Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics under the shade of flowering trees have long become an essential attribute of the meeting of spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. The financial and academic year here begins on April 1, when magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore, many significant moments in the life of the Japanese pass under the sign of their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain types can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply elementary dish for you today. This gravy is one hundred percent universal, as it will suit every side dish: vegetables, pasta, and anything. Gravy with chicken and mushrooms will save you in moments when there is no time or you don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Grab your favorite side dish (you can make this ahead of time to keep it hot), add gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.
Agriculture refers to such types of human activity, the successful outcome of which is not always directly proportional to the efforts made. Unfortunately, nature does not necessarily act as our ally in growing plants, and often, on the contrary, throws up new challenges. Intensified reproduction of pests, abnormal heat, late return frosts, hurricane winds, drought ... And one of the springs presented us with another surprise - a flood.
With the coming of the season dacha works the question arises of growing strong and healthy seedlings of our favorite vegetables: cabbage, tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplant and many other crops. Along with this, the question arises - how to grow decent seedlings and get healthy plants and a decent harvest from it in the future? For example, I have been growing seedlings for more than one season and protecting my garden from diseases with the help of biological preparations Alirin-B, Gamair, Gliocladin, Trichocin.
Let me confess my love today. In love with... lavender. One of the best unpretentious, evergreen and flowering shrubs that can be successfully grown in your garden. And if someone thinks that lavender is a Mediterranean or, at least, southern inhabitant, then you are mistaken. Lavender grows well in more northern regions, even in the Moscow region. But in order to grow it, you need to know some rules and features. They will be discussed in this article.
Having once tasted such an invaluable product as a pumpkin, it is already difficult to stop looking for more and more new recipes for serving it to the table. Pumpkin in Korean, despite its pungency and spice, has a fresh and delicate taste. After cooking, you will need to cover the salad and let it brew for at least 15 minutes. My nutmeg pumpkin is very juicy and sweet, so there is no need to knead it. If the pumpkin is of a different variety, then you can knead it with your hands so that it slightly releases the juice.
Lettuce, as the earliest and most unpretentious green crop, has always been held in high esteem by gardeners. Spring plantings most gardeners usually start by planting lettuce, parsley, and radishes. Recently, the desire for healthy eating and a large selection of greens in supermarkets make gardeners wonder which of these plants can be grown in their beds? In this article we will talk about the nine most interesting, in our opinion, varieties of lettuce.
Another “bonus” is always “attached” to the flowering of indoor roses - capriciousness. When they say that it is easy to grow roses in rooms, they are disingenuous. For flowering indoor roses it is necessary to create literally ideal conditions. And vigilant care, attention and response to any plant signals is the main key to success. True, no matter how capricious roses may be, growing them in a potted format can be quite successful. And attentive flower growers should not be afraid of this.
Pollock is best cooked in the form of a casserole, separating the fillet from the skin and bones. Pieces of fish are mixed with a colorful vegetable set, poured with a sauce of cheese, sour cream and eggs. This fish casserole has presentable appearance, and its taste is a bizarre mixture of subtle nuances. Vegetables and fillets will be soaked in sour cream, the cheese will harden with a golden crust, eggs will bind all the ingredients together. Pieces of fish are abundantly sprinkled with Italian herbs, and pollock acquires an unusual piquancy.
Despite the fact that the calendar spring begins in March, you can really feel the awakening of nature only with the advent of flowering plants in the garden. Nothing testifies to the arrival of spring as eloquently as clearings of blooming primroses. Their appearance is always little holiday After all, winter has receded, and a new garden season is ahead of us. But, besides spring primroses, there is still something to see and admire in the garden in the month of April.
Growing rapidly and turning into wild thickets, hogweed disrupts the existing ecosystem and suppresses all other plants. Essential oils, contained in the fruits and leaves of hogweed, cause severe forms of dermatitis. At the same time, it is much more difficult to deal with it than with other common weeds. Fortunately, today a tool has appeared on the market that can rid your site of most weeds, including cow parsnip, in a short time.
Carrots come in a variety of colors: orange, white, yellow, purple. Orange carrots are dominated by beta-carotene and lycopene, yellow due to the presence of xanthophylls (lutein); white carrots are high in fiber, while purple ones contain anthocyanin, beta and alpha carotenes. But, as a rule, gardeners choose varieties of carrots for sowing not by the color of the fruit, but by the timing of their ripening. We will talk about the best early, medium and late varieties in this article.
