Pinching the ficus. Caring for rubber ficus: what is needed to form a beautiful crown. What to do to make the ficus quickly take root, branch and give off lateral shoots, and be beautiful

Every gardener who grows trees wants to see beautiful branched trees, and even with intricately woven trunks.

But not everyone knows how to form a ficus at home.

Moreover, these plants only grow upward and without human help lush crown will not develop. We will talk about the methods and rules for creating a thick green crown.

Did you know? The ancestors of ficuses are 30-meter trees typical of the Indian jungle with giant horizontal branches and rounded meter-long leaves. In their shadow they can hide up to 300 square meters land.

Description and characteristics of culture

At first glance, it seems that the process does not require additional skills and knowledge; in fact, all of the above also requires talent and patience. Let's take a closer look at how to make a ficus branch.

Regular

Any work aimed at developing the lateral branches of a plant using conventional technologies, should be carried out between February and July. If you ignore this rule, the plant may have enough strength to develop a single sprout; in this case, the ficus will grow in only one direction.

The method consists of pinching the apical shoots of a young ficus. Experiments on old specimens may end up killing them, since it is very difficult to awaken dormant buds.
Thus, a bush can be created from a straight trunk. To ensure uniform rounding, gardeners recommend exposing it to the sun. different sides, periodically turning the pot.

Some craftsmen resort to using cytokinins - hormones that slow down the aging process of the plant organism and without removing the apical bud, they stimulate the development of its lateral branches.

This method is very effective because during treatment, hormonal substances do not delay deciduous processes, due to which the lower zone of the flower remains covered with foliage.

You can do without additional means by bending a thin trunk into an arc so that its top points down. Then growth hormones will accumulate in the upper part of the bend, and the lateral buds will sprout. The disadvantage of this method is that it slows down the development of stems.

Another effective way make a tree branch - trim the bark above the bud.

Botanists call the technology kerbovka and advise making deep and wide cuts at the bottom of the lignified trunk.

Unusual (weaving, circular lattice, standard wood formation)

Sometimes the beautiful tangles of ficus stems created by flower growers take your breath away. It turns out that you can create such masterpieces at home.

In order to get busy ficus weave, the first thing you need to do is plant several equally developed shoots up to 15 cm long in one pot. Two shoots growing side by side will create a marvelous spiral, three will create a braid, four or more will create an unusual lattice. It is important to provide for places where thickenings will form in the future, and leave gaps, as well as pinch off the side shoots.

To obtain flat fence, plants are planted at a certain distance on the same line. And when the stems reach required height, they are connected with special fasteners or ordinary thread, polyethylene tape. Moreover, as they grow, the compression is slightly loosened so that unaesthetic scars do not form on the bark.

To speed up the process, experts advise carefully cutting off the bark at the junction of the shoots to create a kind of grafting.

Important! The foliage of the rubber ficus curls due to excess or lack of moisture.

A circular trellis can be created by planting young plants in a circle. To get a trunk in the shape of an extended spring, a peg is stuck into the center of the pot and flexible stems are wrapped around it, removing side branches as necessary.

The pinnacle of perfection can be called the shape of ficuses curled around a moss (coconut) column. Its moist base constantly nourishes the plant, stimulating the growth of aerial roots. This promotes intensive interweaving and merging of sprouts.

If these procedures seem too labor-intensive to you, you can experiment with creating a trunk shape. To do this, it is necessary to pinch off the apical bud on a young flower after it reaches the desired height. Usually for floor-standing specimens this is done at a level of 1 meter. The side branches are cut so that the cut passes over the bud facing away from the bark.

But this is not the limit of the imagination of flower growers: a unique shape can be created from a tall ficus, forming a multi-tiered standard from it. To do this, the first step is to remove the upper growth point, conditionally divide the trunk into several parts and give them a rounded shape. The spaces between the tiers are cleared of all branches and foliage.

Did you know? The oldest rubber-bearing ficus, called the Homer tree, grows in Buenos Aires. He was imprisoned back in 1781. Over time, the branches of the green giant sagged greatly, so they were strengthened with concrete supports.

