How to make a ficus grow in width. Formation of the crown of a rubber ficus, how to cut a plant at home. What to do to make the ficus take root faster, branch and give side shoots, be beautiful

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 they will not develop a lush crown. 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 shadow they can hide up to 300 square meters earth.

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 it to the sun in different directions, 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 foliage.

You 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.

You can also influence the shape of the indoor tree crown by adjusting the lighting. This method is good for correcting malformed plants. Under the straight lines sunbeams they can get severe burns, but the 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 reach the desired height, they are connected with special clamps or with a regular 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 fantasies of flower growers: unique shape can be created from high ficus, forming from it a multi-tiered trunk. 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 stimulate the growth of lateral 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 is to give the sprouts a vertical position.
A bud frozen in growth will go up if the container with the flower is tilted so that the future shoot looks up.
A horizontally inclined branch will grow branches in the upper zone.
On a drooping stem, lateral branches will actively develop, and the trunk will also strengthen.
One-sided specimens will sprout on the other side if they are turned with a 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 increase the green cap, the pot must be periodically turned to the sun in different directions.
With sufficient humidity in the room, ficuses take aerial roots. In no case are they removed, but sent to the soil.
Among cytokinins, the Kartolin drugs (may be labeled 2 or 4), Benzyladenine, and Zeatin have an impeccable reputation. It is important to use them, strictly following the attached instructions.

Did you know? In India, the homeland of rubber ficuses, the locals used them to build footbridges. 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:

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.
Pinching of the lateral buds is carried out only on specimens turned away from the bark. Otherwise, young sprouts will greatly thicken the crown.
All sections must be wiped with a damp cloth until the milky juice stops secreting. Then it is treated with charcoal ground to dust.
With increased density of the crown, cut off part of the branches directed inward to the central trunk.
Kerbovka is carried out with a sharp tool ( better blade or scalpel).
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.
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.
After the cuts, there should be no stumps - this is a favorable environment for the formation of fungi.

Or ficus elastica at home, it is necessary not only to properly care for it, but also to form a crown.

Ficus belongs to tropical plants, reaching 40 meters in nature. It wraps around all nearby trees thanks to aerial roots, which eventually form a banyan tree.

Indoors, rubbery ficus grows from 50 centimeters to one meter per year. If the flower is properly looked after, then it will give an additional leaflet per week. Due to the fact that the plant does not bush much, but constantly stretches in height, it is necessary to constantly restrain its growth by pinching or pruning. Do not try to transplant the flower into a spacious pot so as not to disturb its growth. This will lead to the growth of the root system, but the bush itself will stop growing.

How to form a crown at rubbery ficus without pruning

There are ways in which the ficus is forced to branch lateral shoots and at the same time do not resort to pruning:

It is necessary to tilt the trunk lower and fix the top with ropes to a support inserted into the ground. Such an action will affect the kidney, which will be at the very top. It will give growth to a strong branch. The top of the ficus will stop actively reaching up. If you gradually level the trunk of the ficus, then you can achieve the growth of a few more additional branches. The procedure is best done with young trees, they lend themselves well to it.
You can make an incision a third of the depth of the trunk above the sleeping kidney. Manipulations are carried out only with a disinfected knife. In this place, the bark is removed. As a result, the root nutrition of the awakened kidney is weakened. This operation is called kerbovka. It is carried out only in the spring.
Artificial plant hormones, cytokinins, can stimulate branching. With their help, the apical dominance of the apex is replaced by the lateral axillary dominance. Also, these hormones prevent the leaves from falling down.

Pruning ficus rubber at home

Prune the ficus preferably in the spring, when it is actively growing. If you do the procedure at another time, then only the upper kidney will wake up, and the bush will become one-sided. Before pruning a ficus, you must wait for its height to be at least 70 centimeters. If there is no desire to change it, then just pinching the top is enough. When the rubber bush is excessively high, then it can be cut above the desired branch above 5 centimeters. When pruning, you must understand that after it the bush stops growing in height, so you must determine for yourself how deep it should be, since nothing can be corrected later. Getting Started with Pruning rubber ficus at home, you should know:

the procedure is carried out with well-sharpened tools, it is enough to treat them with alcohol or ignite with fire;
thin shoots are cut only with a straight cut, but the trunk itself is cut obliquely;
if you make an incision, then on the one hand it should pass directly above the kidney, and on the other hand it should go out at its level;
for pruning, it is best to use a knife and a pruner to avoid injury to the ficus; thin branches can be cut with scissors.

