How to water and fertilize a bonsai ficus? How often should it be fertilized?

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

"A crop is a flower, and it all depends on fertilizer to run the show." Although the ficus is not prized for its flowers, it grows quickly and needs plenty of nutrients. However, fertilizing, like watering, is a skilled task; the choice of fertilizer, the frequency of application, and the amount all need to be carefully controlled. So, how do you fertilize a bonsai ficus? How often should a ficus be fertilized?

1. How to fertilize a bonsai ficus: timing, fertilizer type, and techniques

The ficus loves fertilizer and needs plenty of nutrients during its growth process, but too frequent or too concentrated fertilization will harm the plant's growth and can also cause symptoms such as yellowing ficus leaves and blackening ficus leaves. So how to fertilize a bonsai ficus requires us to strictly control the timing, fertilizer type, and fertilizing techniques, and the amount of fertilizer should also vary according to the season.

2. How often should a ficus be fertilized: once a month

1. A ficus that has just been bought or just been repotted should not be fertilized; at this time the plant is still in the adaptation stage and is not suited to absorbing fertilizer; every 2 years, the ficus should be repotted once in spring. However, after repotting, you must wait until the temperature rises above 20°C before fertilizing.

2. In spring, summer, and autumn, the ficus is in a period of rapid growth. At this time, to meet the ficus's growth needs, growers should apply decomposed fertilizer water once a month; in winter, fertilize less or not at all;

3. What kind of fertilizer to use for a bonsai ficus

In the process of growing a ficus, many growers want to know what fertilizer to use for a ficus. For this, the editor suggests using fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, applied once a month during the growing season, 3-4 times a year is enough. It should be noted that the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium must be appropriate, otherwise it will cause the ficus leaves to turn yellow.

4. Tips for fertilizing a ficus

When fertilizing a ficus, simply bury the fertilizer in the soil, and never let it come into direct contact with the roots, to avoid fertilizer burning the roots; when fertilizing, you can dissolve the fertilizer into fertilizer water and then pour it around along the inner wall of the pot. Note that the fertilizer must not splash onto the leaf surface, and also that the fertilizer must not be too concentrated, otherwise it will cause the ficus to grow leggy.

5. What to do if too much fertilizer is applied to a ficus: flush with water to dilute

For beginners, when fertilizing a ficus, over-fertilizing often occurs, so what should be done at this time? At this point, you should water the ficus thoroughly so that the water flow carries the fertilizer out; at the same time, move the plant to a ventilated, shady place and let it slowly recover, and wait until the temperature is above 20°C before starting to fertilize again.

That is all the editor has to introduce about ficus fertilizing methods. After reading this, everyone should be more confident about growing a ficus! Overall, the method of growing a ficus is not difficult; the difficulty lies in some of the details. Whether watering or fertilizing, it must be done in the right amount, neither too much nor too little. Only in this way can you grow a beautiful ficus!

How to grow a bonsai ficus, bonsai ficus growing methods

The bonsai ficus has a unique appearance and extremely high ornamental value. Among household plant bonsai, the bonsai ficus is relatively popular because it stays green all year round. Is the bonsai ficus easy to grow? The author had such doubts when growing a bonsai ficus for the first time, afraid that the survival rate would not be high. After all, what is invested is all heart and effort. Fortunately, at that time I consulted quite a few methods and precautions for growing a bonsai ficus, and successfully grew the first bonsai ficus of my life. Overall, growing a bonsai ficus is a simple matter; as long as you grow it according to the growth habits of the bonsai ficus, the survival rate is very high!

Bonsai ficus growing method 1. Soil selection for growing a ficus

The ficus likes a sunny, well-ventilated, warm and humid environment. When the weather is hot in summer, it should be properly shaded, and water should often be sprinkled on the ground to keep the microclimate at a certain humidity. In the north, in late autumn or early winter, the bonsai ficus should be moved indoors to overwinter.

2. Fertilizing method for growing a ficus

During the growing season, apply decomposed dilute organic liquid fertilizer once a month, and apply "alum fertilizer water" once each in May and August every year. Do not fertilize the ficus too much. Too much fertilizer makes the branches grow leggy, and the leaves enlarge, which is instead unattractive. Do not fertilize when the weather is hot in summer or in winter.

