Bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees. This philosophy originated in the 8th-10th centuries in China. In Europe, art has always aroused great interest, and nowadays it is also very popular. Ficus microcarpa produces fruits in natural conditions, but it almost never blooms in an apartment. The peculiarity of this species is its partially exposed root system, which forms interesting shapes.

Description

Ficus microcarp is native to the Japanese Islands, Northern Australia, Southeast China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It grows in coastal forests, on river banks, sometimes in the mountains and deep in the thicket of the forest.

There are several varieties of this type:

• var. crassifolia;
• oluangpiensis;
• fuyuensis;
• nitida;
• pusillifolia.

Popular varieties:

• “Green Gem” – densely leafy plant crown;
• “Westland” - leaf blades grow up to 11 cm in length and 5 cm in width;
• “Moklam” – leaves are small, dark green, rounded;
• "Variegata" - the leaves of the plant have a variegated color.

It is believed that ficus trees protect home comfort and help maintain stable relationships. These plants purify indoor air.

There is an opinion that bonsai was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks in the 6th century. The niches of houses were decorated with such trees. According to one legend, the emperor ordered the creation of a miniature empire with rivers, mountains, houses and trees. His subjects came up with miniature trees to carry out the order.

How to care for ficus microcarpa at home?

The plant is light-loving, but under bright rays its leaves lose color, so it is better to place the tree in partial shade.

The soil substrate should be moderately moist. Before watering the plant, make sure the earthen ball is dry. If excess moisture occurs, leaves will begin to fall. Ficus microcarpa leaves should be sprayed with cool boiled water.

In summer, the tree can be kept outdoors; in winter, indoors the temperature must be maintained in the range of +18...+24 degrees.

In order for a beautiful tree to form, you need to trim the tops of the shoots in the spring and summer.

In winter, ficus microcarpa is placed near a window or additionally illuminated with lamps.

Leaves turn yellow and fall off: what to do?

The reason for this phenomenon may be insufficient watering. This phenomenon can also be caused by dry air and insufficient lighting, especially in winter. These possible causes must be eliminated. If it is not possible to provide the tree with additional lighting, you need to wait until spring - then new leaves should appear. If the leaves turn yellow little by little, it is possible that care has been compromised and the ficus microcarpa is experiencing a lack of nutrients. He needs to be fed.

Crown formation and pruning

When forming the crown of a tree, you need to follow these recommendations:

• removal of the apical bud stimulates the growth of lateral buds, a lush bush is formed;
• If pruning is done in the spring, a lush crown will form.

The main shoot is pruned at a height of 10-15 cm. The growth of axillary shoots is activated; they are pinched when they reach 10 cm. To ensure that the shoots develop evenly, the plant is turned to the sun in different directions.

The plant is pruned in the spring. Achieve the following goals:

• the plant rejuvenates due to the growth of new shoots;
• the tree takes on the required shape;
• branching begins in the right place;
• the direction of branch growth changes.

For sanitary purposes, pruning is done at any time of the year. Trim the plant 2-3 weeks before transplanting into a new container. Weak and sickly plants do not undergo formative pruning.

How to transplant?

After purchase, the plant adapts for 2-3 weeks, and then it is transplanted into another container. To plant ficus microcarp, a special substrate is purchased.

As a rule, the tree is replanted every 2-3 years in the spring. The substrate needs to be updated periodically. Plants are planted using the transshipment method so as not to damage the root system. The container must have holes to remove excess moisture. A layer of drainage 2-3 cm high is poured onto the bottom of the flowerpot.

How to propagate Ficus microcarpa?