How to form a rubber ficus at home

Whatever technology you choose for your rubber ficus, in order not to destroy it, it is important to know how to correctly form the crown, which you can choose from a photo on the Internet or a magazine or book. In addition, you need to strictly follow the rules, which can be divided into several groups. Let's take a closer look at each.

No ficus pruning

If you stimulate the growth of lateral branches with the help of special preparations, lighting and other tricks, it is important to consider:

1. The growth of ficus branches can be regulated by manipulating the pot and directly with the plant itself. The principle of all procedures comes down to giving the sprouts a vertical position.
2. A bud that has frozen in growth will go up if the container with the flower is tilted so that the future shoot looks up.
3. A horizontally inclined branch will grow branches in the upper zone.
4. They will actively develop on a drooping stem. lateral branches, and the trunk will also strengthen.
5. One-sided specimens will sprout on the other side if they are turned with their bare trunk towards the sun.
6. A multi-tiered ficus can be achieved much faster by planting sprouts of different heights in one container.
7. Additional fluorescent lamps will speed up the appearance of a rounded ficus crown.
8. In order for the woven trunks to evenly grow the green cap, the pot must be periodically turned to the sun on different sides.
9. When there is sufficient humidity in the room, ficus plants take on aerial roots. They are under no circumstances removed, but sent to the soil.
10. Among cytokinins, the drugs “Cartolin” (can be labeled 2 or 4), “Benzyladenine”, “Zeatin” have an impeccable reputation. It is important to use them strictly following the attached instructions.

Did you know? In India, the homeland of rubber-bearing ficuses, local residents they were used to create pedestrian bridges. The base and handrails were woven from the branches and aerial roots of plants growing on the banks of ponds. In some cases, the length of such structures reached more than 30 m.

With trimming

There are nuances when forming ficus using tools:

1. In cases of creating a bush-like crown, the cut of the apical bud should take place at a level of 10-15 cm from the ground. You can leave no more than 4 sheets.
2. Pinching of lateral buds is carried out only on samples turned away from the bark. Otherwise, young shoots will greatly thicken the crown.
3. All slices in mandatory wipe with a damp cloth until the milky juice stops secreting. Then it is treated with charcoal ground into dust.
4. If the crown density is increased, some of the branches directed inward towards the central trunk are cut off.
5. Kerbovka is carried out with a sharp instrument (preferably a blade or scalpel).
6. Properly made cuts to the bark look arched, roof-shaped or transverse. If you are removing part of the bark above a kidney, do this procedure by cutting out a rectangle, triangle, or crescent.
7. If you are faced with the task of correcting irregular shape tree or form a certain conceived figure, then it is worth resorting to grafting. The method is carried out by transplanting one plant to another, it is very labor-intensive and not always effective. The reason is the milky juice secreted from the cuts of both parts, which prevents the ficus from growing together.
8. There should be no stumps after the cuts - this favorable environment for the formation of fungi.

You will need

• -sharp knife or pruning shears;
• -alcohol, peroxide and any other disinfectant solution;
• -soft cloth;
• -a basin with water.

Instructions

Best time for pinching ficus - spring. It is in the spring that new shoots form most quickly. Wounds, which are inevitable during such procedures, heal quite easily in the spring. This reduces the risk of plant disease. Therefore, you should not touch the plant before the end of February or the beginning of March.

Wait until the ficus reaches optimal height. Disinfect the knife. It can be wiped with alcohol or doused with hydrogen peroxide. The knife must be very sharp, since the ficus trunk is quite difficult to cut. You can heat the knife over the fire for a few minutes. You can pinch in two ways. If you are satisfied with the current height of the ficus and its upper shoot is quite thin, cut it just below the growth point. In this case, you can make a straight cut.

Ficus that is too large must be trimmed differently. Determine the desired height and find a leaf or branch that is below this point. Trim the ficus 5-8 cm above this leaf. The cut in this case should be oblique. Its bottom is at the level of the bud, on the opposite side of the trunk. The top of the cut should be located directly above the kidney.

Use a soft cloth soaked in water to wipe off the milky sap from the barrel. The cloth cannot be wrung out; it must be thrown away. The water itself will stop further juice secretion. The ficus does not require any further treatment of wounds; they will heal perfectly on their own.

