Types and varieties of ficus

Ficus is a plant that seems to have always been popular. And all because many stories and stories are associated with it, which help people to believe in the best. For example, there are many stories about how couples who for a long time did not manage to give birth to a baby became happy parents after ficuses appeared in the house. Someone has braided a "creeping" variety of ficus and solved their financial and other problems.

Braiding the branches of a plant gives weak people a support in life. Ficus in the bedroom improves sleep. But not with unmarried girls, because this flower is a muzhegon. Whether to believe in these items is everyone's business. But the fact that the plant supplies housing with oxygen, improves the atmosphere in the house or office - that's for sure. In addition, flowers make the room cozy, which is why they are popular. But here's how to choose exactly the copy that will suit and please all family members or colleagues, and whether it is worth choosing - let's try to figure it out.

Evergreen or deciduous plants of the Mulberry family - this is what ficuses are from the point of view of science. Plants grow in one of three life forms: trees, shrubs, vines. Surely someone saw in their natural environment (in the video, in the photographs) the leaves from which the roots grow from the crown downward, gradually becoming rustic and forming many trunks - supports for a powerful crown. This form of growth is called banyan, and species of ficuses that use other plants for their own growth are epiphytes. The adventitious aerial roots do not always interfere with the tree - the owner, but if they nevertheless grow into its trunk, then the owner dies off due to the ficus as a strangler.

More than a hundred years ago, indoor ficuses with a variety of leaves appeared: alternate, sometimes opposite, solid, serrated or lobed. The leaf plates have different colors, which is why they are attractive. But it is difficult to call a plant a flower in the usual sense: it is very difficult to achieve flowering at home, except in greenhouses, botanical gardens. This is due not only to pollination issues, but also to growing conditions: it is not always possible to maintain a strict level of temperature and humidity in an apartment or house. In nature, in places of natural growth of ficuses, one can observe unusually beautiful, bright flowers on plants.

Now it is worth figuring out which types of ficuses will be most suitable for large and small rooms, for work and at home. After all, plants have different shapes:

1. hanging ampelous;
2. mini bonsai
3. tree.

In their natural environment (in the tropics) Mulberries can reach 30 m in height. Central Asia, Transcaucasia, Crimea are also familiar with representatives of ficuses, although they are not so high there: the height of Ficuscarica (fig, fig) is 6-9 m. At home, ficuses adapt to circumstances, grow much more slowly thanks to the efforts of breeders.

There are many varieties of tropical mulberries that can be grown at home.

• Aspera - a meter-long tree on which rough leaves grow all year round.

• Bengali ("Krishna", Indian) - there is a huge banyan tree in nature, at home it often forms bonsai. Leaves of different configurations, depending on the variety.

• Ficus Benjamin - a species that has a huge number of varieties. Perhaps this is the most popular ficus for the home. Perfectly lends itself to crown formation.

• "Binnendijka Ali", willow - in accordance with the second name, the leaves are similar to the usual willow.

• "Bottle" - Mexican variety. The base of the trunk resembles a thickened wine bottle in which the plant stores moisture.

• Cherry ("Cape") - got its name thanks to the berries that are formed on it under the condition of home growth. The color of the berries ranges from bright green to bright orange when ripe.

• Deltoid (variegated) similar to triangular, but its leaves are rounded. For 12 months, small yellow berries grow on the flower, which are unsuitable for food. For all the time, the plant grows up to 80 cm.

• Dubolistny ("Montana", "Mountain") - creeping ampelous plant with long flexible shoots. Used to decorate walls and curtains in the interior.

• "Karika" (fig, fig tree, fig tree) in nature gives very tasty sweet large fruits. It was the leaves from this tree that gave "clothing" to Adam and Eve, and the fig berry is the very forbidden fruit that is so sweet. At the level of rumors, it is known that experienced gardeners are trying to get a harvest at home.

• Dwarf ("Pumila", "Sunny", "Anuk") - ampelous creeping flower with tiny heart-shaped leaves. Small asymmetric leaves eventually turn into elastic leathery leaf plates.

