Ficus is small-fruited. Ficus microcarpa - home care

Growth:

The range of Ficus parsifula extends from Sri Lanka and India to Taiwan, the Malay Archipelago, the Ryukyu Islands, Australia and New Caledonia.

ON THE PICTURE: In its natural environment, this evergreen tree reaches 25 m, but when grown indoors it shows more modest results, up to 1.5 m.

Description of the plant:

Plant size and type:

Ficus small-fruited is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or tree, in nature growing in height and width up to 25 m or more.

Root system:

The root system tends to swell, accumulating water and nutrients, which allows the plant to survive for a long time in unfavorable conditions, without water and nutrition.

ON THE PICTURE: The roots of Ficus parvifruit continue to swell as the plant gets older, allowing this tree to grow into an original bonsai.

Stem:

The trunk is smooth, light gray in color, branching, and is a powerful support for the massive crown, since in nature its diameter can reach one meter. New growth produced throughout the year is light pink to yellow-green, giving the tree a striking two-tone appearance.

Leaves:

The leaves are dark green, elliptical in shape, shiny, smooth, leathery, 8 cm long.

ON THE PICTURE:The leaves of Ficus minifruit sit tightly on large, slightly drooping branches.

Fruit:

The fruits are small, round, and do not form under indoor conditions.

Ficus microcarpa got its name because of its miniature fruits, translated from Greek “mikros karpos” - small fruit. The plant itself can reach quite impressive sizes. Although, it is often grown using the bonsai technique. This type of ficus is interesting because in the lower part of its trunk there is a thickening of roots, which takes on the most bizarre shapes during the growth process.

In nature, Ficus microcarpa can be found in some provinces of China, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia. According to its growth form, this plant belongs to the epiphytic species and forms many aerial roots. Under natural conditions, the tree grows up to 25 meters in height; at home you can count on a one and a half meter specimen.

The leaves of this variety are up to 10 cm in length and up to 5 cm in width, their size becomes maximum in an adult plant, and before that the leaves are smaller. The surface of each leaf is shiny, glossy, the tip is pointed. On the branches, the leaves sit on short petioles, their arrangement is alternate.

As it grows, the upper part of the root system rises above the soil and can look very decorative, forming weaves and bends. This is what allows this type of ficus to be grown as a bonsai. This plant is often sold grown using this technique.

Ficus macrocarpa is capricious in some aspects and you should be aware of this. For example, he does not like rearrangements, so he immediately needs to choose a permanent place and try to disturb the plant less in the future. This flower also does not like drafts, bright sunlight and dry air; it needs proper care.

• Place the purchased plant away from heating appliances. Windows with western, northwestern and northern orientation are best suited for him. If the purchased plant has a variegated, that is, variegated, form, the ficus needs more light. It is better to place such varieties on eastern and south-eastern windows.
• In the first days in a new place, it is necessary to especially monitor the air humidity near the plant. The pot can be placed on a tray with wet pebbles, and the leaves themselves can be sprayed 2-3 times a day. It is also necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out; moisten the soil with small portions of water every few days.
• After 2 weeks, when the ficus has adapted, it is recommended to transplant it into a new container. At the same time, you can check the condition of the root system, because it is not known how long it took to transport the plant, and how many days it spent in the store.

Helpful advice: a household air humidifier will help increase the humidity in the room - it is an affordable device that does not require special maintenance, but makes life much easier for indoor plants.

Each apartment has its own microclimate and many plants adapt to it, however, we must not forget about their needs so that the flowers can live and develop normally.

Ficus microcarpa is considered a shade-tolerant crop. It can feel good both in bright diffused light and in partial shade. As the tree grows, it no longer fits on the windowsill and can be kept on the floor near the window.

If the plant does not have enough light (this can be seen by the duller color of the leaves), it will be necessary to organize lighting. A special phytolamp is best suited for these purposes; its radiation spectrum is ideal for all plants. You can get by with a regular fluorescent lamp.

The roots of this ficus need warmth just as much as the above-ground part. It is best to maintain the temperature in the range of 17-24°C. In an apartment this is easily achieved with the help of air conditioning.

During the winter months, temperatures may be slightly cooler, but not for long. The plant can get sick from hypothermia. If in summer the temperature rises to 25°C or higher, the ficus must be sprayed at least twice a day, then it will be easier for it to tolerate the heat.

Of course, in the East, ficus bonsai are not grown, choosing conifers and various shrubs for this art form. Strictly speaking, a ficus bonsai is called a pseudo-bonsai, since accelerated technologies are used in its creation, while a real bonsai takes decades to grow and is very expensive, since it is a “piece” product.