There are the following methods of propagation of this plant:

1. Cuttings - produced from late January to September. You can use apical, semi-lignified shoots. They are kept in water at room temperature until roots appear. Then they are transplanted into a pot under a film, which is removed after the leaves appear.
2. Air layering. Leaves are removed from a long shoot in a selected location, the bark is peeled off in this area, treated with Kornevin, wrapped in moistened moss, and then covered with film. When roots appear, the shoot is cut off, the film is removed, and the shoot along with the moss is planted in the substrate.
3. Root suckers. They cut off part of the root, keep it in water for a couple of hours, then plant it in the soil substrate, leaving 3 cm on the surface. Cover the top with film, regularly water and ventilate. After the leaves appear, the film is removed.

Diseases and pests: treatment methods

The plant can become sick due to inappropriate care or improper maintenance. Most often, ficus microcarpa is affected by aphids and spider mites. They appear as small black dots or thin cobwebs on branches. Home care involves treating the tree with a soapy solution. If this is not enough, then the ficus is replanted or an insecticide solution is used.

If the irrigation regime is not followed and excessive waterlogging occurs, the plant is affected by fungal infections. In this case, sanitary pruning is carried out, the tree is treated with a fungicide solution and the intensity of watering is reduced.

Grow a unique bonsai in your home, this is an incredibly exciting process. Take proper care of the plant, devote enough time to it, provide the required care, and it will definitely please you with its beautiful appearance and positive emotions.

Ficus microcarpa got its name because of the appearance of the fruit. The fact is that it is very small and reaches only one centimeter. The small fruit in Greek sounds like mikros karpos, which is where its name comes from. The plant is native to southeast Asia, northern Australia and southern China.

It is noteworthy that wild ficus can be huge and reach a height of 25 meters. Its crown is very fluffy and dense, and small-fruited domestic ficuses are simply dwarfs in comparison. They usually grow no more than one and a half meters, and some species are quite tiny and are grown in bonsai style.

General characteristics and varieties

The main external feature of the ficus microcarp is that its root system is bare and rises above the ground surface and takes on the most unusual shapes.

The foliage of the plant is slightly elongated and oval in shape, 5-10 centimeters long, the leaves can be 3-5 centimeters wide. Their apex is pointed. The upper part of the leaf is smooth and shiny, with a thin skin. They are alternately attached to the branches using a short petiole. There are several varieties of small-fruited ficus:

Home care rules

In order for the plant to grow well, it requires special care. It is very important to choose a suitable location. Microcarpa does not like to be exposed to direct sunlight, so it is preferable to place it where there is shade or partial shade. It should not be placed on the windowsill near the radiator in winter.

As for the temperature, he likes it warm. He is comfortable in a temperature that is slightly higher than room temperature: approximately 25-30 degrees. Heat is necessary not only for the part that is above the surface of the earth, but also for the root system, so in winter it is not recommended to leave it on the windowsill or place it on the floor.

Ficus requires watering all year round. In the summer they do this more often. It is important to ensure that the earthen coma does not dry out.

If the indoor flower does not have enough moisture, then this can be understood by its external signs:

• the plant becomes lethargic;
• leaves begin to fall.

In winter, watering is needed moderate and not too abundant. Excessive moisture can cause the roots to rot and spots to appear on the leaves.

Ficus microcarpa reacts very sensitively to the composition of water, so watering should be done only with water that has already stood for at least 12 hours and its temperature is equal to room temperature.

Air humidity is also very important. This plant requires high humidity - it simply needs it. If the humidity is low, the indoor flower becomes sluggish and more susceptible to various diseases and pest damage. In view of this, it should be sprayed with water daily and the leaves wiped with a damp soft cloth.

Ficus responds positively to fertilizing, so fertilizers can be added to the soil periodically. From time to time it can be sprayed with a weak solution of mineral fertilizers. Special compositions intended for indoor deciduous plants are suitable for the soil.

If the flower is grown in bonsai style, then it is better to use special fertilizers for feeding. It should be remembered that all fertilizing is applied only to moist soil.

Transplantation and propagation

The plant does not require frequent replanting. Ficus microcarpa should be replanted approximately every two years to renew the substrate. There is no need to replant it often, because the trunk grows very slowly and practically does not increase in size. It is better to replant the plant in the spring. In this case, you must remember to place a drainage layer in the pot.

