Ficus Pumila White Sunny
There are many different types of houseplants in the modern world. Some of them are kept close at hand because of the healing qualities, some play a decorative role. The latter include the dwarf ficus Pumila.
Ficus Pumila White Sunny
This flower has interesting weaving abilities, which makes it often used as a wall decoration in homes or offices. Ficus Pumila White Sunny is highly prized in Asian countries, the plant is often used in various practices of bonsai art. In other countries, this flower is appreciated for its unpretentious care and rapid growth.
Description of the species
Ficus Pumila White Sunny is a dwarf variety of common ficuses.
This ampelous flower variety is distinguished by small foliage up to 3 cm in diameter, which has an oval shape. The color of the foliage of this type of ficus is characterized by a white border around the edges. The stem has increased tenacity, so that the flower can braid around a solid support. Asian countries are considered the original areola of ficus.
This kind of culture can be found in the forests of Thailand, China and Korea. The ficus Pumila itself began to be grown at home from the beginning of the 18th century, and since then it has served as an ornament in many homes.
Ficus Pumila Care
It should be noted that taking care of the Pumila ficus at home will not cause difficulties even for novice florists. The flower is unpretentious in everyday life, the only inconvenience that an unprepared owner may encounter is the weaving of the flower too quickly.
However, there are still a number of rules that you should adhere to if you decide to have a dwarf ficus in the house.
Room lighting
This type of ficus belongs to the variety of light-loving crops. The foliage of the bush requires a certain amount of sunlight. However, it is important to avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the crown of the flower: this can lead to deep burns and ulcers.
Lack of sunshine reduces the brightness of the light border of the leaf. The crown can turn completely green in a dark location, making it similar to its closest relative, the ficus Pumila Green Sunny. In winter, the flower should be moved closer to the window, and in summer, you need to make sure that the plant is in the shade at noon.
Room temperature
Dwarf ficus does not tolerate high temperatures. The air in the room should not rise above 20 ° C, otherwise the flower may begin to wither. Also, temperature fluctuations should not reach minus, otherwise it will have a bad effect on the foliage.
In summer, the flower can be transplanted outside, since ficus is not afraid of temperatures above normal in the fresh air. But after this, preventive measures should be taken to avoid infection with harmful insects and fungus.
Watering mode
Ficus Sunny is not well tolerated to high soil moisture.Before watering, it is imperative to check the topsoil: it must be dry.
The mode of watering a dwarf ficus looks like this:
- In summer, the flower is watered every 3 days.
- In autumn and winter, the soil should be moistened 1-2 times a week.
- In the spring, the ficus begins to grow actively, so it should be watered as needed. For the best effect, the mineral components should be diluted in water.
Water for irrigation is used at room temperature and should stand for several days. You can not water the ficus with tap water: the official description says that the plant does not tolerate bleach well.
If water remains in the sump after moistening the soil, it should be drained. A large amount of moisture will lead to darkening of the leaf and rotting of the root system. Ficus Pumila is good for the drip irrigation system, so it is worth purchasing a dispenser for a plant.
Humidity level in the house
Dry air can cause many diseases of the dwarf ficus. This plant variety is very sensitive to low indoor humidity.
The flower accepts spraying with water favorably. Such water treatments improve the quality of the leaf and accelerate the growth of the plant. The water for spraying should be boiled and lukewarm.
If there is no time for such procedures, then you can place the Pumila ficus on a pallet with expanded clay. This base should be filled with water. Such simple actions will save the flower from death. Also, the level of humidity in the room affects the tenacity of the shoots. In dry air, White Sunny ficus will not weave.
Crown formation
The procedure for pruning a dwarf ficus will not be a hassle. This type of plant is rarely used for curling, so pruning is done for sanitary purposes.
For this, sharp secateurs or scissors are used. First of all, old shoots and dry leaves are cut off, and the cut sites are wiped with charcoal. The flower can grow quickly, so the main shoots should also be shortened at regular intervals.
Fertilizer
First of all, the plant needs feeding during periods of active growth, which fall during the warm season. Among the products of the domestic manufacturer, one can single out the Izumrud fertilizer. It is a balanced plant food that contains 2 active components: magnesium and nitrogen.
Such elements are responsible for the accelerated growth of foliage and protect the crown of the ficus tree from aging. It is extremely important to follow the rules of plant fertilization, which are set out in the instructions for the product. An excess of minerals can seriously injure the roots of the ficus tree.
Breeding
Reproduction of this variety of flowers is especially fast. The plant can be easily grown from a cut cuttings. For this, a young shoot with two leaves is carefully cut off, after which it is kept in water for some time.
Once the sprout has taken root, it can be transplanted into a flower pot. Care for a seedling should be exactly the same as for an adult plant. Do not plant more than 6 shoots in one pot. The dwarf ficus grows rapidly and after six months the plant will become cramped, which can cause the disease.
Transplant features
It should be noted that the ficus appreciates the stability of its location - transplanting can be stressful. This procedure is best done in the first month of spring. The flower is just emerging from the dormant phase and better adapts to new conditions.
A young plant should be replanted every year, since the roots very quickly pick up all the beneficial properties in the soil. Ficus, which is more than five years old, is able to calmly remain in one pot for a long time. The signal for transplanting is the shredding of foliage and degeneration of the shoots.
Drainage must be laid at the bottom of the tub. For this, materials such as:
- expanded clay;
- fragments of clay pots;
- broken brick.
The soil for ficuses must also contain a certain amount of mineral components. A good soil for these plants looks like this:
- sand;
- peat;
- leafy land.
Diseases and pests
If the leaves of the ficus Sani began to turn yellow rapidly, it is likely that he fell ill. The cause of the disease is most often the improper care of the flower: increased dryness of the air or a disturbed watering regime. However, in some cases, various pests can cause a sharp deterioration in the condition of the flower.
There are 2 types of microorganisms that can cause infection:
- insects;
- fungus.
When infested with pests, first of all, the plant should be protected from other home flowers, and the Sunny ficus itself must be treated with special preparations. Treatment of a plant depends on the type of pests that have affected it.
Among insects, the most dangerous for ficus are:
- Shield. This parasite feeds the plant sap, piercing the leaves with a sharp proboscis. A characteristic feature of the insect is raised spots on the outside of the leaf. After themselves, the scale insects leave a sticky discharge, in which another pest often settles - a sooty mushroom. In the fight against insects, actellic and a soap solution should be used.
- Mealybug. The disease looks like small lumps of light cotton wool that densely stick around the sheet. The insect feeds on the sap of the plant and slows down the development of the ficus. Comprehensive home treatment includes wiping the leaves from the cobweb and processing the flower with a confidrom solution.
- Aphid. This pest most often infects the plant during the period of active growth: in summer and spring. The parasite settles in small colonies on the inner side of the leaf. To protect the ficus from the invasion of aphids, the leaves of the flower must be treated with soapy water or pyrethrum.
There are also several types of dangerous fungal diseases:
Gray rot
The disease looks like a gray mold that quickly covers the foliage. The affected crown turns black and falls off.
Rot can be caused by increased temperature and humidity. To get rid of the disease, you need to cut off the affected parts of the plant and revise the watering regime.
Sooty mushroom
This parasite settles in the secretions left behind by insects. First of all, it affects the foliage with a black bloom.
In the fight against it at home, wiping the crown with soapy water and a fungicide preparation is used.
Root rot
The infection manifests itself as rapidly spreading foci of decay along the roots and trunk of the ficus. The plant begins to wither rapidly.
This type of fungus is very difficult to detect in the soil, since it can be at rest for a long time. Treatment for this disease is impossible - the plant is thrown out together with the pot.