The homeland of the ficus microcarp is the forests of the southeastern part of Asia, the south of China and the northern part of Australia. The plant's name is based on the external characteristics of its fruit. It is very small: it barely reaches a centimeter. In Greek, the small fruit sounds like "mikros" and karpos ", hence the Russian" microcarpa ".
The plant itself in the wild has impressive dimensions, reaching a height of 25 meters, having a dense and very wide crown. Indoor specimens do not exceed one and a half meters in height. At home, ficus microcarp is grown in the bonsai style and has a miniature size.
Description of ficus microcarp
A striking feature of the appearance of the ficus microcarp is the exposure of part of its root system, which rises above the soil surface and takes on the most bizarre forms. Leaves are oval-elongated, about 5-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, with a pointed apex. The surface of the leaves is smooth, thin leathery, shiny. On the branches, they are located alternately, fastened with a short petiole.
Caring for ficus microcarp at home
Location and lighting
Ficus microcarpa prefers shade and partial shade, and categorically does not tolerate the direct rays of the sun. In winter, the plant cannot be kept on the windowsills near the batteries.
Temperature
Optimum for development is a temperature slightly above room temperature: from 25 to 30 degrees. Moreover, not only the aerial part of the ficus needs heat, but also its roots, so you should not put it on a windowsill or a cold floor in winter.
Watering
The plant needs year-round watering. In summer, ficus microcarp is often watered, trying to prevent the earthen coma from drying out. Moisture deficiency is diagnosed by lethargy and shedding of leaves. In winter, water should be moderate. Excess moisture is fraught with decay of the roots and the appearance of leaf spot.
Microcarpa is sensitive to the composition of water, therefore, watering is carried out with well-settled (at least 12 hours) water at room temperature.
Air humidity
High air humidity is a prerequisite for the development of this plant. At low humidity, the ficus microcarp looks sluggish, susceptible to diseases and pests. In order to prevent these unpleasant moments, it is daily sprayed with water and periodically wiped the leaves with a damp soft cloth.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Ficus microcarp gratefully responds to foliar feeding and fertilization into the soil. It is periodically sprayed with a weakly concentrated solution of mineral fertilizers. Universal fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants are applied to the soil. If the ficus is grown in the bonsai style, then it is better to use specialized fertilizers. To improve the absorption of nutrients and respect for the roots, it is important to apply fertilizer only to moist soil.
Transfer
Ficus microcarp needs a transplant every two years.Since the trunk practically does not increase in size, the main purpose of the transplant is to renew or partially replace the substrate. It is better to replant in the spring. Remember to take care of a good drainage layer.
Pruning and shaping the crown
One of the conditions for giving the plant a special decorative effect is regular spring or autumn pruning in order to form the crown.
Reproduction of ficus microcarp
As a rule, ficus microcarp propagates by cuttings and layering. As cuttings, you can use cut apical, not yet fully lignified shoots. They are placed in the water. After a day, the water is drained: it contains a lot of milky juice isolated by the plant from the cut.
Important! Microcarp juice is a strong allergen, so avoid getting it on your skin.
The stalk is placed in a container with warm water and the addition of a small amount of ash: to avoid decay. After the roots appear, it is placed in a container, and kept under a transparent cover until the leaves appear.
Care in the first days after purchase
Try to decide in advance on the place to place the flower. Recall that it is worth avoiding rearrangements, too bright places, placing the plant near the radiator, in a draft.
- Spray from day one. Do not overdry the soil. To do this, daily feel the substrate to the depth of one phalanx of your finger.
- After two weeks, change the plastic container to a permanent pot, filling it with any all-purpose or specialty potting soil.
- If you decide to grow ficus microcarp in the bonsai style, then observe the conditions listed above and observe with greater pedantry.
- If in the first days of your stay at your home the plant has dropped its foliage - do not be alarmed. This is how the plant reacts to a change of place of residence.
Care difficulties, diseases and pests
- Due to excessive watering, root rot and dark spots on the leaves often occur.
- Due to insufficient watering, the plant looks sick and sluggish, leaves often fall.
- Leaves can also fall off due to cold watering, sudden changes in temperature and drafts.
- At low air humidity in the room, it can be attacked by a spider mite.
Very cool ficus! My favorite: 3 he started my fascination with plants. It is very beautiful both in the form of a bonsai and in arbitrary growth, it looks appropriate in any room. Very unpretentious. If it drops the leaves, you just need to rearrange them closer to the window (if watering is enough), in general, the plant itself will tell you what the problem is, as new leaves quickly appear. It multiplies super quickly and easily - cut any twig from 2 cm into a glass of water. After 5 days, roots appear. I don’t feed mine or filter the water, and everything is fine. But since, for the sake of interest, I transplanted it into a universal store soil, the result: the ficus began to grow 4 times faster, you can imagine what would happen if you still feed) in general, I highly recommend this ficus to everyone, especially those who have no time to fiddle with flowers and for those who want to make themselves bonsai is a good solution
But the shoots after planting in the soil begin to grow, but how to make the same root above the soil?
Hello, my crown has become completely dry, the leaves have all fallen out, you can still save it or this is the end
My ficus once had this exact one. The branches are withered, the leaves have fallen. There was one main trunk. I already wanted to throw it away, but I felt sorry and decided that let it stand, suddenly it would come to life. I watered lightly, as usual. 2 months passed and the ficus came to life. New branches and leaves appeared. Still alive.