How to feed Benjamin's ficus at home
Content:
Ficus Benjamin is an undemanding plant that can not only decorate a room, but also purify the air. Like all crops, it requires regular nutrient intake. In order for the plant to develop correctly, it is important to know how to feed Benjamin's ficus at home and how to do it correctly.
What elements does Benjamin's ficus need?
Lack of certain substances can negatively affect the appearance of the plant:
- leaves are weak - fertilizing with nitrogen is necessary;
- the leaves have become a light shade and lethargic - this may indicate a lack of calcium and potassium;
- stems grow rapidly - iron deficiency.
When choosing fertilizers for ficus, it is worth considering the following features:
- phosphorus and zinc are necessary for normal root development;
- potassium allows you to develop immunity against diseases and prolonged droughts;
- manganese increases immunity to diseases;
- magnesium and boron are involved in metabolic processes in the leaves, promote the diffusion of oxygen through the leaves.
General rules for fertilization
Before figuring out how to feed Benjamin's ficus at home, study the intricacies of using top dressing:
- the plant is sensitive to a sharp change in substrates, therefore, preference is given to the compositions provided directly for this type of plant;
- emaciation and pallor of the leaves can be a signal of a lack of trace elements;
- for the full development of the bush, complex fertilizing is used;
- fertilization is applied by irrigation; preliminarily dissolve nutrients in water;
- the interval between different types of nutritional components should be at least 7 days;
- the soil must be pre-moistened and loosened.
It is necessary to follow the rules for applying dressings, depending on the age of the plant. For young seedlings, feeding of ficus is carried out to a lesser extent.
The procedures begin in early spring, when the flower comes out of dormancy and requires additional nutrition. Fertilization ends at the end of September (considered a turning point for the crop). Subsequently, she prepares for the winter.
How to feed ficus
How to fertilize ficus? The following groups of fertilizers are used:
- Organic. Humus is most often used. The component contains a large amount of nitrogen, which is responsible for the growth of the plant. Humus contains phosphorus and potassium.
- Mineral. They are a special chemical complex that is specially designed for plants. The composition contains all the necessary macro and microelements necessary for the growth of the culture.
Mineral fertilizers can be in the form of powders, granules and liquids. The type of preparations is chosen by each grower individually.
Fertilization errors and their consequences
Fertilizers for feeding ficus Benjamin require careful handling. Often, improper use of feedings leads to problems:
- Rubbery ficus can shed leaves or grow slowly when nutrients are in excess. To eliminate such problems, the culture should be fed less often, transplanted to a new place.
- The leaves turn yellow and fall off. The situation arises in the case of using substrates in the wrong proportions.
- Another mistake is the use of fertilizers in granules that have not been previously dissolved in water. Exposure to the granules can adversely affect the condition of the root system.
Incorrect distribution of nutrients during the cultivation of the crop can be an erroneous action. An excessive amount of one type of dressing can lead to the death of the plant.
Folk fertilization methods
Home methods do not require special knowledge of how to feed a ficus flower. To understand how to fertilize ficus at home, first of all, they are guided by the components:
- Sugar. Acts as a source of glucose, promotes active plant growth. Sugar is fed in several ways. First, a small amount of granulated sugar is sprinkled on the ground and thoroughly watered. As the sand dissolves, nutrients penetrate the soil. To use the second method, dissolve a tablespoon of sand in a liter of water and water the culture. Do this feeding no more than once a month.
- Baker's yeast. Promotes the activation of beneficial organisms in the soil. They activate the build-up of green mass. To prepare the nutrient mixture, dissolve 1 tablespoon of dry yeast in 10 liters of water. Let it brew and water.
- Wood ash is a nitrogen source. Using ash to feed the plant at home accelerates growth. In a liter of water, you need to dissolve a spoonful of the substance. The composition is infused for several days. After the ash is infused, the working fluid is diluted with clean water in a ratio of 1: 3 and introduced into the soil.
- Nettle is a widely used fertilizer for indoor plants. The collected grass must be crushed and filled with water in a one-to-one ratio. Nettle is infused for 3-4 days. The infusion is filtered and the liquid is diluted with clean water in a ratio of 1: 3. Fertilize the plant every 2 months.
Homemade methods are effective for saturating the soil with beneficial ingredients. In cases where there are no special fertilizers at hand, home methods allow you to preserve the beauty of the ficus and activate rapid growth.
It is important to closely monitor the condition of the plant. In some cases, ficus signals a lack of minerals. If such signals are not received, complex nutrients are used that saturate the plant with the necessary elements for rapid growth.