To give the flower a beautiful and neat appearance, it is trimmed. This is how the necessary crown is formed, but this should be done in spring or autumn.

There are three main methods of propagating ficus:

• cuttings;
• propagation by layering;
• seed propagation.

For cuttings, shoots that are not completely woody and cut from the top of the tree are suitable. Then they are placed in water, which should be drained after a day. It will contain a large amount of milky juice.

Then the water is changed and the cutting is put back into it. A small amount of ash should be added - this helps avoid rotting. After the roots appear, it is planted in a container and covered with a transparent cap - this is how it must be kept until the first leaves appear.

It should be noted that microcarp juice is a strong allergen, so during such manipulations you should avoid getting it on the skin.

You can try to propagate the plant using layering. In this case, for an adult tree, it is necessary to retreat 55-60 centimeters from the crown. Then you need to cut off the bark from the trunk - a section equal to about 10 centimeters. Wrap the resulting bare area with damp sphagnum moss and film. In about a month, roots should appear in this place. The branch is cut off along with the crown and roots and planted in a separate container.

Ficus microcarpa bonsai can also be grown from seeds, but this method is more complex and time-consuming. Usually the seeds are planted in the spring. The quality of planting material and the conditions in which it was stored are very important. If the storage conditions were not met properly, then they simply lose their viability. Before planting seeds, they need to be stratified, and a drainage layer should be placed at the bottom of the container and only then soil should be added.

Possible diseases and pests

Plant diseases are most often caused by improper care. Often insect pests can move from neighboring flowers, especially if they are located close to each other. The most commonly found insects on the plant include aphids and spider mites. In order not to miss their appearance, you should regularly inspect the flower. Pests may be hiding on the undersides of leaves or there may be cobwebs on the stems.

With such an ailment, you can treat the above-ground part of the plant with a soap solution. After this, it is better to transplant the ficus into new soil. If pests reappear, treat with insecticides.

If the plant is watered too much I, then fungal diseases may begin to spread. At the same time, dark or light spots begin to appear on the aboveground part of the root. If this happens, the damaged areas must be removed and the ficus treated with fungicidal agents. Watering should be reduced.

Sometimes the ficus microcarpa sheds its leaves. What to do worries many gardeners. This is observed when an indoor flower is kept in a room that is too cold for it or in a draft. It is necessary to place the ficus in conditions in which it will be comfortable.

Ficus plants are indoor plants that have been grown by gardeners for a long time. However, interest in them does not fade, but only increases every year. This is explained by the fact that the plant has an attractive appearance and does not require much attention to itself. These plants naturally live in both the tropics and subtropics, and are found even in temperate climate zones.

This species is an epiphyte, that is, it can grow on other plants. (ficus microcarpa) has many aerial roots. The plant has an erect trunk with a gray color. When grown indoors, the height can reach about 1.5 m. The leaves have a glossy shine and a dark green color. The roots of the plant protrude from the ground, which is the main difference between this species.

Caring for ficus microcarpa at home should begin immediately after purchase. First you need to determine the place where the plant will live. To do this, it is important to take into account what properties the tree has, as well as the fact that it does not tolerate being moved from one place to another. Doesn't tolerate the following:

• exposure to bright light;
• excessive dryness of air masses;
• presence of drafts.

Therefore, you should place the purchased ficus away from heating appliances. The best option would be a room with windows facing north. Ficus does not like direct sunlight. Ficus needs to be sprayed from the first days after it was purchased. Such manipulations should be done three times during the day. It is unacceptable to overdry the soil, so you will need to check the humidity.

After a couple of weeks, it will be possible to transplant the plant into a container in which it will constantly develop. When replanting, be sure to lay a layer of drainage; it should fill the pot by a third. To do this, it is recommended to use expanded clay or polystyrene foam. The soil chosen is nutritious and loose. You can use ready-made soil for ficus plants. It happens that the leaves drop afterwards, but you shouldn’t worry about this, since this is a reaction to a change of place.