Recommend Enough easy recipe pie stuffed with delicious chicken and potato filling. Chicken and potato open pie is a great hearty dish that is suitable for a hearty snack, it is very convenient to take a couple of pieces of this pastry on the road. The cake is baked in the oven for one hour at 180 degrees. After that we put it on wooden surface, after releasing it from the form. It is enough to slightly cool the pastries and you can start tasting.
The long-awaited spring for many indoor plants is the period of the start of active vegetation, and for the majority - the return of their decorative effect. Admiring the young leaves and emerging shoots, you should not forget that spring is also a big stress for all houseplants. Sensitive to changes in conditions and versatile, all indoor crops are faced with much brighter lighting, changes in air humidity and temperature conditions.
You can easily cook homemade Easter cake with cottage cheese and candied fruits, even without any confectionery experience behind you. You can bake Easter cake not only in a special form or in a paper mold. For the first culinary experiences (and not only), I advise you to take a small cast iron pan. Easter cake in a pan will not turn out as high as in a narrow form, but it never burns and always bakes well inside! Yeast curd dough is airy and fragrant.
Fans of miniature bonsai plants do not ignore the ficus Microcarp. Proper molding allows you to get from a bush that looks like an ordinary Benjamin's ficus, a mini-tree with a thickened trunk under a "cap" of green foliage.
Botanical description of the plant
Ficus Microcarpa (lat. - Ficus Microcarpa ginseng), in appearance one of the most colorful and popular in home floriculture, is a representative of the extensive Mulberry family. The birthplace of this evergreen plant is the forests of the tropical region of Malaysia, the Philippines, southern China and Northern Australia. In the wild, Microcarpa is quite aggressive towards neighboring trees, tightly braiding them with its aerial roots. However, at home, it is a slow growing, pretty plant that can be molded into a bonsai style. It rarely reaches a height of one and a half meters, while in its natural environment it grows up to 20 m.
Varieties of ficus Microcarp - Moklame, Albomarginata, Ginseng.
The thickened trunk of a plant of a bizarre shape is, in fact, a continuation of its massive root. This is not a natural property of the plant, but the result of the work of specialists who skillfully cut and stimulate it. by special means. "Regular" Microcarps are similar to Benjamin's ficus.
The bark of the trunk is smooth and tender, easily damaged, gray in color. The leaves may be round, oval, or elliptical in shape.
The plant blooms (only in natural conditions or greenhouses) with syconia - flowers that look like berries, subsequently forming small fruits (up to 1 cm in diameter). Translated into Latin, “microcarp” means small-fruited.
Growing features
With properly organized care, even a beginner and very busy grower can get an excellent result - a beautifully designed mini-tree with a lush green crown. Most important factors in the cultivation of ficus Microcarp:
- correctly chosen place in relation to illumination;
- maintaining temperature regime;
- timely work on the formation of the trunk and crown.
This houseplant perceives any permutation as stress, so it is advisable to find a permanent place for it immediately.
Landing technology and transplant timing
As the ficus grows, it should be transplanted into larger containers (with an increase in diameter of 4-5 cm). Since the stem of the Microcarp grows slowly, transplantation is an infrequent procedure. It is important to choose the right pot and soil mixture.
Choosing a pot and soil
The main requirement for pots for Microcarps is the presence drainage holes. Any flower, including ficus, is more comfortable to be in a pot made of natural clay, not covered with glaze. The porosity of the material allows excess moisture to evaporate through the walls of the container, while more oxygen enters the roots. Although in the presence good drainage ficus suitable pot of any material.
The size of the vessel depends on the size of the root system of the Microcarp. It is desirable that when transplanting, the distance between the roots and the walls of the pot is 2 cm.
For bonsai plants, low, flat models are required. Too large pots are contraindicated for all types of ficuses, since the soil that is not inhabited by roots turns sour in them, causing rotting.
The best option is to purchase soil special composition designed for ficuses. At home cooking after preliminary disinfection, equal parts of leafy earth, turf, sand are mixed, and 0.3-0.5 parts of ash are added to reduce acidity.
How to plant
If there is a need to trim the root system of the ficus Microcarp bonsai, it is advised not to water the soil before the transplantation procedure so that the roots are better cleaned. Trim to 10% of their length. With regular pruning, the roots grow in breadth and thicken.