But is it worth it for an ordinary gardener to go into such subtleties if a bonsai grown from ficus looks no worse? You can grow such a tree yourself from scratch in just two years. To do this, you don’t need to invent anything; everything was already invented many centuries ago in the East.

There are different styles for bonsai. The tree can be formed in the form of a curved vertical, with a slope, a forked trunk, using other options. The advantage of the macrocarp species is the rapid growth of ficus and its endurance. In its homeland, this plant sprouts from accidentally dropped seeds even in rock crevices or appears from cracks in asphalt.

If the ficus microcarpa you purchased is grown using the bonsai technique, it requires special care. Bonsai culture does not tolerate haste, fuss and excess. After all, this is a miniature tree, which means that all actions must be carefully verified.

Since bonsai is planted in a wide but shallow container, such a plant requires a special watering scheme. A larger soil surface area evaporates water faster. At the same time, with abundant watering, the water simply has nowhere to go, since the layer of soil in the container is not very large.

Important! The tree needs to be watered often, but little by little. Check the soil before watering. It should dry 2-3 cm deep.

Excess water that has accumulated in the pan after watering must be drained. It is recommended to pre-settle the water; you can use rain or melt water - it is softer. The water temperature for watering should be room temperature or a little warmer; cold temperatures may cause the plant to shed all its leaves.

The soil for ficus microcarp should be light and nutritious, have good moisture and air permeability, with neutral or moderate acidity. You can buy special soil for ficus plants, or make a soil mixture yourself.

Use to make the substrate:

• 2 parts of turf land;
• 2 parts of deciduous soil;
• 1 part peat;
• 1 part sand;
• some charcoal.

The plant does not need to be fertilized for the first 2 months after transplantation. Feeding is carried out during the active growing season of the ficus - from March to October. If your plant is grown using the bonsai technique, you should buy special fertilizers for it.

The fertilizer is diluted in water and fertilized after watering so as not to burn the roots. Microcarp reacts very responsively to foliar feeding. For them, fertilizer is diluted at twice the weaker concentration and the foliage is sprayed.

Care and watering at home: video

In order for the bonsai to grow a powerful trunk, the ficus is subjected to regular pruning. With its help, the crown is given the desired appearance. The direction of growth of skeletal branches is set using wire. To get the most lush crown possible, the main shoots are shortened to 5 cm, forcing them to branch.

Ficus microcarpa tolerates pruning well and does not cause any harm to it. Since the plant does not have a pronounced dormant period and continues to grow even in the winter months, it is pruned at this time. If you yourself have grown a young ficus seedling from which you want to form a bonsai, then you need to trim the main trunk at a small height, this will lead to the fact that the remaining part of the trunk will get stronger and become much thicker.

Pruning begins from the lower layers of the crown, then moves upward, according to a plan that allows you to create the desired shape. It is not the leaves that are pruned, but the branches themselves. If the shoot was thick, the cut must be covered with garden varnish. The plant is radically pruned in the spring before active growth begins. At other times, the contour is only slightly corrected, shortening individual overgrown branches.

Ficus microcarpa does not tolerate replanting well and is very sensitive to root damage, so it must be replanted as rarely as possible. Experts recommend doing this once every 2-3 years. To curb the growth of bonsai, plants are specially planted in shallow containers. The purpose of replanting is to replace depleted soil and reduce the number of overgrown roots.

They proceed as follows:

• It is necessary to prepare a new pot, which should be 2-3 cm wider and slightly higher than the previous one.
• The drainage hole is covered with a plastic mesh and coarse sand is poured.
• 1/3 of the prepared soil is poured over the drainage layer.
• The bonsai is taken out of the old container, the soil is carefully shaken off the roots, washed in warm water and shortened a little with sharp scissors.
• Wounds on the roots must be treated with charcoal. Thin thread-like roots are removed completely.
• Having prepared the plant, it is placed on the ground and covered with soil on top so that the upper third of the roots remain above the surface. If necessary, the rhizomes are pre-intertwined with each other if the intended style requires it.
• The final stage is soil compaction, watering and laying sphagnum moss on top of the soil.

Transplanting ficus microcarp: video

Ficus microcarp is propagated in three ways: cuttings, layering and seeds.

To make a cutting, the apical semi-lignified shoot is cut from the tree and soaked for a day to remove the protruding milky sap. After this, the cuttings are placed in a glass of water, where wood ash or coal is added to prevent rotting. When the roots appear, the seedling is rooted in light nutrient soil, covered with a glass jar on top to make it easier to take root. When new leaves appear, remove the jar.