Microcarpa prefers fertile soil; you can make it yourself by mixing humus with turf and peat soil and adding sand to the mixture. All ingredients are taken in equal proportions.

When the plant is actively developing, it is necessary to apply fertilizers; complex options designed for ornamental plants are suitable for this. They need to be diluted in water and then spilled with soil. Fertilizing is carried out once every half month.. If growing in the bonsai style, then special fertilizers are used. The plant absorbs fertilizers quite well if they are applied by spraying the leaves.

Carrying out pruning

To maintain the attractiveness of the form, you will need to periodically trim the plant. The sooner you start forming the crown, the better. Ficus easily lends itself to any design of appearance, so the imagination here can be limitless. That is why it is so loved by those who are interested in the art of bonsai, Microcarpa ficus is ideal for this.

To make the trunk strong, you need to trim it from a young plant. You can direct the branches in the desired direction if you use wire. If the shoots are too thick, they should be removed. If desired, you can make the crown more branched; this can be achieved by cutting off strong branches to 5 cm.

Ficus transplant

Microcarpa does not particularly like to be disturbed, so replanting should be done no earlier than every 2 years. The tree develops at a very slow pace, and when it reaches adulthood, it stops growing altogether. It is necessary to replace the soil only to renew it. During this procedure, it is recommended to inspect the roots that are located in the underground space. It is better to transplant in the spring.

If there is not enough moisture and the temperature in the room is elevated, this will contribute to the appearance of spider mites, which can cause the plant to die in a short period of time. To get rid of it, it is enough to give young plants a shower with a water temperature of 40-45 degrees. For adult plants, insecticides can be used to treat them.

Ficus can be attacked by aphids, stink bugs, whiteflies and thrips. To get rid of them, it is better to choose drugs specially designed for this purpose, which can be found in huge quantities in stores.

Shedding of leaves can occur if watering is insufficient, as well as due to poor lighting, drafts or improper fertilization. Also, transfer from one place to another or replanting can lead to loss of foliage. To speed up the adaptation process, you should use the Epin solution.

Characteristics and tips for caring for ficus microparpa indoors, do-it-yourself propagation, possible difficulties in growing and ways to solve them, facts to note, varieties.

The content of the article:

Ficus microcarpa or Ficus small-fruited is a shrub or tree that belongs to the genus of the same name, which is part of the Mulberry family (Moraceae). The native lands on which this representative of the flora grows are in the southeastern regions of China, the northern regions of the Australian continent, areas of Japan and Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippine Islands.

This variety of ficus received its scientific name thanks to its very small fruits, and from two Greek words: miniature “mikros” and the fruit “karpos” they got microcarpa. Due to the unusual root system that protrudes above the soil, this plant is marketed under the name Ficus ginseng.

If we talk about natural conditions, then this evergreen ficus can reach a height of about 25 meters with its shoots, but when grown in rooms these figures are much more modest and do not exceed one and a half meters. The trunk of the ficus microcarp is covered with a smooth grayish-brown bark. It is interesting that such a plant begins to “live” as an epiphyte, that is, it is conveniently located on thick branches or the trunk of a larger tree. Since the ficus gives rise to lateral root aerial shoots from its branches, they eventually begin to wrap themselves, like a cocoon, in all parts of the host plant and bring it to death.

This is because, with its roots, having attached itself to the branches and trunk, Ficus microcarpa begins to suck nutrients from the stronger representative of the flora. But, despite such “aggressiveness,” the roots of the ficus are quite weak and cannot go down to the soil in order to take root in it and take the shape of a banyan tree, when the root processes begin to resemble a small forest of thin stems. It is these stems that then serve as support for the wide crown of the ficus banyan tree.

