Ficus Ali variety
Ficuses have been used as ornamental plants for a long time; today they are pleasing to the eye in many homes. Ficus Ali Binnendijka is one such ornamental plant. Ficus Ali (Ficus Binnendijkii), aka Binnendijka or Ivolistny ficus, is one of the most famous ornamental plants of this species. The history of the origin of the flower mentions the name of Simon Benedict, who discovered this species.
Ficus Ali
There is such a variety of plants in the tropics. There is a wide variety of ficuses in the world, but it is the Ali variety that differs from its counterparts in the size and structure of the bush. Moreover, the ficus Ali has an unusual leaf shape and color. As for the size of this plant in its natural environment, the Ali variety reaches a height of 15 m or more, but in indoor conditions it grows only up to 2 m.This species is unpretentious, so caring for the Binnendijk ficus is not difficult.
Characteristics of ficus Ali
It is the ficus Binnendiyka Ali that is the most frequent option chosen by flower growers. This type of ficus has a very bright, conspicuous color. Paying attention to the shape of the leaves, you might think that there is a small willow in front of your eyes. Yes, willow and ficus Ali are very similar to each other. Ficus Ali has long leaves of green and dark color, which densely envelop and overgrow the trunk.
In length, the leaves can reach 30 cm, and in width - no more than 7-8 cm. Externally, the ficus Ali is similar to the Amstel variety. It also has a similarity to willow in that in both plants, due to thin and thick leaves, the branches, unable to withstand the stress and not having so much strength to hold, go down under their weight. According to Feng Shui, it is believed that home ficus brings positive energy to people.
Lighting and temperature
The room in which the ficus will be located should be as light as possible. It will be good to choose the eastern side of the housing. However, do not forget that no matter how the plant loves light, it needs to be protected from too saturated sunlight if you do not want to get burnt leaves. Also, you do not need to place the ficus far from windows, otherwise its leaves will lose their bright color. Rearranging this plant from one place to another is also not recommended. As for the acceptable temperature, in summer it can vary from 22 to 24 ° C, and in winter it can vary from 17 to 20 ° C. It is better to keep the flower away from heating devices.
Important! Ficus will require a lot of light from the sun if the room temperature is very high. And as temperatures rise, more sunlight will be required for normal growth.
Watering the plant
Good home care includes regular watering. It is recommended to water the ficus Benedict of the Ali variety about 1-2 times a week. Not a single ficus likes aridity, so watering should be done with great responsibility. The number of waterings can be added in the spring, because it is at this time that more active growth begins.In the fall, when the flower reduces its activity, watering is reduced.
Watering, of course, is very important for the development of the plant, but do not forget that its leaves also need to be sprayed. Spraying should be done with a spray gun 2 times a day. If the flower has reached a large size, then you can even arrange a warm shower for it. Before watering, the water needs to be infused for 5-7 days. And do not forget that the ficus must be cleaned of dust if the goal is to get a decent result.
Soil and fertilizing
Ficus Binnedika of the Ali variety needs a special soil. The alkali substrate can harm it. The soil for planting a plant can be made with your own hands. For this you will need:
- peat
- turf land
- river sand
- charcoal
All components must be mixed in equal amounts. Holes will be needed at the bottom of the pot so that excess water does not linger. Top dressing is done in April and August at least 2 times a month. Fertilizers need to be chosen that will suit ornamental plants. You can choose a groundbait specially designed for varieties such as Binnendika Ali ficus. With an excess or deficiency of useful trace elements, the leaves turn yellow and may fall off.
Plant transplant
Young ficuses need a transplant, preferably every year. When the plant grows, the transplant is carried out once every 5 years. With a large flower, the section of the soil that is on top is changed. For transplanting a flower, a pot is used that differs from the past by 2 cm in size. Before removing, the flower must be watered and twisted a little in order for the soil to become loose.
The roots are also carefully washed and examined. Places with rot must be removed. After inspection, the plant is brought into a new pot in the middle and covered with a substrate. After finishing transplanting the ficus, it should be watered and left to adapt to conditions that will be completely new for it. You may also need a long stick to use as a support for the flower.
