• The juice on the cut is removed with a clean napkin, and the cut itself is treated with antiseptic and antifungal drugs, for example, trichodermin;
• When the lateral buds begin to grow, it is better to transplant the rubbery ficus into another, more voluminous dish. Transplantation is performed one month after circumcision.

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

Features of growing ficus

There is no doubt that the plant is grown indoors because of its decorative effect, that is, a beautiful crown. And in order for this part of the ficus to really please the eye, you must not forget about such things:

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

Lighting

Since the birthplace 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 at the same time, leaves will fall off at the bottom of the stem.

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

Temperature

The optimal indicators of the temperature regime are:

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

The soil

Rubber ficus loves well-loosened soil with proper drainage. The soil is prepared from peat, turf, sand, leafy soil.

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

Watering and fertilizing

Ficus should be watered as the soil in the pot dries. The frequency of the procedure is determined by the air temperature and its humidity in the room. Excess moisture in the soil causes shedding of leaves. And with insufficient air humidity, systematic spraying or wiping the leaves with a damp cloth is necessary.

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

How a dense ficus crown is formed.

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

• The main stem of the ficus is bent down and pinched until the upper bud sprouts;
• The main stem is pierced with a needle to 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 the spider mite and scale insect can covet large beautiful leaves.

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

Pathogenic diseases ficus practically do not touch.

reproduction

Growing a young ficus is easy. The cuttings obtained during pruning are germinated and planted in prepared containers. This procedure is well known to every home gardener.

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

• lighting;
• Fertilizers (top dressing);
• Space in the pot for root development.

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

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

Ficus is one of the most plastic houseplants. Among the representatives of this family of mulberries, there are about 1,000 various kinds. At home or in greenhouses, only some of this variety is grown:

Lat. Ficus (photo)

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

AT room conditions only a few specimens reach more than one and a half meters. branch bark Brown. Leaves at a young age are twisted into a tube. Then they unfold into large, up to 20 cm long, dark green, leathery, shiny leaves.

You can grow a large specimen if you place it in a bright place. Three hours a day, the plant should be fully illuminated by sunlight. Watering needs plentiful, but not frequent. elastic should dry out a little before the next watering.

Ficus lyre. homeland of this beautiful plant - West Africa. The tropical forests of the southern continent determined the nature of this ficus. The flower, when cultivated in room 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 at 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 midday, it is better to shade it from the active sun. It can be a light organza curtain on the balcony windows.

Ficus dwarf, ficus ivy or ficus pumila. Many varieties have been bred with green or variegated leaves. This little ficus is completely different from its giant counterparts.

It has rounded leaves and is a groundcover or ampelous plant. A mini ficus can play the role of a soloist in a pot or a groundcover in a tub with larger neighbors. loves water and light.

Ficus carica. This plant is also known as fig tree, fig tree. The species has recently been grown as a houseplant. It turned out that it is not difficult to keep such exotics in the house. In summer, figs need to be provided more heat and light.

Ficus stalk (photo)

In winter, you need to put the pot in the most cool place in the room. The plant is deciduous and in winter it does not need light at all.

It loves loose soil, abundant watering, fertilizing and spraying. But all this should be done in the summer. AT winter time figs need rest.

Ficus willow. Fast growing plant with narrow leaves capable of good care move other indoor flowers. Its dimensions must be taken into account when purchasing for not large rooms.

This type of ficus is quite unpretentious and can tolerate irregular watering, dry air, and stagnant water. But these qualities should not be abused.

Ficus bengal or banyan. It was this type of plant that laid the foundation. This was the remarkable quality of the plant to form aerial roots.

In tropical forests, thickets of such ficuses serve as a refuge for animals. They make whole tents. Its leaves are velvety. The young tree is quite decorative. Over time, it loses its integrity. Separate shoots and aerial roots require supports for development and growth.

Ficus Benjamin. This plant is for large rooms and winter gardens. With good care and correct formation crown, it quickly grows in a tree. Ficus does not like temperature drops. The lowest limit for it is 17 °C. Frequent watering badly affect the condition of the roots. How is the haircut of ficus benjamin at home we will tell further.

Each type of ficus in its arsenal also has various varieties. This plant can appear in various forms from a huge tree to a baby or 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 bends, then the color is also uniform, rich and dark green. The leaves are shiny and have a glossy sheen.

The main feature of caring for this species is good lighting, 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 may begin to drop leaves if the tree is rearranged.

Correct watering is important in care, as well as bathing and spraying on hot summer days. How to cut such a ficus? The rules are not particularly different from those that apply to other varieties. But, the branches of a curly plant are best trimmed regularly.

Trimming types

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

How to prune a ficus? Green stems are cut horizontally, and hardened wood stems are cut at an angle of 45 °. With any pruning, do not leave long stumps. This can lead to infection at the cut site. Aesthetically, such pruning does not decorate the plant. How to cut a ficus so that it is fluffy, curly and beautiful?

Bansai from ficus (photo)

Pruning is used for various purposes:

Correction of the shape of the crown. This procedure is carried out in March. Branches stretched out over the winter are cut back to the previous level. The form of the plant is put in order. For these works, manicure or special miniature scissors for trimming the thin tips of branches are more suitable.

