The article pays attention to a number of current issues, each of which is directly related to ficus trees and rarely can be covered in such detail. It is recommended that you read the article about.
How to make ficus lush, thick and fluffy at home
What to do to make the ficus take root faster, branch and give off lateral shoots, and be beautiful
In order for the plant to begin to branch as quickly as possible and produce lateral shoots, it is necessary to do regular pruning, as well. New branches will begin to appear on the sides, the flower will become beautiful.
How to make a ficus bonsai yourself, a short master class
In order for the roots to form a crown in accordance with the bonsai style that you have chosen, you need to prune the shoot several times, so growth in height will be stopped. Pruning is carried out until the desired volume of the trunk is obtained.
You can use a garter or use wire. The top is attached to the base of the tree. And with the help of wire you can give the desired shape to the branches. After a few weeks it will be possible to remove it.
How to form a ficus in the form of a standard
To make a ficus standard, you need to start removing the side shoots almost immediately after planting, only 5 shoots remain. As soon as the desired growth is achieved, you need to stimulate the growth of the side branches; for this, those on top are pinched.
– popular indoor plants, characterized by a high rate of growth and expansion of leaf mass. Therefore, they are favorite objects for forming small indoor trees with a crown of various shapes.
Growing decorative ficus is not at all difficult. 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 forming the crown and trunk of Ficus Benjamin at home, as well as about pruning and pinching the plant.
Basic rules for pruning
Formative pruning of Ficus Benjamin is carried out early spring, at the end of March or beginning of April. Before active growth begins, there is enough time for the cuttings to heal and for the plant to recover from the resulting stress.
To perform pruning, you will need garden pruning shears, charcoal or activated carbon, a clean cloth and a disinfectant (alcohol or potassium permanganate solution).
Before the procedure, you need to disinfect the pruning shears with alcohol. or a solution of potassium permanganate to prevent 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 cut areas of thick branches with a clean napkin to remove the milky sap that flows out. Then the sections are covered with crushed charcoal or activated carbon.
Sections of thin shoots do not need to be processed, but it is better to remove the sap that flows out, as it may leave white spots on the leaves of the plant.
In addition to shaping, there is also sanitary and rejuvenating pruning of ficus Benjamin. Let's look at how to shape a ficus benjamina.
Sanitary pruning
Sanitary pruning of the plant can be carried out not only in the spring, but also at any other time of the year if necessary. It consists of removing dry, diseased and poorly developed shoots.
Dry branches must be removed as they look unsightly. 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. To do this, you should not wait for spring; such pruning is carried out as soon as possible.
Poorly developed shoots are removed because they are not very decorative. They also increase the density of the crown, preventing light from entering it.
Anti-aging pruning
This type of pruning is done to restore decorative look very old ficus plants or plants whose shoots for one reason or another have lost their viability.
Sometimes, when the soil dries out strongly and for a long time, almost all the branches of the tree dry out. In this case, the ficus should not be thrown away; you need to carry out anti-aging pruning.
This procedure is carried out in early spring before the growing season begins. All dead branches are cut out, and living ones are shortened by half. Moreover, not only the main shoots are cut off, but also shoots of the second order. All sections are carefully sprinkled with activated carbon.
When the crown is completely dry, Ficus Benjamin can be trimmed “to a stump” by removing all branches and trimming 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 Ficus Benjamin:
- Bush;
- Standard;
- Tiered standard;
- Sculpture.
Also, most varieties can be used for growing miniature bonsai trees.
Although Ficus benjamina is a tall tree, it is very easy to grow a bush from it. To do this, the central shoot of a young plant is pinched. As a result, side branches begin to actively grow. In just a year you can get a lush and beautiful plant.
Standard forms are distinguished by a clearly defined trunk and crown. There is a single and tiered trunk with a crown divided into several tiers, between which there is a trunk without shoots. Growing such a tree is a long 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 carried out annually and very carefully; the shape of the tree must be regularly adjusted.
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Bush
To form a bush, both low-growing and tall ficuses are used. Small-leaved varieties are very popular: they make the bush more lush. To quickly form a bush crown, 2-3 cuttings are simultaneously planted in a pot close to each other.
After planting, as soon as the rooted cutting 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 side 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 white juice, and sprinkle with activated carbon.
