Ficus religious. Rules for growing ficus sacred at home. Facts about the sacred ficus for the curious, photos

Lighting

Distracted is preferable, but sufficient bright light, which is provided by windows facing east or west.

During " summer holidays" on outdoors balcony or plot, care must be taken to ensure that the tree is not burned directly Sun rays.

Temperature

The best summer temperature range is from 20 to 25 degrees; winter temperature shouldn't be below 15 degrees.

Attention: Drafts are contraindicated.

Priming

The optimal soil substrate should be slightly acidic or neutral, sufficiently loose and nutritious.

You can use ready-made soil for ficus plants, or mix two parts of turf and leaf soil with one part of coarse sand.

• turf;
• leafy;
• peat soil with sand;
• all ingredients in equal quantities.

Landing

The planting container can be standard form: (vertical size is from a quarter to a third of the height of the plant), with a mandatory drainage hole.

Since stagnation of water is extremely unfavorable, it is better to choose a porous container material - ceramics without a continuous layer of glaze.

A drainage layer of small pebbles or expanded clay must be placed at the bottom of the container.

During planting, as you fill up the soil, when filling the voids between the roots, you must be careful not to bury the root collar of the plant: it should be level with the ground.

If the plant is tall, you need to take care of support for its trunk.

After planting, the ficus should be watered.

Transfer

Young plants are replanted annually, and mature specimens - every few years, and the signal for transplantation is the complete entanglement of the earthen coma with roots.

Overly spacious containers are undesirable: for young ficuses, the diameter of the new pot should be 2cm more former, for mature ones - by 6cm.

Watering

Water the ficus religiosum twice a week. well-settled, soft water, avoiding stagnation of moisture.

Excess irrigation water accumulating in the pan is immediately drained.

If necessary, in hot weather summer days the frequency of watering is increased, however upper layer The soil must dry out a little before the next intake of moisture.

Air humidity

Needs to be supported high humidity air, reminiscent of the native Indian regions of this plant.

Be sure to spray daily with soft water room temperature

Top dressing

From spring to autumn, once or twice a month, fertilizing is carried out alternately with mineral and organic components, while ensuring a high content of nitrogen and potassium.

If the winter is warm, fertilizing is not stopped.

When kept cool and light in winter time Feed less frequently.

Growth and pruning

IN indoor culture grows up up to 2-3 meters with the potential to reach multi-meter heights.

Important: Formative pruning is necessary to limit growth and create a beautiful crown.

Young shoots are trimmed in early spring , before the start of active growing season; in addition, as it grows, pinch the tips of the growing branches to stimulate the development of a denser crown.

An interesting result is obtained by braiding the stems of several young plants planted in one container.

In general, thanks to his rapid growth and the pronounced plasticity of young stems and shoots, ficus religiosity is an excellent candidate for creating spectacular half-meter bonsai trees using the entire arsenal of devices: replaceable wire frames, targeted pruning, tension support systems.

Photo

In the photo, the sacred ficus “Eden”:

Reproduction

Ficus sacred can be propagated by cuttings and seeds.

Propagation by cuttings

For such reproduction they use stem cuttings approximately fifteen centimeters long, with several leaves.

The lower sections of the cuttings are treated with a root formation stimulator and rooted in a soil substrate of equal amounts of perlite, or coarse sand and peat, covered plastic film.

After the formation of roots and the appearance of new shoots (about a month later, sometimes earlier) The cuttings are planted in separate containers with the usual soil mixture for ficuses.

Propagation by seeds

This method is widely used for home grown « sacred tree Buddha", and seeds with good germination are sent by mail.

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulant solution and then sown on the surface of a light, loose soil mixture.

Cover the crop with plastic film and place it in a warm, well-lit place, ventilate and keep the substrate moist.

Shoots usually appear within a week.

As the seedlings grow, they are planted and then planted in separate containers.

Diseases and pests

Ficus "Eden" sheds leaves- the result of frequent rearrangements, insufficiently humid air, drafts and temperature fluctuations.

The same can be observed in a recently purchased plant that is experiencing stress due to a sudden change in conditions.

Reference: V natural conditions Ficus religios leaves fall off completely or partially during the dry season.

That's why insufficient watering and spraying is the “Start” button for shedding the crown.

Care errors, primarily moisture stagnation, lead to weakening of the plant and its damage by fungal infections. In this case, you need to optimize watering and treat the ficus with fungicides.

When the air is not humid enough, aphids settle on the sacred ficus.

In addition, his may attack mealybug, thrips and scale insects.

As a first measure, treat the affected parts of the plant with a soap solution, but the most effective remedy against pests – systemic insecticides.

Ficus sacred Eden- an easy plant to keep at home.

The temperature is not lower than 15 degrees, the absence of scorching sun, frequent movements and drafts, sufficient watering, regular spraying - and the Buddhist “Bodhi tree” will develop well, and in addition, actively purify the air from xylenes and toluenes.

Targeted pruning and formation of plastic seedlings can turn this, in itself iconic and viable, plant into spectacular decoration interior

Are you thinking about purchasing a ficus tree, but are lost in the variety of its varieties?