• Rubbery - one of the most common species. The second name is "Elastic". Many varieties of this ficus have been bred. It takes root easily and can grow to the ceiling. It attracts the eye with its glossy large hard leaves of various colors.

• Crater-leaved ("Anomani") - refers to the epiphytic stranglers. It got its name from a bowl-shaped leaf. The foliage is leathery, not elastic enough.

• Lyre-shaped view also has several varieties. Under natural conditions, it reaches a height of 13-15 m. Large leaves are pulled to the trunk, which makes the plant look like a violin or lyre.

• Microcarpa. The name was formed from two Greek words - "mikros" and "karpos", which translates as a small fruit. The ficus itself is a large East Asian epiphyte, reaching 25 meters in height. Home specimens are trees up to 1.5 m.

• Natalsky in nature it is used to create tissue from the bark, at home it is an ordinary problem-free ficus tree with elongated dense green leaves. Very suitable for beginner florists.

• "Palmera" - American version of the "bottle" (caudexform) tree, which has a thick branching trunk of a yellow hue. Since the roots develop in the top layer, it is possible to grow the bonsai in a wide, shallow container.

• "Parcel" - ficus, unlike ficus. It has bright green leaves with multi-colored splashes interspersed on a decorative tree trunk. It is categorically impossible to put this plant in the kitchen or next to it.

• Variegated there can be representatives of different types of ficus - and "Benjamin", and rubber, and rusty, and others. Such plants usually have white-green leaves of various shapes.

• "Petiolaris" - petiole or stone fig, is also a caudex plant. It is called the most beautiful "bottle" ficus, with large leaves of unusual color and red-beetroot veins.

• Ivy, or weeping - hanging ampelous view with leaves about 1 cm. Differs from other types of drought intolerance. A wonderful flower for hanging in a planter.

• Blunted, or "Retusa", good as bonsai.The crown grows parallel to the ground with small green leaves. Unpretentious care.

• Rusty has a reddish-brown pubescence of the reverse side of the foliage, young shoots of a reddish tint and aerial roots. One of the most unpretentious plants.

• "Salicifolia" has long narrow leaves and looks great when forming bonsai. Has a weeping crown shape.

• Boxwood ficus named for its resemblance to the small dark green leaves of boxwood. Easy to cut, amenable to crown formation. Drought intolerant.

• "Triangularis" - ficus with triangular leaves. It can be variegated or dark green in color. Produces abundant bright yellow fruits from childhood.

• "Formosana" - according to the shape of the leaves, it could be attributed to oak-leaved, but this is a tree with light green leaves, not an ampel.

• "Tsiatistipula" - an evergreen tree with a grayish bark, reaching 15 meters in height in nature, in indoor conditions is well suited for growing in the office. It has large leaves up to 20 cm long and 8 cm wide. The plant is resistant to temperature changes.

• "Eden" ("Religious", "Sacred") - a plant with leaves in the form of elongated hearts. It was under such a banyan tree that Buddha attained enlightenment. Used as a houseplant to form bonsai.

• Reed view while it is not often found at home, because it requires a special growing regime. Small green leaves, similar to tongues, are attached to a thin trunk, which is recommended to be attached to a support.

When listing the species and varieties, it should be noted that many of them have subspecies and varieties. For example, Benjamin's ficus is conventionally divided into the following varieties, depending on the size of the leaves.

Plants with small leaves:

1. "Baroque";
2. "Viandi";
3. "El Dorado";
4. Natasha (Natalie);
5. "Curly" ("Curly");
6. Nicole;
7. "Mix";
8. "Safari";
9. "Nitida";
10. "Nina";
11. Lovely;
12. "Pandora".

Medium-leaved:

1. variegated "Diversifolia";
2. Dunetti;
3. "Baft";
4. Esther or Neon;
5. "Baileys" spotted ";
6. "Fantasy" ("Fantasy");
7. "Curly" ("Curly");
8. variegated "Twilight" ("Twilight");
9. Green Kinky;
10. Starlight;
11. Naomi (GoldNaomi);
12. "Regidan" ("Regina");
13. "Ilychina";
14. "Reginald".