If you decide to try to propagate a ficus by layering, on a tall specimen, step back from the crown by 55-60 cm and cut off the bark from the trunk in an area 10 cm long. Wrap the bare area with damp sphagnum and film. After a month, roots will appear in this place. The crown is cut off along with the young roots and planted in a separate container.

Bonsai can only be obtained from a plant grown from seed. Planting is traditionally carried out in the spring. The quality of planting material is very important, as are the conditions for its storage. If the standards are not followed, the seeds will simply lose their viability. Seeds are stratified and moistened before planting. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the planting container, then a layer of soil.

The seeds are laid out on the surface of the ground, sprinkled with sand on top, moistened and covered with film. For successful germination of seedlings, warmth and diffused light are necessary. Young plants hatch in 2-4 weeks. As soon as a few leaves appear, the seedlings dive. After another 2 months, they are planted in separate pots.

Ficus disease, as in the case of other plants, can be caused by improper care or poor conditions. Pests often move from neighboring flowers, especially in crowded conditions, dry air and elevated temperatures.

As an emergency measure, it is necessary to treat the above-ground part of the ficus with a soap solution; you can simply try to wash off the pests from the crown in the shower. After this, it is advisable to transplant the plant into fresh soil, having first disinfected the pot. If this does not help, be sure to spray the tree with insecticides; they act quickly and effectively.

Overwatering may cause dark or whitish spots to appear on the aerial roots. This indicates the spread of fungal diseases that cause rot. In this case, cut out all damaged areas, treat the ficus with fungicides and stop actively watering.

Unexpected leaf fall, when the leaves leave the tree green, may be the result of being in a draft or in a room that is too cold. Create comfortable conditions for the ficus and the leaves will grow again. If the foliage is covered with spots, this indicates rotting of the roots. The plant will have to be removed from the pot, the roots examined, all suspicious areas removed and planted in fresh soil.

When the leaves do not fall suddenly, but after preliminary yellowing, the reason is poor watering. Some gardeners are afraid to overwater the plant and go to the other extreme, allowing it to dry out. We must not forget that any extremes are harmful to the plant. Watering should be regular but careful.

Ficus microcarpa varieties

On sale you can find varieties of ficus microcarpa. Let us introduce you to its most popular varieties:

Variety Ginseng

Its intricate root shape is the result of long breeding work. Now anyone can grow a beautiful miniature tree from the seeds of this plant, the trunk of which sometimes resembles animal or human figures. This variety is considered unpretentious in care, but requires attention to fertilizing - without it it will not be able to grow so decorative.

Variety Moklame

Moklame is considered a dwarf epiphytic ficus. It was its miniature size that made it attractive for growing at home. This is a sun-loving variety of Ficus microcarpa and requires more lighted places. In winter, moklama must be provided with additional light for normal growth. The shoots have an elegant shape and form a solid green crown.

Variety Variegata

Variegated form with high decorative qualities. Like all variegated plants, it needs increased lighting. Can be grown as a lush bush, or form a bonsai.

Westland

This is another small-leaved and small-fruited ficus belonging to the macrocarp species. The branches are covered with dark green elongated leaves 11 cm long. Does not require special care. Grows well in bush form.

Try to create your own unique bonsai, this process will surely fascinate you incredibly and give you a lot of positive emotions.

An unusual way of forming in the form of a miniature tree in the spirit of “bonsai” with a thickened stem is a feature that the ficus microcarpa has. In its normal state it is very similar to the popular Ficus Benjamin. Caring for ficus microcarpa at home involves not only creating favorable conditions for growth, but also maintaining the neat shape of the tree.

The leaves are neat and miniature. Unlike the classic ficus, there is no elongated spine at the tips of the leaves. The bark is thin, smooth, and can be damaged if handled carelessly. Translated, the name means “small-fruited ficus.” The name ficus ginseng, or ficus "ginseng" is often found. It was so nicknamed for the resemblance of the thick, bizarre stem to the ginseng root.

The ficus stem is a thickened, massive root. The unusual shape of the bushes is not a natural feature. They are made this way by specialists using a special forming technology.

During flowering, it forms syconia - specific inflorescences that resemble berries. At home, flowering cannot be achieved even if ideal conditions for growth are created. Flowers do not carry a decorative load - the appearance of the plant does not suffer from their absence.

