Ficus small-fruited (Ficus microcarpa). Ficus microcarpa home care Possible diseases and pests
It has long become habitual. You won’t surprise anyone either with the variety of species, and there are more than 280 of them, or with the shape and color of the leaves. Nevertheless, interest in these wonderful plants continues to grow from year to year, as art, which is not yet very common in our country, is practiced. Perhaps the interest in ficuses is due to their attractive appearance and simplicity. Indeed, in nature, these plants grow in tropical, and subtropical, and even in temperate climatic zones. One of the most attractive and easy to care for is the ficus microcarp.
Ficus microcarp: description
Ficus microcarp, like all representatives of the genus (lat. Ficus), belongs to the family (Moraceae). As part of the family, a monotypic ficus knee (Ficeae) is formed. Representatives of these species are almost always evergreens.
Did you know? There is a variegated form of ficus microcarp. It's called Variegata.
The birthplace of this amazing tree is the forests of eastern and southern China, Taiwan, Indonesia and northern Australia. Care in the first days after purchase
First of all, you need to decide on the place where you can put the tree. To choose it, you need to take into account the properties of the microcarp and its whims.
Notice right away that the plant does not like permutations from place to place.
It reacts poorly to very bright light, dry air and drafts. So it's best to place the new plant away from the batteries. More suitable roomswhose windows face the north, west and southwest sides. Form Variegata is best placed in rooms with windows to the east, southeast, as it needs brighter lighting. 
It is necessary to spray microcarp from the first day of purchase. Do this two or three times a day. Don't let the soil dry out. Check the humidity to a depth of one centimeter.
After two weeks, the plant can be transplanted into a new, permanent container. Take care of drainage. Its layer should be at least one third of the height of the pot. Expanded clay, polystyrene can be used as drainage. The soil should be nutritious and loose. You can use ready-made land for ficuses. It is sold in specialized stores. After transplantation, as for the usual microcarp ficus.
If the plant has shed its leaves, don't worry. This is his reaction to the change of place. 
Did you know? In the wild, ficus microcarp reaches a height of up to twenty-five meters. Some leaves can be up to fifteen in length and up to eight centimeters in width.
Optimal conditions for growing indoors
Ficus microcarpa is quite easy to care for at home. He is not very whimsical, despite. However, it has its own specifics that must be taken into account. First of all, it is lighting and temperature.
Lighting
Microcarpa prefers shading or diffused sunlight. Should be protected from direct sunlight. It is better to place away from windows. You can provide artificial lighting or backlighting. For this, fluorescent lamps with a power of 15 W and a color temperature of 2800-3800 Kelvin (dawn / sunset) are suitable. 
Temperature
Another feature of the ficus microcarp is that the roots need warmth, as well as the aerial part. The optimum temperature for life and development is from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius. It should be noted that a decrease in temperature is permissible in winter. Lower temperatures can lead to illness. When the temperature rises above 23 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to provide additional spraying of the plant.
Important! Ficus small-fruited does not really like temperature changes.
How to care for ficus microcarpa
It should be noted that the plant still requires some attention to itself. Only the correct location in the house, coupled with lighting, this type of plant will not be limited. In order for the tree to begin to please the eye, you have to work a little. Care is pretty simple. Like all plants, microcarp needs proper watering, and its wonderful roots and twigs need proper shaping and pruning. Through simple manipulations, the tree will turn into an incredible-looking decoration that pleases the eye. 
Watering
You need to water abundantly and often. Especially during the period of active growth (spring-summer season). It should be noted that the regularity and abundance of watering depend on the dryness of the air, room temperature and light. You need to focus on the plant and the dryness of the soil. An earthen ball in a pot should not dry out, however, its excessive moisture can lead to rotting of the roots and death of the plant. The earth should have time to dry out at a depth of 2-3 centimeters.
There are also requirements for water. It should be soft and settled for at least twelve hours. Its temperature during watering should be at room temperature.
