Many gardeners are wondering how to properly propagate ficus so that the plant is strong and healthy. This is what will be discussed in this article.
Content
Carefully follow these recommendations from the article so that the culture develops correctly.
How to propagate ficus at home: 4 main methods
- Unfortunately, flowers are not formed on indoor ficuses. Therefore, reproduction is carried out by a vegetative method.
- It is best to start the propagation of culture in April or May, when the roots are active. Plants prefer to grow in warmth, but not under direct sunlight.
There are several ways to propagate ficuses:
- cuttings
- layering
- sheets
- seeds
Further, all of the above methods will be considered in detail. You have the right to decide what to use.
How to propagate ficus with cuttings?
- If you grow ficus at home, you can use the cuttings method. To separate part of the plant, use a disinfected tool so as not to bring the infection into the culture.
- Choose adult branches that have just begun to be covered with a dense bark. In young shoots, the root system does not develop well. You can also use apical processes on which 2 pairs of leaves have already been formed.
- During the separation of cuttings, juice appears on the cut. It must be washed off with warm water. To speed up the process of forming the root system, make a small incision at the base of the cuttings.
- Place it in a glass filled with warm water.
- Cover with a plastic bag so that the plant is warm.
- Within 14 days, roots are formed. After that, you can start a transplant into a separate flower pot.
- In this case, you need to cover it again with a package, literally for 7-10 days. Water the plant with a moderate amount of water until it completely gets stronger.
Reproduction of the ficus with layering
- There is a very interesting method of propagation of ficuses - layering. You can use air and horizontal layering.
- What is the difference between these methods will be told a little later.
How to propagate ficus with air layering?This method is ideal for those cases if a small number of shoots appear on the home ficus. Indeed, because of this, it is impossible to propagate the plant with cuttings.
Air layout propagation technology:
- Decide on the shoot. It should be strong at least 50 cm long.
- Decide on the place where the roots will be formed. This site must be cleaned of leaves.
- Make 2 cuts on the bark. The distance between them should be about 2 cm.
- Process the bare areas with the “rhizome” to stimulate the growth process.
- Wrap the escape wet moss and plastic bag. To prevent air from getting inside, fix the structure with threads.
- Constantly moisturize the moss so that the root system is formed faster.
- As soon as you notice that the root system has already formed, cut the shoot slightly below the roots, and transfer to a permanent place.
If you want to know how much time it takes until the roots form, then it all depends on the care of the layering. On average, this process takes 50-60 days.
How to propagate ficus with horizontal layering? This option is ideal in such cases:
- dwarf varieties of ficus
- switching ficus
- flexible
How to propagate ficus with a process? First, select an adult and healthy plant. On one branch you need to cut the lower leaves, and tilt it to the surface of the earth. Make small holes in the soil and fix the escape.
For fastening, you can use a clip or hairpin. Sprinkle the hole with the earth, and compact a little. Pour a small amount of water. When the root system is formed, separate the escape from the main bush, and transplant to a permanent place.
Seed growing process
- If you decide to breed ficus with seeds, then try to choose the right sowing material. You need to buy it in trusted specialized stores. Pre -place seeds in clean warm water for a day. If some specimens have erupted, then they are not suitable for sowing, and it is better to throw them away.
- High -quality seeds must be planted in a substrate consisting of peat and sand (in equal proportions). The distance between the seeds should be 2 cm, and the depth of sowing - 5 mm. Cover the container with plastic film, and put near the heating device.
- Remove the film daily to ventilate the sowing. Water the substrate with a small amount of warm water so that the root system is better formed. After 2 months, when the first shoots appear, you can transplant seedlings to a permanent place.
How to propagate ficus with a leaf?
Some gardeners propagate ficus with a leaf. To do this, you must prepare not only the leaf plate, but also capture part of the stem.
How is the workpiece of leafy cuttings:
- Make a cut near the lower sheet (at a distance of 1 cm).
- After retreat 1 cm from the surface of the leaf plate, and again make a cut.
