The ficus is a very attractive plant for the interior. It is shaped like a small tree with a thick stem and oval leaves that form foliage. Regardless of their size, they maintain the shape of a tree, making it ideal for bonsai or to have as a small tree in a green corner in our home or office.
It is easy to care for and can last a long time. But you have to know some care so that the ficus does not die. There are not many, but they are necessary to keep your plant happy and long-lived.
Below I will tell you some tips and tricks so that you can have a green corner in your home for a long time.
1. The environment
If we move the pot from one place to another, it is normal for the plant to lose some leaves with the change in environment. But if you notice that too many leaves are falling and they also turn yellow, then you need to pay attention. Most likely, the plant is affected by the change in humidity and temperature.
To avoid this, I suggest you keep the ficus in as stable an environment as possible . For example, place it in a place away from windows and doors where drafts form. Also do not put it too close to the air conditioner or heater.
2. Irrigation
Excess or lack of watering also affects the leaves. If watering is done poorly, the leaves will begin to curl and the ficus will lose part of its attractiveness.
It is best to water only when the soil is dry only on the surface, the soil should not dry out completely . On the other hand, if you overwater and the pot does not have good drainage, the water can stagnate and the roots will rot. In this case you will have to start a treatment to save the plant.
3. Lack of light
The ficus needs good light to grow and produce new leaves. It is true that a characteristic of this plant is that it adapts to low light conditions, but in this case it will only produce leaves according to the luminosity it receives. This means that it will not grow to its full potential.
It is best to place it in a place with light but not exposed to temperature changes. In times of high temperatures, it is not advisable to give direct light to the ficus, because this could burn the leaves. You can use a curtain or screen to filter the light.
4. Fertilizer use
A little help never hurts. If we want to replenish nitrogen, which helps the development of green parts and other nutrients such as iron, manganese and copper, we can use a liquid fertilizer, diluted in water.
As with water, we should not exaggerate with the use of fertilizer. If we overfertilize the land we will be promoting the appearance of diseases , the roots will be affected by the large amount of salts present in the substance, and the ficus will grow weak.
5. Pruning
It is important to prune the ficus. Before performing this operation we must ensure that the scissors are clean and disinfected . We can clean the leaves with alcohol or expose them to the flame for a few seconds.
The best time to prune is late winter or early spring. We have to remove any branches or leaves that we see as defective. This way we will give space and energy to the new shoots so that they grow healthy and strong, and we will have a ficus with a leafy crown.
