Ficus Benjamina is a plant from the Mulberry family. The shrub has rather small foliage. The homeland of such a ficus is India and East Asian countries. It is also found in the northern regions of Australia. Most often, this representative of the Ficus genus lives in damp forest thickets or in the foothills.
There are several versions of the origin of the name of such a plant. According to some sources, the ficus was named after one of the famous botanists, but most researchers assume that it comes from the word "benzoya". For a while, Europeans believed that it was this ficus that served as a source of benzoic resin. Over time, this fact was not confirmed, but the name of the species was preserved. Some scientists suggest that Benjamin's ficus bush was once confused with another Indian ficus, banyan tree, and it was from this word that its name came from.
Ficus Benjamin is quite unpretentious when taking care of at home. Usually, such a plant can cause maximum difficulties in the first months after "moving" to a new place. If the ficus successfully takes root and adapts, further care for it may be minimal. Due to its undemanding nature and high decorative effect, such a plant is very loved by designers and gardeners of living and working spaces.
Description of Ficus Benjamin
Ficus Benjamin can be an evergreen bush or tree with small aerial roots. Its size directly depends on the specific variety and growing conditions. In its natural environment, the plant can turn into a real giant, sometimes reaching up to 30 m in height. At home, such ficuses are able to maintain a miniature shape up to 50 cm or grow up to 3 meters. In general, its growth rate is considered small, but fresh shoots are formed quickly enough. For a year, a bush can grow by about 20 cm.
The foliage of such a ficus is quite thin. It has an oval shape with a pointed end. The color of the leaves can be quite varied. There are varieties with completely green foliage or with various spots, stripes or specks of lighter shades. You will not be able to admire the flowering of ficus Benjamin in indoor conditions. Such a plant is capable of blooming only in greenhouses. During this period, spherical syconia flowers are formed on it, resembling reddish berries.
In home floriculture, this type of ficus is appreciated for its unpretentiousness and decorative foliage. If such a plant is purchased in a store, you need to evaluate the flexibility of its branches and the number of yellowed leaves. The fewer there are, the more likely you are to choose a healthy plant.After the purchase, you must definitely give the flower time to adapt. Usually this period is about 3 weeks. During this time, the bush may begin to lose foliage, responding to a change in scenery. When the plant gets used to the new conditions, it needs to be transplanted from a purchased pot into a permanent one - it will not be able to fully develop in store soil and in a small container the plant will not be able to. For planting, use the appropriate soil mixture. But even after this, the ficus can continue to lose foliage for some time.
Brief rules for growing ficus Benjamin
The table shows brief rules for caring for Benjamin's ficus at home.
| Lighting level | A sunny place is suitable, where direct rays do not fall. In dark rooms, backlighting is necessary in winter. |
| Content temperature | In summer, the optimum temperature is 18-25 degrees; in winter, you can keep a pot with a plant in a cooler place. |
| Watering mode | About 2 times a week in summer, once in winter will be sufficient. Between waterings, the earth should have time to dry out. |
| Air humidity | High humidity is preferable. The bush is regularly moistened from a sprayer, especially often in winter, when the air is dried by heating devices. |
| The soil | The optimal soil is a mixture of turf and leafy earth with sand. Charcoal is added to the substrate. |
| Top dressing | From the beginning of spring until autumn, about twice a month, nutrient solutions are introduced into the soil. Usually mineral compositions alternate with organic ones. |
| Transfer | Young bushes are replanted every year. Adults do not need to be disturbed, but the size of the pot for such ficuses should be at least 30 cm. In this case, in the spring, you just need to update the top 3 cm of the soil. |
| Pruning | You can form the crown of Benjamin's ficus in different ways, turning it into a standard plant or bush. |
| Bloom | At home, flowering is impossible. |
| Reproduction | Layers, cuttings, seeds. |
| Pests | Scabbards, spider mites and mealybugs, aphids. |
| Diseases | Diseases appear due to improper care. |
Caring for ficus Benjamin at home
If you want to choose a plant that can revive the interior of an apartment or house, pay attention to Benjamin's ficus, which has become a real hit not only in indoor floriculture, but also phyto-design and landscaping. What is the secret of its popularity? The answer is very simple - Benjamin's ficus does not need constant care, like many other plants, but in order for its crown to acquire a beautiful juicy green color, it needs an abundant amount of non-directional sunlight.