Humidity
Ficus microcarpa loves moist air. Therefore, you need to spray the tree once or twice daily, depending on the dryness of the air. Otherwise, the plant will look lethargic and become sensitive to, unable to resist. In addition to spraying, it will benefit the plant if you regularly wipe its leaves with a soft, damp cloth. 
Soil and its fertilizer
Microcarp loves light fertile soil with a pH level of 5.5 - 7.5. The soil can be prepared independently. To do this, it is necessary to mix in equal proportions turf, peat soil, leafy humus and sand.
Additional fertilizers are needed during the growing season (early spring - late autumn). You can use universal complex fertilizers for decorative leafy plants. They are added to the water for irrigation of the soil. It is better to fertilize once every two weeks.If ficus microcarp is grown in the bonsai style, then specialized fertilizers are used.
Also, the tree responds very well to fertilization through foliar spraying.
Important! To facilitate the process of assimilation of nutrients by the plant, fertilizers should be applied only to moist soil.
Pruning and crown shaping
In order for the tree to retain its attractive shape, it also needs to be trimmed periodically. It is better to start shaping the crown as early as possible. Ficus is malleable in terms of design appearance, makes it possible to roam fantasy. Why not an object for lovers of bonsai art?
To obtain a powerful trunk in a young plant, it is recommended to cut it. The direction of the branches is formed with a wire. Thick shoots up to twenty centimeters long can also be cut. The branching of the crown of the ficus microcarp achieves strong branches in shoots up to five centimeters.
Rules for transplanting ficus microcarp
Let's touch on how and when it is better to transplant ficus microcarp. 
This species is best once every two years. The tree grows very slowly, and in the adult state the trunk practically stops developing. Ficus microcarp needs a transplant more to renew the soil or replace the substrate. This procedure also allows you to inspect the condition of the roots that are underground. It is better to transplant in the spring.
Important! It is better not to transplant an adult plant at all, but only to renew the top layer of the earth.
A pot for ficus microcarp does not play a special role. It is even better to use the same one that was. Just clean and wash thoroughly. If you take a new one, make sure that a sufficient layer of the “old” earth remains on the roots. Make sure the new pot has drain holes. Lay drainage (expanded clay or polystyrene) with a layer of 2-3 centimeters. Install a tree with earth on the roots and add new soil. Be careful with fragile plant roots.
Important! After transplantficus microcarpasometimes sheds leaves.This is a consequence of the adaptation process. At the end of the "disease" period, the foliage will recover.
Reproduction methods at home
Ficus microcarp has several ways:, and. Most often, ficus cuttings and tree layering are used. 
Cut, not stiff branches are taken for cuttings, placed for a day in an opaque container with warm (room temperature) water. It is important to know how to properly cut ficus for propagation. The branches are cut obliquely, at an angle, stepping back from the node about a centimeter. After a day, the water is drained, as it contains a lot of juice. Ficus microcarp juice is a very strong allergen. Be careful not to get it on your skin. The cuttings are again placed in fresh warm water with the addition of ash. When the roots appear, the sprouts are transplanted into a container with earth and covered with a transparent container. As soon as the young plant puts out new leaves, the container is removed. Also, cuttings can be planted immediately in the ground, immersing the stem of the cutting 3–5 centimeters into the ground. covered with container. It is necessary to monitor the humidity and spray the stems of plants with water. Ficuses take root in this way for a month. 
Ficus can also be propagated by seeds. They are in specialized flower shops. Seeds are pre-soaked for a day in a growth stimulator solution. They are planted to a depth of half a centimeter, at a distance of at least one and a half to two centimeters from each other. The soil for planting seeds should be light and airy. The basis of the soil mixture should be peat and leafy soil. You will also need a lot of sand. The mixture must be thoroughly mixed until smooth. After planting the seeds, the soil is carefully sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with a film or glass. So that the soil is always moist, you need to monitor every day. Every day it is desirable to remove the protective film for fifteen minutes, let the sprouts and soil "breathe", evaporate excess moisture. When the seedlings have the first leaf, the sprouts stop each in a separate container. 