Interesting! In nature it is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 25 meters! Its homeland is East Asia. Sometimes it is called the “strangler” for its ability to wrap its long aerial roots around neighboring trees.

Formation secrets

Ficus microcarpa is grown using a special technology aimed at forming intricately curved thick roots. The ficus itself is easy to shape, but it takes several years to create the characteristic appearance of the tree. Approximately the formation process is as follows.

• Ficus is grown by sowing seeds or from cuttings. At first he looks normal. A root is formed underground - thick, powerful, branched. To enhance root growth and slow down the growth of green mass, the plant is fertilized with hormonal preparations. Plant growth occurs at a certain level of temperature and humidity.
• Once the root reaches the desired size, it is dug up. The ficus trunk is completely cut off (only a small stump remains), the root is cleared of soil and washed.
• The root is planted in a pot, burying only its very tips into the soil. The main part of the root remains outside - above the soil level. The peel gradually becomes coarser and turns into bark.
• Using special chemicals, the growth of branches from the hemp is first stimulated, and then slowed down to maintain the miniature shape of the tree.

Only after this does the ficus appear on store shelves. This method of shaping is an opportunity to quickly get a bonsai-style tree. The real art of bonsai is much more complex and takes more time.

Features of care

Your task is to maintain the original shape of the tree and create favorable conditions for preserving its decorative properties.

• Lighting. Place in partial shade or shade. They hide them from the sun and don’t place them near radiators in winter. If possible, place it on a north window.
• Temperature. Increased need for heat. The optimal range is 25-30°C at any time of the year. In winter, remove from cold floors and window sills.
• Watering. Water frequently in summer, less often in winter. Do not allow the earthen coma to dry out. With a lack of moisture, it drops its leaves and becomes lethargic. Flooding is also not recommended - there is a possibility of root rotting.
• Humidity. One of the important conditions for maintaining decorativeness is high humidity. It is recommended to spray daily, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth at least 2 times a week.
• Feeding. Fertilizers are applied to the soil and foliar feeding is used. Mineral fertilizers are used for spraying in low concentrations. Any product for decorative foliage plants is suitable for application to the soil. The best option is to use specialized fertilizers for bonsai. Fertilizing is carried out after watering.

Advice! The upper part of the roots must be gradually exposed. This will not harm the plant. Surface roots do not serve to obtain nutrition, but to anchor the plant in the soil. They have no root hairs.

Keeping fit

After purchasing a ficus that has already been formed as a bonsai, you need to constantly monitor its shape. Stores use special products called retardants. They slow down the growth of the plant and prevent it from stretching upward. With the end of their action, growth will resume - the leaves will become larger, the branches will stretch upward. If there is a lack of nutrients, the ficus will begin to consume the reserves deposited in the fleshy roots. This will lead to a decrease in their size and compression.

To ensure that ficus microcarpa retains its original appearance, shoots and roots are regularly pruned. Pruning is carried out only in summer! All overgrown branches are cut off, leaving 2 pairs of leaves on them. This is a creative process. You need to focus not only on pruning technology, but also on the overall appearance of the plant. First of all, those shoots that violate the desired shape are cut off. Use a sharp tool for cutting!

Reproduction methods

Like any ficus, the plant propagates by seeds, cuttings (woody and green), parts of roots and air layering.

• Seeds. The main difficulty of seed propagation is the difficulty of obtaining seeds. The substrate is a mixture of peat and crushed sphagnum. The seeds are small and hatch only in constant humidity and warmth. They create greenhouse conditions and regularly spray the soil. They dive at the stage of appearance of true leaves.
• Cuttings. Semi-lignified cuttings with 4-5 leaves are cut. Root in a sand-peat mixture, keep in diffused light under a plastic covering. Roots appear in 30-50 days.
• Parts of the root. When planting a root cutting, a piece 2.5 cm long should remain above the surface. Keep it under the film. Watering is limited - once a week. The need for watering is determined by the disappearance of condensation from the film. The greenhouse is ventilated every day by opening it for 5-10 minutes. Branches will appear in 2-4 months. The ficus is transferred to normal care conditions after 3-5 leaves appear.
• Air layering. Choose a healthy woody twig. A blade is used to cut off a strip of bark in a ring shape. Sphagnum is moistened and, if possible, impregnated with growth hormones. Apply it to the prepared area of ​​the branch and wrap it in polyethylene. Sphagnum moisturize regularly. The roots that appear will be clearly visible through the polyethylene. The branch is carefully cut off and the film is removed. Planted together with moss in a small pot.

