How often to water a ficus
Ficus should be watered no more than 2 times every 7 days. With the first cold weather, the amount of watering is gradually reduced. From mid-autumn it is recommended to reduce them to once a week, and from December - once every 10 days.
What a healthy ficus should look like
Water quality for ficus
The best option for watering the plant is rainwater. In winter, you can use melted snow. If you have the opportunity to visit springs regularly, then fresh spring water, which has unique properties, will have a positive effect on the ficus.
For your information! You should refrain from using tap water. It does not have a very good effect on the soil and the plant as a whole. It needs to be left for at least a day.
In special cases, when watering, you can use tap water if no other options are provided. First you need to take water, boil it in advance, and let it cool. To make the water cool faster, you need to divide the volume into several cans and let them settle. Only after everything is done can you water the plant with this water.
To prevent the possibility of flower growth stopping, it is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer twice a month from March to the end of August. Such a move will saturate the soil with all the necessary components and stimulate the healthy growth of the ficus.
The most popular fertilizers suitable for ficus benjamina:
- "Multiflor Aqua";
- "Good Power";
- "Bona forte";
- "Flower Happiness"
Important! Each fertilizer comes with instructions for use. You can also find completely different volumes of the product, some last up to 500 uses.
Fertilizer for home plant care
Varieties
Ficus belongs to the mulberry family and has about 2 thousand species of plants. Among them there are very unusual in structure and appearance. About 20 varieties of flowers are grown at home. They are not always similar, but share similar requirements for care and cultivation. Here are the most popular indoor ficus plants.
Ficus benjamina
Ficus benjamina is a small tree with dark green leaves with wavy edges, unpretentious to the conditions.
Rubber-bearing
Rubber-bearing plant is a beautiful plant, reaching two meters in height. It is distinguished by its characteristic large fleshy leaf blades, sometimes framed by a yellow edging.
Bengal
Bengal - a tree unique in its shape, has a large number of aerial roots descending vertically from the branches. It grows both in height and width, requiring sufficient space.
Dwarf
Dwarf - a shrub with thin flexible shoots; in a young plant the leaves reach 2-3 cm, have an oval shape, a bubbly surface, and are evenly green and spotted in color.
Safari
Safari is a tree with dense marbled elastic foliage twisted towards the center. It grows slowly and requires sufficient light.
All types of indoor flowers are not capricious. They take root well if they are protected from drafts, receive enough light, and are provided with regular, moderate watering.
Plant care includes the following main activities:
- correct location of the plant indoors;
- timely irrigation;
- high-quality feeding;
- transplantation as needed;
- treatment in case of illness.
Content and coverage
For the tree, select a place near a window, on a windowsill on the east or west side of the house. The plant feels normal both at +25.30°C in summer and at +16.20°C in winter. Sudden temperature changes have a negative effect on the life of flowers. In the summer, it is permissible to take the pots out into the fresh air, however, if the conditions in the usual place are comfortable, it is not recommended to move the ficuses again.
Make sure that the green mass receives diffused light. Direct sunlight can create burn spots on leaf blades. Variegated varieties are also susceptible to light. With its deficiency, the marbled color of the leaves disappears. The plant loses its decorative properties.
Ficus loves fresh air, but it needs to be ventilated with caution. Make sure that the flower is not affected by air currents. Avoid excessive cooling of the room. A draft may cause the leaves to drop. In this case, the plant may lose its crown on one side.
Signs of improper watering
How to water dracaena for proper growing at home
Despite the fact that ficus is a fairly unpretentious plant, it is negatively affected by improper watering, regardless of whether it is a lack of liquid or, conversely, an abundance. Among the main signs that clearly make it clear that the plant needs to adjust the course of watering or water quality are:
- the gradual appearance of rot on the roots, trunk, and leaves of the plant. This sign is characterized by waterlogging; moisture stagnates in the pot. This can also cause fungal diseases;
- If the rubber ficus stops growing and leaves with yellowed edges can be seen on the lower parts of the plant, most likely the plant does not have enough liquid or useful microelements. In this case, it recommends fertilizing and increasing the number of waterings per week for a while.
Note! It is equally important to take care of adjusting watering depending on the air humidity and temperature of the room in which the ficus is located.
What are the consequences of improper watering?
If you water the plant, completely ignoring all the conditions, this can lead to the flower being affected by various diseases or even the death of the ficus. A similar attitude towards the plant is also manifested through the appearance of pests on the leaves. The most common problems associated with improper watering that does not correspond to the season or air humidity are:
- loss of leaves, appearance of yellow spots on both sides of the leaf blade of the flower;
- slow development of a dull shade on the leaf blades of the ficus and complete loss of the bright green shade.
If the rules are ignored for a long time, the ficus tree dries out completely.
For novice gardeners, it will be difficult to adjust the watering and fertilizing plan, so it is recommended to focus on the standard scheme. For experienced gardeners, it will not be difficult to determine when the plant exactly needs the addition of liquid based on the dryness of the soil.
What does improper care lead to?
Features of the procedure in cold and warm seasons
The rules for caring for ficus are divided into winter and summer periods. This is due to changes in air temperature and humidity.
Winter period
How to water indoor flowers for rapid growth and abundant flowering
The cold season means not only winter, but also the end of autumn, when the weather becomes more severe and frosty. It is on such days that the flow of sap in the trunks and leaves of plants slows down, so it does not need as many micronutrients as before. In order to prevent plants from dying and causing diseases and pests, you need to water the ficus no more than 2 times a month.