After the second pruning, when the shoots of the third level reach a length of 10-15 cm, a fairly dense bush is obtained. If the bush is very dense, you can cut 2-3 branches from the middle of the bush and thin it out.
When growing a bush crown, you need to illuminate the plant evenly or periodically turn it to the light in different directions so that the shoots grow evenly.
Stamb
Standard crowns are forms with a pronounced trunk. To grow a trunk, a single cutting is planted. During its growth, all the resulting lower side 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.
Typically, desktop specimens have a height of up to 50 cm, and floor-standing ones are much higher: 90-100 cm.
After bottom part The trunk will be formed, begin to build up the crown. When the plant reaches the desired height, the top shoot is cut off by 5-10 cm.
After this, the side shoots begin to grow intensively. They should be left only within the crown. If they form in the lower part of the plant on the trunk, they must be removed.
The standard crown of the ficus can be given various shapes . The spherical crown is very popular and beautiful, but the oval shape, extended upward or to the sides, is no less decorative. When creating a crown in the shape of a ball, you need to leave shoots of the same length when pruning.
Tiered standard
Tiered trunk is a form of tree with a crown divided into parts. Between its tiers there remains a bare trunk without branches. Such a tree can have 2 or more tiers.
Sometimes tiers are built up gradually. First, a regular standard tree with a round or oval crown is formed. Then pruning is carried out in such a way that the central shoot grows upward.
Gradually, it will be possible to form a continuation of the trunk, and then a new tier of the crown. This is the longest process of forming a longline trunk.
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. The plants will be separated at the top.
Each of them can be grown as a regular standard, but their crowns will be on different heights. If you plant cuttings with different leaf colors, you can get a very beautiful tree with different colors of the crown tiers.
A tiered trunk can be grown from one cutting. It should grow upward, forming an elongated tall single trunk. After the lower part of the trunk is formed, its crown must be divided into 3 parts.
The lower and upper parts will be two tiers of the trunk, the central part will be the bare trunk located between them. In the center, all side shoots are removed and the top of the tree is pinched. The tiers are formed like a regular single trunk.
Bonsai
Almost all varieties of ficus benjamina can be used for growing bonsai. But the Viandi variety is most suitable for this purpose. It is characterized by a low growth rate and a wavy, curved trunk. From cuttings of this variety you can grow a bonsai the fastest.
The technology for growing these dwarf trees for Ficus Benjamin 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. The plant is also pruned 2-3 times a year.
Beyond trimming great value attached to the formation of the trunk and branches.
The branches and trunk are wrapped around thick copper wire, and then gradually bent 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; work on it takes a long time. Creating a tree in the shape of an animal or bird is only possible experienced florist. It’s easier to make a crown in the form geometric figure- cone or cylinder.
Even the formation of a simple geometric crown takes several years.
In this case, it is necessary to prune the plant annually in the spring, cutting off the branches so that the crown takes on the desired shape.
Usually the branches directed outward are left, and the crowns growing deeper are cut out.
At the same time, the outer part of the crown branches out greatly, so it becomes easier to give it the desired shape.
Shaping the trunk - ficus weaving
Not only the crown of the Ficus Benjamin looks very beautiful. Trees grown using the ficus weaving method are a real work of art.
These are tall plants whose bare trunks are intertwined. Most decorative element Such a plant is precisely the trunk; its crown is formed, as a rule, of a simple spherical shape of a small size.
Many varieties of ficus are suitable for growing plants with intertwined trunks, but they must 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 intertwine the trunks, 2 or several 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 does not clog it. For the same reason, it will not be possible to weave varieties with different growth rates into one trunk.
There are a variety of ficus weaving patterns. The simplest of them are the spiral and 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 ficus cuttings measuring 15 cm or more are planted in a pot close to each other. As soon as they begin to grow, you can begin weaving. The lowest part of the cuttings should not have side shoots. If they are present, they must be removed, and then carefully make the first interweaving of the trunks.
To ensure that the intertwined trunk retains its shape, the cuttings should be fixed. A thick wool thread or copper wire. The shoots are fixed above the weave. After this, the plant is cared for as usual until the cuttings grow enough that the next weaving can be done.