Advice! Any method of propagation will produce the most common ficus. You can experiment on one of the cuttings. When it grows tall enough, remove 1-2 cm of soil when replanting in spring. At the same time, pinch the tops of all new shoots, leaving 2-3 internodes on them. Repeat this procedure annually. Gradually the root will be outside, and the crown will become small and neat.

Growing difficulties

The plant rarely gets sick. The only common problem is leaf falling.

If green leaves fall off:

• Change of usual conditions.
• Sudden temperature changes and drafts.
• Excessive watering leads to root rot.

If the leaves wither and fall off:

• Dry soil.
• Low air humidity.
• Lack of lighting.
• Nutritional deficiency.

The problem is solved by adjusting the conditions of detention and observing the rules of care. Ficus is practically not affected by pests. In rare cases, it can become infected from other plants with mealybugs, scale insects or thrips.

Ficus microcarpa is an amazing, unusual plant that will become a real decoration for your apartment.

The many-sided and amazing ficuses are graceful plants from the Mulberry family, of which there are more than 280 species in nature. They primarily grow in regions with subtropical, temperate and tropical climates. Ficus plants occupy a leading position among indoor plants in terms of the number of varieties. Ficus microcarpa bonsai And ficus microcarpa ginseng- one of the most common forms that gardeners give to this unpretentious plant for decorating rooms.

Description

Ficus microcarpa, like other representatives of the genus Ficus (lat. Ficus), belongs to the mulberry family (Moraceae). The composition of the family forms a monovarietal tribe of ficus (Ficeae).

Most representatives of this species always remain evergreens.

Microcarpa, like many ficus plants, is an epiphyte, that is, it can grow on another plant.

It has a large number of aerial roots and a gray erect trunk. At home it grows up to 1.5 m in height.

The dark green dense leaves have a glossy shine and densely cover the crown. The leaves are attached to the branches using short petioles. They have an elongated, oval shape and reach 5 cm in width and 10 cm in length.

Ficus has a very developed root system. A distinctive feature of this species is the roots protruding from the ground, which take on bizarre shapes. This variety got its name because of the appearance of the fruits - they are very small in size. Translated from Greek, "mikros karpos" means "small fruit".

This amazing plant is native to the forests of southern and eastern China, Indonesia, northern Australia and Taiwan.

Care immediately after purchase

First, we need to decide on the place where our tree will be placed. When choosing, you should take into account the properties and vagaries of microcarp.

It is immediately worth noting that the plant does not like rearrangements from one place to another.

Ficus moklame does not respond well to drafts, dry air and very bright light. Therefore, the new plant should be located as far as possible from heating radiators. Rooms with windows facing southwest, west and north are best suited.

Ficus with Variegata form It is best to place it in a room with east and south-east windows, since such a plant needs brighter light.

Microcarp needs to be sprayed from the very first day of purchase, especially ficus moklama, ginseng and bonsai. It is best to do this 2-3 times a day. It is not recommended to allow the soil to dry out. Check the moisture content of the substrate often by dipping your finger into the soil to a depth of one centimeter.

A couple of weeks after purchase, the plant should be transplant into a newer and more permanent container. Do not forget to take care of drainage, the layer of which should be at least 1/3 of the height of the pot. For drainage, you can use foam or expanded clay. The soil in the substrate should be loose and nutritious. Ready-made soil for ficus plants is perfect, which you can buy in specialized flower shops. Care after transplantation is carried out in the same way as for a regular microcarp plant.

If the ficus ginseng or moklame has dropped its leaves, then there is no need to worry about it. Most likely, this is simply a reaction to a change of “place of residence.”

View of roots and trunk- the first thing that attracts attention. The roots have the ability to thicken and become bare, taking a shape like oval barrels. The branches are thin and have small dark green leaves. The surface of the leaves is shiny, as if it has been polished.

Ficus moklama may seem rough and unsightly to some, but in most cases the plant is in great demand in flower shops. To give the ficus an attractive appearance, you should not only provide the plant with proper care at home, but also constantly shape its crown. Ficus can be shaped:

• bonsai style tree
• bush

In order for its crown to be lush, moderately branched and healthy, it is necessary to regularly trim the branches. Here are some important rules to follow:

1. Use only disinfected and sharp objects (scissors, knife).
2. Cut off the tops that protrude from the main line of the crown.
3. Make the cut along an oblique line, not straight.
4. Cut off tops can be used for further rooting.