With proper home care, Benjamin's ficus grows quite quickly, it is worth considering this fact when choosing a permanent place for the plant. Just imagine how your interior will be transformed when the ficus reaches its natural height of 2-3 meters.
Lighting
Ficus Benjamin needs a lot of light, but the sun's rays should not be direct. The east or west direction is considered optimal for cultivation. On the south side, the ficus must be shaded with light tulle or kept a little further from the window. But the north side is considered too dark for the plant and can slow down its development. For the comfort of the plant, phytolamps can be used there.
Variegated ficus forms are more demanding on the level of illumination. The more white spots on the foliage, the more light such a plant needs. This is due to the fact that the white areas of the leaf blades are practically devoid of chlorophyll.
Temperature
Ficus Benjamin is quite thermophilic. In summer, this plant prefers temperatures around 18-25 degrees. Some variegated varieties grow better at higher temperatures. In the summer, you can take the plant out to the balcony or put it outside, making sure that the ficus is reliably protected from strong winds.
Ficus can overwinter quite calmly in standard room conditions, but you can keep it in a cooler corner. At the same time, it should not be colder than 16 degrees. In order to protect the plant from cold drafts, it can be taken out of the room during airing, although it is still not worth moving the container with the flower too often - it can throw off the foliage from the frequent change of conditions.
Watering mode
For watering Benjamin's ficus, use well-settled or even boiled water at room temperature. The plant can react painfully to both overdrying of the soil and strong overflow, therefore, the irrigation regime must be treated carefully enough. The soil should dry out at least 3 cm between waterings. This allows the plant to receive the optimal amount of moisture. In autumn and winter, you can do this about once a week. Excess water from the pan must be drained.
Humidity level
Optimal conditions for growing Benjamin ficus involve high humidity. Periodically, the foliage of the plant must be sprayed. Especially often it is advised to do this in winter, when heating devices are working, or during the heat of summer.
If it is constantly impossible to spray the bush, you can humidify the air using wet pebbles on a pallet. Sometimes a slightly warm shower can be arranged for the plant. Typically, this procedure is carried out about once every 20 days. It will not only help cleanse the foliage of the plant, but will also prevent the appearance of some pests that prefer a dry environment.
Capacity selection
Young specimens of Benjamin ficus are distinguished by more intensive growth, so each year they are moved to a larger pot. It should exceed the size of the old one by about 2.5 cm. But when the plant reaches 4 years of age, the transplant can be stopped.
To protect the plant from stagnation of water in the ground, it is necessary to select containers with drainage holes. In this case, the material of the pot can be any.
The soil
For healthy growth, Benjamin Ficus needs a suitable, neutral nutrient soil. Its composition may include leafy soil, turf and sand. Sometimes peat and charcoal are added to them. A universal soil for growing ficuses is also suitable. A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the planting tank. Periodically, the soil in the pot can be loosened slightly.
Top dressing
The bush must be fed only during the growing season. It starts in March and ends around October. At this time, liquid top dressing is applied to the soil every couple of weeks. You can alternate mineral mixtures with organic compounds, as well as use the foliar application. For this, the concentration of the solution is slightly reduced.
The feeding mode can be changed depending on the season. In the first spring months, when the plant is only activating its growth, you can fertilize it about once a month. Starting in May, you can feed him once every 3 weeks, and in the summer, increase the frequency up to 2 times a month. In this case, it is especially important not to overfeed the ficus with nitrogen. From its overabundance, the motley foliage of the bush can change its color to green.
Transfer
The first four years of life, Benjamin's ficus grows very actively. Because of this, such plants need to be transplanted more often - once a year. Older specimens no longer touch, but simply renew the topsoil with it. The exceptions are plants that are too cramped in their capacity. This can be judged by several signs:
- The roots of the plant have braided the soil ball too much;
- The soil in the pot dries out too quickly;
- Ficus roots are visible in the drainage holes.
Transplants are also carried out for diseased plants, if the situation requires it. But it is possible to transplant the Benjamin ficus bush only with the help of careful transshipment - the roots of this plant are quite fragile. After moving to a new container, the bush is not watered for a couple of days and is not fed for about 2 weeks.