Large-leaved:

1. Golden Monique;
2. "Anastasia";
3. "Exotics";
4. Denilight;
5. "Boucle";
6. "Irene" ("Irene");
7. KingBushy;
8. Golden King;
9. large-leaved "Charlie";
10. "De Dumbbell";
11. Samantha;
12. "Lady";
13. Daniel;
14. Midnight.

The rubbery variety includes the following varieties:

1. "Abidjan";
2. Belize;
3. "Rubbery Tricolor";
4. "Velutina";
5. "Dosher";
6. Forever;
7. Tineke;
8. Melanie;
9. "Silvia";
10. "Black Prince";
11. Sriveriana.

Dwarf variegated ficus also has several varieties:

1. the wide-edged "White Sunny";
2. the intermittently bordered Sunny;
3. "Dort" with golden dots on the leaf plates;
4. curly "Carlace" wavy leaves;
5. Heart of Gold, named for its golden yellow leaves;
6. "Variegata";
7. "Snowflake".

Some growers combined Bengal ficus with Binnendiyka (Ali, Benedikta, Ivolistny). There are still few such varieties, since this type is not very popular.

Bengal:

1. "Andre" ("Audrey", "Andrey");
2. "Krishna".

"Binnendijka":

1. "Ali";
2. Amstel Gold;
3. Amstel King;
4. Amstel Queen.

There are not many varieties of lyre ficus. They are distinguished depending on the height of the plant:

1. the tall Columnaris;
2. medium "Little Fiddle";
3. low Phillies Craig;
4. supercompact "Bambino".

The rusty-red ficus also has few varieties so far, although the plant is interesting:

1. El Toro;
2. Irwin;
3. "Florida".

Very little is known about the varieties of the Formosan species. And those varieties that are attributed to this species have the same name, referring to "Benjamin". It is difficult to say what is the matter here, since the species classification, varieties and varieties of Mulberries are very different. And yet, Formosan varieties include:

1. "Esther";
2. "Viandi";
3. Daniel.

Triangulars have acquired several varieties that are popular among flower growers:

1. Natalie Trinova;
2. "Variegated triangularis";
3. Forever;
4. White Margin.

Certain varieties of Microcarpa are popular not only among home growers, but also among doctors. Other varieties exist solely to please the eye and supply us with useful oxygen:

1. "Ginseng";
2. Westland;
3. Ginseng;
4. "Variegata";
5. "Retukha";
6. MacLaine;
7. Maclama;
8. "Mockmark".

Up to this point, we have tried to draw up a very conditional classification of species and varieties of ficuses that grow not only at home, but also in nature. Now it's time to talk in detail about the most popular varieties of plants that home growers love and grow with pleasure.

In almost every species there are ficuses that the owners prefer for certain qualities: someone for a lush crown, someone for diminutiveness, someone like ample properties, and others - decorativeness.

• The most common and popular varieties are rubbery ficuses... The name comes from the fact that large shiny leathery leaves at the rift secrete a viscous sap suitable for rubber production. It is he who makes the leaves elastic. Hence the second name - "elastica". A tropical plant in temperate climates can only be grown in heated rooms. Rubber plants are unpretentious, they will grow in low light and irregular watering. But in order for the plant to look and be healthy, light without direct sunlight and constant moderate watering is required. The optimum air temperature is 20-30 degrees.

• Now not only varieties with the usual dark green leaves are known, but also hybrids of white, different shades of green and even pink, as well as variegated (for example, "Tineke" (Tineke)... The plant has strong immunity, which helps in the fight against diseases and pests - insects. This species sprouts only at a height of several meters, which is impossible in an ordinary apartment or house. To form a fluffy crown, several seedlings are planted in one flower pot, which over time are intertwined, which gives the plant an unusually beautiful look. The crown becomes more lush when its top is cut off. Then the lateral shoot begins to grow. As a result, oval-shaped leaves are formed with a length of 35 cm.

• "Elastica" - lover of spraying and bathing. During the procedure, each sheet plate must be wiped with a damp sponge on both sides. It is easy to determine if the plant has enough water - if the ground dries up too often, the tree begins to shed its foliage. To prevent this from happening, you need to water the soil abundantly and regularly when the soil dries out 2-3 cm deep.

