Features of the ficus Cyatistipula
Growing indoor plants is very exciting and interesting, but if earlier it was difficult to find original species, now it does not present any problems. The assortment in specialized stores is incredibly wide, but ficus cyanistipula is always popular among flower growers, due to its appearance and unpretentiousness in care. And if the height of domestic plants is measured in centimeters, then in nature they often reach several tens of meters.
Features of the ficus Cyatistipula
Characteristics and differences
A popular variety is the ficus cyatistipula or otherwise goblet. His homeland is Africa, where, under favorable conditions, he reaches a height of more than 10 meters. Interestingly, at home, it is unlikely to even reach 2 meters. The plant is an evergreen tree with a gorgeous crown of large oval leaves with pointed tips. Ficus cyastula has an interesting description.
- A large leaf is up to 20 cm long and about 7 cm wide. It has a soft skin and a light green vein in the center. The lower part of the sheet is lighter than the upper one.
- The branched crown consists of strong petioles, which grow up to 3.5 meters in nature.
- The tips of the twigs are covered with brown scales.
- Ficus bears fruit at an early age, but its fruits cannot be eaten, although they look very attractive, small, up to 5 cm, yellow in color.
- Goblet ficus easily tolerates shade and does not suffer from either a lack or an excess of moisture. But in the cold season, it is advisable to reduce watering to a minimum, which will protect the roots from rotting, and its leaves from shedding. Make sure that the soil has time to dry out completely between waterings.
Requirements for conditions
Absolutely all ficuses, and cyanistipula, are no exception prefer air with high humidity. It's easy to do: spray it daily with room temperature water. With an enviable frequency, take it to the bathroom and arrange a bath day by pouring from the shower. But remember that after such procedures, it is forbidden to immediately put the tree in the sun: keep it in the shade for some time, letting it dry. Another important point: the pot with the plant must be kept away from heating appliances, at a distance of about two meters.
It is good if the lighting is bright enough, but diffused. The optimum temperature for growing is considered to be 16 degrees in winter and up to 23 degrees in summer. When the heat becomes unbearable, ventilate the room in which the goblet ficus is located. It is good if you have an air conditioner, but even in its absence, do not try to place the plant near an open window: a draft is extremely dangerous for it. In principle, this is all home care necessary for active growth and comfortable growth of ficus.
Soil selection
Purchase a special primer from the store
The soil should be fertile and porous, with a neutral Ph.It's easier to buy a similar mixture at a flower shop, but you can make it yourself. There are several options:
- mix sod and leafy soil in equal parts and add half of the total mass of sand to it;
- take the same amount of peat, turf and leaf land and sand;
- one portion of sod, leafy earth and coal, plus half a portion of sand.
The drainage necessary for the plant is made with expanded clay, which is placed on the bottom of the pallet, and sprinkled with sand on top. Goblet ficus prefers watering with settled, warm water. And, if in the warm season you need to water it often, then in winter it is quite enough once every ten days. Remember to fertilize and apply them regularly to the soil to improve growth. Buy liquid organic blends that are high in nitrogen. The frequency of application is 2 times a week, but only from spring to autumn, when the ficus is actively growing.
Reproduction and transplantation
The tree is propagated using cuttings and air vents. The optimum length of the cuttings is in the region of 10 cm. After cutting, rinse the cutting itself, and treat the cut site with charcoal. There are two ways of rooting: put the branches in a container with water, until roots form, or immediately plant them in the ground. A mixture of peat and sand is good for this. At the same time, cover the young shoots with plastic for a while. It is possible to grow a tree even from seeds by building a small greenhouse, but it is whiter than troublesome and very long.
The ficus does not need pruning, therefore, at your discretion, remove everything unnecessary in your opinion and form the desired crown. The goblet ficus grows up to about 25 cm per year and requires an annual transplant into a larger pot. Just do not overdo it: increase the diameter gradually, by 4-5 cm at a time, otherwise growth will slow down. Have you reached a pot size of 30 cm? Feel free to stop the transplant, but simply change a few upper centimeters of soil to a new one.
Need to know
Goblet ficus has pests. These are mealy worms, spider mites and scale insects. And when you rearrange it from place to place, there is a risk of leaf shedding. Because of this, you shouldn't move the tree pot more than once a month. And also do not allow dry air in the apartment - this leads to drying of the leaves. And do not put the tree in a dark place, as this will lead to a deterioration in its growth.
Externally, the goblet ficus looks exotic and beautiful, pleasing to the eye and complementing any interior. Provide the plant with proper care at home, and it will delight you.