Ficus is a rather unique flower, because unlike others indoor plants, it only grows upward. Not every gardener will be happy about this fact. Indeed, in this case, you will have to regularly prune in order to give the ficus the necessary shape. However, not everyone can do this task, because only a few know how to trim a ficus.
Features of the plant
One of the well-known representatives of the mulberry family is the rubber plant, which is usually classified as a member of the genus Ficus. The usual habitats of this plant are India, as well as southern part of Indonesia and western Africa. In countries with harsher climates, this flower received widespread as ornamental plant. However, it is valued not only because of its attractiveness, because large varieties This ficus tree serves as raw material for the production of rubber.
Specimens that grow in natural conditions have impressive sizes, which can be up to 40 m in height. Moreover, they often form support roots. The latter are distinguished by the fact that they penetrate deep into the ground, where they take root. More compact is the rubber-bearing ficus, grown at home, since most often it reaches a height of up to 10 m. After routine pruning, this variety begins to look even more miniature.
Useful properties
Ficus rubber is interesting for many not only because of its decorative properties, because when grown indoors you can maintain a healthy atmosphere. The cleansing effect is provided by the leaves, which filter the air like a pipe. As a result of such filtration, the output is air enriched with oxygen.
Many plant growers are attracted to the rubber ficus by 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 in terms of growing conditions. The main thing is to make sure that the plant is protected from direct sunlight, as well as to carry out regular watering and periodically give it a warm shower.
Physiology of ficus growth
Ficus rubber can be given any shape. To do this, you just need to trim it correctly. As a result of this operation, from an inconspicuous-looking plant you can get unique home decoration. Moreover, even a novice gardener can master this task, but first he will have to familiarize himself with the pruning rules and adhere to them.
The change in the shape of Benjamin's ficus occurs due to new shoots, which usually appear from the buds. 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 petioles of the leaves are closely adjacent to the trunk).
The apical bud demonstrates the fastest growth, ahead of the lateral buds, which develop very slowly or show no signs of development at all. It is enough to remove the top bud so that the side buds can begin to develop well. Usually the shoots begin to grow in different directions. As a result of such manipulations, the plant begins to change its crown.
Before you start forming the crown, it doesn’t hurt to find out what time of year is best to do this.
Many people believe that It is best to hold this event in the spring, and they will be right. The formation of the crown planned for this time of year makes it possible to give the plant more splendor, since it is in the spring that the ficus is created best conditions for growth. Using a similar approach, a gardener can grow a Ficus Benjamina that will be well developed, with fully formed shoots in all directions.
It is not advisable to postpone pruning ficus benjamina 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 lopsided. It must be borne in mind that at this time of year the ficus begins to use nutrients , which he accumulated in his escapes. As a result of pruning the shoots in the fall, you will leave the Benjamin ficus without these reserves, jeopardizing 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 tension devices are usually used.
Crown formation without pruning
There is no need to rush into pruning the rubber ficus. First, it’s worth thinking about whether there is an urgent need for this. There is a simpler 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, pleasing the owner beautiful view. After waiting some time so that the branches can take a new position, the fixing devices are removed.
During pruning it is necessary take into account the age of the plant. This operation causes the least harm to young bushes. You need to be more careful with mature plants: since their shoots are not very flexible, shortening them and other similar actions can seriously injure the plant.
Ficus rubber: how to form the crown correctly?
The rules below designed for single ficus bushes, forming into one trunk.
In general, pruning ficus rubber is a simple task. The main thing is that you need to strictly follow all the rules for conducting it. Yes, it is necessary to 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 wearing protective gloves.
Formation of an unusual crown
If necessary, even a novice plant grower can give the ficus rubber plant quite original shape.
In the process of pruning ficus benjamina or rubber plant, care must be taken to so that the braid does not subsequently open. To do this, it is recommended to garter the trunks using soft threads. It's best if they are woolen. Typically, dressings are performed every two months.
In some cases, for the normal development of the ficus, the installation of a support is required. In this case, you can easily see how spectacular and original the rubber plant will be.
Conclusion
Ficus rubber, however, like other representatives of this family, is best known for its decorativeness. However, this does not mean that the grower will not have to take measures for this. If you know how to form the crown of a Benjamin ficus, then you can easily cope with the rubber-bearing species.
You should know that only those specimens that are subject to regular pruning. After all, the beauty of the ficus can be achieved through the formation of the crown. Beginning gardeners can also prune ficus benjamina beautifully at home, because ficus plants are very compact plants, so there are no particular difficulties in carrying out this operation.
How to properly form a ficus crown
– popular indoor plants, characterized by a high growth rate 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 carry out 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 the 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.
This article is often read with:
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 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 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.
This tall plants, the bare trunks of which are intertwined with each other. 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 reliably hidden by the regrown crown of the tree. 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 directing growth 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 moisture 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 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 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 be created only 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.
This is not the first time I have been asked this question this spring.
I had a similar experience, so I’ll share how I stimulated my old ficus trees to perform this feat.
During the winter, many ficus trees lose their leaves due to the difficulties of wintering in an apartment. Dry air due to heating system, little light, and at the same time cold window sills - this is the main scourge for indoor plants that winter in the cold climate of our country.
But besides this, there is another reason - the trunks below become bare over time due to natural reasons. The tree grows, the crown develops in the upper part, and at the bottom the trunk becomes bare. This happens to all trees in the wild.
So my ficus, having reached its maximum growth, as much as the room conditions and the size of the pot allowed it, exposed the trunks in the lower part. And the top of his head rested on the ceiling. It felt cramped on the windowsill, but you can’t put it on the floor either: it’s too dark, because I live in the Urals - we’ve had dark winters in recent years.
But I decided to try to improve the situation.
There are several ways to force mature tree grow young branches in the lower woody part of the trunk.
1. trimming the crown.
2. tilting the trunk to a horizontal position.
3. stimulation of dormant buds with an incision.
I didn’t have one trunk, but several plants growing in a pot at once.
I took the simplest route. I cut off the top of the trunks.
But in order for young shoots to come from the lowest tier, the tree is usually pruned low - almost a quarter, or even a third of the trunk.
But since I didn’t want to shorten the ficus too much, I decided to use all three methods at once, but a little at a time.
That is, the tops of the heads were shortened by only 20 or 30 centimeters.
But she spread the trunks from the center to the sides with the help simple device. Any “wheel” that can be found in the house will do.
You can use this support for flowers.
Thus, all individual trunks received enough light and at the same time a more horizontal tilt.
But I didn’t stop there.
I lightly scratched the bark at the bottom of the trunk above the dormant buds in the places where I wanted branches.
And I regularly sprayed these places with water with a drop of biostimulant - Epin.
I also put the ficus on the balcony - where it had light. This is an important condition - to carry out all these activities in the spring, when active sap flow and a lot of light begin.
Of course, here we must also take into account such risks as direct sun rays. You either need a glazed balcony, or cut it when the ficus has gradually become accustomed to street conditions.
And now new branches began to appear!
Both at the top and at the very bottom. 
I left only those that grew outward rather than inside the crown.
And those that grew strictly horizontally were bent and tied to the main trunk to correct their position.
There were also those who grew completely downward. Their growth was also corrected.
Soon my ficus became “fluffy” again. And after standing on the balcony in the summer, it acquired thick, bright green foliage.