Ficus microcarpa belongs to the genus Ficus, Mulberry family. The homeland of this evergreen tree is Southeast Asia, where it can be found in the tropical and subtropical forests of India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, South China and Northern Australia.
In nature, Ficus microcarp reaches a height of about 25 meters, while forming a wide dense crown. The trunk of the plant is smooth, thin. When damaged, a thick white juice is released. The bark is grey-brown. The leaves are dark green, glossy, leathery, petiolate, oval-elliptical with a pointed apex, arranged alternately on the shoots. Leaf length 12 - 15 cm, width - 2 - 7 cm. The flowers are small, formed inside the inflorescence - a spherical syconia, the diameter of which is 0.5 - 1 cm. Initially, the syconia is green-yellow, becomes purple as it matures. Pollinated only by wasps Parapristina verticillata.
Ficus microcarpa belongs to the group of strangler ficuses. In nature, starting its life as an epiphyte, as it matures, it takes root at the trunk of the host tree and, entangling it with roots, crushes it. However, the numerous aerial roots of this ficus are very weak, so it practically does not turn into a banyan tree, in which the roots become additional trunks and support for a dense crown.
In room conditions, it is bred either because of the unusual shape of the roots, strongly protruding above the soil surface (the trade name for this form is Ficus ginseng), or because of the dense, beautiful crown. In the second case, the roots are usually hidden.
Caring for Ficus microcarp does not cause much difficulty. This is a rather unpretentious plant. But we can give some general recommendations on the content.
Lighting. Ficus microcarpa loves bright diffused sunlight, but grows well in artificial light. When placed in a room, it should be placed as close as possible to the window, but away from the radiators.
Temperature. Prefers moderate summer temperatures around 20 - 23 °C. Higher temperatures require regular ventilation and fresh air. However, it is desirable to avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Winter temperatures should not fall below 16 °C.
Watering. During the period of active growth, the plant needs abundant watering, which is carried out as the earthen coma dries out. In winter, they are guided by the temperature in the room, air humidity and light. When using additional lighting and hot, dry air, the ficus very quickly absorbs moisture from the soil and watering during this period can be even more frequent than in summer. In a cool dark room, the need for water is significantly reduced.
Air humidity. Ficus microcarpa prefers high humidity, for which it must be sprayed 1-2 times a day and washed every 2-3 weeks under a warm shower.
To increase the humidity, you can use a pallet with wet expanded clay.
The soil. The plant needs soft, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.5 - 7.5. You can use a ready-made soil mixture for ficuses, or you can prepare the substrate yourself by taking sod, leaf, peat soil, sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1 and add a little charcoal.
Fertilizer. During the growing season, once every two weeks, ficus needs top dressing with complex fertilizers. Universal fertilizers for decorative leafy plants or for bonsai are suitable for it. In winter, top dressing can be reduced to one per month.
The plant responds well to foliar top dressing. In this case, a weak solution of fertilizers is used, the concentration of which is taken in accordance with the attached instructions.
pruning. To form a beautiful crown, regular pruning is recommended, which is preferably carried out in spring or autumn (before the start of the growing season or after it).
Pests and diseases
At low humidity and high temperatures, the likelihood of damage by spider mites is high. If the plant is small, it can be washed thoroughly under a hot shower with a water temperature of 40 - 45 ° C. Large plants are recommended to be sprayed with an insecticidal preparation of the appropriate action.
In addition, ficus is affected by whiteflies, mealybugs, thrips and scale insects.
Of the diseases, the most common diseases of improper care:
- leaf dumping is possible due to drafts, temperature changes, cold water irrigation, lack of light, overdrying or waterlogging of an earthen coma;
- root rot and dark spots on the leaves appear from stagnant water in the pot.
Ficus microcarp does not adapt well to changes in conditions of detention. For quick adaptation and getting used to, it is recommended to spray it once a week with a solution of "Epin" during the entire adaptation period.