Making a bonsai from a ficus at home is quite difficult, but not at all impossible. When forming a bonsai, two conditions must be met:

1. The plant must be at least 20 cm tall.
2. Ficus should be planted in a wide, but not very deep flowerpot.

Bonsai formation stages:

1. We trim the crown of the plant so that its appearance is flatter.
2. We hang small weights on the branches using threads to give the plant a suitable appearance. This must be done so that the branches fall parallel to the ground.
3. We keep the load in this state for about two weeks, after which we remove it.

Ficus branches, during the period of their formation in this way, can shed leaves. This is not a sign of illness or improper care, but only adaptation to a new situation.

To give the plant an even more colorful appearance, it is worth transferring the ficus into a square-shaped pot, the style of which will be characteristic of bonsai.

The microcarp plant blooms, but this process does not bring any aesthetics. The flowers are small, collected in a small inflorescence, which has a diameter of no more than 2 cm. These inflorescences are called syconia. The indoor plant belongs to the category of decorative deciduous plants, so its main beauty lies precisely in this.

Optimal growing conditions

Caring for ficus is very simple at home. The plant, despite its exotic nature, is very unpretentious. However, it still has its own specifics that should be taken into account. Mainly temperature and lighting.

Temperature

Ficus needs warmth both for the above-ground part of the plant and for the root system. The optimal temperature for proper development and maintenance of life is between 17-24°C. It should be taken into account that in winter a drop in temperature is permissible. Too low air or soil temperatures can lead to various diseases. At temperatures above 23°C, the plant should be provided with additional watering and spraying.

Lighting

Areas with shade or indirect sunlight are best for microcarp. The plant must be protected from direct sunlight. It is best to place the flower pot away from the windows. Artificial lighting or illumination also takes place. To do this, you can use fluorescent lamps with a power of 15 W and a temperature (color) from 2800° to 3800° Kelvin (dawn/sunset).

Care

It should be noted that the plant does not require any special attention. However, caring for this species is not limited to the correct location of the pot with the plant and the necessary lighting. To make the tree pleasing to the eye, you will have to work hard. Maintenance is quite simple. Like all other plants, ficus must be properly watered, and wonderful branches and stems must be constantly formed through pruning. With simple manipulations, the tree can be transformed into an incredible-looking decoration that will please the eyes of your guests and household members.

Watering

Ficus should be watered frequently and abundantly, especially in the spring-summer season, that is, during the period of active plant growth. It is worth noting that the abundance and regularity of watering directly depend on lighting, room temperature and air dryness.

When watering, you should focus on the condition of the plant and the dryness of the soil. You should monitor the moisture content of the soil in the pot, however, you should not over-water the ficus microcarpa, as this can cause root rot, which often leads to the death of the plant. The substrate must have time to dry before the next watering. Soil moisture is checked at a depth of 2-3 cm.

Water for irrigation must also meet certain requirements. It should sit for at least 12 hours and be soft. The temperature when watering should be no cooler than room temperature.

Humidity

Humid air is a priority for ficus microcarp, so the tree should be sprayed 1-2 times a day, depending on air humidity. If there is insufficient spraying, the ficus will become sensitive to various diseases, will look lethargic, and will lose the ability to resist pests. In addition to spraying, the plant will benefit from regularly wiping its leaves with a damp cloth.

Soil and fertilizer

Fertile soil with an acidity level of 5.5-7.5 on the pH scale - a favorite for microcarp. It’s easy to prepare the soil yourself. To do this, mix sand, leaf humus, peat and turf soil in equal proportions. During the growing season, it is recommended to apply additional fertilizers (from early spring to late autumn). Complex universal fertilizers or fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants are ideal. They must be added to the water when watering the soil. Fertilizer should be applied every couple of weeks.

When growing ficus microcarpa in bonsai style, specialized fertilizers are used.

You can also apply fertilizers by spraying the foliage - the tree responds well to this.

Crown formation and pruning

In order for the plant to maintain the attractiveness of its shape, it must be trimmed periodically. You should start shaping the crown as early as possible. In terms of changing its appearance, ficus is very malleable, which allows your imagination to run wild.

To get a powerful trunk from a young tree, it needs to be trimmed more often. Using wire it is necessary to shape the direction of the branches. Thick shoots, whose length is no more than 20 cm, can also be pruned. By pruning strong branches, you can achieve branching of the ficus crown.

Transfer rules

Let's touch on when and how best to repot a microcarp plant.

This variety should replant every couple of years. The tree grows quite slowly, and the trunk almost stops developing in adulthood. For ficus, replanting is mainly aimed at replacing the substrate and renewing the soil. This procedure will also allow the grower to look at the condition of the root system, which was previously underground.