After manipulating the plant, it is important to remove all the milky juice that has come out. It wipes off with a damp cloth. If this is not done, then the juice freezes and clogs the vessels, which stops the growth of the rubber-bearing ficus.

Another important point! When a plant needs a transplant, it should be postponed after pruning for two weeks, as the procedure causes stress in the ficus. It will also contribute to the branching of the ficus. To do this, use a larger pot by 3 centimeters with a mandatory good drainage layer. In an adult ficus plant, they simply change the top layer.

To stimulate the active growth of additional shoots, the elastic is fed mineral fertilizers. Before top dressing, the soil must be moistened.

As soon as additional shoots appear on the plant, they are pinched to make the crown dense and compact. To achieve the desired direction, the shoots are adjusted with a wire. You can plant a rooted top in one pot, which will additionally help form a beautiful crown.

How to get an unusual crown of rubbery ficus

If everything is in order with your imagination, then you can form a crown at the plant according to your taste different kind. We bring to your attention its most common forms:

Standard. This shape is like a small tree. To get it, you need to strengthen the stem and remove all the foliage to the place you need. After a while, the support is removed, and the stem is shortened to 5 centimeters. The tops in the second and third internodes are pinched, and the lower branches are removed by a third. Such pinching and pruning is done regularly to maintain the desired shape of the crown.
Ficus weave. If you want to get a pigtail or spiral, then two or three young plants should be planted in one pot. The shape of a spiral is made from two stems, carefully and gradually twisting them together. A pigtail is woven from three ficuses. When performing ficus weaving, it must be borne in mind that over time the stems will thicken, so it is not worth pulling the stems strongly between each other. All branches that appear on the sides are removed.
Fence. This form is obtained when placed in a container in a row and with the same interval of young ficuses. To maintain the desired shape, they are fastened together with a rope or a dense thread. To prevent the appearance of scars, sometimes loosen the fastening. In places where the stems are interconnected, the bark is removed, the juice is wiped off and the plant is fastened with a film. Then you need to rotate the composition to the sun.
Circular lattice. To get this shape, you need to plant young plants in a circle.
Spiral stem. A spiral can be grown if, as it grows, carefully wrap the trunk around the support. All branches on the sides are removed.
Original. If you plant a coconut column in the center of the composition, and ficuses grow around it, then over time the aerial roots of the plant will braid it with sufficient moisture. As a result, a monolithic structure is formed, it will look like a banyan tree.

– popular houseplants, characterized by a high growth rate and growth of leaf mass. Therefore, they are favorite objects for the formation of small indoor trees with a crown of various shapes.

Growing a decorative ficus is not at all difficult. Regularly carrying out its forming 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 ficus Benjamin at home, as well as about pruning and pinching the plant.

Basic pruning rules

Formative pruning of ficus Benjamin is carried out in early spring at the end of March or beginning of April. Before the start of active growth, there is enough time for the cuts to tighten and the plant to recover from the resulting stress.

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

Before the procedure, you need to disinfect the secateurs 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 kidney, shortening them by 1/3.

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

Sections of thin shoots can not be processed, but it is better to remove the flowing juice, as white spots may remain on the leaves of the plant.

In addition to forming, 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 also at any other time of the year if necessary. It consists in removing dry, diseased and poorly developed shoots.

Dry branches must 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. To do this, you should not wait for spring, such pruning is carried out as soon as possible.

Weakly developed shoots are removed because they are not decorative enough. They also increase the density of the crown, not letting light into it.

Anti-aging pruning

This type of pruning is done to bring back decorative look very old ficuses or plants whose shoots have lost their viability for one reason or another.

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

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

When the crown is completely dry, Benjamin's ficus can be cut "on 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 cutting Benjamin's ficus:

Bush;
Standard;
Tiered trunk;
Sculpture.

Also, most varieties can 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 pinned on a young plant. As a result, side branches begin to grow actively. A year later, you can get a lush and beautiful plant.

