There are several types of ficus, such as the commonly called Indian laurel or the rubber tree, but one of the best known is the Benjamina. It is an original plant from Southeast Asia, although today it can be found very widely throughout the planet. It is a tree that has oval leaves with a pointed end, a very intense green color, and capable of surviving the warmest winters. In fact, it is in spring when it resurfaces with new shoots that can last until autumn and that are easy to identify by the difference in color and tenderness compared to the old leaves. It is a plant that can be found both as a tree, bonsai, or planted in a pot. If you want to know the care of the ficus Benjamina Keep reading and we will tell you about it.
How to care for a fibus benjamina
In general, the basic care of the ficus benjamina is simple, as we tell you below:
Irrigation
The ficus benjamina is a plant that needs constant risks due to its high perspiration. This makes the substrate tend to dry out easily, which can lead to leaf drop. Therefore, especially during the spring and summer months, it is recommended to increase watering to ensure that the substrate is never completely dry. However, in the case of being in a pot, it is important to avoid the accumulation of excess water in the dish, as it could negatively affect the roots.
Pass
Regarding the ficus benjamina fertilizer, it is advisable to do it once a year, preferably in early spring. The most advisable fertilizers for the ficus benjamina are those that are rich in nitrogen. However, when fertilizing this plant it is very important not to exceed the quantity, since an excess of fertilizer could burn the roots.
Light and location
Likewise, another of the care of the ficus benjamina that we have to take into account is that it is a plant that needs abundant light, so it should be located in a sunny place in the garden or near windows with direct access to sunlight. . However, direct sunlight for many hours at a time is also not convenient for you.
How and when to prune a ficus benjamina
When pruning a ficus benjamina, several elements must be taken into account. The first of these is that the best time to do it is early spring, which will allow the new shoots to sprout in full force. Secondly, when it comes to pruning a ficus benjamina, it must be borne in mind that it is preferable to carry out small pruning from time to time instead of doing a large pruning once a year. Pruning a ficus benjamina excessively can slow its growth. For this reason, it is recommended that the pruning be carried out partially but more repeatedly.
Aspects to consider when planting a ficus benjamina tree
The most common way to find a ficus benjamina is in the form of a tree. However, when having a ficus benjamina tree, a series of important aspects must be taken into account, especially its roots. The ficus benjamina tree is a fast growing plant , both in its crown and in its roots. This causes its roots to spread very quickly in the border area where it is planted.
This can cause problems when the ficus benjamina tree is too close to garden structures or buildings, as the roots are strong enough to lift soil or even break pipes. Therefore, when planting a ficus benjamina tree, it is essential to do it in a place where the plant will have enough space to expand without damaging any other nearby structure.
Ficus benjamina bonsai: specific care
Although the most common way to find the ficus benjamina is in the form of a tree, it is also a plant that usually occurs in bonsai due to its good adaptation to this type of crop thanks to its rapid growth.
When you have a bonsai ficus benjamina , it should be borne in mind that the space it will have in the pot will be especially small. Due to this, it is especially important to make sure that the substrate does not dry out and that the plant receives the necessary nutrients externally, that is, through the fertilizer. The most important thing to keep in mind is:
- Irrigation: the watering of the ficus benjamina bonsai should be more common than in the case of a ficus benjamina that is planted directly in the ground.
- Fertilizer: it is important to apply it several times a year if you want the plant to grow. However, it should never be paid more than once a month. In fact, it’s best to do it in early spring, early summer, and a third time in early fall. In addition, it is essential to always do it in low doses, since it is preferable to stay short of fertilizer than to overdo it.
Common diseases of ficus benjamina
The most common diseases of ficus benjamina are those associated with the presence of pests such as aphids , mealybugs or mites. In these cases, especially if the plant is outdoors, it is best to spray the plant with a certain frequency during the spring and summer months with a natural insecticide that eliminates these types of pests. It is best to do it at the end of the day, and do it throughout the plant, without ever forgetting the interiors.
On the other hand, one of the ficus benjamina diseases occurs in the form of yellowish leaves. If you see yellow leaves on your ficus benjamina , think that it is usually due to a lack of water, too much sun or, for lack of some nutrient in the soil, usually iron. When this happens, it is best to first make sure that the plant has the necessary water and, if so, then apply a specific fertilizer that is rich in iron, in addition to also having a high nitrogen content. When applying the fertilizer, it is important to repeat that it is preferable to fall short in the amount and see how it reacts than to go over the amount. If necessary, more compost can be applied in small amounts after a month or two.