A flower with large fleshy leaves 30 cm long has a dark green color or light yellow patterns. He does not like direct sunlight, but is grateful for the abundant watering.

• Another popular variety is "Melanie"... Once, rubber was also mined from it, but now it is one of the favorite decorative flowers. Melanie has a more lush crown, but to enhance the effect, the seedlings are placed in pots of different sizes and shapes and placed side by side, creating tropical thickets. This variety is also easy to care for, does not like bright light, and requires moderate watering. Do not pour it over, especially in winter.

Anyone who counts on flowering and fruiting of a flower should choose a different variety or even a species, since Melanie's seedlings are not exported from the tropics. The maximum is the regrowth of aerial roots at high humidity."Melanie" gets its name from the secreted milky juice, which can cause irritation when working with it.

• Belize interesting in that the center of the leaf plate has a green hue, but the edging is white and pink. Unlike the "Black Prince", the leaves of this variety are almost black by noon (but dark green in the morning). Deep coloration attracts lovers of unusual plants. But in "Abidjan" leaves appear with a beetroot tint, but with age it darkens and turns green.

• Ficus Benjamina has an incredible number of varieties. This is due to the fact that this type, according to the description of specialists, is very unpretentious, but at the same time it is well suited for landscaping the interior of a home and office. In conditions of artificial cultivation, the tree reaches 2 meters in height. In nature, berries are formed on trees - syconia, at home it is almost impossible to achieve this. Plants are best placed on the west or east sides: where there is a lot of light, but it will not burn the leaf plates.

You also need to take care of free access to fresh air, but without drafts. "Benjamins" love a haircut, so it is easy for them to give the desired shape. The same can be said about the trunks: braids are woven from them or other shapes are formed. The cultivars are divided into three groups depending on the size of the leaf. It makes sense to talk about each variety separately, and not describe the species as a whole.

There are varieties of "Benjamin" with a predominance of white foliage. The variegation of white and green makes the plants graceful. These varieties include the following plants.

1. "De Dumbbell". There are slight green blotches on the white foliage. Demanding enough to care.
2. "Safari". The intensity of the color of the leaves is very different on different plants - there are practically white or with a predominance of greenery. Color saturation depends on lighting. The variety loves a lot of light.
3. Starlight. Green leaves with a white border on a 1-meter tree. Active feeding is not required. Resistant to occasional watering. It is very often used for interior decoration.

Such varieties are variegated.

1. "Anastasia". Beautiful tricolor leaves with a white border and a light green central vein on a green base. Loves light very much, grows quickly.
2. Golden King. Ficus with green foliage and white edging, one and a half meters in height and about 30 cm in diameter. It will grow well at an air temperature of about 22 degrees and a lot of light. Needs regular spraying.
3. "Variegata". Small-leaved variety with yellowish leaves, on which dark and light spots appear. The plant is very malleable, therefore it is often used to create unusual shapes.
4. Curly. Creamy stripes extend from the central vein on the green leaves. The more light, the brighter the color. A young plant needs support.

Other varieties of "Benjamin" are no less interesting and popular.

• "Pandora". Compact ficus with a lot of small leaves. Before choosing a place, you need to provide that the plant will grow poorly at temperatures below 20 degrees, while it does not like movement.

• "Nichida". A hybrid with drooping shoots and pointed leaves. A fairly large tree that is grown in large flower pots or tubs. Perfectly greens the premises.

• Daniel. The rich green glossy foliage reaches 6 cm in length. A very unpretentious variety.

• Golden Monique. Decorative elegant flower with wavy edges on thin delicate twigs. It is used with pleasure by flower growers to decorate the room.

• "Baroque". A curly tree with twisted leaves requires a lot of space, as it grows well both upward and outward. In hot weather, it must be constantly sprayed, otherwise leaf fall will begin.

• "Viandi" appreciated for the tendency to unexpected curvature of the shoots. This makes it possible to create interesting bonsai. The variety is considered one of the best for this purpose.