Standard forms are distinguished by a pronounced trunk and crown. There are single and tiered trunks 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 done annually and very carefully, 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 magnificent. For the rapid formation of a bushy crown, 2-3 cuttings are planted in a pot at the same time close to each other.

After planting, as soon as a 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 side shoots reach a length of 10-15 cm, they also cut off the tops. In this case, the remaining upper buds should not be directed inside the crown, but outward.

All sections should be wiped with a tissue to remove white juice and sprinkle 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.

Shtamb

Standard crowns are forms with a pronounced trunk. To grow a trunk, a single cutting is planted. In the process of 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.

Usually desktop specimens have a height of up to 50 cm, and floor ones are much higher: 90-100 cm.

After Bottom part the trunk will be formed, proceed to build up the crown. When the plant reaches the desired height, the upper shoot is cut off by 5-10 cm.

After that, side 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 standard crown of ficus can be given various forms . The spherical crown is very popular and beautiful, but the oval shape, elongated upwards 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.

Longline trunk

A tiered stem is a form of a tree with a crown divided into parts. Between its tiers there is a bare trunk without branches. Such a tree may have 2 or more tiers.

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

Gradually, it will be possible to form a continuation of the trunk from it, and then a new tier of the crown. This is the longest process of longline trunk formation.

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. At the top, the plants will be separated.

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

A tiered stem can be grown from a single cutting.. It should grow upwards, forming an elongated tall single trunk. 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 will be the bare trunk located between them. In the center, all side shoots are removed, the top of the tree is pinched. Tiers are formed like a regular single stem.

Bonsai

Almost all varieties of Ficus Benjamin can be used to grow bonsai. But the Wiandi variety is most suitable for this purpose. It is characterized by a low growth rate and a wavy curved trunk. From a cutting of this variety, you can grow a bonsai the fastest.

The technology for 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 contributes to a slow growth rate. The roots of the tree are cut 2-3 times a year, after which it is planted in the same container. Plant pruning is also carried out 2-3 times a year.

Beyond pruning great importance attached to the formation of the trunk and branches.

The branches and trunk are wrapped around with 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. To create a tree in the form of an animal or a bird is only possible experienced florist. 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 so that the crown acquires the desired shape.

Usually, branches directed outward are left, and crowns growing deep into the crown 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.

Stem shaping - ficus weaving

Not only the crown of ficus Benjamin looks very beautiful. A real work of art are trees grown using the ficus weaving method.

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

Many ficus varieties are suitable for growing a plant with an intertwined trunk, 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 twist the trunks, 2 or more cuttings are planted in one pot.. They must have 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 schemes. The simplest of them 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 ways of weaving, which require a lot more cuttings, sometimes several dozen. Such trees are usually grown only by professionals, they are very expensive.

To grow a “pigtail”, 3 ficus cuttings from 15 cm in size are planted close to each other in a pot. As soon as they begin to grow, you can start weaving. The lowest part of the cuttings should not have side shoots. If they are, they must be removed, and then carefully make the first weave of the trunks.

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

Every 2 months, you need to check the fixation points and, if necessary, loosen the thread or wire. In the process of growth, the intertwined stems of plants 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 last weave. The fixation will be securely hidden by the regrown crown of the tree. After a few years, when the trunks are firmly grown together, the wire can be removed.

To perform other, more complex, weaving patterns, you may need not only wire, but also metal carcass, around which the weaving of the trunks of many plants is carried out.

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

The article focuses on a number of issues that are relevant today, each of which is directly related to ficuses and rarely where can be consecrated in such detail. It is recommended to read the article about.

How to make ficus lush, thick and fluffy at home

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

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

How to make ficus bonsai yourself a short master class

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

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

How to form a ficus in the form of a stem

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

Many flower growers are interested in how to cut a ficus to create a crown in the most unusual, curly shape. When circumcised, certain rules and nuances should be followed, and then the flower will receive an original, well-groomed and beautiful view. Ficus is great for those who prefer a creative approach to growing houseplants.

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

For each type of pruning (a lush small bush, a branched crown) there is a certain rule. Before you start trimming, you need to decide what result is expected. Not every variety of ficus (with a single shoot pruned) will continue to grow well.