Reproduction of ficus Ali
You can propagate the Ali ficus variety by cuttings. Thanks to the use of stem cuttings, there is a very easy and effective way to propagate adult Binnendik Ali ficuses. If an annual haircut was carried out, it may have left good cuttings that you can try to root. It is advisable to propagate ficus at the beginning of spring. Ficus Ali and its reproduction are best carried out during the growth period.
The stalk is carefully torn from the adult plant using a knife. After that, the shoot is placed in a container of water and removed to a warm, light-filled room. After a while, most often after 2 weeks, you can see how the first roots appear. Water needs to be added periodically so that the plant always has enough of it. The shoot should be planted in the substrate when the root has grown by more than a couple of cm.
Crown formation
Ficus Ali and caring for him also consists in forming a crown. You can make a bonsai tree from ficuses. You can also combine several similar varieties together: Amstel King, Benjamin and Gold. The ficus of the Benedict Ali variety grows like the most common tree, but if the crown is very bushy, it is cut off. The Ali ficus variety has long leaves and is therefore well formed.
Pruning will not harm the plant, the flower will not lose its size, on the contrary, this is a way to help it grow and develop. The crown is also formed from several ficuses grown in the same pot. This is possible thanks to the stem, because it is thin and several pieces can intertwine with each other without some effort, like a female braid.
Diseases and pests
Ficus Binnendiyka Ali is quite resistant to diseases and pests, but if proper care is not followed, problems may appear and the plant will get sick. It is imperative to properly water the ficus and observe the lighting regime.If you follow all the rules, the ficus grows beautiful and healthy. If Ali's home ficus sheds its leaves, then the reason may be waterlogged soil or a frequent change of location. In this case, you can plant the ficus in new soil.
Growth retardation and leaf fall occurs due to lack of lighting. When curling the leaves and drying, you need to look at where the flower stands, possibly on the sunny side. To avoid adversity, you need to spray the flower and shade during the period when the sun is most active.
The reason for the brown spots on the leaves lies in the temperature regime or excessive feeding. To avoid such a problem, you need to ventilate the room and, if possible, use devices to humidify the air.
If you take care of the ficus not as it requires, it can become a victim of common pests. If the room where the plant is located is saturated with dry air, the parasite will certainly appear. To get rid of it, you need to use a wetted sponge and remove the parasite, and treat the flower with a rag moistened with a weak solution of alcohol.
Shield
Scabbards are small pests that attach to the leaf, while drawing out its life sap from it. Accordingly, the flower becomes sick, gloomy, the leaves lose their bright color, becoming pale, and then completely disappear. If scabbards are seen in small numbers, they are easily removed by hand, and the infected plant is treated with a soap solution.
If you do not notice the disease in time, at the last stage you can get rid of parasites only with the use of Actellik solution. For 1 liter of water you need 20 drops of Actellik. This drug and others similar are very toxic, so the ficus should be processed not indoors, but outdoors, and always wear gloves that can protect your hands from injury.
Spider mite
This parasite differs from other pests in its effect on the plant. Even without looking closely, it will be seen that the flower is sick, because it will be covered with a thin whitish cobweb, the leaves and the space between them will be especially affected. To get rid of this parasite, you need to know and always remember that it does not tolerate moisture at all, which is why it is recommended to completely and immediately rinse the flower, all its parts.
In the fight against spider mites, when the flower has not yet reached a large size, you can cover it with a film using polyethylene. Why do this and how does it help? This creates a greenhouse effect that will drive out the parasite, because the spider mite cannot exist in a room with high humidity. When all these methods do not help, you should use any insecticide, and be sure to read the instructions.
It is very easy to take care of such a flower yourself at home. So even if you are a novice florist, feel free to buy this plant and do not be afraid of difficulties in caring for it. If you follow all the rules and conditions that are needed for the development of Ali's ficus, it will delight you for a long time, while having a beautiful green appearance and large size. This flower, as a token of gratitude, will delight you with coolness and a tropical scent.