It is better to replant in the spring. The size of the pot for ficus microcarpa does not play a special role. It is even best to use the same container that was previously, but it should be thoroughly cleaned and washed. If you decide to take a new pot, then be sure to make sure that a small layer of “old” soil remains on the roots of the plant. Be sure to make sure that the new container has holes for draining water.

Don't forget to install drainage from polystyrene foam or expanded clay with a layer of 2-3 cm. Place the ficus with soil on the roots in place and add fresh soil. You should be extremely careful with the fragile root system of the plant.

They have long become familiar. You will no longer surprise anyone with the variety of species, and there are more than 280 of them, or with the shape and color of the leaves. Nevertheless, interest in these wonderful plants continues to grow year by year, as an art that is not yet very widespread in our country is practiced. Perhaps the interest in ficuses is explained by their attractive appearance and simplicity. Indeed, in nature, these plants grow in tropical, subtropical, and even temperate climate zones. One of the most attractive and easy to care for is the ficus microcarpa.

Ficus microcarpa: description

Ficus microcarpa, like all representatives of the genus (lat. Ficus), belongs to the family (Moraceae). As part of the family, a monotypic ficus tribe (Ficeae) is formed. Representatives of these species are almost always evergreens.

Like many ficuses, microcarpa is an epiphyte, i.e. it can grow on other plants. It has many aerial roots. The trunk is erect, gray. In room conditions, its height reaches one and a half meters. Dense, dark green leaves have a glossy shine and densely cover the crown. The leaves are attached to the branches by short petioles. Shape: oval, elongated. Up to 10 cm in length, up to 5 cm in width. The root system is very developed. In fact, the roots protruding from the ground and acquiring a bizarre shape are a distinctive feature of this species. This variety gets its name from the appearance of the fruit. It's very small. In Greek the small fruit is "mikros karpos".

Did you know? There is a variegated form of ficus microcarpa. It's called Variegata.

The homeland of this amazing tree is the forests of eastern and southern China, Taiwan, Indonesia and northern Australia.

Care in the first days after purchase

First of all, you need to decide on a place where you can place the tree. To choose it, you need to take into account the properties of microcarp and its vagaries.

Notice right away that the plant does not like to be rearranged from place to place.

Reacts poorly to very bright light, dry air and drafts. So it is best to place the new plant away from the radiators. Rooms with windows facing the north, west and southwest sides are more suitable. It is better to place the Variegata form in rooms with windows facing east and south-east, as it needs brighter lighting.
It is necessary to spray microcarpa from the first day of purchase. Do this two to three times a day. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Check for moisture down to a depth of one centimeter.

After two weeks, the plant can be transplanted into a new, permanent container. Take care of drainage. Its layer should be at least one third of the height of the pot. Expanded clay and foam can be used as drainage. The soil should be nutritious and loose. You can use ready-made soil for ficus trees. It is sold in specialized stores. After transplantation, as with an ordinary ficus microcarpa.

If the plant does lose its leaves, don’t worry. This is his reaction to the change of place.

Did you know? In the wild, Ficus microcarpa reaches a height of up to twenty-five meters. Some leaves can be up to fifteen centimeters long and up to eight centimeters wide.

Optimal conditions for growing indoors

Ficus microcarpa is quite easy to care for at home. He is not very whimsical, despite. However, it has its own specifics that must be taken into account. First of all, it's lighting and temperature.

Lighting

Microcarpa prefers shade or diffuse sunlight. Should be protected from direct sunlight. It is better to place it away from windows. Artificial lighting or backlighting can be provided. For this, fluorescent lamps with a power of 15 W and a color temperature of 2800–3800 Kelvin (dawn/sunset) are suitable.

Temperature

Another feature of ficus microcarpa is that the roots need warmth, as well as the above-ground part. The optimal temperature for life and development is from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius. It should be noted that a decrease in temperature is permissible in winter. A lower temperature can lead to illness. When the temperature rises above 23 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to provide additional spraying of the plant.

Important! Small-fruited ficus does not really like temperature changes.

How to care for ficus microcarpa

It should be noted that the plant still requires some attention. This type of plant is not limited to just the correct location in the house coupled with lighting. In order for the tree to begin to please the eye, you will have to do a little work. Maintenance is quite simple. Like all plants, microcarpa needs proper watering, and its wonderful roots and branches need proper shaping and pruning. With simple manipulations, the tree will turn into an incredible-looking decoration that pleases the eye.