Because the ficus grows fast, once it is growing normally it can be given a foliar topdressing once a day, using decomposed human or animal urine or rotted fertilizer as topdressing. Base fertilizer can also be applied when repotting; sufficient fertilizer can make the trunk grow thick and strong. If the potting soil is fertile, there is no need for topdressing; instead, during the summer and autumn growing period, a nutrient solution can be sprayed on the leaves to make the branches and leaves dense and emerald green, giving people a sense of beauty.

3. Watering method for growing a ficus

The ficus is a tropical plant and likes plenty of water and fertilizer. It is highly adaptable and can grow in cracks between stones and can also grow in water, but a grown ficus should keep the potting soil moist, and there must be no standing water in the pot. In summer, watering twice a day is appropriate.

The ficus likes humidity, and during the growing period it should be watered frequently to keep the potting soil at a certain moisture level, but there must be no standing water in the pot. In winter, when the temperature is low and water evaporates less, watering should be appropriately reduced. The ficus likes humidity; during the growing season the potting soil should be kept moist. In summer, in addition to watering the pot, water should also often be sprinkled on the ground to keep the local microclimate at a certain humidity. But there must be no standing water in the pot. In winter, water less; if the potting soil is moist, there is no need to water.

4. Light requirements for growing a ficus

The ficus likes sunny, warm and humid, well-ventilated places, and can be properly shaded when the weather is hot in summer. In the north, it should be moved indoors to overwinter in winter, with the room temperature at around 8°C. The ficus is not afraid of sunlight and is also quite shade-tolerant; even when displayed indoors for a long time, its leaves will not turn yellow. In winter, it should be given more sunlight.

5. Bonsai styling methods for growing a ficus

Because the ficus has many aerial roots, it is suitable for exposed-root and claw-style, multi-trunk bonsai. When making these two kinds of bonsai, in the first year first cultivate its root base and nourish its vitality; after it grows vigorously, then raise the roots and repot into a shallow pot.

Because the ficus grows fast and has well-developed roots, it can be made into a root-over-rock bonsai. Before planting, use metal wire to bend the tree into curved shapes of varying sizes, plant it slantwise in a soil pot, and after 2-3 months of cultivation, when the aerial roots have increased and the crown has taken shape, take the sapling out, remove all the growing soil, and attach the sapling to a selected stone. At this point, note that the ficus and the bent tree-and-stone should have a consistent orientation, and the roots should be embedded into the cracks of the stone as much as possible. Wrap the roots firmly with cotton cloth strips or metal wire and place them in a tall large pot for cultivation. Root-over-rock bonsai can, according to the tree's vigor, be created into forms such as clasping-rock style, piercing-rock style, and clinging-rock style as much as possible.

6. Repotting method for growing a ficus

A bonsai ficus that is not very old should be repotted once every 2 years, and an old stump bonsai once every 3-4 years, with the time preferably from late April to early May; repotting is not easy in winter. Remove 1/2 of the old potting soil, cut off dead roots and short roots, cut short overly long roots, thin out some overly dense roots, add some new culture soil with a certain fertility, and plant the ficus well. Sometimes take the opportunity of repotting to change the tree's styling, or to replace it into a pot with higher ornamental value.

Precautions for growing a ficus

(1) Pruning and shaping of the ficus is mostly carried out during the dormant period. During the growing period, the tree sap flows relatively quickly, and after pruning more white viscous sap flows out, which is unfavorable to the plant's growth. The ficus can be wired in all four seasons; when wiring during the growing period, be careful not to damage the bark, so as to avoid sap flowing out.

(2) During the ficus's growing season, the potting soil should be kept moist at all times, and special attention should be paid to raising the air humidity. In dry air, the leaf edges will scorch, turn yellow, and gradually fall off.

(3) A ficus displayed indoors should be placed in a ventilated spot with bright scattered light. When displayed outdoors, it should be properly shaded in spring and summer, and can receive more sunlight in winter. In winter, the room temperature should be kept at 5-8°C, and the potting soil should be prevented from becoming too dry or too wet. Once a week, wash the leaf surface with warm water close to room temperature to keep the leaves clean and bright green. If the winter room temperature is too high, open the windows for ventilation, otherwise a large number of leaves will fall off after the plant is taken outdoors the following spring.