- The third cut must be made above the second sheet. Continue the procedure as many times as you have leaf plates on the stem.
- Soak the cuttings in the water. You need to withstand them for 60 minutes.
- Pour a little into the flower pot drainageAnd cover it with a layer of a nutrient substrate. When you fill the container, retreat 2 cm from the edge of the pot so that there is a place to raise the soil (in the process of developing the roots).
- Get deep Sheets to the base of the petiole. Pour the substrate and cover each sheet with polyethylene. This will protect them from sharp dryness.
- The rooting of the cherries will occur in 20-25 days. In the second month, sprouts are formed, after which the plants can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Features of proper ficus care at home
- Ficks are enough whimsical plants. They prefer to receive enough sunlight, but not be under the direct rays of the sun.
- If he does not receive enough light, then there will be few leaves on the bushes. The plant does not like drafts. Every day, the sheets must be moistened with warm water using a spray gun.
- If possible, it is better to wash them in the shower. In summer, watering should be intense, and in autumn and winter it can be reduced. Watering should be carried out with clean, standing water at room temperature.
- Do not forget to trim the plant. This procedure helps to increase branchiness, and awaken the kidneys. Decorative pruning is carried out every year. The top of the bush is allowed to cut no more than 1 time in his whole life.
- Cutting the ficus should be carried out in spring and summer. The side branches must be shortened with an interval of 2-3 years. 15 days after trimming, the nutrients should be made, and moisten the cut of the cut with a piece of wet tissue.
Basic rules for pruning:
- Keep the natural view of the bush.
- Use only disinfected tools.
- Make a cut at an angle to the edge.
Pests of ficus
The most common pests that appear on ficus bushes:
- Shield. It manifests itself in the form of spots that form on the inside of the leaf plate. The fight against parasites is carried out in several stages. First you need to rinse the sheet with a soap solution. After spraying the plant with a solution of the drug "Aktellik".
- The worm is powdery. Outwardly, it resembles small scraps of cotton wool, although it has a brown tint. The fight against the parasite is the use of the drug "Confidor".
- Spider mite. This pest sucks juice from the leaf plate, which is why the plant can die. Treatment of bushes consists in processing a solution of the drug "Fitoverm".
- Trips. The pest is deployed on the inside of the leaves, next to the veins. With an interval of several weeks, carry out the treatment with Aktara or Tanrek to get rid of the parasite.
- Aphid. If the leaves began to turn yellow and twist, then they are affected by aphids. It is necessary to treat the affected area with a soap solution.
- Nematode. The main sign of the appearance of a nematode is convex growths on the leaves. For treatment, the drug "Aktellik" should be used.
Ficus diseases with photographs and their treatment
Ficus bushes can be affected by various dangerous diseases that lead to the death of the bush. The most common of them:
- Powder. White spots appear on the leaf plate, which resemble fluff. For treatment, you can use any fungicide. Before using it, the affected areas must be washed with soap solution.
- Anthracnosis. If you notice rusty spots on the edge of the leaf plate, then the plant is ill with anthracnosis. For treatment, you need to use strong fungicides.
- Gray rot. Symptoms - brown spots on the leaves. To combat the disease, you need to use effective fungicides that are sold in specialized stores.
- Currently. This disease occurs due to increased humidity in the room. First, brown and black spots appear on the leaves. After the leaves become yellow and fall. For treatment, antifungal drugs should be used.
- Root rot. It occurs due to frequent and abundant watering. Unfortunately, it is impossible to cope with the disease, because it is difficult to monitor its course. Florkers notice this disease when the plant ceases to develop correctly. It is necessary to destroy the entire plant, and the pot, along with the substrate, is thrown away. Otherwise, the disease will switch to other bushes.
If you like to grow ficuses at home, then the above recommendations will help to facilitate the process. If you follow it, you can create a beautiful and healthy plant. Remember that your attention and quality of care depends on how correctly the bush will develop. All in your hands.
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