Expanded clay drainage (possibly from pebbles), a layer of new soil is laid in a new container. Install, holding, a tree in the right place (in the center or shifting from it) and fill the voids with earth. To compact it, lightly tap on the pot.
If there is no need to disturb the roots, the plant is transplanted by transshipment.
When is it time to transplant
Usually, immediately after purchase, Microcarp shop ficuses need to be transplanted, as they grow in poor peat soil. They do this after two or three weeks, giving the plant time to adapt the plant in a new place - “moving” and transplanting at the same time become too much stress for it. Nevertheless, a tree can still respond to a transplant with a slight loss of foliage.
An adult ficus needs to be transplanted no more than once every three years. Plants of the first years of life are transplanted annually in the spring, when it will be easiest for the trees to adapt to the new soil. Sometimes only the top 2-3 cm of soil is replaced (if there is no need to increase the size of the pot).
Subtleties of care
Normal room temperature is quite suitable for ficus Microcarp: in summer, its optimal level is 25-30 ° C. In winter, the flower tolerates its decrease to 17-18 ° C, but when the thermometer falls to 16 ° C and below, it suffers, and if it gets cold for a long time, its roots can freeze and the plant will die.
Ficus painfully endures permutations, loves Fresh air, but it must be protected from any drafts.
Prefers lighted places, but without direct sunlight on the leaves - a place in the back of the room will do. However, with constant shading, it stops growing, reacts with yellowing and falling leaves. In winter, additional lighting is desirable. It is important to remember: the tree does not tolerate sharp fluctuations in the amount of illumination.
The care of the ficus Microcarp at home also includes the formation of a crown. There are no preferences in this creative process, except for the tastes of the owner. Cardinally cut the plant in the spring, before the start of its active growth, not earlier than it reaches 15 cm in height. Throughout spring and summer, systematic light pruning is carried out - shortening of branches that protrude too much beyond the borders of the crown silhouette (for their uniform development, the ficus pot is periodically rotated around its axis). This procedure is not carried out in autumn and winter.
Rules for watering and feeding
The frequency of watering depends on the degree of soil moisture: they are watered when the soil dries out by 2-3 cm. Usually in summer - two, and in winter - three times a week.
Microcarp loves when its leaves are sprayed with a spray bottle and reacts positively to air humidification. It is desirable that the humidity level in the house does not fall below 50% (optimum figures are 70%). Irrigation is carried out with water at room temperature. It is especially important to spray the tree more often with a spray bottle in winter, when the air in the rooms is too dry. The minimum distance from heating devices to the ficus Microcarp is 2 meters.
Fertilize the plant twice a month with a liquid nutrient mixture for ficuses (possible for palm trees), alternating mineral and organic compounds. In winter, during the dormant period, top dressing is not applied.
Diseases and possible problems
The plant is "interested" in whiteflies, aphids, scale insects, thrips, mealybugs. To combat them, purchased insecticides for home flowers are used.
Microcarp is not susceptible to disease, problems arise with a persistent violation of the rules for caring for it:
- with a lack of light or nutrition, young shoots become thinner, and the leaves on them become smaller;
- if the plant lacks moisture, the foliage turns yellow and falls off;
- leaf fall from green leaves, on the contrary, indicates excessive watering. With prolonged stagnation of moisture in the soil, rotting of the roots begins - while the leaves darken, become stained;
- with a sharp change in the mode of illumination or watering, the tree can also shed its leaves, but after a week or two it adapts to new conditions;
- falling leaves due to low temperatures or constant drafts can lead to its death.
reproduction
Ficus Microcarpa can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, root cuttings and air layering.
seeds
Only the first method allows you to get a three-dimensional sculptural trunk characteristic of Microcarp-bonsai, but only specialists can do it:
- the material for sowing must be stored correctly, otherwise its germination is sharply reduced;
- sowing is carried out in the spring after preliminary moistening and stratification of seeds;
- they are placed in a flat container on a layer of drainage and moistened, slightly compacted soil, slightly sprinkled with a layer of sand and covered with a transparent material to create greenhouse conditions;
- keep at an extended daylight hours at a temperature of 22-25 ° C - two to four weeks until sprouts appear and then until two true leaves appear;
- dive and grow with constant spraying;
- two months after picking, they are seated at a permanent place of growth;
- in the “grown” ficuses of Microcarp, the trunks and leaves are removed, after which the roots are transplanted, leaving most of them above the ground.