Forms of Ficus microcarp
In addition to plants with ordinary dark green foliage, there is also a variegated form of Ficus microcarp - Variegata. This form needs brighter lighting than the mother plant, because with a lack of light, variegation disappears.
ficus ginseng(Ficus ginseng), or Ficus ginseng, is a plant with fancifully swollen roots resembling ginseng roots in appearance, which are formed in a special way with the help of special hormones and fertilizers during seed propagation. When cutting ficus, this form of roots cannot be achieved. Care for Ficus ginseng is exactly the same as for the usual one, but it is recommended to do more frequent and deeper pruning so that all attention is focused on the roots. You should also pay special attention to the nutrition of the plant. With a lack of nutrition, the shoots begin to take nutrients from the roots, as a result of which they become thinner and wrinkled.
Growth:
The range of small-fruited Ficus extends from Sri Lanka and India to Taiwan, the Malay Archipelago, the Ryukyu Islands, Australia and New Caledonia.
ON THE PICTURE: In its natural environment, this evergreen tree reaches 25 m, but when grown indoors, it shows more modest results, up to 1.5 m.
Plant description:
Size and type of plant:
Small-fruited ficus is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or tree that grows in nature in height and width up to 25 m or more.
Root system:
The root system tends to swell, accumulating water and nutrients, which allows the plant to survive for a long time in adverse conditions, without water and nutrition.
ON THE PICTURE: The roots of Ficus small-fruited continue to swell as the plant gets older, which makes it possible to grow an original bonsai from this tree.
Stem:
The trunk is smooth, light gray, branching, it is a powerful support for a massive crown, since in nature its diameter can reach one meter. New growths that form throughout the year are light pink to yellow-green, giving the tree a spectacular two-tone appearance.
Leaves:
The leaves are dark green, elliptical in shape, shiny, smooth, leathery, 8 cm long.
ON THE PICTURE:The leaves of Ficus small-fruited sit tightly on large, slightly drooping branches.
Fruit:
The fruits are small, rounded, not formed under room conditions.
An unusual way of forming in the form of a miniature tree in the spirit of "bonsai" with a thickened stem is a feature that microcarpa ficus has. In its normal state, it is very similar to the popular ficus Benjamin. Home care for ficus microcarp involves not only creating favorable conditions for growth, but also maintaining a neat tree shape.
The leaves are neat, miniature. Unlike the classic ficus, there is no elongated awn at the tips of the leaves. The bark is thin, smooth, damaged by careless handling. In translation, the name means "small-fruited ficus." The name ficus ginseng, or ficus "ginseng", is often found. So he was nicknamed for the resemblance of a thickened bizarre stem with a ginseng root.
The ficus stem is a thickened, massive root. The unusual shape of shrubs is not a natural feature. They are made by specialists using a special shaping technology.
During flowering, it forms syconia - specific inflorescences resembling berries. At home, flowering cannot be achieved even when creating ideal conditions for growth. Flowers do not carry a decorative load - the appearance of the plant does not suffer from their absence. 
Interesting! In nature, it is an evergreen shrub growing up to 25 meters! His homeland is East Asia. Sometimes it is called the "strangler" for the peculiarity of wrapping its long aerial roots around neighboring trees.
Shaping secrets
Ficus microcarp is grown according to a special technology aimed at the formation of intricately curved thick roots. By itself, the ficus is easy to shape, but it takes several years to create a characteristic type of tree. Approximately the formation process is as follows.
- Ficus is grown by sowing seeds or from cuttings. At first he looks normal. Under the ground, a root is formed - thick, powerful, branched. To enhance root growth and slow down the set of green mass, the plant is fertilized with hormonal preparations. Plant growth takes place at a certain level of temperature and humidity.
- Upon reaching the desired size of the root, it is dug up. The trunk of the ficus is completely cut off (only a small stump remains), the root is cleaned of soil and washed.