Wait a month and feed the ficus. After feeding, it should begin to grow rapidly. You can transplant it into a pot of larger diameter (so that the old pot fits freely into the new one). But you don’t have to do this; it’s enough to change some of the soil in the first year. After the first successful operation, you can continue to form the ficus crown. For this next spring pinch in the same way side shoots.

note

Ficus sap is poisonous. It is better to pinch and trim this plant while wearing gloves. Try not to get the milky juice on the mucous membranes of your nose and mouth.

Keep in mind that after pruning and pinching, the ficus trunk does not grow.

Helpful advice

When starting to form a crown, keep in mind that not all ficus trees tolerate this well. Wounds usually heal quickly, but side shoots do not appear easily on all plants. Therefore, observe the ficus before pinching the next shoots. If your ficus does not particularly want to branch, you can make a lush crown in another way. Just plant several cuttings in one pot.

Ficus rubber has long been successfully grown by amateurs in room conditions, but many questions usually arise regarding the formation of the crown of an indoor tree. The formation of ficus has its own subtleties and nuances, which should be remembered when starting pruning. This article is all about how to prune ficus correctly.

A chaotically overgrown plant must be pruned.

Pruning of an indoor tree is performed when the trunk and crown are accidentally damaged (for example, when a plant falls) or when forming the height and shape of the crown. Is it worth it to trim a tree indoors? Of course, because in nature, rubber-bearing ficuses can reach a height of up to 40 meters and above. In indoor conditions, a fast-growing ficus specimen may rest against the ceiling, which will prevent further formation of the crown. In the first years, a large tree grows only upward, so pruning can stimulate the development of lateral branches. But pruning is not always necessary to form a ficus crown.

Shaping the crown without trimming

The upper shoots are cut off until the crown takes on a rounded shape.

Unusual shape: interesting

Young ficus can be formed in extraordinary plant. To do this, several cuttings of the same age are planted in one container, which can be easily braided. Of course, cuttings from old branches are not suitable for this purpose, because the branches must have a certain flexibility so as not to break during weaving.

Large leaves are removed from the bottom of the trunks - the trunks, which can easily grow together, will give the plant a special charm. When braiding, you can give the braid a certain shape - spectacular holes between the trunks, for which pieces of foam plastic, corks, stones or other materials are temporarily inserted into the braid. Once the shape of the holes is set, you can remove these inserts.

Ficuses braided into a braid spend a lot of effort creating the shape of the trunk, so they give very small increases in height. If you limit the growth of roots by planting the plant in a low bowl, you can maintain the intended shape of the ficus for a long time.

Crown formation by pruning

Use sharp scissors to cut off the top of the main trunk.

If you select classic version shaping the crown of the rubber ficus - pruning, it is important to correctly perform all the techniques for forming an indoor tree.

Trimming times vary:

• Formative pruning can only be performed during the period of active tree growth, i.e. This operation is not performed in autumn and winter.
• Sanitary pruning is carried out as necessary when damage to the trunk or branches occurs on the plant.

To perform high-quality pruning, you need to prepare the following tools:

• Garden secateurs.
• Garden shears (large).
• Small scissors with sharp blades.
• Alcohol solution for processing instruments.
• Garden varnish for treating cut areas.

How to trim a ficus yourself, what should you pay close attention to?

• You should not start work without protecting your hands from the milky sap of ficus, which is very poisonous.
• It is not recommended to radically trim the plant at one time, removing more than 30% of the crown.

The florist, at his discretion, chooses the shape of the crown, guided by common sense, based individual characteristics plants.

New shoots of ficus develop from apical or axillary buds, while the upper bud develops, the lateral ones are dormant. To stimulate the branching of the ficus crown, it is necessary to give impetus to the development of axillary buds, which is achieved by pinching the main trunk. You can remove the dominant bud in the spring, when the ficus enters a period of intensive growth.

Thin green branches can be trimmed leaving a straight area, old branches covered with mature bark are cut at an angle of 45 degrees.

Pruning of the top shoot is carried out above the bud, from which new shoots will subsequently develop.

Caring for the plant during the formation of the crown comes down to watering with warm, settled water; a month after the operation, it is worth carrying out the first feeding of the plant.

Photos of a correctly trimmed ficus are very pleasing - the plant begins to grow a dense crown and an extensive network of skeletal branches. In nature, rubber ficus trees begin to branch naturally at a height of 4 meters.

