Ficus (ficus) is deservedly referred to the most popular indoor plants in the Russian Federation. It belongs to the group of evergreen deciduous crops. The flower is known for its unpretentiousness and ability to adapt in different places. The occurrence of problems with the growth and development of the flower causes inexperienced gardeners an interest in how to water the ficus correctly.
How often to water ficus
Watering ficus is carried out no more than 2 times a week. After the arrival of a cold pore, a gradual decrease in the frequency of soil moisture occurs: from October it is reduced to weekly, and from the first winter month to once every 10 days.
Watering ficus
Water quality for ficus
Experienced gardeners prefer to use rainwater, and in winter - to melt the snow. If there is a natural spring near the house, then fresh water from the key will be the best solution to the problem of irrigation because of its unique qualities.
Important! Humidification of the soil with ordinary tap water is excluded. The substances contained in it adversely affect both the earth and the general condition of the plant. In the absence of an alternative, it is used after daily sedimentation.
Watering from the tap of evergreen bushes is carried out according to the algorithm:
- After a set of liquids, it is boiled.
- Allow to cool - the total volume is divided into several vessels.
- After settling for 24 hours, the plant is irrigated.
To prevent the culture from falling into hibernation, feeding is carried out: twice a month, from March to the beginning of September. The enrichment of the soil with liquid mineral compositions allows you to give the culture all the necessary substances, to activate its growth and development.
Ficus fertilizers
Benjamin's ficus is fed with the following solutions:
- Bona Forte;
- Good power;
- Multiflora aqua;
- Flower happiness.
Note! Each store fertilizer is accompanied by detailed instructions on the rules of use. Some manufacturers produce products that are enough for almost 500 soil enrichment procedures.
Signs of improper watering
Regardless of the unpretentiousness of flower culture, excessive moisture of the earth affects it negatively. There are a number of signs that help to understand that a flower requires changing the irrigation system or requires better water:
- The growth arrest of rubbery ficus - in addition to the cessation of development, is characterized by yellowing of foliage on the bottom of the culture. The problem is associated with impoverished soil and an insufficient amount of useful minerals. Otherwise, with a lack of fluid. Treatment consists in increasing the frequency of irrigation and the timely introduction of useful trace elements.
- Traces of rot on the root system, shoots or foliage - reports excessive moisture and stagnation of moisture in the container. Ignoring the warning can cause a variety of fungal infections.
Important! The change in the frequency of substrate wetting depends on the temperature and humidity indicators in the room. In cool and damp rooms, frequent watering can become a source of fungus and other diseases.
Signs of improper watering
What is fraught with improper watering
Violation of the requirements for irrigation often leads to a prolonged disease of the crop or its death. With improper watering, the plant is attacked by insect pests. The wrong approach can be identified by the following criteria:
- loss of foliage, the formation of yellow spots on both sides of leaf plates;
- the gradual appearance of a dull color and the disappearance of the standard bright green color of the aerial part.
Violation of the rules associated with improper humidity or season, leads to the drying of the plant. It is difficult for beginner gardeners to calculate a plan for irrigation and fertilizing the substrate, which is why they should be guided by the generally accepted scheme. For experienced lovers of indoor crops, the definition of changes in care is not a serious problem: according to the state of the soil and the appearance of the ficus.
Features of the procedure in the cold and warm season
Specialists divide the time of the procedures into winter and summer time, features are associated with changes in the temperature and humidity levels.
Winter
The period begins in late autumn, when the first frosts come. At this point, the plants slow down the speed of passage of juices through the trunk and foliage, they do not need the previous volumes of nutrients, as in a hot season. To prevent the development of diseases and attacks of insect pests, water the culture twice a month.
In addition to conventional soil irrigation, spraying of the green part and a contrast shower are often used. In the winter, they are removed from the compulsory program - during the implementation, accidental trauma to the foliage may occur.
Additional Information! Instead of spraying and bathing, wiping the sheet plates with a wet cotton pad comes. The procedure helps to clean them of accumulated dust and nourish a little.
Summer
With the arrival of spring heat and until the last warm days of autumn, the apartment has a lowered humidity. Plants require frequent wetting of the substrate, a sufficient amount of minerals. In this period (especially in the spring), growth and development have intensified - the culture needs to increase the frequency of irrigation, at least once every seven days.
Important! In addition to the standard hydration of the substrate, a warm shower (monthly) and spraying every 20 days.
Ficus Shower
Ficus Watering Technique
Irrigation of the plant is an easy and easy exercise. How often do you need to water the ficus: before the procedure, you need to pay attention to some nuances:
- make light grooves on the surface (up to 7 cm) before manipulation - this approach will allow the liquid to be evenly distributed throughout the pot and not stagnate above the ground;
- after moisture absorption, loosening is carried out - it helps to increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the root system;
- watering is carried out evenly, with constant monitoring of the result: if all the water goes into the pan, then it is carefully removed and the substrate is moistened.
Standard irrigation methods are not complicated, even children can handle them. For spraying the culture, it is recommended to use a special liquid spray.
Note! If the violation of the requirements for irrigation did not last long, then the correction of the scheme will eliminate all the consequences of errors. Timely identification of the problem will help to avoid attacks of insect parasites and the development of fungal pathologies.
Humidity and Spraying
Humidity indicators vary depending on the season: in the summer they decrease, and in the winter they increase. These nuances should be taken into account when calculating the substrate wetting pattern.
Ficus refers to crops that prefer high humidity. To create a favorable environment, they need regular irrigation, regular sprinkling and showering, with the cleaning of sheet plates of accumulated dust and dirt.
At home, offices and child care facilities they are installed for cleaning rooms from dust particles. Pollution accumulates on the foliage, and for normal plant life, periodic washing of the green part with moist cotton pads is required.
Important! If the moisture content exceeds 30%, then the flower does not need spraying. At a reduced level, boiled or warm liquid is used. There are no restrictions on the number of sprayings - they will be driven according to needs, focusing on the general condition of the plant.
Spraying ficus
Procedure if the plant is flooded or overdried
If overflows or insufficient moisture are detected in the substrate, experts advise a complete check of the green part of the culture. This approach will help to timely detect a developing disease or the settlement of insect pests. The root system is checked for rot - with a small amount of damage they are removed.
If the plant is already affected by pests (spider mites, scale insects, aphids, mealybugs, thrips), then the primary treatment is mechanical cleaning of the foliage with a sponge with soapy water. Laundry soap is diluted in boiled and this solution cleans not only leaf plates on both sides, but also the stem.
It's important to know! For a mass attack of parasites, spraying with insecticides is recommended: Aktara, Aktellik, Fufanon. Before the procedures, diseased plants must be divided with healthy ones so as not to provoke mass infection.
Recovering a flower after a lack of fluid is easier than fighting disease and pests. The earth in the tank is thoroughly loosened, then water is slowly poured with the mineral composition diluted in it. The procedure will not only moisten the substrate, but also nourish the culture with the missing useful elements.
Ficuses are unpretentious indoor plants, which are easy to care for. With the correct implementation of the basic instructions for irrigation and spraying, you can grow a healthy and beautiful flower, with good immunity. The latter property helps him fight most diseases and resist the attacks of parasitic insects.