To create a composition in the style of "bonsai". In some types of ficus, the aerial part is not so decorative. But roots! Such plants are grown only for the sake of this dramatic picture. With age, the roots become strongly thickened, intricately curved, if they are placed above ground level when planting.

In this case, the ficus trunk is cut short, leaving a small stump. From it quickly grow new branches. Such exotic plants are spectacular 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, cutting out dead, 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 pruning.

Some lovers of experiments are planted in one capacious pot from two to four plants at once. If you plant ficus elastica 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 clamps. They can be purchased in departments for "bonsai". After a while, the woven trunks form a beautiful picture.

The standard form of the plant is also created using pruning. A lush crown in the form of a ball is formed in three tiers. It is good to use ficus Benjamin or Elastika for such experiments.

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

For growing, it is better to use a young plant. His growth in early age limited to one central shoot. All other side panels are removed. At a distance of about 50 cm from the soil surface, the crown should begin.

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

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

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

But don't give up. Ficus recovers quickly with proper pruning and subsequent resuscitation. The plant is cut off completely. Only one stump remains.
Due to the powerful roots with good care, it quickly gives growth.

Place of trimming (photo)

Getting a lush crown. Ficus Benjamin forms a denser crown with regular pruning or pinching the tops of the shoots. The buds below the cut point should be on the outside of the plant. Of these, after the procedure, side shoots will grow.

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

Not all types of ficuses begin to branch after pruning the central shoot. The rubber-bearing ficus even after pruning has only one shoot left. Having decided on the type of pruning that is required for the flower, you need to choose the right time of year for this.

Trimming time and tools

Performing formative pruning while dormant will weaken the plant. With a lack of light after pruning, the shape of the ficus can become one-sided. It is quite difficult to eliminate such a shortcoming.

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

Ficus, which is ready for pruning (photo)

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

Sanitary pruning can be carried out throughout the year. 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.

For trimming you need:

• Secateurs
• Gardening scissors
• Miniature garden shears
• garden var
• alcohol solution

Before cutting, all tools must be checked for sharpness of the blades. Sharpen if necessary. Then they are treated with an alcohol solution.

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

When pruning, the grower should be guided by plant safety measures and a sense of his own intuition. With a combination of these qualities, you can subsequently get an excellent result.

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 sanitization is being 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, do not correct the shape of the crown. At such a time, you can only make rehabilitation pruning if necessary.

Plant care after pruning

Depending on the type of pruning, it may be different.

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

When rejuvenating pruning or to restore a lost plant, watering should be plentiful and regular along with weekly toppings.

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

The next, second in a week, watering is done with clean, warm settled water. room temperature. But it must be combined with foliar top dressing HB-101 preparation.

Loosening the soil is an essential step in caring for a plant. An alternative would be to mulch the soil with moss or pebbles. They also serve as decoration of the whole composition.

We would like to note that it is impossible to carry out the removal of shoots if there is another flower affected by the disease next to the plant chosen for work. Even if it has dried leaves or a sluggish 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 it with comfortable conditions 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 regain strength, it is impossible to fertilize it in the next 3-4 weeks. It will only harm the plant. Also, for the first time after pruning, you should not deposit funds with large quantity 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 upwards. Not every grower will be happy with this fact. Indeed, in this case, you will have to regularly trim to give the ficus the necessary shape. However, not everyone can do this task, because only a few know how to cut a ficus.

Plant features

One of the well-known representatives of the mulberry family is the rubber-bearing ficus, which is usually attributed to the ficus genus. The habitual habitats of this plant are India, as well as southern part of Indonesia and western part of Africa. In countries with a more severe climate, this flower received wide use as ornamental plant. However, it is valued not only because of its attractiveness, because large varieties This ficus is used as a raw material for the manufacture of rubber.

Instances that grow in natural conditions have impressive dimensions, which can be 40 m in height. Moreover, they often form supporting 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

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

Many growers are attracted to rubber ficus and the fact that it does not create problems in care. Instances grown at home 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 conduct regular watering and periodically arrange a warm shower for it.

Ficus Growth Physiology

Ficus rubber 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, you can get unique home decoration. Moreover, even a novice florist can master this task, but first you will have to familiarize yourself with the rules of pruning and adhere to them.

The change in the shape of ficus Benjamin occurs due to new shoots that usually appear from the kidneys. 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 most fast growth, ahead of the lateral ones in this regard, 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 shoots begin 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 is best to do this.

Many people think that The best time to do this is in the spring and they will be right. The crown formation planned for this time of the year allows you to give the plant more splendor, since it is in the spring that ficus are created best conditions for growth. Using a similar approach, the grower can grow a Benjamin ficus that is well developed, with 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 cause the ficus to look skewed. It should be borne in mind that at this time of the year the ficus begins use nutrients , which he accumulated in the shoots. As a result of pruning shoots in the fall, you will leave Benjamin's ficus without these supplies, endangering its survival.

