How to Grow and Care for the Black Diamond Ficus

The Black Diamond Ficus is generally used for indoor decorative arrangements, grown as a potted plant. Its leaves are thick and broad, clustering in layer upon layer, making the whole plant look exceptionally lively. How do you grow a Black Diamond Ficus well?

1. The Black Diamond Ficus likes loose, fertile humus soil and can tolerate mild alkalinity and slight acidity. We can mix humus soil, garden soil and river sand evenly, then add a small amount of liquid fertilizer as the planting soil.

2. The Black Diamond Ficus can be propagated by cuttings, layering or seeds. For cuttings, young shoots from young trees are usually chosen, taken with the terminal bud. The cut surface exudes a lot of milky sap, so the cut branches should be placed in water for several hours, the cut washed clean, and then inserted into a moist sand bed. Keep the light sparse and mist to retain moisture. Roots can develop in about 25 days, and after about 2 months they can be potted up, and in the same year grown as small potted plants for ornamental display.

3. The Black Diamond Ficus likes sunlight, so during care it should be placed in a spot with plenty of sunlight. In summer, under high temperatures and strong light, it should be shaded or placed in a ventilated spot indoors.

4. The suitable growing temperature for the Black Diamond Ficus is 20-32°C. It fears heat and is not cold-tolerant. The wintering temperature must not be lower than 10°C; if the temperature is lower, its leaves will turn yellow and drop.

5. As for water and fertilizer, it likes both fertilizer and water. During its peak growing season, it must be given sufficient water and fertilizer. Normally keep the potting soil moist. In hot seasons, water once each morning and evening every day, and frequently spray water on the branches and leaves, otherwise the leaf edges easily become scorched. But do not let water accumulate in the pot. Generally apply liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer 1-2 times a month. After the beginning of autumn, gradually reduce the frequency of fertilizing and watering.

6. Potted seedlings should be placed in partial shade. Small plants need repotting every spring, while mature plants can be repotted once every 2-3 years. When repotting, cut away some of the curled old roots and add humus soil and base fertilizer.

7. When it grows to a certain height, pinching off the top can promote new branches. In spring, cutting back the side branches can encourage more new branches to grow.

The Black Diamond Ficus is relatively easy to grow. With proper watering and some sunlight, it will generally grow very well.