Thus, home attempts to get a Microcarp tree with a trunk from seeds characteristic appearance Without proper experience and skills, they are most often doomed to failure.
cuttings
For propagation by apical cuttings, semi-lignified shoots are cut, kept in water for 10-20 hours to remove the milky juice contained in them and rooted in clean warm water. It is periodically changed to fresh, adding a little ash from decay.
After the roots appear, they are planted in the soil and covered with glass or polyethylene until the leaves appear. Ficus Microcarp, obtained by cuttings, looks similar to Benjamin's ficus, which is familiar to many.
Air layers
Ficuses grown by cuttings propagate by air layering:
- stepping back from the top about 50 cm, cut off the bark from the trunk by 8-12 mm;
- the cut is wrapped with moistened moss and on top with a film;
- after three weeks or a month, roots grow in this place, after which the crown is cut off and planted.
root processes
Adult, fully formed plants are propagated by root shoots: a small part of the root is cut off and planted, leaving 2.5 cm above the soil surface. They create the effect of a greenhouse with a film, water it once a week, not forgetting to ventilate regularly. After the appearance of the sprout, they are looked after in the usual way.
Microcarps with a characteristic appearance cannot be obtained by any means other than growing from seeds.
Ficus Microcarp does not require high costs time and effort to care for him, while being original decoration rooms decorated in any style. Following simple rules, not only a specialist, but also an amateur far from floriculture, can grow it in its usual form and form a bonsai tree.
Ficus microcarpa (Ficus microcarpa) is a evergreen tree relating to mulberries.
Initially, it grew in natural conditions only on the island of Borneo, located in Southeast Asia.
Later, he began to move to Bermuda and to some tropical regions of the United States of America. In the wild, this type of ficus is a very strong and hardy plant. It is sometimes called ficus microcarpa moklamé.
Description
ficus microcarpa in natural habitat is a large epiphytic plant. Settling on big trees, it grows rapidly, forming a lush crown and long but powerless roots. Hanging from the branches of trees, they are a very interesting sight (see photo).
The height of a plant growing in tropical forests can reach 20 meters. Instances living in room conditions, reach 1.5 meters, but most often they are grown in the form of small original bonsai, gradually exposing the roots and regularly pruning the shoots.
The trunk of this ficus is characterized by a gray bark, it has a very smooth, thin and delicate structure, therefore, when indoor cultivation must be handled with care so as not to damage it. The shoots of the plant are covered with small foliage, which can be elliptical, oval or rounded.
During flowering, the ficus microcarp is covered with flowers of an unusual shape resembling berries (syconia). In the future, very small fruits no more than 1 centimeter in diameter are formed in their place. That is why this type of ficus got its name, the translation of which sounds like “small-fruited”.
Often, on the pot of a purchased plant, they also write Ficus microcarpa Ginseng, or Ficus ginseng i.e. "ginseng". These ficuses are grown in a special way. After planting the ficus, it very quickly forms a root, the growth of which is stimulated by special agents and hormones.
When the root reaches a significant size, the ficus is dug up, the trunk is cut off, cleaned and planted in pots, leaving the root above the soil surface, only slightly dug.
Over time, the skin of the roots coarsens and turns into a bark.
The growth of a new shoot is also stimulated with chemicals or branches of other plants are grafted.
At this stage, in the form of a small tree with a large root, the plants enter the store shelves.
To grow bonsai in the future, agents that slow down the growth of ficus are used.
Care in the first days after purchase
At present, ficus microcarpa bonsai with original roots that are strongly exposed to the surface can be easily purchased in specialized stores.
Care for him in the first days after purchase will determine his further condition and proper development.
Important! Bringing a plant home from the store you can’t immediately transplant it, it must go through an adaptation period and get out stressful situation caused by moving to a new place of residence.
The ficus pot should be placed separately from other houseplants for two weeks. At this time, its condition should be monitored and checked for signs of diseases and pests that may not have been noticeable when purchased. If they are found, appropriate treatment should be carried out immediately.
During this period, the plant may shed some of its foliage.. Do not be afraid of this, the loss of leaves is his natural reaction to a change of scenery. You just need to water it regularly and spray it daily, you can add a growth stimulator to the water, and very soon it will begin to produce new, young leaves.
At the end of the quarantine, it is necessary to transplant the ficus microcarp into a new pot with the appropriate soil. Plants in stores are usually kept in containers with transport soil, which contains almost no nutrients.