A particularly noteworthy difference between the ficus small-fruited and other representatives of the genus is that its root system becomes bare over time and, as it were, rises above the ground surface, forming something like a caudex - a root formation in some plants, in which they accumulate moisture to overcome dry periods. The forms that the root system takes are quite bizarre and unique.

Due to the excellent branching, a wide and dense crown is formed, which is obtained as such thanks to the leaves. Their shape is oval-elliptical, the leaves grow in regular order on the shoots, being located very often. The outline of the leaf blade at the apex is pointed. Its length is 12–15 cm with a width of about 2–7 cm. The color of the leaves is dark green, the surface is glossy, shiny and leathery. The petiole is not long; its parameters rarely exceed 5 cm.

Like other varieties of ficus, this plant also in nature produces inconspicuous flowers, which are located on the inner surface of the syconium - a hollow pear-shaped or rounded formation. In diameter, such an inflorescence can reach 0.5–1 cm (which is why the species name of the variety came from). As the syconium matures, its color will change from greenish-yellow to purple. The flowers of this variety are pollinated by the wasps Parapristina verticillata.

After pollination of the flowers, which rather resemble the brown inner pubescence of the syconium, the ripening of berry-like fruits begins. They are not used as food, but also do not have toxic properties. However, it should be remembered that when grown indoors, it is almost impossible to achieve flowering in ficus microcarp. It should also be noted that, like all representatives of the genus, this ficus has the ability to secrete milky sap, which can cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin, so do not forget about this when caring.

The growth rate of Ficus microcarpa is average, unlike its “brothers” in the genus, but this is compensated by the fact that it is quite easy to care for the plant and if you do not violate the rules below, then even a novice gardener can cope with such a ficus.

1. Lighting for the plant What is needed is bright, but diffuse, which is only possible on the windowsill of windows facing east or west.
2. Content temperature ficus microcarpa should be between 18–23 degrees in summer, and not fall below 16 in winter. If there is extreme heat, ventilation is necessary.
3. Air humidity in the room where small-fruited ficus is kept, it should be high. Perform daily spraying from a fine spray bottle with warm and soft water on the foliage of the plant. This is especially true on hot summer days or in winter, when heating appliances are turned on. After spraying, shading from direct sunlight is required.
4. Water Ficus microcarpa should be sprayed regularly, but moderately (about once every 3-4 days) in the summer. In this case, the condition of the soil should serve as a guide - if the upper part begins to dry out, then it’s time to moisten. The soil in the pot should not be allowed to flood or completely dry out. If there is excessive watering, the small-fruited ficus will begin to shed its foliage. With the arrival of winter, watering is reduced to once a week. Use only warm but soft water.
5. Fertilizers for ficus microcarp, they are introduced with the onset of spring, when the movement of juices begins, until September. The frequency is once every 14 days. Organic and mineral preparations are used, preferably in liquid form so that they can be dissolved in water for irrigation.
6. General care tips. As soon as spring arrives, but throughout it and until the end of summer, you can prune overly elongated shoots of small-fruited ficus or those that grow in the middle of the crown. This plant is suitable for those who have just begun to get involved in bonsai techniques, as it is quite easy to care for. When forming Ficus microcarpa using this technique, it is recommended that each branch, when 6–10 leaf blades form on it, be shortened so that only 3–4 leaves remain on it. In summer, you can keep a pot with a plant on the balcony or take it out into the garden.
7. Carrying out replanting, soil selection. When February-March comes, the young ficus small-fruited needs to be replanted every year. In this case, the diameter of the pot should be increased by 4–5 cm. When the plant grows, such changes are recommended once every 2–3 years. However, as soon as the diameter of the container becomes 30 cm, you can replace only 3 cm of soil on top with a more fertile one. Before planting, be sure to put 3 cm of drainage into a new pot (first expanded clay, then river sand).