After pruning, the plant is constantly turned towards the light source so that the crown can form evenly.

Shape indoor ficus can be done without pruning; to do this, you need to correctly direct the growth of young shoots, fixing individual branches if necessary. This operation will avoid injury to young plant, and will also reduce the risk of infections in the area where the cut is made.

Young trees whose branches have not yet become completely lignified best tolerate the application of fixing devices. This method is usually used for young people indoor trees growing into one trunk.

It is worth starting to form the crown when the growth of the young tree reaches 0.7 m. After this, the apical part of the shoot is pinched or cut off. Very often, pinching does not give the desired effect - a replacement shoot begins to develop from the side bud, as a result of which the plant grows into one trunk (see photo).

The bending method is often used apical shoot which is securely fixed. A replacement shoot develops from the lateral bud; as soon as it grows to 5 cm, the trunk is returned to its original state. The following operation is performed to stimulate the growth of lateral branches, for which darning needle make a puncture to a depth of 1/3 of the trunk diameter. It is best to start at the top, gradually moving down the trunk, after the shoot grows at the site of the first puncture. The protruding juice is carefully removed with wet cotton wool or a rag. Work on pruning ficus should be done with rubber gloves - the sap of the plant is extremely poisonous.

Initially, the ficus has only one stem, but over time new branches appear on it. And then you need to pinch the plant correctly to form a beautiful crown. To do this, just follow a few simple rules.

If the ficus grows only upward, without producing lateral shoots, then over time it can turn into a tall little deciduous tree. But this can be avoided by simply trimming and pinching the top periodically.

The most popular method experienced gardeners- This is a Japanese way of pinching. The procedure is quite simple. When forming the crown, you need to twist the branch to the bud from which new side shoots will subsequently appear.

The procedure is as follows:

• it is necessary to determine which branches will be superfluous when creating beautiful crown wood;
• Each selected branch should be carefully bent into a loop and bandaged to the trunk.

Important! If juice appears at the bend, it must be washed off the plant.

After a few weeks, the buds remaining up to the bend will produce new shoots.

Why is pinching needed?

Ficus is a tall plant, some species grow up to 2–3 m. Pinching and cutting off excess shoots allows you not only to keep the flower growing at the desired height, but also to form a beautiful crown. In addition, this procedure allows you to rejuvenate the plant.

How to properly pinch at home?

In order for the procedure to be successful, the owner of the ficus needs to know the following:

1. It is important to choose the right time for pinching. Otherwise, the plant can easily die.
2. Ficus juice is poisonous and can cause burns or allergic reactions. Therefore, all manipulations with the plant must be carried out with gloves.
3. It is better not to combine pruning with another procedure, for example, replanting.

Ficus can be easily pinched at home if you follow the established rules.

Choosing the time for the procedure

Experienced gardeners know that the ideal time to pinch out ficus is spring. It is during this period that the plant becomes active, forming new shoots and buds. Therefore, the procedure will not be too stressful for the flower, and all “wounds” will quickly heal.

Important! Pinching in autumn or winter can lead to the death of the ficus.

Pinching Instructions

Before you start forming the crown, you need to decide on the choice of knife. It should be sharp enough to cut thick branches straight away. The knife must be disinfected with alcohol or peroxide. If the plant is young, then unnecessary shoots can simply be cut off.

But if the ficus is already several years old, then you need:

• determine the point that will become the top;
• the cut should be made at a distance of 6–8 cm from the sheet;
• branches should be cut obliquely;

When pinching, it is necessary to rinse all cut areas with water. Since the sap of the plant will slow down the growth of new shoots. To form an ideal crown, pinching and pruning should be done annually.

Important Rules

The procedure for forming a crown largely depends on what the gardener wants to achieve. For example, to obtain the shape of a standard tree you need:

1. Choose a young, unformed ficus without lignification.
2. Then gradually remove the side shoots until 5 top branches remain.
3. When the ficus reaches the desired height, the top shoot should be pinched and the side shoots removed.
4. For young stems without bark, you need to build a support. It will be needed until the ficus finally grows.