Pruning
The crown of this plant is easy to form.That is why Benjamin's ficus is often used as the basis for bonsai trees. Young plants with flexible branches are the easiest to form, so it is not worth delaying the choice of shape.
Pruning and pinching of shoots is carried out from spring to late September. Cutting off more than 35% of the branches at a time is not recommended - this will weaken the plant too much. In general, pruning allows you to maintain the immunity of the ficus by removing weak or diseased branches, as well as thinning the crown, which creates air exchange. So that juice does not flow out of the slices, they are treated with coal powder.
Most often, ficus is formed in the form of a bush. To do this, in the spring, its branches are slightly shortened. The main shoots should be about 15 cm, and the side ones should be about 10 cm. If the crown is too thick, thin it out a little, removing the branches looking inside the bush.
Another form of formation is a tree. Such a ficus is a trunk that turns into a cap of twigs. The stamp form is obtained by removing the lateral branches of the plant. Often, florists plant several plants, formed in the form of a tree, in one container at once, and effectively intertwine their trunks, securing them with clamps. Growing up, they form a kind of plait or braid. If such ficuses were not planted too closely, such an interlacing may not close, but remain voluminous and delicate.
Bloom
At home, flowers do not appear on such a ficus, but in nature or during greenhouse cultivation during the flowering period, the plant forms syconia - a special type of inflorescences that resemble round berries. But even in greenhouses, such flowers are usually removed. Their formation takes away too much energy from the plant and can significantly weaken it.
How long can you leave the ficus without leaving for the duration of the vacation?
The unpretentiousness of Benjamin's ficus allows you to leave it unattended for about a week. If the owners of the plant leave somewhere, it is necessary to remove the plant further from the window. But a long absence of watering can negatively affect the health of the plant, therefore, in the case of a long absence, you should take care of drip irrigation or ask your friends to look after the flower.
Reproduction methods of ficus Benjamin
Cuttings
The Benjamin ficus growing at home is fairly easy to propagate by cuttings. A sharp and pre-disinfected instrument is used to separate the cuttings. Moderately adult twigs that are only slightly woody are optimal for the procedure - too young shoots will not root. Apical processes with at least 2 pairs of leaves are also suitable for this.
The juice protruding on the cut is washed off with water. To speed up root formation, a small incision can be made at the base of the cutting. After that, it is placed in a container with water, and covered with a transparent bag on top. The roots of such a cutting appear within two weeks. After that, it is immediately planted in its own pot, holding the seedling under the bag for some time. Watering such a plant should not be too abundant until it finally gets stronger.
Layers
In order for the ficus to form a layer, a ring-shaped incision is made on the stiff trunk of the plant, trying to touch only the bark, and not the wood itself. A layer of bark is carefully removed from this area, and then wrapped in wet moss and covered with a film on top. After a while, roots will begin to appear in this place. After their formation, the layers are cut off and planted in their own container. The cut site is treated with coal or garden pitch.
Growing from seeds
Before sowing, the seeds of Benjamin's ficus must be kept in clean water for a day. After that, they are sown in a wet peat-sand mixture, deepening by about 0.5 cm. From above, the crops are covered with foil and placed on a heating device. The container will need to be ventilated regularly and the soil will need to be moistened with a spray bottle if necessary. The first shoots will appear within two months.
Diseases and pests
The main problem of ficus Benjamin is a sharp drop in leaves, which can be caused by a variety of factors. Most often, the leaves fall off when the ficus is grown in dry air or when the plant is placed near heating sources. Drafts, lack of light, a change in plant location, hypothermia, excessive or insufficient watering can also be the cause of leaf fall. In most cases, if the cause is eliminated, the leaves will soon grow back.
Sometimes the falling of the lower leaves is a natural process that occurs as the plant develops and matures.
Among the main problems that fans of the Benjamin ficus also face:
- Young shoots are too thin. The plant lacks light or nutrients.
- The foliage withers and curls. A symptom of too cold air.
- The tips of the leaves begin to turn brown. The air in the room is too dry.
- Yellow or brown spots appear on the leaves. This may look like sunburn marks, the plant must be removed from direct light.