As soon as the plant is removed from the pot and if the cultivation is carried out using the bonsai technique, then it is necessary to cut off up to 10% of the root shoots, which are then sprinkled with crushed activated charcoal or charcoal.

Ficus microcarpa does not set any special requirements when choosing soil; fertile, loose soil with weak or neutral acidity is suitable for it. You can use ready-made commercial formulations intended for ficus or palm trees. They also make up a soil mixture of:

• equal parts of turf, peat, leaf soil and coarse sand;
• leaf soil, turf soil, river sand (in a ratio of 1:1:0.5) with the addition of a handful of pieces of charcoal.

After the transplant has been carried out, they try to water Ficus microcarpa less often and not place it in a brightly lit place until it has fully adapted.

Tips for propagating ficus microcarpa at home

Usually cuttings are used for this. In the spring, small-fruited pieces, 8–10 cm long, are cut from the tops of ficus shoots and have at least 2–3 healthy leaves. White milky juice may ooze from the cut for some time, so you should wait a little and carefully remove it, or put the cuttings in a glass of water and change it periodically. The branches are placed in a vessel with boiled water in which a stimulant drug is dissolved and wait for roots to form, or before planting in the substrate, the cut should be treated with a root formation stimulator.

After this treatment, the cuttings are planted in pots filled with peat-perlite or peat-sand mixture. In any case, you will need to create mini-greenhouse conditions by wrapping the container with cuttings in a transparent plastic bag. The temperature during rooting should be maintained at about 25 degrees. The place where the cuttings are placed should be well lit, but without direct sunlight. Caring for cuttings consists of airing them every day and ensuring that the substrate in the pot is always moist.

After a month, it is recommended to carefully tilt the cutting of the ficus microcarp to see if there are formed roots. If they have formed, it is recommended to immediately cut off all the leaf plates, leaving only the top pair. When 14 days have passed, fertilizing with diluted fertilizer is carried out, and after three months, it is recommended to transplant the cuttings into separate pots with a diameter of about 10 cm.

Ficus small-fruited can be propagated in addition to this method by layering, root shoots and sowing seeds.

Possible difficulties when growing ficus microcarpa

With frequent violations of the conditions of maintenance, the ficus small-fruited will begin to weaken and it may be “attacked” by harmful insects, such as scale insects, mealybugs, aphids, thrips, whiteflies or spider mites. It is recommended to treat with insecticidal and acaricidal preparations.

If the plant does not have enough light, the young branches will become thinner and the foliage will become smaller. The same thing happens when the ficus microcarpa does not have enough nutrients. If watering is insufficient, then foliage may be shed; the plant also reacts to a sharp decrease in temperature or being kept at low heat levels, the action of a draft, or watering with cold water.

When water stagnates in the pot, the root system begins to rot, and dark spots form on the leaves. You will need to remove the plant from the pot, remove damaged roots, sprinkle the cuttings with fungicide and plant the Ficus microcarpa in a new container with sterile soil, while adjusting the watering.

Ficus microcarpa ginseng - facts to note and photos

The plant is often more suitable than all ficus plants for growing using the bonsai (small tree) technique. The foliage also differs from, for example, Ficus Benjamin (the most common representative of the genus of the same name) - this plant does not have an elongated awn at the top. But the foliage of Ficus microcarpa can take a shape from more rounded to oblong. And unlike the bark that covers other varieties, this plant's bark is more easily damaged.

The characteristic shape of the root system (the main difference between the ficus microcarpa) is not achieved immediately, since such plants are grown on special farms located in Southern China or the United States of America. At the same time, it is important not only to maintain certain heat and moisture levels during seed germination or rooting of cuttings, but also to use specific hormonal and insecticidal agents.

In the case when the root has already reached a certain size, the ficus is carefully removed from the soil, cutting off the already fully formed stem. Naturally, only small stumps remain. The root shoots that have been removed are cleared of soil, washed and sorted. It is in this form that they are bought en masse by various farms involved in growing flowers. The roots are then placed one at a time in the pots, but not too deep; most of them remain above the surface of the substrate. Over time, the thin skin covering the roots will harden and take on the appearance of bark. Then, using a variety of chemicals, they accelerate the process of formation of new young shoots with foliage that will grow from these roots.