Watering

You need to water abundantly and often. Especially during the period of active growth (spring-summer season). It should be noted that the regularity and abundance of watering depend on the dryness of the air, room temperature and lighting. You need to focus on the plant and the dryness of the soil. The earth ball in the pot should not dry out, however, its excessive moisture can lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plant. The soil should have time to dry out at a depth of 2-3 centimeters.

There are also requirements for water. It must be soft and left for at least twelve hours. Its temperature when watering should be at room temperature.

Humidity

Ficus microcarpa loves moist air. Therefore, the tree needs to be sprayed once or twice daily, depending on the dryness of the air. Otherwise, the plant will look lethargic and become sensitive to, and will not be able to resist. In addition to spraying, the plant will benefit if you regularly wipe its leaves with a soft, damp cloth.

Soil and its fertilization

Microcarpa loves light, fertile soil with a pH level of 5.5 - 7.5. You can prepare the soil yourself. To do this, you need to mix turf, peat soil, leaf humus and sand in equal proportions.

Additional fertilizers are needed during the growing season (early spring - late autumn). You can use universal complex fertilizers for decorative foliage plants. They are added to water for watering the soil. It is better to apply fertilizer once every two weeks.

If ficus microcarpa is grown in bonsai style, then specialized fertilizers are used.

The tree also responds very well to fertilization through foliar spraying.

Important! To facilitate the process of absorption of nutrients by the plant, fertilizers should be applied only to moist soil.

Pruning and crown formation

In order for the tree to maintain its attractive shape, it also needs to be pruned periodically. It is better to start shaping the crown as early as possible. Ficus is flexible in terms of appearance design, giving the opportunity to let your imagination run wild. Why not an object for lovers of bonsai art?

To obtain a powerful trunk from a young plant, it is recommended to prune it. The direction of the branches is formed using wire. Thick shoots up to twenty centimeters long can also be trimmed. The branches of the crown of the ficus microcarpa achieve strong branches on shoots up to five centimeters.

Rules for transplanting ficus microcarp

Let's touch on how and when it is best to replant ficus microcarpa.
This species is best done every two years. The tree grows very slowly, and in adulthood the trunk practically stops developing. Ficus microcarpa needs replanting more to renew the soil or replace the substrate. This procedure also allows you to examine the condition of the roots located underground. It is better to replant in the spring.

Important! It is better not to replant an adult plant at all, but only to renew the top layer of soil.

The pot for ficus microcarp does not play a special role. It's even better to use the same one that was there. Just clean and wash thoroughly. If you take a new one, make sure that there is a sufficient layer of “old” soil on the roots. Make sure the new pot has drainage holes. Lay drainage (expanded clay or polystyrene foam) in a layer of 2–3 centimeters. Place the tree with soil on the roots and add new soil. Be careful with the fragile roots of the plant.

Important! After transplantficus microcarpaSometimes sheds leaves.This is a consequence of the adaptation process. At the end of the “disease” period, the foliage cover will be restored.

Reproduction methods at home

Ficus microcarpa has several methods:, and. Most often, ficus cuttings and tree layering are used.
Take cut, non-woody branches for cuttings and place them in an opaque container with warm (room temperature) water for a day. It is important to know how to properly cut ficus for propagation. The branches are cut obliquely, at an angle, retreating about a centimeter from the node. After a day, the water is drained, as there is a lot of juice in it. Ficus microcarpa juice is a very strong allergen. Be careful not to get it on your skin. The cuttings are again placed in fresh warm water with the addition of ash. When the roots appear, the sprouts are transplanted into a container with soil and covered with a transparent container. As soon as the young plant puts out new leaves, the container is removed. Also, cuttings can be planted directly into the ground, immersing the stem of the cutting 3–5 centimeters into the ground. covered with a container. It is necessary to monitor the humidity and spray the plant stems with water. Ficuses take root in this way within a month.
Ficus can also be propagated by seeds. They are available in specialized flower shops. The seeds are pre-soaked for a day in a solution of a growth stimulator. Planted to a depth of half a centimeter, at a distance from each other of at least one and a half to two centimeters. The soil for planting seeds should be light and airy. The basis of the soil mixture should be peat and leaf soil. You will also need a lot of sand. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed until smooth. After planting the seeds, the soil is thoroughly sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with film or glass. You need to make sure that the soil is always moist every day. Every day, it is advisable to remove the protective film for about fifteen minutes, allow the sprouts and soil to “breathe,” and evaporate excess moisture. When the first leaf appears on the seedlings, each sprout is cropped into a separate container.