Every 2 months you need to check the fixation points and, if necessary, loosen the thread or wire. As they grow, the 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 secured with wire or a metal bracket above the place of the last weave. The fixation will be securely hidden by the regrown tree crown. After a few years, when the trunks have firmly grown together, the wire can be removed.
To perform other, more complex weaving patterns, you may need not only wire, but also metal frame, around which the weaving of the trunks of many plants is carried out.
Now you know how to form the crown of ficus Benjamin. You can find out about superstitions associated with Ficus Benjamin.
The crown of most varieties of ficus without pruning will grow in a chaotic manner, reaching sizes that are not suitable for the room. Timely removal of lateral and apical shoots allows you to make the plant decorative, reduce its length and width, and make it more compact.
Trimming and shaping rubber ficus performed depending on the age of the plant annually or once every 3 years. In addition to formative pruning, you can use the peculiarity of the plant’s shoots to create unique compositions - flexible stems and air layering are tied with a pigtail, a rope, intertwined and growth is directed in the opposite direction.
Is it possible to prune the rubber ficus?
Pruning rubber ficus is needed not only to make the tree decorative, but also to improve the health of the plant. It is necessary to remove excess shoots regularly so that it is healthy, lush, leaves and stems have enough space to grow, and all above-ground parts of the bush receive enough light and humidity from the air.
Removal of branches is also carried out for sanitary purposes - diseased, rotten, dry, broken branches draw out nutritional components, taking them away from healthy parts, and can also reduce immunity and cause diseases.
With the help of formative pruning, ficus can be forced to branch or grow compactly. The florist himself determines what crown diameter is suitable for growing indoors different areas.
How to form the crown of a rubber ficus
Ficus should be trimmed according to the following rules:
- The formation of the crown is carried out during the active development phase from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. If you remove shoots in winter, the plant will be deformed next season.
- If the ficus has recently been transplanted, healthy shoots should not be touched when creating the crown. Sanitary pruning can be done at any time.
- It will be bad if you cut off the apical shoot far from the second bud from the top. In this case, the exposed remaining part of the trunk dies. If you take away the apical shoot along with the buds too late, the ficus will not bloom. It is optimal to remove the apical shoot from the second bud from the top, without leaving “empty” parts of the trunk.
- Be sure to use sharp tools. If the cut is uneven, pathogenic bacteria may enter the tissue. You can take pruning shears, garden shears or sharp knife. It is advisable to treat all blades with alcohol or other disinfectants before cutting.
- The cut areas on the cutting also need treatment; garden varnish is suitable for this.
You can form a crown in the following way:
- Think about what shape you want to give the entire plant, and also indicate the approximate height and width. Young plants can be pruned annually, and if the ficus has already reached 3-4 years, carry out the procedure no more than once every 3 years.
- Make the cut exactly above the place where the apical bud will be. A fresh shoot grows from it, and if part of the cutting is exposed, the crown will not have a rounded appearance, since the exposed trunk gradually dies.
- Make the cut beveled at an angle of at least 45 degrees on old thick branches, and at an angle of 90 degrees on thin shoots.
- The crown can not only be trimmed, but also thinned. During the procedure, pay attention to the location of the upper kidney. Make sure it faces outward. If you leave the bud horizontally, the branches will grow in width, vertically - in height.
- The classic form for trimming the crown is tiered. The ficus will have the shape of a ball or oval. To do this, the top and bottom of the crown are cut equally, leaving the central branches longer. The lowest branches and the apical shoot are cut off at the root.
- Ficuses also grow in the form of a trunk. To form such a crown, cut off all shoots except five located in the upper part of the trunk. When the plant reaches the desired height, pinch the top bud from the crown, then as it grows, shorten the side trunks, forming a ball.
When growing a bonsai tree, you need to form not only the crown, but also the root system. Roots that are too long are removed during annual replanting, the tops and side shoots are trimmed so that the height of the plant does not exceed 50-70 cm.
How to pinch ficus
In order to pinch a plant, you will need pruning shears or a knife, a disinfectant solution (peroxide, alcohol), a soft cloth and a container of water.
Then follow the instructions:
- It is best to perform the procedure in mid-spring. It is during this period that many new shoots are formed, and the wounds on the trunk that appear during pruning heal quickly.
- Once the plant has reached the height you want, you can begin pinching. Disinfect a knife or other tool or heat it over a fire.