Often, graftings from branches of other plants are even used. To preserve the compact outlines of small-fruited ficus, special substances are used - retardants. And after that, such plants are ready for sale.

Ficus microcarpa varieties

1. Variegata It is distinguished by the variegated color of its leaf blades, and this plant requires a higher level of illumination when caring, otherwise all the leaves will gradually lose their colors with light shades, acquiring a rich dark green color.
2. Moclame is a species of Ficus microcarpa that takes dwarf forms and lives as an epiphyte. It was its compact size that made the variety most attractive for indoor cultivation. When leaving, it requires more lighting and places on the southern windows, but with shading at lunchtime. With the arrival of winter, even on the windowsill of a window in a southern location, additional lighting with phytolamps is required so that there is at least 10 hours of daylight per day. This will ensure normal conditions for the ficus, otherwise the branches will stretch too much, but overall growth will stop. The shape of the shoots is distinguished by grace and with their help the formation of a continuous green crown occurs.
3. Westland. Another variety of ficus microcarpa is distinguished by its small size, both foliage and fruits. Its shoots are completely covered with alternately growing dark green leathery leaves, which rarely reach 11 cm in length. It takes the shape of a bush well and does not require special conditions for growing.

See the video below for more information about Ficus microcarpa:

Having got an office job, I suffered for a long time, because I exchanged my cozy home, simply studded with many flowerpots, for a cold place made of metal and plastic. Therefore, I decided to at least get myself a small and undemanding “green pet” on my desktop.

The plant had to be decorative-leaved, low - in general, it should not look too “cheerful”, otherwise the boss would forbid it. The choice fell on microcarpa - not very popular, but nevertheless a worthy genus of ficus.

When I first started getting acquainted with this ficus, I looked a lot for information about it on the Internet. So I found out that a plant came to us from Asia and Australia, where it looks...

You won’t believe it, but what turns green in our pots is a maximum of 50 cm, in the wild it stretches almost to the skies - 25 meters! Here's what giants such “trees” can be in the wild:

Moreover, there, in the wild, microcarpa is an epiphyte. It “starts” on another tree, and over time it grows so large that the “support” simply dies.

Varieties of this ficus

• Ginseng. In the wild it is he who mercilessly crushes the tree on which it grows. But in our homes this is a completely different plant, bred specifically to please the owner with a thick wicker “body”. This is an unpretentious plant from which you can create a beautiful bonsai. The main thing is to feed your pet correctly and on time, otherwise it will wither.

• Moklame. Miniature ficus, an option for those living in small apartments and office workers. Remember: this “creature” with a thick green crown loves light, so if in winter you have no one at home until late at night, put a phytolamp on your ficus.

• Variegata. Ficus with colored leaves. Loves light even more than microcarpa moklama.

What care does microcarpa need?

• Lighting. It doesn’t have to be bright, so you can place the pot not only on the windowsill, but also on a shelf or table (even located in the corner). A good option is a northwestern or western window sill, and if the ficus is variegated, then an eastern or even southeastern one. How to understand that a tree does not have enough light? The leaves “shed”.
• Temperature. This plant also does not like heat - your home should not be hotter than 25 degrees. But also make sure that in winter the temperature does not drop below 17 degrees.
• Watering. Always use standing water at room temperature. Make sure that the soil does not dry out. Ficus plants need to be actively watered both in summer and winter. A small amount of water can be added every 2-4 days, as soon as the top of the soil begins to seem dry.
• Water procedures. It’s difficult here - on the one hand, ficus leaves love spraying - on the other hand, the trunk doesn’t like them, so you need to be careful when spraying moisture on the tree. Or you can simply wipe each leaf with a damp handkerchief. Ficus also responds well to the proximity of an aquarium or the operation of a humidifier.
• Feeding. They are introduced from March to October. This can be a universal fertilizer for decorative leaves (in summer, choose a product with a nitrogen composition). Nutrition can be applied at the root (after watering), as well as by spraying (diluted with more water than indicated in the instructions).
• Trimming. It can be done only once a year, forming a beautiful crown. But if you grow bonsai, take out the scissors at least three times a year (even in winter, because the ficus is actively growing at this time). Don't be afraid: pruning does not harm the tree. And if you want a thick trunk, the top of the young tree needs to be “picked off” at a low height.