Such a standard can be multi-tiered. To do this, the crown is divided into 4–5 parts. The odd ones will be the crown tiers, and the rest will be the spaces between them. To form the latter, shoots are cut 5–7 cm shorter than in tiers.

In addition to the standard, there are several other ways to design a beautiful crown. This is a bush and an arc. To form the first type, it is important to ensure that the ficus does not grow upward, but produces lateral shoots. This is controlled by pinching the flower annually.

The arc is created very simply - top part the plant bends down and is fixed on required height. The upper buds begin to produce new shoots, making the plant more voluminous. As soon as the side shoots reach the desired length, the fixation is removed. The branches of the ficus will remain in the same position, forming an interesting arc.

Further care

After the stress suffered due to the procedure, the ficus needs additional feeding. It is added immediately or wait 1-2 weeks until the plant adapts. If necessary, you can transplant the ficus into a new pot. This is true for plants that no longer fit in the old container.

How to pinch so that it bushes and is lush?

For plants that are too tall, the procedure for forming new side shoots remains relevant. The owner of a ficus can use several methods:

1. Japanese method. Suitable for small flowers that do not fit on the windowsill.
2. Trimming. If you remove the top of the plant, the ficus will produce new shoots. This will make the flower more magnificent. But it should be borne in mind that if the procedure is performed incorrectly, the ficus will continue to grow upward.

Important! When using the Japanese pinching method, branches can be tied not only to the trunk, but also to pegs specially driven into the ground.

Is it possible to pinch Benjamin if it only grows upward?

Ficus benjamina bushes on its own. But in some cases it can quickly grow upward without producing lateral shoots. This is often associated with insufficient lighting or poor watering and fertilizing. It is possible to pinch Benjamin in such a situation, but it must be done correctly.

What to do if it stretches very upward?

When a flower stretches upward, in the process it sheds lower leaves. Most buds form at the top of the plant. Therefore, you should not allow too much tall up.

If the ficus needs to be made larger and smaller, then they resort to pruning the plant. But it is important to remember that the cut should only go obliquely and be located above the kidney. In addition, gardeners use the following methods:

1. They lower the excess branches down and tie them to the trunk or pegs. This allows the buds on top to produce strong shoots. The procedure is carried out several times in order for a sufficient number of side shoots to grow.
2. Sometimes kerbovka allows you to achieve the appearance of new shoots. To do this, a small incision is made above the dormant kidney to about a third of its depth. The bark in this place needs to be removed to weaken root nutrition.
3. IN special cases gardeners use special stimulation of flowers with plant hormones - cytokinins. With their help, the lateral axillary buds begin to dominate, rather than the apical ones.

Important! Any cuts are made with a disinfected knife, otherwise you can provoke the appearance of fungus or infection.

Any ficus owner knows that the plant requires careful care. Otherwise, you may end up with the top of the flower hitting the ceiling. Therefore, annual pinching in the spring is a necessity. And you should start forming a crown of the required height and volume as early as possible, while the ficus is still young.

The rubber-bearing ficus occupies a prominent place in an apartment, office or public institution. Rubbery or elastic, and also rubber, it is called because its juice flowing from the wounds solidifies and resembles a substance such as rubber or latex.

In India, the homeland of this tree, it grows to a huge size, covering up to 250-300 square meters with the shadow of its crown. Based on this tree, breeders developed a small and easy-to-place tree. And to make it look compact and exotic, a system for trimming its crown has been developed.

Having become more familiar with these representatives of the mulberry family, every lover indoor plants will take on growing ficus.

Similar trees to this tree are:

• Fig or fig, fig tree;
• Mulberry or mulberry, mulberry;
• Breadfruit;
• Cow tree, reminiscent of the taste of milk;
• A paper tree from which the highest quality paper is produced;
• Anchar or upas is a poisonous representative of the mulberry family, the hero of A.S. Pushkin’s poem.

Few home growers call ficus rubber - just ficus. Indoors, the height of the plant is regulated by pruning, and depending on the tastes of the owners, it can be from 1 to 2 meters, although in its homeland the tree reaches the height of a 10-story building. young tree in the jungle it grows very quickly and forms aerial roots.

In India, and in our country too, ficus is considered a tree of prosperity and prosperity. Ficus, according to home gardeners, perfectly purifies the indoor air from germs and bacteria.

