Question
ficus
how do we grow ficus at home from ficus plant itself?? the image of the ficus i want to grow is attached..kindly reply soon :D
AnswerHi Sambhav,
I am not sure what your question is. Do you want to know about how to care for a Ficus or how to propagate one from cuttings?
To propagate Ficus;
Take several semi wooded cuttings (semi wooded means that the stems/branches are still mostly green) that is about 5-6 inches long and has 4-6 leaves. Remove all but the top 2 leaves. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone then stick the cutting in fresh moist soil (be sure to add extra, extra perlite to the soil), making sure that at least 2-3 of the bottom nodes (nodes are the places where the leaves you removed were growing out of the stem/branch) are down into the soil.
Place the cuttings in a warm place that gets bright light but no direct sunlight.
To increase humidity while roots are forming, place the cuttings (in their containers) in a clear plastic bag. To prevent the bag from collapsing onto the young plants, place two or three sticks (like chopsticks or skewers) into the soil to support the bag. Tie the plastic bag loosely at the top with twist ties.
With this method of increasing humidity keep an eye out for signs of too much humidity, such as condensation on the inside of the bag and/or the leaves of the cuttings and mold growing on the top of the soil. If this happens leave the bag open for a little while (if there is mold on the soil, scrape it off) until the bag is completely dry inside then loosely re-close the bag.
To help prevent a build up of excessive humidity, you can put a few small holes around the sides of the bag for airflow.
To care for a Ficus;
The most popular tree grown as a houseplant is a Ficus Benjamina, also commonly known as a weeping fig. This plant is very well known for shedding it's leaves. In late summer and fall, the loss of up to 20% of the leaves is quite natural. To keep leaf loss to a minimum in any season, mist plant daily to help increase humidity and withhold fertilizer until the leaf drop stops. Also resist the temptation to overwater a shedding plant, which will make the problem worse. With good care, new leaves will appear in spring and summer to replace those that were lost.
Ficus can experience an unnatural, excessive leaf drop for many reasons, such as a sudden change in temperature and/or light levels. Overwatering and over fertilizing can also cause excessive leaf drop.
Ficus require bright, indirect light. An east facing window or a curtain filtered south facing window is ideal. Ficus will adapt to direct sunlight but a combination of dry air and direct sunlight can lead to problems with spider mites. Misting the plant is beneficial for both the health of the plant and prevention of spider mite infestations.
Ficus should be watered when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Water plant until a small amount of water drains from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Plant should be watered less in the winter when the plant is dormant and light levels are lower. Ficus grow best in a well draining potting soil. Adding extra perlite to a good commercial potting mix will help improve soil drainage.
Keep plant in a warm place that is free from cold or warm drafts as temperature changes cause excessive leaf drop.
Ficus are VERY sensitive to fluoride, chlorine and other mineral deposits commonly found in tap water. I recommend using distilled water. Ficus is also sensitive to high salt levels in the soil. Using distilled water and avoiding over fertilizing will keep salt levels in the soil to a minimum.
*** Despite all the problems that can happen with a Ficus, I have found that once you find a place that the Ficus is happy in it will require little more care after that to stay healthy.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks
Tracy