• "Kinki" - a dwarf light-loving flower that does not like to stand in drafts and near radiators and to be carried from place to place. But he loves moderate regular watering and spraying. Narrow leaves are variegated.

• It is impossible not to tell about the variety "Natasha"... It is a slow growing hybrid with a bright green compact crown. This ficus, which can grow up to 2 m in height, has many thin shoots, covered with small ellipsoidal leaves (the smallest of the entire Benjamin species). The color of the foliage is very diverse: from variegated white-green to dark marsh. The plant loves airing the crown (for this it is shaken) and regular irrigation.

• Looking at the first part of the species name Microcarpa (FicusMicrocarpa)appears to be a tiny plant, but it is not. The name reflects the size of the berry in which the fruit is formed. At home, the tree reaches 25 m in height, at home - 1.5 m. In this form there are both popular varieties and exotic species. Microcarpa delights not so much with its bright green crown as with bizarre rhizomes protruding above the ground.

• Best for bonsai varieties "Panda" - This is an evergreen plant with leathery leaves and small inedible berries - balls. The mini-tree needs to be tied up to form the crown and trunk, does not like drafts, and at a temperature of +8 and below, it will begin to shed its foliage.

• "Retuza" at home it is also grown as bonsai. The plant has dense blunted leaf plates. He needs regular watering and a bright place. "Retuzu" needs to be fed almost all year round with a special compound for bonsai.
• Variety "McLain" - This is a home shrub with a height of half a meter and a diameter of about 20 cm. This variety makes an excellent banyan tree, if you do not remove the hanging roots. Ficus is very unpretentious, flexible, responds well to pruning. To make the roots look bizarre, special agrotechnical works are carried out. That is why such ginseng roots are not so popular, and varieties like "Ginseng" can be attributed to exotics.

• Dwarf (FicusPumila) the view is very popular with professional flower growers and amateurs, since it is an ampelous plant that does not require space on horizontal surfaces. But shoots take root easily with aerial roots if they get to the ground. The leaves are very small and change color depending on age. The flower is relatively capricious: it needs high humidity, daily spraying, shading, a stable temperature not lower than 10 degrees and not higher than 25. Pumila is placed in a special way on the trellises, forming the desired shape.
• "White Sunny" - a curly variegated variety with ash-green leaves and white or cream edging. They hang down from the pots like a home and delight with their appearance. But they can also be accommodated on the windowsill. They are quite resistant to temperature changes within 15-25 degrees, they are not afraid of diseases and pests.

• "Green Sunny" - a ground cover variety, will be a beautiful blanket for another plant in a large pot. Ficus has oval leaves 2-2.5 cm in size and even smaller. The stems grow stiff over time. The flower loves sunlight, but not direct rays. Like any variegated leaf, it becomes brighter in sunny rooms.

• "Creeping" not so much a variety as a continuation of the Dwarf ficus genus. Its difference is that the leaves of the "Creeping" plant have a serrated shape, and they are larger in size. In addition, the leaf blades are not as smooth as other varieties of the Dwarf species. And most importantly, this creeping variety has acquired special suckers on the roots that can attach to any surface.

• Lyrate (FicusLirata) ficus - a representative of large-leaved plants with green leaves. A beautiful flower that loves moisture, reacts sharply to changes in temperature and direct sunlight. Lirata loves space, therefore it is well suited for large rooms, offices. The name comes from the similarity of the leaves of the plant to a lyre or violin. It loves wet cleaning, spraying, and regular feeding. The size of the plant will directly depend on the regularity of pruning, since all varieties are quite tall, despite the names.

• "Columnaris" - a flowering tall columnar variety that grows very quickly and has leaf plates of 50 cm in size. Such a plant is suitable for an office, restaurant, large hall.
• Little Fiddle grows up to one and a half meters, and the leaf size is 20-24 cm. Such a tree can already be placed in a large living room.
• Phillies Craig is considered a compact Lyrata with a sheet size of 40 cm.
• "Bambino" - a super compact dwarf variety with 13 cm leaves, which perfectly forms into a bush. This variety is suitable for a regular apartment.