- The root is planted in a pot, deepening only its very tips into the ground. The main part of the root remains outside - above the soil level. The peel gradually coarsens and turns into a bark.
- With the help of special chemicals, the growth of stump branches is first stimulated, and then slowed down to maintain the miniature shape of the tree.
Only after that the ficus gets on store shelves. This shaping method is an opportunity to quickly get a bonsai-style tree. The real art of bonsai is much more difficult, takes more time.
Features of care
Your task is to maintain the original shape of the tree, to create favorable conditions for preserving its decorative effect.
- Lighting. Put in partial shade or shade. They hide from the sun, they don’t put them next to the batteries in winter. If possible, place on the north window.
- Temperature. Increased demand for heat. The optimal range is 25-30°C at any time of the year. In winter, they clean it from the cold floor and window sills.
- Watering. Water often in summer, less often in winter. Do not allow the earthen clod to dry out. With a lack of moisture sheds leaves, becomes lethargic. Filling is also not recommended - there is a possibility of rotting of the roots.
- Humidity. One of the important conditions for maintaining decorativeness is high humidity. It is recommended to spray daily, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth - at least 2 times a week.
- Top dressing. Apply fertilizer to the soil, use foliar top dressing. For spraying, mineral fertilizers are taken in low concentration. Any means for decorative and deciduous plants is suitable for entering into the soil. The best option is to use specialized fertilizers for bonsai. Top dressing is carried out after watering.
Advice! The upper part of the roots should be gradually exposed. This will not harm the plant. Surface roots serve not to receive nutrition, but to fix the plant in the soil. They do not have root hairs.
Keeping fit
After buying a ficus already formed in the form of a bonsai, you need to constantly monitor its shape. In stores, special tools are used - retardants. They slow down the growth of the plant, do not allow it to reach up. With the end of their action, growth will resume - the leaves will become larger, the branches will stretch upward. With a lack of nutrients, the ficus will begin to use up the reserves deposited in the fleshy roots. This will lead to a decrease in their size, compression.
In order for the microcarp ficus to retain its original appearance, shoots and roots are regularly pruned. Pruning is carried out only in the summer! All regrown branches are cut off, leaving 2 pairs of leaves on them. This is a creative process. It is necessary to focus not only on pruning technology, but also on the general appearance of the plant. Cut off first of all those shoots that violate the desired shape. For cutting use a sharp tool!
Reproduction methods
Like any ficus, the plant propagates by seeds, cuttings (lignified and green), parts of the roots and air layering.
- Seeds. The main difficulty of seed propagation is that it is difficult to get seeds. The substrate is a mixture of peat and crushed sphagnum. Seeds are small, hatch only in constant humidity and heat. Create greenhouse conditions, regularly spray the soil. Dive in the stage of appearance of true leaves.
- cuttings. Cut semi-woody cuttings with 4-5 leaves. Rooted in a sand-peat mixture, kept in diffused light under a polyethylene coating. Roots appear in 30-50 days.
- parts of the root. When planting the root cutting, a piece 2.5 cm long should remain above the surface. Keep it under the film. Watering is limited - 1 time per week. The need for watering is determined by the disappearance of condensate from the film. The greenhouse is ventilated every day, opening it for 5-10 minutes. Branches will appear in 2-4 months. Ficus is transferred to normal care after the appearance of 3-5 leaves.
- Air layers. Choose a healthy lignified twig. With a blade, a strip of bark is cut off annularly. Sphagnum is moistened, if possible impregnated with growth hormones. Apply it to the prepared section of the branch, wrap it with polyethylene. Sphagnum regularly moisturize. The roots that appear will be clearly visible through polyethylene. The branch is carefully cut off, the film is removed. Planted with moss in a small pot.
Advice! Any method of reproduction will give the most common ficus. You can experiment with one of the cuttings. When it grows tall enough, remove 1-2 cm of soil when repotting in the spring. At the same time, pinch the tops of all new shoots, leaving 2-3 internodes on them. Repeat this procedure annually. Gradually, the root will be outside, and the crown will become small and neat.