Important! Immediately after planting, place a pot with ficus in a permanent place of growth, since this species does not respond well to rearrangement. The exception is the summer period, when it is recommended to place it on a balcony or veranda, where it develops well.
Ficus microcarpa: home care
Despite its exotic appearance, ficus microcarpa does not require any special conditions, as well as complex care. It is enough just to study some rules for its content and follow them in the process of growing this unusual plant.
Lighting
Ficus macrocarpa does not love abundant lighting . But, and a strong shadow is contraindicated for him. In this case, it will begin to shed foliage, stretch, and then slow down growth and lose its decorative effect.
Therefore, for it you need to choose a place in the western or eastern part of the room, preferably at some distance from the window.
Temperature
This type of ficus refers to heat-loving plants. Therefore, in the spring and summer, he needs to provide an air temperature of 25 to 30 degrees. In autumn and winter, it is reduced, but not below 16 degrees.
At the same time, the temperature should be constant, the plant reacts negatively to its changes, as well as to drafts.
Watering
Ficus microcarp should be watered as needed after it dries out. upper layer substrate. Frequent overflow threatens to rot the root system, and long-term shortage of leaf abscission. Water for irrigation should be purified or settled and at room temperature.
Humidity
Ficus microcarp is not required for normal life high level humidity, 70 percent will be enough. If it is lower, then you need to increase the number of sprays of the plant and the space around it.
You can place the plant pot in a tray filled with pebbles or sphagnum moss, which must be moistened daily.
Soil and fertilizer
For this type of ficus requires light, nutritious soil with low acidity. To compile it, you can use the following proportions:
- Sod land - 2 parts;
- Leaf land - 1 part;
- humus earth - 1 part;
- Coarse sand - 1 part.
In spring and summer, plants are fed every 2 weeks using complex mineral fertilizers. Starting in the fall, it is reduced to 1 time per month.
Before fertilizing, ficus microcarp must be watered to prevent burns of the root system.
Pruning and crown shaping
To maintain the beautiful shape of the crown of the plant, it is necessary to carry out regular pruning of newly grown branches.
They are usually allowed to form up to 10 pairs of leaves and then shortened to 3.
If a sufficiently small specimen was purchased and it is supposed to be grown as a bonsai, then when it reaches a height of 15 centimeters you need to cut the top to stimulate the active development of side shoots, with the growth of which in the future to lead the formation of the crown, the selected form.
A few more tips for caring for ficus microcarp and shaping its crown in this video:
Ficus microcarpa - transplant
Since the trunk and root system of the ficus microcarp grow rather slowly, one transplant in two years is enough for the plant. This should be done in early spring so that it can easily take root and begin to develop rapidly further.
It is necessary to transplant this type of ficus into a pot no more than 5 centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one.
It needs to be poured into good layer drainage and new nutrient soil.
The ficus should be carefully pulled out of the container, the roots should be cleaned of soil residues and cut off by 10 centimeters.
After that, it must be placed in a new pot, compact the soil and slightly moisten it.
The plant must be placed in a shaded room before rooting.
reproduction
This plant can be propagated by air layering and seeds. But, these are quite laborious methods, while sometimes ending unsuccessfully. Most often, ficus microcarp is propagated by cuttings. using apical cuttings about 10 centimeters long.
You can take those that remain after trimming. For their planting, you need to prepare boxes with a drainage layer and a mixture of peat and sand. planting material for several hours it is recommended to put it in a container with a growth stimulator solution, and then plant it out. Boxes should be placed in a warm, shaded area.
Within a month, the cuttings should form roots. After this time, the seedlings need to cut off all the foliage, leaving only the topmost pair.
After half a month, it is necessary to carry out the first feeding of young plants. After a few months, when they are well strengthened, they can be seated on individual pots, with a diameter of not more than 10 centimeters.
Possible diseases and pests
With improper care, ficus microcarpa can be infected spider mites, upon the appearance of which, the leaves are entangled in cobwebs, and then fall off.
If the foliage of the plant has become sticky, it means that the scale has settled on the plant.
In these cases, you should immediately wash all parts of the ficus with a solution of green or laundry soap, and then spray with an insecticide solution.
Of the diseases for this type of ficus, the most dangerous root rot that occur with excessive watering. In this case, it is necessary to transplant the plant into a new soil, after removing the affected areas of the root system, and the rest should be treated with a fungicide.