Reproduction

Microcarpa can be propagated by seeds and stem layering, but best of all by cuttings.

After pruning, the cuttings are soaked for about a day to remove the sticky milky sap of the plant. Then it is rooted in a glass of water (it can be disinfected by adding charcoal).

Have roots appeared? Plant the cuttings in peat + sand. For insurance, you can “put” a jar on the pot, forming a greenhouse. When new leaves appear on the tree, the cutting has taken root - throw away the jar.

Important! It is believed that bonsai can only be grown from microcarpa grown from a seed.

Seeds are sown in spring. They are soaked in water (preferably with a growth activator) and stratified. Sow in light soil with drainage at the bottom of the pot.

In a bright place under a film, subject to frequent spraying, the seeds will germinate after 2-4 weeks. Once you see a few leaves, you can transplant the sprouts into a larger container. And after 2 months, each seedling can be “gifted” a separate pot.

Transfer

It is done every 2-3 years. The ideal time is spring (the beginning of the microcarpa growing season). And don’t forget to lay a thick layer of charcoal or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot - without such drainage, the roots of the ficus may begin to hurt with any excess watering.

When transplanting from the roots, you need to remove all the old soil (the least traumatic way is not to pick it off, but to wash the roots in a basin).

• Priming. Should always be breathable and loose. Do the stores offer ready-made soil for ficus plants? It will suit you. If this is not the case, mix 2 shares of deciduous and turf soil, 1 share of sand and peat, adding a little charcoal.
• Pot. The new vessel should be 2 cm wider than the old one + a little deeper.

Important: after you have planted the ficus in fresh soil, you do not need to feed it for 2 months - during this entire period the microcarp will draw nutrients from the soil.

If after replanting the tree begins to “lose leaves,” it means you have damaged the root.

The same “diagnosis” is observed when the roots rot, and then only replanting, cutting off all excess and rubbing the cuts with activated carbon can save your plant.

Do you want your ficus not to stretch upward, but to be squat and have a thick stem, like any decent bonsai? This is how such a tree is “made”:

By the way! Did you know that bonsai is not a type or variety of certain plants, but a technique for growing them? So, in tandem with microcarpa, you can grow miniature pine or crassula.

Briefly about bonsai technique in this video:

Just bought: what to do next?

• First, before purchasing, choose a window sill for this plant. Microcarpa hates being moved, so immediately place the pot in the place where the ficus will be throughout its life.
• Secondly, such a ficus does not like three things: drafts, direct sunlight, dry air from the radiator. Based on this, choose a window sill.
• Thirdly, at first try to provide the plant with the most humid air. For example, a pot can be placed on a tray with wet expanded clay.
• Fourthly, do not be alarmed if, while settling in a new place, the ficus loses some of its leaves. Spray the tree, and if all conditions for the life of a ficus are met in the house, after 1.5 months the leaves will begin to grow.

And lastly: it is believed that microcarp takes up to 2 weeks to settle into a new apartment.

After this, it is advisable to replant the plant - this way you will not only replace the store-bought soil (probably stuffed with various “anabolic steroids for flowers”) with fresh and nutritious soil, but also appreciate the roots. If there is rot somewhere, you will have time to cut it off before the leaves of the ficus catastrophically fly off.