Growing difficulties
The plant rarely gets sick. The only common problem is leaf fall.
If green leaves fall off:
- Change of habitual conditions.
- Sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts.
- Excessive watering with root rot.
If the leaves wither and fall:
- Dryness of the soil.
- Low air humidity.
- Lack of lighting.
- Nutritional deficiency.
The problem is solved by adjusting the conditions of detention and observing the rules of care. Ficus is practically not affected by pests. In rare cases, it can become infected from other plants with mealybugs, scale insects or thrips.
Ficus microcarpa is an amazing, unusual plant that will become a real decoration of your apartment.
Ficus microcarpa got its name because of the miniature fruits, translated from Greek "mikros karpos" - a small fruit. The plant itself can reach quite impressive sizes. Although, it is often grown in the bonsai technique. This type of ficus is interesting in that in the lower part of its trunk there is a thickening of the roots, which takes the most bizarre forms during the growth process.
In nature, ficus microcarp can be found in some provinces of China, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia. According to its form of growth, this plant belongs to epiphytic species, forms many aerial roots. Under natural conditions, the tree grows up to 25 meters in height, at home you can count on a one and a half meter copy.
The leaves of this variety are up to 10 cm long and up to 5 cm wide, their size becomes maximum in an adult plant, and before that, the leaves are smaller. The surface of each leaf is shiny, glossy, the tip is pointed. On the branches, the leaves sit on short petioles, their arrangement is alternate.
As it grows, the upper part of the root system rises above the soil and can look very decorative, forming weaves and bends. This is what allows you to grow this type of ficus in the form of bonsai. Often this plant is sold grown in this technique.
Ficus macrocarp is capricious in some aspects and you should be aware of this. For example, he does not like permutations, so he immediately needs to choose a permanent place and try to disturb the plant less in the future. This flower also does not like drafts, bright sunlight and dry air, it needs proper care.
- Place the purchased plant away from heating appliances. Best of all, windows with a western, northwestern and northern location are suitable for him. If the acquired plant has a variegated, that is, variegated form, ficus needs more light. Such varieties are best placed on the eastern and southeastern windows.
- In the first days in a new place, it is necessary to especially monitor the humidity of the air near the plant. The pot can be placed on a pallet with wet pebbles, and the leaves themselves can be sprayed 2-3 times a day. It is also necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out, moisten the earth with small portions of water every few days.
- After 2 weeks, when the ficus has adapted, it is recommended to transplant it into a new container. At the same time, you can check the state of the root system, because it is not known how much time it took to transport the plant, and how many days it spent in the store.
Useful advice: a household air humidifier will help to increase the humidity in the room - this is an affordable device that does not require special maintenance, but makes life very easy for indoor plants.
Each apartment has its own microclimate and many plants adapt to it, however, one should not forget about their needs so that the flowers can live and develop normally.
Ficus microcarp is considered a shade-tolerant crop. He can feel good both in bright diffused lighting and in partial shade. As the tree grows, it no longer fits on the windowsill and can be kept on the floor near the window.
If there is not enough light for the plant (this can be seen by the more faded color of the leaves), it will be necessary to organize the backlight. A special phytolamp is best suited for these purposes; its radiation spectrum is ideal for all plants. You can get by with a regular fluorescent lamp.
In this ficus, the roots also need warmth, as does the aerial part. It is best to keep the temperature in the range of 17-24°C. In the apartment, this is easily achieved with the help of an air conditioner.
During the winter months, the temperature can be slightly lower, but not for long. From hypothermia, the plant can get sick. If in summer the temperature rises to 25 ° C and above, the ficus must be sprayed at least twice a day, then it will be easier for him to endure the heat.
Of course, in the East, ficus bonsai is not grown, choosing conifers and various shrubs for this form of art. Strictly speaking, ficus bonsai is called pseudo-bonsai, since accelerated technologies are used in the creation, and real bonsai has been grown for decades and it is very expensive, since it is a "piece" product.