Types of ficus microcarp
Ficus microcarpa has many names. It is called Indian laurel, green island, Chinese star anise, ficus ginseng or ginseng, blunt ficus or or retuza. They are all the same plant. Currently, breeders have bred its varietal varieties, which differ in the size and shape of the leaves.
Ficus microcarpa is a very original plant, which deservedly enjoys the love of both many flower growers and those who are far from plant growing. It does not require complicated maintenance that takes a lot of time. At the same time, it can be a wonderful decoration for a room made in any style.
Having got a job in the office, I suffered for a long time, because I changed my cozy house, just studded with many flowerpots, on a cold place made of metal and plastic. Therefore, I decided to get myself a small and undemanding “green pet” at least on the desktop.
The plant had to be decorative leafy, low - in general, it should not look too “fun”, otherwise the chef would forbid it. The choice fell on microcarp - not very popular, but nevertheless a worthy genus of ficus.
When I first started to get acquainted with this ficus, I searched a lot for information about it on the Internet. So I found out that a plant came to us from Asia and Australia, where it looks ...
You won’t believe it, but what grows green in our pots by a maximum of 50 cm, in the wild stretches almost to heaven - by 25 meters! Here are some giants such "trees" in the wild can be:
And there, in the wild, microcarp is an epiphyte. It "starts" on another tree, and over time it grows so large that the "support" simply dies.
Varieties of such a ficus
- Ginseng. It is he who in the wild mercilessly crushes the tree on which he grows. But in our homes, this is a completely different plant, bred specifically to please the owner with a thick wicker "calf". This is unpretentious plant from which you can create a beautiful bonsai. The main thing is to feed your pet correctly and on time, otherwise he will become sick.
- Moklam. Miniature ficus, an option for those living in small apartments and office workers. Remember: this “creature” with a dense green crown loves light, so if you don’t have anyone at home until late at night in winter, put a phytolamp on the ficus.
- Variegata. Ficus with colored leaves. Loves the light even more than the Moklamé microcarp.
What care does a microcarp need?
- Lighting. It does not have to be bright, so you can put the pot not only on the windowsill, but also on a shelf or table (even located in the corner). A good option- northwestern or western window sill, and if the ficus is variegated, then eastern or even southeastern. How to understand that the tree does not have enough light? The leaves are shedding.
- Temperature. This plant also does not like heat - your home should not be hotter than 25 degrees. But also make sure that in winter the temperature does not fall below 17 degrees.
- Watering. Always use settled water at room temperature. Make sure the soil does not dry out. Ficus should be actively watered both in summer and in winter. A small amount of water can be poured every 2-4 days, as soon as the top of the soil begins to seem dry to you.
- water procedures. It is difficult here - on the one hand, ficus leaves love spraying - on the other hand, the trunk does not like them, so you need to carefully spray moisture on the tree. Or you can simply wipe each leaf with a damp handkerchief. Ficus also responds well to the proximity of an aquarium or the operation of a humidifier.
- Top dressing. They are brought in from March to October. It can be a universal fertilizer for ornamental leaves (in the summer, choose a product with a nitrogen composition). Nutrition can be applied under the root (after watering), as well as by spraying (diluted with water stronger than indicated in the instructions).
- Pruning. It can be done only once a year, forming a beautiful crown. But if you grow bonsai, take out the scissors at least three times a year (even in winter, because the ficus is actively growing at this time). Do not be afraid: pruning does not harm the tree. And if you want a thick trunk, the top of a young tree needs to be "reprimanded" at a low height.
reproduction
Microcarp can be propagated by seeds and stem layers, but best of all - cuttings.
After pruning, the cutting is soaked for about a day to remove the sticky milky juice of the plant. Then it is rooted in a glass of water (it can be disinfected by adding charcoal).
Got roots? Plant the cutting in peat + sand. For insurance, you can “put on” a jar on a pot, forming a greenhouse. When new leaves appear on the tree, the stalk has taken root - throw away the jar.
Important! It is believed that bonsai can only be grown from microcarps grown from seeds.
Seeds are sown in spring. They are soaked in water (preferably with a growth activator), stratified. Sow in light soil with drainage at the bottom of the pot.
In a bright place under the film, subject to frequent spraying, the seeds will germinate after 2-4 weeks. As soon as you see a few leaves, you can plant the sprouts in a larger container. And after 2 months, each seedling can be "gifted" a separate pot.