- The foliage turns yellow. The cause may be putrefactive processes of the root system, provoked by overflows.
- The leaves became soft. Ficus is overcooled. It is necessary to adjust the temperature of the content.
Among the main pests of Benjamin's ficus are scale insects, spider mites and mealybugs. Sometimes aphids settle on a flower. Some pests can be defeated with a solution of laundry soap. If this method does not help, it is worth resorting to insecticide treatment.
Ficus Benjamin varieties with photos and names
Ficus Benjamin has a number of varieties and varieties. Each of them has its own distinctive properties.
Exotic
The Exotica variety is undemanding to care for and a fairly compact variety. It has rich green foliage with wavy edges. This variety is most often recommended for growing to novice growers.
Danielle
In appearance, ficus Daniel is almost indistinguishable from Exotic. But the foliage of this variety has a larger size - up to 6 cm.
Monique
Popular indoor variety. Monique is a green-leaved ficus. The related variety Golden Monique has golden-green foliage, which acquires a uniform green hue with age. Such a plant is considered a little more capricious.
Reginald
One of the most popular varieties of Benjamin ficus. Reginald has a variegated color: on its greenish foliage there are a variety of pale green stains. The edge of the sheet plates is even.
Kinky
It has bright green leaves with a light green border. In Kinki, they do not exceed 5 cm in size. The variety needs constant pruning and is very easy to shape.
Nicole
The leaf blades of Nicole ficus have an interesting pattern: the leaf itself is painted in a dark green color, and its graceful border has a very light color.
Starlight
A very effective variety of ficus. The foliage is up to 6 cm in size and is more than half colored in shades of white. This feature makes the plant especially sensitive to a lack of lighting, so for such a ficus you will have to choose a lighter corner.
Barok
An original variety with small twisted and shiny leaf blades. Thanks to this, it looks very unusual and attractive.
Signs associated with Benjamin's ficus
There are a number of signs and beliefs associated with Benjamin's ficus. But the reputation of the plant in different countries is radically opposite. Some people assume that such a flower can badly affect the personal life of its owner, driving men away from her house. If the ficus is in the house of a married woman, her marriage may fall apart. But in the eastern countries - Thailand and China - this ficus is revered as the guardian of family happiness.
Hello! Help save Benjamin's ficus 8. The fact is that since spring, the top of the main trunk along with the leaves began to dry on my ficus, I cut it off, everything seemed to be fine, but at the end of summer I discovered this problem again, a couple of branches turned black and dried up below my cut, the trunk was rotten and soft in the area where the branches have dried up, which seems strange. I transplanted the ficus into another pot, after a week all the leaves from above turned black before pruning. I removed them, the branches are not dry yet, but gradually dry up.
There was a similar problem. Leaves began to fall off, branches to dry up. I tried to increase / decrease watering, played with place and light / shadow. The addition of a new land helped, though I don't remember the proportion. Try adding fresh soil, if that doesn't work, try another fertilizer.
There was a wonderful bonsai from ficus - it was standing on a cabinet 1.5 m from the window, in winter the seller advised to put it on the window - but they turned on the heating and the plant dropped its leaves and never recovered. ...
Hello!
Please tell me what to do with a young bush of ficus benjamin. The fact is that I am a beginner florist and I have a couple of questions:
1) What should I do if a flower begins to shed leaves in large quantities even though the ground is wet?
2) How to start making a trunk in the form of a pigtail or some other?
3) How to understand when it is time to transplant the bushes into a new pot?
As a gift, I received a wonderful ficus benjamin flower. At first, it grew well, the leaves are juicy green. I'm new at this. Now the leaves of the ficus have turned purple, although I maintain the moist soil, I removed the flower from the sunny side. Can you please tell me how to save the gift? Happy New Year to all flower growers !!!
I also have a problem: the ficus is 15 years old, everything was fine, but this year it was brought in late from the terrace and it threw off almost all the foliage. Previously, there was also autumn leaf fall, but not to such an extent. How to restore leaves on a plant?
I have a young ficus tree, and when he completely threw off the leaves, I completely pulled it out of the pot and changed the whole earth, after which I did not water it and just left it not on the windowsill. Lived up a month later on my own
where did you put it. (not on the windowsill)?