But, is it worth it for an ordinary grower to go into such subtleties if a bonsai grown from ficus looks just as good? You can grow such a tree from scratch on your own in just two years. To do this, you do not need to invent anything, everything has already been invented many centuries ago in the East.
There are different styles for bonsai. The tree can be formed in the form of a curved vertical, with a slope, a forked trunk, using other options. The advantage of the macrocarp species is the rapid growth of the ficus and its endurance. At home, this plant sprouts from seeds that have accidentally fallen, even in rock crevices or appears from cracks in the asphalt.
If the microcarpa ficus you purchased is grown using the bonsai technique, it needs special care. Bonsai culture does not tolerate haste, fuss and excess. After all, this tree is in miniature, which means that all actions must be carefully verified.
Since bonsai is planted in a wide but shallow dish, such a plant requires a special watering scheme. Large soil surface area evaporates water faster. At the same time, with abundant watering, there is simply nowhere for water to go, since the soil layer in the container is not very large.
Important! You need to water the tree often, but little by little. Check the soil before watering. It should dry out 2-3 cm deep.
Excess water accumulated after watering in the pan must be drained. It is recommended to pre-defend water, you can use rain or melt water - it is softer. The temperature of the water for irrigation should be at room temperature or slightly warmer, from the cold the plant can shed all the leaves.
The soil for ficus microcarp should be light and nutritious, have good moisture and breathability, with neutral or moderate acidity. You can buy a special soil for ficuses, or make up the soil mixture yourself.
Use to compose the substrate:
- 2 parts of sod land;
- 2 parts of deciduous land;
- 1 part peat;
- 1 part sand;
- some charcoal.
The first 2 months after transplantation, the plant can not be fertilized. Top dressing is carried out during the period of active vegetation of the ficus - from March to October. If your plant is grown in the bonsai technique, you should buy special fertilizers for it.
Fertilizer is diluted in water and fertilized after watering so as not to burn the roots. Microcarp is very responsive to foliar feeding. For them, fertilizer is bred at twice the weaker concentration and the foliage is sprayed.
Care and watering at home: video
In order for the bonsai to grow a powerful trunk, the ficus is subjected to regular pruning. With its help, the crown is given the desired look. The direction of growth of skeletal branches is set using a wire. To get the most magnificent crown, the main shoots are shortened to 5 cm, forcing them to branch.
Ficus microcarp tolerates pruning well, it does not do him any harm. Since the plant does not have a pronounced dormant period and continues to grow even during the winter months, it is pruned at this time as well. If you yourself grew a young ficus seedling from which you want to form a bonsai, then it needs to be cut off the main trunk at a low height, this will lead to the fact that the rest of the stem will get stronger and become much thicker.
Pruning starts from the lower layers of the crown, then moves up, according to a plan that allows you to create the desired shape. Cut not the leaves, but the branches themselves. If the shoot was thick, the cut must be covered with garden pitch. Cardinally, the plant is pruned in the spring before the start of active growth. At other times, they only slightly correct the contour, shortening individual overgrown branches.
Ficus microcarpa does not tolerate transplanting well and is very sensitive to root damage, so it should be transplanted as little as possible. Experts recommend doing this once every 2-3 years. To curb the growth of bonsai plants are specially planted in shallow containers. The purpose of transplanting is to replace depleted soil and reduce the number of overgrown roots.
They operate as follows:
- It is necessary to prepare a new pot, which should be 2-3 cm wider and slightly higher than the previous one.
- The drainage hole is covered with a plastic mesh and coarse sand is poured.
- 1/3 of the prepared soil is poured over the drainage layer.
- Bonsai are taken out of an old container, gently shake the earth from the roots, wash them in warm water and shorten them a little with sharp scissors.
- Wounds on the roots must be treated with charcoal. Thin threadlike roots are removed completely.