Transfer
It is done every 2-3 years. The ideal time is spring (beginning of the microcarp growing season). And do not forget to lay a thick layer of charcoal or expanded clay on the bottom of the pot - without such drainage, the ficus roots can start to hurt with any excess watering.
When transplanting from the roots, you need to remove all the old soil (the least traumatic - do not pick it off, but rinse the roots in a basin).
- Priming. Should always be breathable and loose. Does the store offer ready-made soil for ficuses? He will suit you. If this is not the case, mix 2 shares of hardwood and sod land, 1 share of sand and peat, adding a little charcoal here.
- Pot. The new vessel should be 2 cm wider than the old one + slightly deeper than it.
Important: after you planted the ficus in fresh soil, you can not feed it for 2 months - during this entire period, the microcarp will draw nutrients from the soil.
If, after transplanting, the tree begins to “fall”, then you have damaged the root.
The same “diagnosis” is observed when the roots rot, and then only transplanting, cutting off all that is superfluous and rubbing the sections with activated charcoal can save your plant.
Do you want your ficus not to stretch up, but to be squat and have a thick stem, like any decent bonsai? Here is how such a tree is “made”:
By the way! Did you know that bonsai is not a type or variety of certain plants, but a technique for growing them? So you can grow a miniature pine or a fat woman in a pair with a microcarp.
Briefly about the bonsai technique - in this video:
Just bought: what to do next
- First, before buying, choose a window sill for this plant. The microcarpa hates rearrangement, so immediately put the pot where the ficus will be throughout its life.
- Secondly, such a ficus does not like three things: drafts, direct sunlight, dry air from the radiator. Based on this, choose a window sill.
- Thirdly, at first, try to provide the plant with the most humid air. For example, a pot can be placed on a pallet with wet expanded clay.
- Fourthly, do not be afraid if, settling in a new place, the ficus will lose some of the leaves. Spray the tree, and if all the conditions for the life of the ficus are met in the house, after 1.5 months the leaves will begin to grow.
Lastly, it is believed that new apartment microcarp settles down to 2 weeks.
After that, it is advisable to transplant the plant - so you will not only replace the store (probably stuffed with various "anabolics for flowers") soil with fresh and nutritious, but also evaluate the roots. If there is rot somewhere, you will have time to cut it off before the leaves catastrophically fly from the ficus.
When planning to grow their own bonsai at home, many opt for ficus. And this choice is really justified. Some types of ficus have all the characteristics that are needed for growing bonsai:
- branched roots;
- interesting, ornate, massive trunks - curved or corrugated;
- beautiful bark - light and smooth in some species and more textured and colorful in others;
- fast growth - you can grow a ficus bonsai in two to three years;
- small leaves - not all ficuses have small leaves, but we will select the types of ficus suitable for creating bonsai.
The first step in growing ficus bonsai is choose the right look.
What types of ficus are suitable for creating bonsai?
There are several of them - these are ficuses:
- Bengal (Ficus benghalensis),
- benjamin (Ficus benjamina),
- carica or fig (Ficus carica),
- microcarp (Ficus microcarpa),
- dark-leaved (Ficus neriifolia),
- blunt / retuza (Ficus retusa),
- rust red (Ficus rubiginosa),
- ginseng / ginseng (Ficus ginseng).
Let's look at photo bonsai grown from each suitable type of ficus and accurately determine the type.
Ficus bonsai photo.
| Bonsai grown from Bengal ficus. | |
| Ficus benjamin bonsai. |  |
| Ficus karika bonsai. |  |
| Bonsai from a dark-leaved ficus. |  |
| Ficus microcarpa bonsai. |  |
| Ficus retuza bonsai. |  |
| Rusty red ficus bonsai. |  |
| ficus ginseng bonsai |  |
Now that we have decided on kind of ficus, it's time to choose the form of bonsai you're after, because you can't create a bonsai without having a concrete result in front of you!
Form for bonsai from ficus.
Usually for ficuses use one of the following forms of bonsai:
Upright, classic or T yokkan. If you are planning to grow your first bonsai, this is the best place to start. Tökkan is characterized by a straight trunk, thick branched roots and a branch-free lower part of the trunk. The number of branches decreases upward.
Incorrect upright or Moyogi. The trunk of such a bonsai is slightly curved in one or more places. The crown does not go beyond the container. The general position of the ficus remains vertical.