Irina, my son brought his ficus plant with almost dried leaves. It turned out that he was standing in the water, although there was not much of it. I want to transplant it into fresh soil, following your example. But I don’t know if you need to somehow clear the roots? I ask for your advice.
Regards, Tatiana.
In my experience, two benjamin bushes disappeared, I dragged around with them like with small children, but based on the experience of my mother-in-law, I bought a third bush and put it on the windowsill where the window is practically open all year round, and I don’t fill it! ugh ugh, a handsome man is growing!
My wife, 5 or 6 years ago, bought Benjamin's Ficus variegated - 30 centimeters. He grew up 110 cm, lives on a windowsill, his name is Kucheryavy. He is more sensitive, he cannot live without watering and rain - which I give him in the bathroom. From constant sunbathing - the foliage will crumble, watch him closely. After 3 or 4 years, his wife transplanted him into a larger pot. Once the family went to the dacha, I worked in Moscow and looked after him, but somehow I went on vacation to my family for two weeks ... and when Kucheryavy returned, he lost a lot of leaves. I was very upset - I dripped it in and with rains restored the population of leaves and no longer leave it for a long time !! He is my best friend: always happy, does not ask many questions, loves light and water !!
Leon, is that you?)
I just thought about it)
There should be a good drain, do not soak the roots, they should not stand in the water. The pot should be in a warm place, not cooled from the window, in winter it is preferable to add artificial lighting, since there are many great lamps on sale. And the ficus will thank you with a beautiful view that pleases the soul!
We also have such trees. You grew already 65-80 cm high. Everyone seemed to grow well, we transplanted them into other pots when we grew up. Everything seemed to be good. They watched the watering. Quite recently, all of a sudden, almost all of the leaves turned yellow. I don’t know what will happen. They poured it well and exposed it to the sun outside. Maybe it will come to life.
In general, this is a Japanese beretsklet. and he is not so unpretentious. You should always look at what, where and how he doesn't like it, or something happened
In Spain, these ficuses, both variegated and just green, grow on the streets, up to three meters and a little higher. Within the city, they are cut to a spherical shape. Temperature drops in autumn and especially in spring from 20 to night +3, in winter and minus is in the morning -3. Sidny walking winds, of course, the sea has high air humidity. And in the summer, the sun shining down to 40 can be. Watering is supplied to each tree. So look whimsical or not.
Help save the ficus. The fact is that he suddenly seemed to "cry". And the whole bush
This is a pest - a scale insect.
Good afternoon, I bought a ficus plant, I have been dreaming for a long time. Tell me, please, can I transplant it into a larger pot, the diameter is now 15 cm, height is about 1 meter. What is the diameter of the pot you need?
Hello. Help me please. some kind of plaque appeared on the leaves, the leaves became sticky, like the plant did not become, but it doesn’t look very good.
Check the leaves and stem. There are pests on the tree.
This is a shield. It is difficult to fight, but it is possible.
Hello, I also have a ficus, but I don’t know Benjamin or not, my mother gave it to me two years ago, but it’s good, not big, well, not small, I like it
The information was very useful for me. I can say not a beginner, but not very experienced, I have too many different colors and almost every one needs a peculiar approach. So thank you very much for the useful information.
Greetings to all! Thanks for a lot of valuable advice. Judging by the questions the cat is asked, obviously not everyone has read the tips, here they are:
Leaves wither and curl - low air temperature.
The tips of the leaves turn brown - dry air, insufficient humidity in the room.
New shoots are thin, and the leaves on them are small - a lack of light, a lack of nutrients.
Yellowing of leaves - excessive waterlogging of the soil.
I have had ficus for several years, but somehow it does not grow. In addition, two nearby trees (intertwined with the main trunk) completely disappeared. I revived the plant a little, but its appearance is not very decorative: a trunk and a cap of leaves. Some not smart at all. Question: is it possible for the formation, to cut it off now, in August? Or is it possible only in the spring? I want to root the cuttings and plant them next to their "mother".
Please help me not to lose the plant
Read carefully https://ene.tomathouse.com/pochemu-fikus-bendzhamina-sbrasyvaet-listya/
Hello, tell me what is normal with ficus leaves or some kind of disease or pests, what should I do?