Benjamin's bald ficus: how to help grow rich leaves again

Do you want to help your pet become beautiful and green again? Small changes in grooming will help. Yes, Benjamin's ficus is good for everyone, except for one small feature that consistently frustrates flower growers around the world. As soon as the plant does not like something, it will immediately and categorically report on this, defiantly throwing off some of the leaves or even bringing itself to the state of branches.

But the sad process is reversible for the ficus, reversible. Practice has shown that after dropping even 95% of the crown, the bush can become fluffy again. After reading to the end of the article, you will learn how to turn the rivers back.

Transplant: new soil will give the ficus new nutrition

The second half of winter and March is the best time to transplant most houseplants. It is needed if the roots of the ficus have already begun to look out of the drainage hole of the pot or the earth has begun to dry out too quickly.

Young ficuses are transplanted once every 1-2 years. As the roots entwine the earthy lump. Adult specimens - every few years.

Careful transshipment, preserving the earthy coma, entwined with roots, and adding new soil will give the plant nutrients. And a new pot is a place for root growth.

Author's advice: If you do not have the opportunity to do the transshipment, just renew the topsoil

Discarding pity: life-giving pruning

In place of the fallen leaves, new ones will no longer grow. But leaves will appear on young shoots. A simple pruning can be done to stimulate new buds to grow.

All branches of the ficus that are affected by botanical alopecia, I cut exactly in half. At the same time, out of 2 shoots growing close and parallel to each other, I leave one. So that they do not interfere with each other. If something grows inside the bush, you can also cut it off: this way the whole bush will be well illuminated by the sun.

A bald pet treat

After transplantation, the ficus can not be fed for about six months. For 6 months, the houseplant will feed on the nutrient resources of the new soil.

But, if you did not transplant the flower, then regularly feed it with nitrogen fertilizers. These are ready-made mineral products in liquid form for decorative foliage, urea or organic biohumus. The choice on store shelves - for every taste and budget.

Briefly about watering

Pouring ficus is much more dangerous than drying it. Moreover, the sad rule works: the fewer the leaves, the smaller the area of ​​moisture evaporation. Therefore, a bald Benjamin needs very, very careful and scanty watering! Be sure to make sure that the top layer in the pot dries completely.

For obvious reasons, it is better to postpone watering from the shower. But spraying and wiping the surviving leaves will be beneficial.

Author's advice: "Hot shower" for bald ficus can awaken dormant buds. But it is necessary to water so that the water almost does not fall on the ground. For example, tilting the pot.

The most important thing is the weather at home

I’ve probably already tired you with a long text, although I tried to write only the most important. Now I will list with a short list the ideal conditions for the growth of new branches and leaves and Benjamin's ficus:

• sunny window (especially important for variegated varieties);
• lack of cold drafts - while the temperature is low outside, try to move the pot away from the glass;
• do not constantly rearrange and twist the plant - so that the crown grows evenly, periodically turn the pot a few degrees.

I hope that my advice will help your ficus to regain its former beauty. Love Benjamins and was this article helpful? Please rate her Thumbs Up in response! Thank you. And the owners of another decorative leafy flower may find the article useful: Zamioculcas does not tolerate: frequent mistakes of beginners