Ficus ali (Ficus binnendijkii) is an ornamental plant that is quite popular among flower lovers. A less common name is ficus Benedict. For many gardeners actively involved in indoor plant growing, the culture has long been familiar. Ficus Ali grows wild in warm climates in Southeast Asia. The discovery of the plant belongs to the botanist Simon Benedict.
Florists distinguish several modified forms that differ in external structure and color from the traditional ficus. Taking care of ficus ali at home is quite simple if you study all the subtleties of breeding in advance and follow the advice of experts.
Description of ficus ali
The height of the evergreen shoots of ficus is from 15 to 20 m. Natural plantings resemble real trees with a long trunk. Adult specimens are covered with dark bark. The color of the bark is sometimes heterogeneous, since pale stains prevail on the surface.
The strap-like and narrow foliage looks sharp at the ends. The tops of the slender branches are lowered down.
Each variety has a unique color. The shade of greenery also depends on the habitat of the plant. There are both monophonic and variegated specimens. The length of the leaves does not exceed 30 cm, and the width ranges from 5-7 cm.
A vein protrudes in the center of the plate in the longitudinal direction, enveloping the leaf in half, as if dividing it in two. The side veins are faintly visible, which extend in different directions from the main line.
Home care for ficus ali
Location and lighting
Ficus Ali prefers to grow in a well-lit space. The light from the street should be bright and diffused. This condition is especially important when growing variegated decorative forms. Plain seedlings develop normally even in a semi-shaded corner of the room. It is better to move the flowerpots to the window opening that looks out to the east or southeast. Drafts are unacceptable in the room where the ficus stands. Improper lighting or sudden disruptions in temperature conditions lead to disruption of the life of the plant as a whole.
Temperature
This species is very sensitive to temperature. For the summer months, the optimal environment is to warm up the air to 22-24 ° C, and in winter, you need to ensure that the temperature does not drop below 16 ° C. The need for light for ficus in summer increases significantly.
As soon as the air temperature in the room suddenly drops, the soil in the pot also cools sharply, as a result the tree risks dying. It is not recommended to keep flowerpots dangerously close to air conditioners. Stale air harms the plant, so the room is ventilated daily, taking care in advance that the culture is kept away from drafts.
Air humidity
The moisture parameter does not really matter. Full development is observed at moderate air humidity in the range of 50-70%.If there is a sweltering summer heat outside the window for a long time, foliage is often sprayed from a spray bottle and at the same time humidified the air in the room.
Soil composition
For planting ficus, an earthen mixture is purchased at a store or collected by hand. The substrate can be prepared in several ways:
- Mix 1 part turf, 1 part peat and 1 part sand.
- Adult seedlings are immersed in soil consisting of leafy and soddy soil, sand, peat and humus. Mixing ratio: 2: 2: 1: 1: 1.
- Combine the same amount of leafy soil, turf, sand and peat.
Watering
Watering is started only after the top layer of the soil dries up. The plant is watered if the soil in the pot becomes crumbly. The rest of the liquid is poured from the pan so that the root system does not start to rot.
Top dressing
Top dressing is added from spring to late summer with a frequency of every two weeks. It is recommended to use organic and mineral mixtures in sequence. In winter, the culture is stopped feeding. Nutrients are applied exclusively to the soil. It is undesirable to use fertilizers during spraying. In addition to the main feeding, irrigation water is also supplied with special components necessary for the growth of ficuses.
Transfer
Seedlings with overgrown rhizomes need to be transplanted. The new pot should be one size larger and wider than the previous one. Young trees are transplanted after a year. Ficuses that have reached the age of four or five are transferred to another container every six months.
A third of fresh earth is poured into the prepared flowerpot, and the remaining space is filled with an old substrate. Mature trees are allowed to be planted in old soil. However, at least once a year, you need to remove the top layer and replace it with new soil. The procedure is carried out at a time when the plant is actively building up its green mass.
Ficus Ali propagation methods
Ficus Ali is propagated by cuttings. It takes root quickly. It is better to make blanks in spring or summer. Stem cuttings take root in water. The container is placed in a dark place where the air temperature is 20-25 ° C.
On hot sunny days, the air in the room with the cuttings is humidified. After 3 weeks, when the rooting process is completed, they begin to transplant into the ground.
Growing difficulties
Problems with the growth and development of ficus Ali arise as a result of improper care.
- Yellowing of foliage, loss of turgor pressure - lack or, conversely, excess of light.
- Blackening of leaf blades and gradual dying off - differences in room temperatures with an amplitude of at least 7 ° C.
- Black dots and spots on the back of the plates indicate infection with a fungal infection. These are diseases such as cercospora or anthracnose. The last of them looks like a reddish bloom covering the bark of a diseased tree. If the necessary measures are not taken in a timely manner, the plant can die or lose part of the leaves.
Diseases and pests
The plant is resistant to many diseases. Insects also rarely threaten ground units. Often, the vegetative elements of ficus are attacked by aphids, mealybugs and scale insects.
- The mealybug covers the branches and axils of the leaves with a cotton-like bloom of white. After watering a diseased tree, sticky whitish pellets remain on the surface of the soil.
- Yellowish scale insects infect leaves and stems. They look like an unnatural little bump.
- Aphid foci are concentrated near the heads of the peduncles.
- Stagnant water in a pot threatens the appearance of spider mites or millipedes.
If pests are found, the ficus is gently washed under a warm shower, and the stems are wiped with a damp sponge. It is very difficult to remove spider mites and millipedes, so you will have to completely change the soil in the pot. A soap-alcohol solution is considered an effective agent in the fight against insects. For its preparation, take 1 liter of water, 1 tbsp. alcohol and 1 tsp. soap shavings.All components are mixed until final dissolution. Then the infected areas are washed with a soft sponge.