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

Crown formation without pruning

Do not rush to pruning 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 injuries to the plant, which can continue to grow, delighting the owner. beautiful view. After waiting some time for the branches to take a new position, the fixing devices are removed.

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

Ficus rubbery: how to form a crown correctly?

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

In general, pruning rubber ficus is a simple undertaking. The main thing is that you must strictly follow all the rules for its implementation. Yes, it must be very careful with milky juice, which is dangerous to humans due to 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 quite original form.

In the process of pruning ficus Benjamin or rubber, be sure to take care of so that the braid does not subsequently open. To do this, it is recommended to tie the trunks using soft threads. It is best if it is woolen. Usually dressing is carried out every two months.

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

Conclusion

Ficus rubber, 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 crown of ficus Benjamin, then you can easily handle the rubber-bearing look.

You should know that only those specimens in respect of which it is carried out look most striking. regular pruning. After all, the beauty of the ficus can be ensured by the formation of the crown. Novice flower growers can beautifully trim Benjamin's ficus at home, because ficuses are very compact plants, so there are no particular difficulties with this operation.

How to properly form a ficus crown

Every grower 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 upwards and without human help. lush crown will not develop. We will talk about the methods and rules for creating a dense green crown.

Did you know? The progenitors of ficuses are 30-meter trees typical of the Indian jungle 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.

Ordinary

Any work aimed at developing the side branches of a 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 this case, the ficus will grow in only one direction.

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

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

This method is very effective, because during processing, hormonal substances do not delay deciduous processes, so that the lower zone of the flower remains covered with leaves.

Can do without additional funds by bending a thin trunk into an arc so that its top is directed downwards. Then the growth hormones will accumulate in the upper part of the bend, and the lateral buds will sprout. The disadvantage of this method is the slowdown in the development of stems.

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

Another effective way make the tree branch cut the bark over the kidney.

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

Unusual (weaving, circular lattice, stem tree shaping)

Sometimes the beautiful plexuses of ficus stemscreated by flower growers are breathtaking. It turns out that you can create such masterpieces at home.

In order to get busy ficus weaving, the first step is to plant several equally developed sprouts up to 15 cm long in one pot. Their two shoots growing side by side will make a marvelous spiral, three - a braid, four or more - an unusual lattice. It is important to provide for places where thickenings form in the future, and leave gaps, as well as pinch off lateral sprouts.

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

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

Important! From excess or lack of moisture, the rubbery ficus leaves curl.

A circular lattice will turn out if you plant young plants in a circle. To get a 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 feeds the plant, stimulating the growth of aerial roots. This contributes to intensive interlacing and fusion of sprouts.

If these procedures seem too time-consuming to you, you can experiment with creating a bole shape. To do this, on a young flower, it is necessary to pinch off the apical bud after it reaches the desired height. Usually, for outdoor specimens, this is done at the level of 1 meter. Lateral branches are sheared in such a way that the cut passes over the kidney facing away from the bark.

But this is not the limit of flower growers' fantasies: a unique form can be created from a high ficus, forming a multi-tiered stem from it. To do this, the first step is to remove the upper point of growth, 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 heavily, so they were reinforced with concrete supports.

How to form a rubber ficus at home

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

Without pruning ficus

If you will stimulate the growth of lateral 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 to give the sprouts a vertical position.
2. A bud frozen in growth will go up if the container with the flower is tilted so that the future shoot looks up.
3. A horizontally inclined branch will grow branches in the upper zone.
4. On a 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 a 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 increase the green hat, the pot must be periodically turned to the sun in different directions.
9. With sufficient humidity in the room, ficuses take aerial roots. In no case are they removed, but sent to the soil.
10. Among cytokinins impeccable reputation in the preparations "Cartolin" (may be labeled 2 or 4), "Benzyladenine", "Zeatin". It is important to use them, strictly following the attached instructions.

Did you know? In India, at home rubber ficuses, local residents used them to create pedestrian bridges. From the branches and aerial roots of plants growing on the banks of reservoirs, the base and handrails were woven. In some cases, the length of such structures reached more than 30 m.

with pruning

There are nuances in the formation of ficuses using 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. You can leave no more than 4 sheets.
2. Pinching of the lateral buds is carried out only on specimens turned away from the bark. Otherwise, young sprouts will greatly thicken the crown.
3. All sections must be wiped with a damp cloth until the milky juice stops secreting. Then it is treated with charcoal ground to dust.
4. With increased density of the crown, cut off part of the branches directed inward to the central trunk.
5. Kerbovka is carried out with a sharp instrument (preferably with a blade or scalpel).
6. Competently made incisions in the bark look arcuate, roof-shaped or transverse. If you are removing the part of the cortex above the kidney, do this by cutting out a rectangle, triangle, or crescent.
7. If you are faced with the task of correcting irregular shape tree or form a certain conceived figure, then it is worth resorting to grafting. The method is carried out by transplanting one plant to another, is very laborious and not always effective. The reason is the milky juice secreted from the sections of both parts, which prevents ficuses from growing together.
8. After the cuts, there should be no stumps - this is favorable environment to form fungi.