- Having prepared the plant, it is installed on the ground and covered with earth on top so that the upper third of the roots remains above the surface. If necessary, the rhizomes are pre-intertwined with each other, if this is required by the intended style.
- The final stage is soil compaction, watering and laying sphagnum moss on top of the soil.
Ficus microcarp transplant: video
Reproduction of ficus microcarp occurs in three ways: cuttings, layering and seeds.
For a cutting, an apical semi-lignified shoot is cut from a tree, it is soaked for a day to remove the protruding milky juice. After that, the stalk is placed in a glass of water, where wood ash or charcoal is added to prevent decay. When the roots appear, the seedling is rooted in light nutrient soil, covered with a glass jar on top so that it takes root more easily. When new leaves appear, the jar is removed.
If you decide to try to propagate the ficus by layering, on a tall specimen they retreat from the crown by 55-60 cm and cut off the bark from the trunk in a section 10 cm long. The bare area is wrapped with wet sphagnum and film. After a month, roots will appear in this place. The crown is cut off along with young roots and planted in a separate container.
Bonsai can only be obtained from a plant grown from a seed. Landing is traditionally carried out in the spring. The quality of planting material is very important, as are the conditions for its storage. If the norms are not respected, the seeds will simply lose their germination. Seeds are stratified and moistened before planting. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the landing tank, then a layer of soil.
Seeds are laid out on the surface of the earth, sprinkled with sand on top, moistened and covered with a film. Successful germination of seedlings requires warmth and diffused light. Young plants hatch in 2-4 weeks. As soon as a few leaves appear, the shoots dive. After another 2 months, they are seated in separate pots.
Ficus disease, as in the case of other plants, can be triggered by improper care or poor living conditions. Pests often move from neighboring flowers, especially in conditions of crowding, dry air and elevated temperatures.
As an emergency measure, it is necessary to treat the aerial part of the ficus with soapy water, you can simply try to wash the pests off the crown under the shower. After that, it is advisable to transplant the plant into fresh soil, after disinfecting the pot. If this does not help, be sure to spray the tree with insecticides, they work quickly and effectively.
From excessive watering, dark or whitish spots may appear on aerial roots. This indicates the spread of fungal diseases that cause rot. In this case, all damaged areas are cut out, the ficus is treated with fungicides and they stop actively watering.
Unexpected leaf fall, when the leaves leave the tree green, may be the result of being in a draft or in a too cold room. Create comfortable conditions for the ficus and the leaves will grow again. If the foliage is covered with spots, this indicates rotting of the roots. The plant will have to be removed from the pot, inspect the roots, remove all suspicious areas and plant in fresh soil.
When the leaves do not fall off suddenly, but after preliminary yellowing, the reason is poor watering. Some flower growers are afraid to flood the plant and go to the other extreme, allowing overdrying. We must not forget that any extremes are harmful to the plant. Watering should be regular, but careful.
Varieties of ficus microcarp
On sale you can find varieties of ficus microcarp. We will introduce you to its most popular varieties:
Variety Ginseng Its intricate root shape is the result of long breeding work. Now anyone can grow a beautiful miniature tree from the seeds of this plant, the trunk of which sometimes resembles figures of animals or humans. In care, this variety is considered unpretentious, but requires attention to top dressing - without them, it will not be able to grow so decorative.
Variety Moklame Moklame is considered a dwarf epiphytic ficus. It was his diminutiveness that made him attractive for growing in home culture. This is a sun-loving variety of ficus microcarp and requires more lighted places. In winter, moklama must be illuminated for normal growth. The shoots have an elegant shape and form a solid green crown.
Variety Variegata Variegated form with high decorative qualities. Like all variegated plants, it needs increased lighting. You can grow a lush bush, or form a bonsai.
Westland 
This is another small-leaved and small-fruited ficus belonging to the macrocarp species. The branches are covered with dark green elongated leaves 11 cm long. Does not require special care. Grows well in bush form.
Try to create your own unique bonsai, for sure this process will incredibly captivate you and give you a lot of positive emotions.