The leaves of a young plant are pinkish in color, with age they acquire a thick green color, petiolate, and arranged alternately on the stem. Their size is up to 35 cm in length and up to 25 in width. Ficus does not bloom indoors.

Ficus pruning

When grown indoors, the plant requires crown-forming pruning. If you cut only the top of the tree, there will be no effect. Ficus does not branch, and the cut top bud will grow in one direction. The plant will be one-sided and will not decorate the room.

Trim time

To form a beautiful crown, rubber-bearing ficus is pruned in early March, at which time the tree’s vigorous growing season begins.

Properly performed trimming operation in early spring will awaken axillary buds, which, in turn, will give rise to lateral branches.

If for some reason it was not possible to prune the plant at the beginning of spring, this action is carried out only if there is an urgent need, if the ficus quickly began to gain growth.

When pruning in winter or late autumn, one single upper bud will awaken, which will give the ficus a one-sided shape, and the decorativeness of the plant will suffer significantly from this.

Crown care rules

• For literate spring pruning the instrument must be sharpened and disinfected;
• From the top of the plant, 3 to 5 leaves, approximately 20 cm, are separated;
• The thin stem should be cut parallel to the soil in the pot, above the top bud. If the stem is thick, the cut is made at an angle of 40-45 degrees;
• When cutting side shoots, they must be cut without the stump, as rot and mold may appear on it;
• The juice on the cut is removed with a clean napkin, and the cut site itself is treated with antiputrefactive and antifungal drugs, for example, trichodermin;
• When the side buds begin to grow, it is better to transplant the rubbery ficus into another, larger container. The transplant is performed one month after circumcision.

Important! The sap of the rubber-bearing ficus is poisonous; pruning and other work with the plant is carried out using protective equipment(rubber gloves, glasses).

Features of growing ficus

There is no doubt that the plant is grown indoors because of its decorative properties, that is, its beautiful crown. And in order for this part of the ficus to really please the eye, you need to remember the following things:

• Plant heights of more than 2 meters are not allowed indoors, and ficus does not have side shoots. A flower can develop quickly if it grows 30-40 centimeters per year;
• The exterior of the plant consists mainly of its glossy large leaves, which can have a smooth dark green color or a variegated white-green pattern;
• Ficus is unlikely to bloom indoors; it needs pollination by exotic insects.

Lighting

Since the homeland of the plant is India, the country is warm and humid, ficus loves diffused light and high humidity. It is advisable to place pots with plants near eastern or western windows. If the flower is placed in partial shade, its growth will be quite slow, and at the same time the leaves will fall off at the bottom of the stem.

Attention! When placing a ficus indoors, there is no need to place it in a draft.

Temperature

Optimal performance temperature regime are:

• During active growing season – 20-25 0 C;
• In winter, 15 0 C is enough for ficus, but not lower.

The soil

The rubber-bearing ficus loves well-loose soil with proper drainage. Prepare the soil from peat, turf, sand, and leaf soil.

But you can purchase the substrate at flower shop, called "soil for palm trees".

Watering and fertilizing

The ficus should be watered as the soil in the pot dries. The frequency of the procedure is determined by the air temperature and humidity in the room. Excess moisture in the ground causes leaf shedding. And if there is insufficient air humidity, systematic spraying or wiping the leaves with a damp cloth is necessary.

For water procedures with ficus it is better to use rain or snow water. Feeding the plant complex fertilizer with a high nitrogen content.

How the dense crown of a ficus is formed.

When plant owners want to achieve extensive, dense crown, do the following:

• The main stem of the ficus is bent and pinched until the upper bud sprouts;
• The main stem is pierced with a needle a third of its diameter, piercing lower each time.

Ficus diseases and pests

The plant is resistant to visit harmful insects, But spider mite and scale insects can covet large, beautiful leaves.

You can kill them with insecticides or a solution of laundry soap.

Pathogenic diseases practically do not affect ficus.

Reproduction

Growing young ficus is not difficult. The cuttings obtained by pruning are germinated and planted in prepared containers. This procedure is well known to every home gardener.

If the plant begins to grow weakly, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, the owner is to blame for this; in this case, the ficus lacks:

• Lighting;
• Fertilizers (feeding);
• Room in the pot for root development.