- If the top shoot of the tree is thin, you can cut it below the bud by making a straight cut.
- If the length is longer than you need, determine required height, then find the leaf below such a point. Cut the shoot 5 cm above such a leaf, making an oblique cut. The lower level of the cut will be at the level of the kidney on the opposite side. The upper one is directly above the kidney.
- Then moisten a soft cloth and remove the milky juice that appears along with the cut.
- After a month, fertilize the plant. It is not recommended to fertilize before this period, since the plant’s immunity is lost after transplantation and it may experience stress.
Pinching will allow the plant to produce new side shoots and stop growing at the height you want. Without this, the tree will hit the ceiling in 4-5 years.
Creating unusual shapes
The formation of the crown of rubber ficus can be done not only in the shape of an oval or ball. There are other pruning methods that can result in trees unique shapes for room design.
Standard tree
Formation of rubber ficus at home in the form of a trunk:
- The standard form can only be created from unformed ficus without lignification on the trunks.
- Side shoots it is required to remove regularly until the top 5 branches remain.
- When the tree reaches the desired height, pinch the apical shoot, not forgetting to remove the lateral shoots.
- While the stems remain flexible and without bark, it is necessary to organize a support. Keep the trunk upright throughout the growing period.
The stamp can be multi-tiered. To form the crown in this way, divide it into 4-5 parts. From the odd ones, make crown tiers, and from the even ones, make spaces between the tiers, for which the shoots are cut 5-7 cm shorter than the rest.
Fence
A hedge from a rubber-bearing variety of ficus can be made as follows:
- select at least 5-7 seedlings and a long, low container for planting;
- place all seedlings in a tray in one row or in a circle, the distance between shoots should be at least 10 cm;
- the fence is formed from the crown - cut at the same height.
It is important to prune the ficus correctly for the growth of the “fence”. During the procedure, remove shoots from the same parts of the trunk so that the ficus crowns are equally dense and there are no gaps in the “fence.”
Spiral
To form a bonsai in the form of a spiral, it is not the crown that is cut, but the root aerial part and trunks:
- after planting the cutting, place a support - a wooden stick - in the center of the pot next to the stem;
- As it grows, braid the flexible stem around the support;
- trim side branches;
- When a good woodiness of the trunk appears, carefully remove the support.
You can create a spiral from one or more shoots. If you plant 2-4 seedlings at once, during the braiding of the supports it is necessary to place them parallel to each other so that the trunks of one of the trees do not become pinched.
Scythe
You can give the ficus a pigtail shape as follows:
- select seedlings up to 10 cm long (of the same height);
- the thickness of one should not exceed one and a half centimeters;
- plant the sprouts side by side in the pot so that you can later braid the stems;
- all small branches on the sides are removed and left apical cuttings;
- before you start weaving, moisten the soil so that the stems become flexible;
- periodically braid a braid from the stems, tie the end with wire so that the stems do not start growing in the other direction;
- it is necessary to regulate the strength of the weaving - weakly twisted stems will create gaps in the braid, and too tight weaving can lead to damage to the entire plant;
- To ensure that the holes in the braids are the same, you can place pencils or sticks of equal diameter between them.
To ensure that the shoots grow together into one large trunk and the braid has no gaps, you can remove the bark in small parts at the junctions of the stems. After about 6-8 months, the composition will grow together into one thick trunk.
Caring for the plant after pruning
After pruning, the ficus can be replanted, but the procedure can be performed no earlier than 2 weeks later. An adult plant does not need to be replanted at all; it will be enough to replace the top layer of soil with a new nutrient substrate. If the flower underwent the procedure successfully, after 2 weeks you can begin feeding.
Pruning can be done no earlier than from the beginning of March until the end of summer. When at rest, the plant is not pruned. Monitor the growth of new branches, as well as the height of the ficus, carrying out timely pinching so that it always has a lush, uniform crown.
How to form a beautiful tree from a ficus seedling? There are many options for pinching and trimming to achieve the best results. Simple rules for working with various types ficus will be of interest to all gardeners. In another article, read about what you need for this.