Since, in addition to the standard application of liquid to the soil, there is also a method of watering by spraying, as well as a contrast shower, it is recommended to exclude the last two procedures so as not to injure the leaves of the flower.
For your information! It is best to wipe the surfaces of the leaves with a damp swab to clean them and re-hydrate them a little.
Summer period
From the beginning of spring until the last warm autumn days, stable or low air humidity remains. During this period, plants more than ever need more frequent moistening and irrigation of the soil, as well as the supply of more microelements. It is during this period that growth activation occurs; therefore, the plant is watered once a week. In addition to standard soil irrigation, it is recommended to practice a warm shower once every 30 days, and spraying once every 15-20 days.
What ficus looks like in summer
Indicators that indicate a lack of moisture
Now you know that proper watering of ficus is of great importance not only for the plant itself, but also for humans. However, even knowing the basic theoretical information, novice flower growers can begin to make various mistakes, which sooner or later will lead to dire consequences.
Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the main indicators that indicate insufficient moisture in the air or soil:
- the leaves began to turn yellow and fall off - a sign of a lack of hydrogen in the atmosphere;
- the stems and leaves of the flower sank down - an indicator of lack of water in the soil;
- A white coating has formed on the top layer of soil - it’s time to water the flower.
If such symptoms are detected, you should immediately restore the normal microclimate, and also resort to a resuscitation procedure if necessary. In addition, all yellowed leaves and dried branches should also be removed so that the plant does not spend too much energy on unsuccessful attempts to restore them. However, do not forget to treat the cut areas with a solution of garden varnish after this so that they heal faster.
Ficus watering technique
Watering a ficus is one of the easiest tasks, but when adding liquid you need to pay attention to the following points:
- before starting to irrigate the soil, it is recommended to deepen the finger by 6-7 cm. This is done so that the liquid is distributed evenly and a layer of water does not form above the soil;
- After most of the water has been absorbed, you need to slightly loosen the soil. Thus, the earth will be saturated with useful microelements, including oxygen;
- There is no need to rush when watering plants. As you slowly add the liquid, you need to make sure that it does not start pouring out of the pan. As soon as this starts to happen, you need to immediately remove it from there and continue the manipulation after a while.
Ficus Tineke - growing and caring for flowers
The standard fertilization method is quite simple, but in addition to it, you also need to spray the flower. To do this you will need a special liquid sprayer.
Note! If the process of watering the ficus is carried out incorrectly for some time, but the gardener still determines this based on the signs, then nothing bad will happen. You just need to adjust the scheme, which eliminates the possibility of the plant getting other diseases.
Proper flower care
Humidity and spraying
In summer, air humidity decreases, which affects the ficus. In the winter season, on the contrary, it increases, which also entails certain nuances that need to be taken into account when watering the plant.
The ficus itself prefers excessive air humidity, so to create a more favorable environment, periodic watering, regular spraying or rinsing the leaf plates in the shower are required.
Note! Since in many institutions, homes, schools and other buildings, ficus trees are installed to help clean the room from dust, a lot of small solid particles accumulate on their leaf blades. To give the ficus the opportunity to clean the room again, you need to regularly wipe the leaf plates on both sides with a damp sponge or swab.
When the humidity is above 30%, the plants do not need to be sprayed, but if it is below this indicator, then the procedure is carried out with warm or boiled water. The number of sprays is not limited.
Where to put
– Lighting . All ficuses with green foliage should be in a well-lit and bright place. If you don’t have enough light, the ficus shoots will bend, which will lead to a loss of decorativeness. Additional lighting can be used. Or you may need to rotate your ficus pots regularly to provide adequate light to the entire plant.
- Temperature . Try to create the optimal temperature. We do not allow temperature fluctuations. In summer, ficuses love warmth; 22-24 is the most optimal temperature, which should not fall below 18 degrees. But winter is a time of peace. The temperature should be a little cooler - 12-13 degrees.
I do not recommend placing ficus trees on a cold windowsill or floor. This will cause a temperature difference in the soil in the pot. Use trays of warm water - this will warm the pot from below. You can fill the tray with expanded clay and place the pot on it, add warm water.
- Humidity . Ficus plants love high humidity, which must be maintained year-round. Especially in winter, when the heating is turned on and the air in the room becomes much drier. Constant spraying, wiping the leaves with a damp cloth.
Spraying and treating leaves will allow you to remove accumulated dust and also help prevent pests. During winter, expanded clay can also be used in pallets. We fill the trays with water and this will provide additional humidity.
Procedure if the plant is wilted or overdried
If it happens that the bush is under the influence of excessive or insufficient watering, it is recommended to immediately check the entire plant for the presence of diseases or pests. Then you need to carefully examine the root system of the plant for the presence of rotten areas. If there are few of them, it is recommended to quickly remove them.
Proper care means a healthy plant
If spider mites or other pests have already appeared on the plant, they can be washed off with a soap solution. To prepare a soap solution, you will need regular soap diluted in boiled water. A cloth is moistened in liquid and passed over all ficus leaves.
The situation is much simpler if the plants did not receive enough water. You need to thoroughly loosen the soil to saturate it with oxygen, and then slowly pour in the liquid with fertilizer. In this way, you can easily restore the balance that is disturbed in the flower.
Ficus is a rather interesting and simple plant. Its ease of care makes it accessible to many people, and its interesting appearance makes it attractive. But despite this, not everyone knows how to water a ficus at home. But everything actually turned out to be simple.