• Triangularis (Ficus Triangularis) - this species has become popular due to its characteristics: small size, original color of foliage, ease of care and reproduction. You just need to regularly feed it and follow the usual agrotechnical procedures, and then the plant will delight its owners for a very long time. The Triangular Ficus has very beautiful leaves, adjoining the top of the triangle to the stem. At home, this woody shrub reaches a meter in height. It can start its life as an epiphyte, gradually turning into a strangler. Ficus loves high temperature and humidity, for which it thanks the appearance of many yellow or green syconias. Daily hydration is especially important in winter. Like many ficuses, Triangularis does not like direct sunlight. Top dressing is recommended in spring, summer and autumn by alternating organic and mineral fertilizers. It is important not to allow drugs to get on the plant itself, but only on the soil at the root.
• Of all varieties (Natalie Trinova, Variegated Triangularis, WhiteMargin)perhaps the most popular is WhiteMargin. It is variegated, and this makes the triangular leaves look even more interesting. Under favorable conditions, berries will appear on the plant - siconia of bright colors. The triangularis itself grows on average 10-15 cm per year.

• View "Binnendijka Ali", ficus Benedict (FicusBinnendijkii) at home it reaches a height of one and a half meters, easily tolerates cool temperatures and poor lighting. Even in the north window, the plant will still be beautiful, only it will grow more slowly. A shower once a month and daily spraying will help compensate for the coolness. Seed (fruit) formation is almost never successful. Since the trunk does not have sufficient strength at home, the plant definitely needs a support, which is stuck into the pot and tied to it.

Narrow long leaves look down, forming an interesting crown. The color of the leaves depends on the variety.

1. "Ali" - a highly decorative variety with multi-colored petals. Very popular in office decoration. Copes with air purification. Does not like direct sunlight.Medium-intensity watering is required and the temperature is not lower than 14 degrees.
2. "AmstelGold" or "Variegata" - variegated, where the main color is light green with dark green blotches.
3. AmstelKing has shiny wavy leaf plates facing downward with a pointed angle. Siconies are formed on the plant. Regular longline pruning is required to achieve the desired shape.
4. "AmstelQueen" with less wide leaves than "King". Loves light. In winter, it needs lighting.

But there are types and varieties of ficuses that are not so popular. The reasons for this are different: there are no suitable growing conditions, nowhere to take seedlings, poor plant survival, and others. Therefore, in this section, we will introduce rare varieties in the hope that someone will be able to breed and please their loved ones with real exotics of the world of ficuses.

• Reed ficus (FicuslinquaWarb) - an evergreen tree with small soft leaves. Compound fruits are only 5 mm in diameter, yellow or reddish-yellow in color. The crown is very abundant on thin soft twigs, so it needs support. Ficus loves indirect light and warmth. Needs an annual transplant into a fresh earthen composition. Loves moderate soil moisture and spraying with cool boiled water. Easily propagated by cuttings.

• "Microcarpa" (FicusMicrocarpa). The Ginseng (ginseng) variety is not so much a rare as a useful ficus. Ginseng is famous for its thickened roots, because it is a representative of the caudex varieties. They accumulate minerals in a special thickening - caudex.
• Decorative "Ginseng" - an evergreen tree with small leaves was simply created to decorate homes and meeting rooms of institutions. That is why so many bonsai are created from this ficus. But you will have to form it manually from planting a seedling. And here it is important not only to create a crown, but also to give the root system an unusual look.

The plant is unpretentious subject to certain rules. So, the flower pot must be protected from direct sun. Ginseng does not like high temperatures and low humidity, but it easily tolerates low temperatures. Young trees need an annual transplant, and adults every 2-3 years. Regular watering and spraying of the leaves is a must, as is top dressing. After purchase, it is considered normal to drop foliage due to a change in habitat. But after 2-3 weeks, new leaves should appear.