How to properly pinch ficus benjamina and rubber plant
Ficus Benjamin is especially interesting for home design. It forms branches extending from the main trunk, which can be pruned annually, giving the plant its most unusual shape. In addition, Ficus Benjamin has a flexible trunk, which can easily be bent in different directions during growth.
Pruning and pinching branches is best done during active plant growth - in spring or early summer.
Most species grow upward with one shoot and do not form lateral branches without pinching. Therefore, if you want to get side shoots from the main trunk, it is important to properly pinch the growing points.
How to form a ficus at home in the form of a ball, into a tree, in the form of a braid from several trunks
From several seedlings planted nearby, you can weave braids and spirals, which look very unusual and beautiful. A ball-shaped crown can be obtained from a standard tree.
For two or three years, everyone was lower. There should be five upper branches left from which you can begin to form a ball. Every month on warm time years, pinching the tops of branches is carried out, stimulating the growth of side shoots.
To braid a flexible trunk in the form of a pigtail, several ficus seedlings of the same size are planted in one pot.
When the ficuses grow to 30 centimeters in height, cut off the side shoots at the bottom of the trunks with a clean blade or pruning shears and intertwine the seedlings with each other. The trunks are tied with soft woolen thread. As it grows, the weaving is constantly renewed until the tree grows to the required height. Do not forget to remove the threads, otherwise they will grow inside the trunks.
How to form a ficus in a spiral
To form a ficus in a spiral, plant it in flower pot There are two seedlings nearby. When their trunks are at least 30 centimeters in height, they begin weaving in the form of a spiral, cutting off the interfering side shoots. The intertwined trunks are fastened with twine or woolen thread.
If the stems are difficult to bend, you can open them in the bathroom hot water, let off steam, and bring the plant into the bathroom for half an hour (do not put it under hot water).
For ficus weaving, it is important to choose days suitable for Lunar calendar to work with the plant when the Moon is in fertile signs of the Zodiac.
Trimming
Pruning helps good growth And abundant flowering plants, it is necessary to obtain beautiful crown or the shape of plants, produce 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 above the outward-facing leaf, otherwise new shoots will grow inward. The cut should be made a few millimeters above the bud and go away from it, slightly obliquely.
Sanitary pruning. All yellowed, shriveled shoots and leaves that have lost their decorative properties must be cut off. Weakened old shoots often turn out to be easy prey for fungi and bacteria, a shelter and breeding ground for insect pests. In addition, an unhealthy looking shoot may not indicate old age, but rather illness or pest infestation. 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 down to the 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 may develop long shoots that eventually lose leaves or become bare from high temperature or dry air in winter. When rejuvenating pruning, shoots are removed almost to the very base. But at the same time, you need to ensure that 2-3 live buds 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, trim the rest short. Anti-aging pruning is best done shortly before or at the very beginning of the growth period. Do not 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 pruning. This is the most difficult type of pruning to give the plant the desired shape. Formative pruning is a creative process that requires careful observation of the plant. Highest Achievement 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, which without this procedure give a thickened and unsightly crown, for example ficus, citrus, laurel, hibiscus, roses, fuchsia, etc. When formative 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 towards the outer part of the crown. If you plan vertical growth, then select a bud directed upward or to the center of the crown and make a cut slightly above it. Guides often recommend using wire to guide branches in 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 also those who willingly change their shape. Thus, 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 help of a wire. Shoots that are not yet lignified or semi-lignified are best suited for shaping with wire.
Formation of a standard tree. To form a standard tree, take a strong rooted cutting that grows vertically upward. Remove side shoots until the plant reaches your 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 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.
Dimensions of a standard tree.
Tabletop 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. After reaching a height of 10 - 12 cm, side shoots are also pinched. When is it formed beautiful bush, you need to periodically pluck out or cut out shoots directed inward, preferably at the very beginning of their appearance.
Arc formation. Hanging and climbing plants form long shoots that can be sent along a wire arc. To do this, an arched support is carefully inserted into the pot. The shoots are distributed along the wire and loosely tied in some places.
Formation of a pyramid. Some plants can be used to form a beautiful pyramid. Plants such as fuchsia, ivy, and pelargonium grow well upward; 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. The plant is usually pinched above the first pair of leaves.
Winter pruning. Potted plants that are kept in a dark basement in winter need to be trimmed properly in the fall and all remaining leaves removed. Remember: root system should not dry out.