Inclined or Syakan. The trunk of the ficus is strongly inclined to one side. With reverse side the roots seem to be twisted.
forked or Sokan. Two trunks grow from a common root. The trunk is shorter - this is a "child". The second trunk is the “parent”. He is taller and fatter. The beauty and complexity of the sokan is in the balance in the thickness and length of the barrels.
broom or hokidachi. Hokidachi style looks simple, but in fact it is complicated. AT the best samples branches and roots should diverge from the trunk equally.
Grove or Yesuehue. One or different types of ficuses are placed in one container, differing in age and thickness of the trunks. The minimum number of ficuses is five.
- root formation,
- stem and crown formation.
How to give ficus bonsai the desired shape?
Roots.
The desired shape of the roots is given by repeated pruning of the main shoot. The plant does not grow up, but in width. In a young ficus, roots and shoots are shortened and planted in a wide container with good drainage.
Pruning of branches and roots is carried out regularly until the trunk reaches the desired volume. Only after that we proceed to the next step - the formation of the shape of the trunk and crown. Consider the formation of roots in bonsai.
Crown.
The desired shape of the leaves is given by trimming. Ficus - very fast growing plant. It needs to be cut to 2-4 leaves after 6-10 new leaves grow. When pruned, the ficus will “bleed” milky juice, which is actually latex. Start trimming from the bottom and move up according to the plan outlined in advance. When cutting ficus branches, use special scissors or simply make concave cuts. Lubricate the cut points with garden pitch.
Use small sharp scissors to cut the bonsai. Only the stems are cut, not the leaves. Trimmed leaves get unkempt appearance and turn brown. The most pruning should be done at the end of winter before rapid spring growth. You can also prune in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, pruning is stopped, as the plant is at rest.
Trunk.
The desired shape of the trunk is given in several ways.
Method one - garter.
The top of the crown is tied to any part of the tree - more often to the base.
Method two - use of wire.
The shape of the trunk is formed using ordinary wire. Use thin wire with insulation. Do not use wire immediately after transplanting bonsai. Wrapping too tightly with wire can lead to scarring. Start at the base of the bonsai and wrap the wire around the trunk. Then follow the branches. After about 6-8 weeks, the ficus will be able to maintain its proposed shape, and the wire can be removed. Cut the wire carefully. Do not try to unwind it - you will most likely break the branches.
Here's how it's done. An example, although not on a ficus, is clear.
Conditions for growing ficus bonsai.
Location.
Ficus can be grown indoors, near a sunny window or on outdoors all year round in warm climates. Direct morning sunlight is preferred; direct midday sun can sometimes be too much - it can burn tender leaves. Ficuses do not like cold drafts and sudden changes in conditions. Make changes gradually.
Watering.
Bonsai trees live in small pots and their soil dries out much faster than in a regular pot with soil. Therefore, close attention should be paid to watering the ficus. Water the bonsai every day, but only a little. Also use an aerosol spray - it will make life easier for the roots, especially on hot days.
Leaves also need extra moisture to be green and healthy. If you keep a ficus bonsai at home, spray it every day. If in winter time ficus stands near the battery, place a bowl of water near it, which, evaporating, will provide the bonsai with the necessary moisture.
top dressing.
Fertilizing a bonsai is essential to its health because the nutrients in the soil are washed out very quickly under conditions of heavy watering. When new leaves begin to appear in the spring, it's time to start feeding the bonsai. Use liquid organic fertilizers or chemical fertilizers diluted twice as much as indicated on the package. Ficus bonsai should be fertilized every two weeks during the growing season and once a month in winter. Ficus reacts to feeding quickly and enthusiastically.
Ficus bonsai transplant.
An adult ficus bonsai should be repotted every two years in the spring using potting mix. After transplanting, water the ficus and place in a dark place for several weeks so that the roots gain strength.
Pests and diseases of ficus-bonsai.
Shchitovki more often than others they attack ficus. Brown or black cones appear on the branches, which contain insects under a protective waxy shell.
Mealybugs appear as whitish-fluffy areas at the base of the leaves and on the roots.
Ficus does not tolerate insecticides containing malathion. in a good way ficus pest control is neem oil.
If your bonsai began to lose leaves for no apparent reason, the reason for this is excessive moisture or dryness. However, a sudden puff of cold air or sudden exposure to bright sunlight can produce the same result. Nothing special needs to be done! Keep the ficus warm, let the soil dry out, and then water little and often. After 3-4 weeks, the leaves will return.
Growing ficus bonsai is a philosophical and long business, be patient and create a masterpiece!
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