• "Bottled" there can be ficuses of several types, for example, the same "Ginseng", belonging to the Microcarp species. Exot is classified according to one single detail - caudex, that is, a thickening of the supra-root part of the trunk. For growing at home, very wide low pots are selected, provoking the root system to remain on the soil surface. In winter, plants rest, so they do not require frequent watering. The hotter the season, the more watering is required for the plant to fill the caudex.
• Despite the fact that the species itself is called Ficuspalmieri, "Palmera" called the American kind of "bottle" tree. It is distinguished by light green glossy leaves in the form of hearts 15 cm long and 12 cm wide. Caudex is formed only if the plant is grown from seeds that are not so easy to acquire.

• The Mexican bottle tree is called Anaba. This is not a variety, but simply the second name of the species. It often becomes an epiphyte. Has a light bark and heart-shaped leaves. Siconias measuring 1.5 cm are white or creamy. It grows slowly.
• "Petiolaris" is a petiolate or stone fig, being a "bottle" plant in structure. It has large gray-green leaves and beet-red veins.

• Bengal ficus (FicusBenghalensis). This species has a second stable name - banyan tree, a symbol of immortality. Throughout its life, the epiphyte plant grows in breadth, rooting with aerial roots. Taking the life of the host plant, it itself continues to endlessly form its own trunks. At home, ficus cannot grow indefinitely; you can give it the desired shape and size using pruning and a tight pot. Although in its homeland - in Sri Lanka, it can reach 40 m in height and 600 m (!) In diameter.

The size of a houseplant is about two meters. If pruning is done rarely, then a real forest will grow (for a tree it is recommended to use a low 100-liter pot). The leaves are velvety, large (about 20 cm). A distinctive feature is the curl of the leaf plates in the form of a bowl. The leaves are arranged in a spiral manner around the stem and also bloom, gradually growing up.

Ficus loves a lot of light and water. In cloudy weather, turn on an additional backlight lamp. Since the plant “does not go into hibernation,” watering is required even year-round, but the water should not stagnate.

There are not so many varieties, rather a variety.

• Benghalensis - exotic, which is very popular in natural growing conditions: the fruits are eaten by birds and monkeys, leaves and bark are used in medicine. Indoor growing requires a lot of space both upward and outward.

• Krishnae ("Krishna") - the unusual name is due to the fact that according to legend, the great Krishna drank water from funnel-shaped leaves. Living glasses have a diameter of 15-20 cm. The trunk is up to 1.5 m silvery, darkens over time. "Krishna" loves the sun and does not like any changes: it is advisable not to carry the pot from place to place. When planting, it is better to use a ready-made composition with the addition of charcoal. For reproduction, it is more efficient to use air layers.

• Audrey ("Audrey", "Andrey") Is the most famous variety. This exotic is used as a bonsai. In a wide bowl, this 60 cm banyan tree will be very good. Green narrow foliage with veins and a velvety bottom side will decorate any small room. Does not like bright light, needs a temperature of 12-25 degrees. If the conditions are met, the descending roots quickly take root and form an additional trunk.

• "Sacred" or "religious", "Eden" (Ficusreligiosa) for Buddhists it is the sacred Bodhi tree. It was under him that Buddha Shakyamuni realized that all phenomena arise depending on conditions. The species is deciduous with very beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Before a change in the weather, a change in atmospheric pressure, droplets form on the leaves and the tree "cries". Despite the fact that the tree is native to the tropics, it does not like heat and drought, as well as bright light.

• "Karika", or fig (Ficuscarica) - one of the rare deciduous ficuses with edible fruits. It has many additional names: fig, fig tree, wine berry, fig tree. When growing at home, you need a room temperature of 10-25 degrees, good lighting, regular watering. Oak leaves are valued for their medicinal properties, so this exotic is carefully grown, despite the need for special care for the plant.

There are several of the most interesting indoor varieties that yield even twice a year:

1. "Gift to October";
2. "Monsoon";
3. Sochi-7;
4. "White Adriatic";
5. "Seedling of Oglobin";
6. "Black Crimean".

Buying ficuses from different nurseries, you need to pay attention to the following recommendations.

1. The larger the seedling, the longer it will take to adapt.
2. The same applies to purchases in the autumn-winter period. The best time to buy a plant is spring.
3. When buying, the ficus is gently shaken and stroked against the foliage: the weak will fall. If you have at least 2-3 such leaves, then you should not take a copy.
4. The roots that can be seen through the drainage hole should not be dark brown or black.

