How to transplant the ficus?This question is relevant for everyone whose houses and apartments are adorned with a decorative-deciduous tree. The plant attracts not only its elegant appearance, but rather unpretentious temper. However, it still needs competent care in order to delight the eye for many years.
Do I need a transfer?
How to transplant the ficus? First you need to figure out when to do it.
- The plant ceases to fit in the old pot. From the drainage holes look out its roots.
- The soil is deprived of useful substances, which ensure the growth and development of the plant.
- Ficus, which has just been purchased in the store, must certainly be transplanted.
- The old drainage is the time to replace the new.
- Ficus reproduces.
If the transplantation is not carried out in a timely manner, the growth of the plant will cease. Also, the leaves begin to crumble and yellow. The weakened ficus is less resistant to diseases and attacks by pests.
When to transplant the ficus
Many mistakenly believe that unpretentiousnessficus allows you to transplant it in the fall. These plants are really resistant to disease, they have a strong root system. However, they do not like transplantation, so it is better to produce it in "convenient" spring or summer time.
Can I change the ficus in winter? Doing this is highly discouraged, unless there is an urgent need.
When is the best time to transplant? Spring is the optimal time of year for solving this problem. The plant, transplanted in March-April, will have time to move away from stress to the beginning of cold weather.
Which pot to choose
How to transplant the ficus?First, you need to choose a suitable container for it. For this plant it is allowed to use a pot of plastic or clay. If it is an old copy, you can stop on a wooden tub. It is desirable that the container had a decent weight: this prevents the ficus accidentally tipping over. From this point of view, clay and wood products are preferable.
These plants prefer close containers.You can not transplant the ficus in a pot that does not fit in size. Roots will not be able to master the entire volume of soil, as a result of which its souring will begin. The new tub should be more approximately 3-4 cm in diameter than the old one.
A few words about the soil
How to transplant the ficus?Slightly acidic or neutral - this should be the soil for the plant. It should pass air and moisture well. Strongly it is not recommended to use clay soil. In this case, stagnation of moisture is inevitable, followed by decay of the roots.
The composition of the soil should depend on the age of the ficus.For adults, a mixture of humus, sand, peat and turf in equal proportions is suitable. For young specimens, leaf foliage, sand and peat should be mixed in equal parts. The earth can be prepared by hand or purchased a ready-made substrate.
Drainage for ficus
How correctly to transplant a ficus? Do we need drainage?Such a question arises if the container into which the plant is transplanted already has special holes. The drainage system should still be present. This is due to the negative reaction of the ficus, even for a short stagnation of moisture. The process of decay begins almost immediately, followed by disease, the loss of leaves. Securing a plant is always easier than dealing with its treatment.
With a drainage function will perfectly cope:
- pebbles;
- gravel;
- expanded clay;
- broken brick;
- clay or ceramic shards.
Strongly not recommendedsphagnum, peat, shell. They negatively affect the acidity of the soil, from which the ficus suffers. In addition, such a drainage will quickly stop performing its task. When laying, you need to make sure that the holes on the bottom of the tub are not clogged with shards or stones.
Preparation
Is it possible to transplant the ficus without preparation?No, this is strictly not recommended. The day before the procedure, it is necessary to water the plant qualitatively. This will not allow the earth to fall apart, protect the roots from damage.
Next, prepare the tank for the ficus.A layer of drainage (two to three centimeters) is laid on the bottom, a small amount of ground mixture is poured onto it. If desired, add vermiculite or perlite: this will ensure better air and moisture permeability.
How to transplant Benjamin Ficus: step by step instruction
The step-by-step instructions below will simplify the task for beginners. The process can be considered using the Benjamin ficus as an example. How to transplant this plant?
- Ficus should be carefully removed from the old tub.Its roots are carefully freed from the old soil. To soften clods of earth will help a small amount of water. Roots can be held under a tap or dip into a basin of water. It is important that after cleaning there are no clots left.
- Purified plant is put in a tub, sprinkled with earth. Add ground in small portions, compacting around the roots with your fingers.
- It is important to ensure that the trunk of the ficus does not fall too low into the pot.
- Copious watering after transplantation is not recommended, enough small amount of water.
- Re-irrigation is done a week later, by this time the soil will have time to dry completely.
Transfer method
The above is how to transplant the ficus inhome conditions (step by step). One can not but pay attention to another method, which is called transshipment. Its advantage lies in the fact that the root system practically does not suffer. As a result, the plant does not get much stress. Ficus does not weaken, its leaves do not fall off.
The method assumes minimal removal withthe root system of the earth. The plant is extracted from the pot with an earthen lump, which is slightly shaken off. Ficus is immersed in a new tub, and the gaps are filled with new soil with fertilizers.
After transplant, plant growth for a whilemay slow down, it is also possible the fall of a part of the leaves. There's nothing to worry about, since it's just a reaction to stress. Ficus will recover after three or four weeks.
A transplant after the store
How to transplant the ficus at home aftershop? After purchase, the plant really needs a transplant. The substrate in which the ficus is sold is not suitable for long-term use, it serves exclusively for transportation. In addition, the size of the pot is in most cases not suitable, as a result of which the roots are overgrown because of a lack of nutrients.
When should I change?This is recommended approximately 7-15 days after the acquisition of the ficus. It is necessary to wait this period for the plant to adapt to new conditions. It is not necessary to postpone the procedure for longer, since it can die. The transplantation is carried out as it is described in the step-by-step instructions. The transshipment method is not relevant in this case, because the old substrate needs to be removed.
Post-transplant care
It is important not only how to transplant the ficuscorrectly. The plant also needs competent care after this procedure. It is important that watering be moderate. It can only be carried out after the soil has dried. Foliage of ficus should be sprayed twice a day from a fine-grained atomizer, it is best to do this in the morning and in the evening. For this, soft water of room temperature is used.
How to help the plant adapt tonew conditions? For this, the ficus can be covered with polyethylene. Ventilate it twice a day. The shelter is removed when the growth of the plant resumes. The humidity of the environment in which the ficus is located should be 70-80%. Also, the plant needs high-quality lighting, reliable protection from drafts. The ideal temperature for him is 18-22 degrees.
We should not forget about fertilizing.It is recommended to resume them approximately three to five weeks after the transplant. Previously, this should not be done, since there may be an overabundance of nutrients, to which the ficus will react negatively.
It is important
The plant is not recommended every yearin a new pot, if it feels great in the old container. The need for transplantation is signaled by roots that look out of the drainage holes or rise above the ground. Also, the need to replace the soil is indicated by a halt in growth. In this case, you need to make sure that the ficus has stopped growing not because of illness or pest attacks.
Adult plant is not recommended to trytransplanted alone. Pull into the new tub of ficus, without damaging its roots, the two are much easier. During the transplant, the plant should not be shaken. It must be remembered that he has very fragile shoots and petioles. Any careless movement can lead to their breakdown.