Propagation methods for growing a ficus (1) Ficus propagation by cuttings

Choose strong thick branches, cut them for planting, and insert them into a loose, breathable, slightly acidic mixed soil of stone powder, river sand, and coal cinder, to a depth of about 3 cm. After watering thoroughly, move them to a cool, sheltered place for care. For those planted in the ground, use a cover to shade the sun. If taking cuttings in early spring, when the temperature is relatively low, it is best to cover them with a plastic bag to maintain a constant temperature and facilitate survival. Normally, the soil should be kept moist without standing water. The ficus first sprouts and then roots; when the sprouts grow to 5-6 cm, gradually let the stock material see sunlight, and after its sprouts and roots have grown strong, transplant it into a pot.

(2) Ficus propagation by division

The ficus has the characteristic of rooting and sprouting quickly. You can select stock material with twisted trunks and ancient, peculiar shapes suitable for bonsai and transplant it separately from each plant, retaining as many aerial roots as possible. After one to two years of careful cultivation, once aerial roots have grown, it can be cultivated into shape according to the grower's conception.

Pest and disease control methods for growing a ficus

The ficus has relatively few pests and diseases. Poor ventilation and light transmission or excessive nitrogen fertilizer may trigger powdery mildew, which can be sprayed with a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder. For insect pests, scale insects occasionally occur, which can be sprayed with a 1500-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate. Alternatively, bury an appropriate amount of carbofuran granules shallowly in the potting soil and then water thoroughly for quick efficacy.

How to grow a bonsai ficus, pruning techniques for a bonsai ficus

The bonsai ficus is one of our most common bonsai, evergreen all year round with a graceful posture. It is also relatively simple to care for, making it the first choice for beginner bonsai growers.

How to grow a bonsai ficus

First, the culture soil should be fertile and loose, such as cow dung, wood shavings, and coal cinder, which both retain moisture and allow air through. The soil in the pot of a bonsai ficus is limited, so nutrients are also limited, and attention should be paid to replenishing fertilizer. Because of its artistic characteristic of showing the large within the small, a stump bonsai should not be fertilized too much or too frequently. You should master the fertilizer content and type, and grasp the fertilizing season.

Pruning techniques for a bonsai ficus

Bonsai trees are still constantly growing. If allowed to grow naturally without restraint, it will inevitably affect the tree's shape and cause it to lose its artistic value. Therefore, timely pruning is necessary: cut long branches short and thin out dense branches, so as to maintain a graceful tree shape and appropriate proportions.
。
Pinching: For a tree bonsai, to inhibit its height growth and promote the development of flat, spreading side branches, you can pinch off the tender tips of its branch ends.

Bud removal: When a tree bonsai grows many adventitious buds on the base of the trunk or on the trunk, the buds should be removed at any time, so as to avoid the sprouting of forked branches that affect the beauty of the tree shape.

Leaf removal: For foliage tree bonsai, the ornamental period is often the period when new leaves sprout. For example, the new leaves of maples, pomegranates, and others are red; through leaf removal treatment, the tree can be made to sprout new leaves several times a year, bright and pleasing to the eye, improving its ornamental effect.

Branch pruning: Tree bonsai often grow many new branches. To maintain their beautiful shape, attention must often be paid to pruning. The pruning method should be decided according to the tree shape. For example, for a cloud-layer shape, the branches should be pruned into a flat form. Generally, dead branches, parallel branches, crossing branches, and others that hinder beauty should all be cut off in time.

Root pruning: When repotting, combine it with root pruning. Roots that are too dense or too long should be pruned. This can be considered according to the following situations. If the tree's new roots are poorly developed and the root system has not spread over the bottom surface of the soil ball, then when repotting you can still use the original pot and there is no need to prune the root system. For tree species with well-developed root systems, where the fibrous roots spread over the bottom surface of the soil ball, you should change to a slightly larger pot, thin out the dense root system, remove old roots, and keep a few new roots for repotting. For some old stump bonsai, when repotting, the roots can be appropriately raised to increase their ornamental value, and the old roots and part of the root ends should be pruned off, and loose fertile soil should be added to promote the growth of new roots.

Actually, the simplest way to grow a ficus well is to water thoroughly once the soil is dry, and fertilizing once or twice a year is fine. Although it likes fertilizer, to develop a compact plant shape, it is still better to fertilize less. But if it is a foliage-focused ficus such as the weeping fig or fiddle-leaf fig, then you should apply thin fertilizer frequently and keep the potting soil moist, so that it grows vigorously with large, glossy green leaves and good ornamental value.