Ficus Natasha - description of the flower and home care rules
Content:
Ficuses are popular indoor plants. They are used to diversify the appearance of the room and to decorate the interior. One of the varieties of such a flower is Benjamin Natasha's ficus. To raise a tropical inhabitant at home, he needs to provide appropriate conditions and properly care for him.
Ficus Natasha - what it looks like, which family it belongs to
Natasha is a dwarf representative of the Mulberry family. There are more than 800 varieties of ficuses in their natural habitat. Among them can be found vines, shrubs and trees. In the wild, culture grows on tropical islands. Here the flower can grow up to 10 meters in height. Domestic varieties do not have such dimensions - they rarely reach 45 cm.
Ficus Natasha
Healing properties
Ficus Natali is a fairly common folk remedy. Tinctures, ointments and compresses are made from it. The plant helps with gynecological diseases, arthritis and radiculitis. It is believed to help kill disease-causing bacteria during epidemics.
The history of the origin of the name
This variety of ficuses was named after Benjamin Jackson. He was a famous British botanist at the beginning of the last century. The scientist is known as the creator of the flower guide, which describes more than 500 plant species.
Ficus Benjamina Natasha - home care
For proper growth and development, a resident of the tropics must be provided with proper care.
Temperature and lighting
The bush needs conditions under which the air temperature is kept within + 18 ... +22 ° С. If the room gets too hot and dry, then the flower may begin to shed its leaves.
The pot with Natasha should be placed in such a place that diffused sunlight constantly falls on the bush. In direct action of the rays, it can get burned. It is recommended to grow the plant in the east or south-east windows of the apartment.
Ficus Natasha on the windowsill
Watering and spraying
Ficus Benj Natasha loves regular and abundant watering. If the soil is too dry, foliage will begin to fall off the plant. In this case, it is necessary to prevent stagnation of the liquid in the pot.
Benjamin needs high humidity in his apartment. If the air is too dry, then it should be sprayed several times a week.
Spraying
Soil and dressing
It is recommended to plant the plant in a fertile substrate. To avoid stagnation of water in the pot, it is necessary to arrange a good drainage layer of expanded clay or crushed stone. The soil should consist of sod and leafy soil, peat and sand.
If the leaves of the ficus begin to turn yellow, this means that it needs nutrients.It is necessary to make top dressing in spring and summer during the growing season. Natasha needs organic and mineral fertilizers. To do this, it is recommended to feed the flower with compost, manure and nitrogen-containing compounds at least once a month. This process can be combined with watering.
Features of winter care
With the onset of frost, the pot with ficus should be moved to a room with a temperature of + 13 ... + 15 ° С. In winter, reduce the number of watering and completely stop feeding. If, due to heating, the air becomes too dry, then it is necessary to spray with a spray bottle.
Pruning
Ficus Natasha only needs formative pruning. It is used to:
- form a standard tree;
- stimulate the growth of new shoots;
- give the bush a decorative look.
Flower pruning
The procedure is performed in the spring, since at this time new shoots are formed on the trunk, and pruning provokes their growth.
Reproduction of ficus Natasha
At home, the plant can be propagated in three ways: by seeds, cuttings and air layers.
Seed propagation
In early spring, the seeds are planted in a moistened sand-peat mixture and lightly sprinkled with earth. A transparent film is pulled from above and left to germinate at a temperature of +25 ° C. After about 1-1.5 months, the first shoots will appear. At this time, you need to remove the film. When at least 3 leaves appear on the seedlings, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Seedlings
Propagation by cuttings
During spring pruning, woody shoots are selected, on which there are at least 3 leaves. They must be treated with a growth stimulant and placed in a container with water. After 3-4 weeks, the cuttings will give roots.
Harvesting cuttings
Propagation by air layers
The seedling is prepared in the same way as during grafting, but is placed in a container with washed river sand. To create greenhouse conditions, the sprout is covered with a glass jar, which must be removed when the first leaves appear.
Transfer
Ficus can be transplanted no earlier than a month after purchase. For adult plants, the procedure can be carried out every 2-3 years. In this case, it is necessary to choose a container several centimeters larger than the previous one in diameter. A drainage layer pours out to the bottom. The flower is moved from the old pot to the new soil, the roots are sprinkled with earth and watered.
Possible problems in growing - diseases and pests
The main reason why Natasha ficus can get sick is improper care of the flower. It is necessary to constantly monitor the new plant, since very often the problem can only be determined by elimination.
Reasons for yellowing and falling of ficus leaves:
- excess moisture;
- bad soil;
- low temperature;
- insufficient illumination.
Improper planting or poor quality soil can cause problems with the root system. This will be noticeable by the darkened leaves. At too high or low temperatures, as well as a lack of nitrogen, the leaves can curl up into tubes.
In addition, Natasha can be attacked by aphids, thrips, spider mites and other pests. You can cope with them by regularly treating the bush with insecticides.
Signs and superstitions
There are many signs and superstitions associated with the ficus Natasha:
- It is given to wish a person well-being and longevity.
- Ficus in the apartment helps to protect against damage.
- If a woman sees a ficus in a dream, then she will soon become pregnant.
Ficus Benjamin Natasha is one of the most suitable plants for cultivation at home.It is unpretentious in care, and even a novice florist can grow it.
