The birch fig is one of the most popular indoor plants. With a few tips, care is easy and you can enjoy the shiny foliage.
As soon as the Ficus benjamina is in a location where it feels comfortable, there is not that much left to do in terms of care. Nevertheless, there are a few principles to be observed when watering and fertilizing so that the leaves do not drop and the Weeping Fig can grow splendidly.
Tip: You are more familiar with the name Ficus benjamini for the Weeping Fig than the correct name Ficus benjamina ? The confusion of names was probably caused by the fact that the birch fig is also called "Benjamini".
Care for birch figs: water properly
A Benjamini is not particularly difficult to care for. It is not for nothing that it is one of the most popular plants for the office and home.
Its water requirement is moderate, so you should only water the birch fig when the soil has dried well. Check with your finger whether the soil surface is still moist. If the substrate feels dry in the top two to three centimetres, you should water the Benjamini. If the site conditions are good, this is the case about once a week. Depending on the pot and plant size and the ambient temperature, this can also be more or less frequent. Rainwater at room temperature is ideal. But you can also let tap water sit for a few hours. Since waterlogging is not tolerated, the saucer or planter should be checked about 15 minutes after watering and excess water poured off. Watering is less frequent in winter. However, the root ball should never dry out completely.
Fertilize correctly
In order for the Ficus benjamina to grow well, you should support it with a complete fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season in March. Here, for example, our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is ideally suited, because with its ingredients it not only ensures lush foliage, but also he althy roots. workthe granules lightly into the top layer of substrate and cover everything with a layer of mulch, for example bark mulch. In winter, the Benjamini does not need any additional nutrients.
Tip: When repotting, you can also fertilize your Ficus benjamina with coffee. For this purpose, the coffee grounds are always used, which should first be thoroughly dried to avoid mold growth on the ground. Then work two teaspoons of coffee grounds into the soil. Since it is slightly acidic, i.e. it can lower the pH value in the soil, it should not be used regularly for the birch fig.
Pruning Ficus Benjamina
If necessary, you can cut the birch fig, because the pruning-tolerant plant will sprout again. In addition to removing dried or dead branches, pruning is mainly used to keep the Benjamini small, to achieve a more compact growth or to rejuvenate it.
- Cut shoots to desired length just above a leaf node.
- Pruning for better branching: This pruning is best done in spring. All shoots are cut, but at the tips rather than inside the benjamini. Pruning back in the spring will result in more branching, but the procedure will also drain him of a lot of energy.
- Pruning for rejuvenation: If the benjamini is bald or old, you can shorten all the branches to a third. Late winter is best for this. This measure is ideal for renewing the loose crown of the plant, but the Benjamini will hardly branch out.
After a radical pruning, the birch fig is repotted in fresh soil. - Pruning as a bonsai: The birch fig can also be kept as a bonsai. In this case, the root cut is added to the crown cut. You can learn more about bonsai pruning of the birch fig in the associated professional article.
Tip: Due to the poisonous milky sap contained in the birch fig, gloves should be worn when cutting. In addition, clothes and floors must be protected, otherwise stubborn stains can occur.
Repotting Weeping Figs
After purchase, you should repot the Benjamini immediately, in a high-quality and suitable substrate, since the soil supplied usually does not meet the requirements of the birch fig at all. Here, for example, our Plantura organicUniversal soil, which should be mixed with a third of sand for better permeability. It can store water optimally and contains all the essential nutrients that help the benjamini to grow he althily. Since the birch fig does not tolerate changes of location very well, it should not be repotted too often. However, every three to four years in spring the Ficus benjamina can be provided with a larger pot and fresh substrate. Always look at the root ball and remove unhe althy roots. A drainage layer should also be created in the new pot to prevent waterlogging.
Ficus loses leaves: causes and measures
Leaf loss does not always have to be caused by disease. The Ficus benjamina also loses leaves in its very natural life cycle, for example when the leaves have become too old. There are the following causes for severe leaf loss:
- Waterlogging: As already mentioned, the birch fig does not tolerate waterlogging. This leads to root rot and can result in leaf loss, since water and nutrients can no longer be transported to the leaves in sufficient quantities. In this case, you should repot the Benjamini in fresh, well-drained soil and be sure to create a drainage layer. After watering, the water must be removed from the planter.
- Drought: A similar problem arises with drought as with waterlogging. The roots don't rot, but dry up. There is not enough water available to be transported to the leaves. If the soil feels very dry, you should water more generously and repot into good quality soil if necessary. Old and inferior substrate can no longer absorb or store water well.
Tip: If the birch fig is too dry, it can also be dipped. To do this, she is placed in a bucket of water with the pot, but without the outer pot, until no more bubbles appear. Then you should drain them well and put them back in the planter. Substrates containing peat in particular are no longer easily wettable after drying out, so watering alone is not sufficient.
- Draft: The Weeping Fig does not feel comfortable in a draughty place. Come no other causefor leaf shedding, then you should check the site conditions and look for a new place for the birch fig.
- Change of location: Since a change of location stresses the birch fig, it can happen that it sheds the leaves at its new location. So it should only be changed if the conditions at the old place are not optimal.
- Dry air: The Ficus benjamina needs a slightly increased air humidity, which can be achieved, for example, with occasional spraying. When the heating air is dry, it can shed its leaves and it also promotes pest infestations.
Common pests and diseases of the birch fig
If the birch fig is attacked by pests, this can also result in leaf shedding, but usually beforehand in leaf discoloration. So if the Ficus benjamina develops yellow leaves or spots appear on them, you are probably dealing with lice or mites. Some pests can also be seen with the naked eye.
- Spider mites: These pests like to appear when the air is too dry and can be recognized by the cobweb-like webs on the underside of the leaves. The birch fig should be rinsed with lukewarm water to remove the spider mites. In addition, the humidity should be increased or the birch fig should be placed in a slightly cooler place.
- Scale insects: An infestation by scale insects can be recognized by the small animals themselves, which are hidden under their brownish shell in the leaf axils. The scale insects should be wiped off and the birch fig cut back.
- Aphids: Just like spider mites, you will also get rid of aphids. These can be recognized by the light spots that they leave behind on the leaves when they are sucked out. Aphids and scale insects can also be combated with biological agents, such as our Plantura pest-free Neem, which is simply added to the irrigation water and obtained from the seeds of the neem tree.
- Verticillium Wilt: This is a fungus (Verticillium) that usually attacks the plant from the ground and the Lines clogged so that water can no longer be transported. As a result, the leaves wither. When cutting open a shoot, dark discolorations can usually be seen in it. Cut back the birch fig heavily and pot the plant in fresh,well drained substrate.
In addition to the birch fig, the fiddler fig is a popular indoor plant of the Ficus genus. With us you will learn how to plant and care for the violin fig.