A rubbery ficus that has been pruned will be able to continue growing with 1 shoot. Plants with short inter-nodal distances can be pruned. It is necessary to make a horizontal cut above the bud with an oblique shoot that has a thin or still green appearance. Whatever type of ficus is pruned, you do not need to leave large stumps. They can be sources of plant infection with fungal diseases.

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 that have appeared as a result of a long absence of watering and drying out of the soil (this is especially true dwarf species plants). When the trunk freezes in the upper part, you need to cut it “under the stump”. Root growth ficus will quickly be able to resume its growth. After a while, you will need to take the stem in order to grow the 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 tweezed.

Sanitary pruning and rejuvenation of ficus

Pruning a flower for sanitary purposes is not carried out to give the plant an attractive shape. This is necessary to get rid of unhealthy and weakened branches. This procedure can be performed at any time of the year. Ficus should be constantly monitored and all dry branches that have been attacked by harmful insects should be eliminated. This is necessary in order not to spread the infection to strong and healthy branches.

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

It is necessary to cut the branches, leaving only a stump. Ficus will recover thanks to the shoots from the roots. This method will suit dwarf plants ficus type. An unpretentious plant needs no less care and care than a capricious one. Only then will it delight everyone with its beautiful appearance.

Having correctly formed the plant, you can make it grow in an arc, in the form of a bush or trunk. Flower growers who have a lot of experience behind them are able to perform very complex types of pruning. This may 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 buds - axillary and apical. The second type of shoots is located above the attachment point of the leaf petiole to the stem part 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 autumn or winter can cause the flower to continue its growth, twisting on its side. In this case, even the most perfect care will not help him.

When cutting the plant, the cut must be done above the kidney. At the same time, on thicker branches it should have a beveled appearance, on thin ones it should be straight. When cutting off the side shoots, one should take into account the direction of growth of the bud over which the cut was made.

The outward-facing bud is left to receive a shoot that will emerge from the crown. Places of cuts should be wiped with a wet cloth until the juice is completely absorbed, 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.

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

Before starting work, all tools should be disinfected so as not to infect the plant and not harm it. For good growth axillary buds and shoots, it is necessary to cut 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. Removed shoots should remain with no more than 6 leaves.

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

You need to follow the following pruning sequence:

1 When the plant has grown to right size you can cut off the top.
2 If a trunk with 2 levels is planned, the ficus crown 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 where 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 the gaps between the levels at which all shoots are removed.
4 Levels can be drawn from top to bottom, but the top of the stem is not removed until the plant has reached the required size.

Ficus does not require much attention. It is only necessary to get rid of all regrown 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 ficus figures 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 the ficus. Usually the crown is made of 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 the rest shorter.

You can form any number of tiers. For outdoor ficus, it is permissible to make several tiers, it can grow up to 3 m and above. You can also cut it in a circle, a semicircle, or give it a different shape.

Small ficuses make excellent original sculptures. Creation simple shapes 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, having the form of vines, are launched in an arc. It is suitable for mountain, arrow-shaped 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 bole? A young plant with a pronounced main stem is ideal for this purpose.

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

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

Some are faced with a problem when the trunk is not very stable. To make it stronger, you need to tie it to a peg, which is then easily removed. All sections should be wiped with a damp cloth and sprinkled with crushed coal.

How to pinch a ficus?

You can form a ficus by pinching, which is a very important procedure in terms of plant care. 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. 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 another disinfectant. For work, you must choose a well-sharpened knife, since the barrel this plant very hard to cut. You can pinch a ficus in 2 ways. If the height of the plant suits you and the top shoot is not very thick, you need to cut it a little below the point where it grows.

If the plant is tall enough, it needs to be trimmed in a different way. Define required height, find a branch that is located below this point, and cut 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 trunk. After that, the rag must be removed without squeezing it into a cut. Water itself will prevent the further release of juice. This completes the treatment of ficus wounds, then the plant itself will tighten them.

After 30 days, you should feed the plant. After that, it will resume rapid growth. Some transplant ficus into a pot that has a larger diameter, which is not necessary. It will be enough just to change the soil the first year.

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

When forming a crown, you should be aware that not every variety of ficus will be able to normally endure this procedure. Most often, wounds heal quickly, but side shoots do not always grow quickly. Therefore, you should observe the plant before pinching other shoots.

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

Happy pruning and gorgeous ficus!