The purchased flower must be kept in quarantine for 2-3 weeks. To do this, it is placed separately from other plants. This will save them in case of contamination of the purchase. Before buying, you must make sure that there is no allergy to this species. It is advisable to go to the store several times and stand next to the plant, stroke it. If you have small children and pets in the house, you should not buy rubber-bearing ones, which emit poisonous milky juice.

We tried to describe the features of lighting, watering and planting of each species above. Here are general recommendations for caring for ficus and its reproduction.

Almost all of its species do not like direct sunlight. But for variegated, a lot of sun is important, since the color of the leaf plates depends on it. Ficuses with dark foliage are more tolerant of lack of light. A small amount of light in winter will lead to leaf fall, therefore it is recommended to turn on additional lighting for 12 hours a day. In order for the crown to develop evenly, the pot is gently turned towards the light.

Ficuses are tropical plants with a high humidity requirement. This rule applies to home growing as well. Flowers need not only regular watering, but also frequent spraying. Once a month, small and small plants are given a warm shower; for large ones, they wipe the leaf plates with a damp sponge. No species likes stale water in pots. Ficuses, which are at rest in winter, are watered much less. If the plant has a uniform year-round cycle, then water it up to 3 times a week. You can determine that the flowers lack moisture by the leaves: they become drooping, soft, and lose brightness.

More hardy species will not be able to live at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. For more gentle, ampelous, the critical limit is 15-16 degrees. The optimum temperature for all types is 22-23 degrees. But for those plants that "go into hibernation", in winter, you need to lower the room temperature. No species likes to be near heating appliances.

Spring, summer, autumn are the seasons of compulsory feeding of ficuses. In winter, you should not do this, otherwise the stems of the plants will stretch out and become thinner. Special mixtures are sold in liquid and dry form for ficuses. But gardeners also use improvised means:

1. sugar syrup;
2. yeast infusion;
3. coffee grounds;
4. spent tea leaves or brewed tea;
5. onion peel;
6. infusion of nettle;
7. cleaning from vegetables and fruits.

Young plants need to be transplanted into a larger flower pot every year. The older the flower, the less often it is transplanted. But adding fresh earth is a must. The soil itself will help to determine that it is time for the ficus to change the flowerpot: it dries out too quickly, the roots (not of the banyan tree) have crawled up, the earth washed out of the pot. But flowers are never transplanted into a much larger container, otherwise all the power will go into the growth of the roots, and not the crown. The soil can be bought ready-made or made by yourself. The bottom of the pot must be drained with small stones, expanded clay. A healthy specimen is transferred along with an earthen lump. The ground must be moist. The root system of an infected flower is thoroughly cleaned.

To form a crown, remove excess branches, and grow bonsai, 4 types of pruning are used: standard, sanitary, anti-aging and pinching. In spring and autumn, standard top pruning aids crown formation and lateral shoot stimulation. Sanitary removes dried and damaged branches and leaves. When rejuvenating, the bush is cut so that only 3-4 cm above the ground remains. Healthy roots will help such a plant recover quickly, for example, after freezing. Pinching can be done year-round. The goal is to remove excess shoots.

Ficuses are propagated both by seeds and vegetatively. This is a big and serious question to be carefully examined before deciding to breed flowers. We will briefly introduce you to the possible methods of reproduction.

1. Seeds. The method is rarely used, since it takes a very long time to wait for the result. But remember that "bottle" bonsai varieties cannot be grown otherwise.
2. Apical cuttings. The most popular way for all ficuses. But since the sizes of the cuttings are different, then the rooting time will differ.
3. A leaf cut along with a part of the trunk - the heel - may well give roots. It is easier to plant it first in a container with water, and after the roots appear, in the ground.
4. Reproduction by layering, which are stem and aerial. Perhaps the most time consuming method.
5. Part of the rhizome. An uncomplicated, but not often used method, when a piece of a healthy root is removed from a banyan tree and deposited in a separate container for rooting.

For information on what varieties of Benjamin ficus are, see the next video.