Useful video on growing ficus sacred “Eden” from seeds and tips for care at home:

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Useful plant used in folk medicine and purifying the air, it is highly decorative of the crown. Ficus sacred - unpretentious indoor flower, grows and develops quickly at home. Creating a tree favorable microclimate required to maintain a beautiful appearance and improve immunity.

Description and characteristics

Ficus religiosa – evergreen, semi-deciduous, monoecious plant Mulberry family with grayish branches. The leaves are 10-17 by 8-12 cm, heart-shaped, have a long point at the end and a petiole approximately equal to the size of the leaf blade. The veins are light green, pronounced.

Ficus religiosum in natural environment grows up to 30 m, trunk diameter is 3 m. At home it is much smaller, but grows quickly, reaching 2 m in height in a year. The species belongs to the banyan tree, forms many aerial roots, which, reaching the ground, take root and eventually become a trunk. When grown in a room, you can get a bonsai with a height of 50 cm, standard tree or interior decoration by intertwining flexible shoots of several young plants with each other.

Flowering lasts from April to June. The green inflorescences are bowl-shaped and subsequently produce purple or reddish berries filled with many small seeds. They vaguely resemble figs, but are inedible.

Due to the shape of the fruit, the ficus is also called the sacred fig. The wood is porous, soft, and a sticky milky sap is released on the cuts.

How to grow an enlightenment tree at home

Eden is unpretentious in care, but demanding environment. When exposed unfavorable factors sheds leaves, becomes susceptible infectious diseases, changes the color of the leaf plates. It is not necessary to arrange a rest period, but if desired, you can move it to a cooler room.

Caring for sacred ficus at home includes:

• watering;
• spraying;
• feeding;
• transplant;
• formative and sanitary trimming;
• protection from drafts, diseases and pests;
• maintaining optimal microclimate.

Soil and dishes

For the sacred ficus Eden, it is recommended to use a special soil that allows water and air to flow well and has a neutral pH. You can assemble it yourself from turf, leaf and peat land, river sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. Substrate for growing seedlings from seed material should consist of 70% peat, 20% a mixture of vermiculite and perlite, 10% coarse sand.

The container should be selected taking into account the size of the root system. Ficus does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so care must be taken to have drainage holes. Clay pots without coating removes well excess moisture, allow air to pass through, and heavy weight makes a specimen with a developed aerial part more stable.

Lighting and temperature

The sacred ficus requires sufficient light, otherwise the tree will begin to shed its leaves. With gradual adaptation to direct sunlight, the plant tolerates it well. It is possible to place it in partial shade, but this will affect the decorative effect of the indoor flower. In winter, it is advisable to place it next to the brightest window, but drafts should not be allowed. The culture is thermophilic; in spring and summer the temperature should be maintained within +22-30 °C.

If you want to create conditions for a state of dormancy, it is enough to reduce this indicator to +15 °C, but do not allow +12 °C or less - the leaf blades will become stained, fall off, and the sacred ficus may die.

Humidity and watering

In nature, the variety grows in conditions high humidity, so you need to install an air humidifier at home or often spray the flower with settled soft water from a spray bottle. When placed next to heating devices In winter, surgery is also necessary. The peculiarity of the species is that with increased air humidity, water droplets form on the pointed ends of the leaf plates. Wood responds well to washing from the shower.

Water the sacred ficus Eden as needed with settled water at room temperature. From March to September, moisten thoroughly after the top layer of soil has dried. When the autumn cooling begins, it is necessary to sharply reduce watering. Otherwise, the leaves may be shed and the roots may rot. The plant tolerates slight drying of the soil more easily than waterlogging.

Top dressing

Solutions of complex universal fertilizers and growth stimulants are used in spring and summer. With their help, the sacred ficus quickly develops, grows, and strengthens the root system. The procedure must be combined with watering so that the products do not burn the roots. The frequency of fertilizing is 1-2 times a month. Nutrient mixtures should contain plenty of nitrogen and potassium.

Pruning and replanting

The formation of the crown will provide the plant decorative look. The sacred ficus also needs pruning to control its growth. In just a year, a tree can grow up to 2 m if not pinched. top shoots. Removing the crown promotes the formation of a denser aerial part. The operation should be done in early spring before the active growing season begins. The culture is suitable for creating bonsai - young shoots bend in different sides using a wire.

It is necessary to transplant a sacred ficus seedling 1-2 times a year, then once every 1-1.5 years is sufficient. You should focus on filling flower pot root system. The diameter of the container must first be increased by 2 cm, then by 6 cm. The root collar should be placed at the same level. When the plant reaches large sizes, it is enough to replace the top layer of soil with a new one.

Reproduction

The main methods of propagating the sacred ficus Eden are sowing seeds and cuttings. The seed material is small, so it does not require soaking. If you want to get many high-quality specimens, you can pre-mix it with coarse sand. Use a common container, place drainage on the bottom, prepared soil mixture, and water generously. Try to distribute the seeds evenly over the entire surface, sprinkle with 0.5 cm of sand. Cover with film or bag until shoots appear.

Ventilate periodically, moisten as the soil dries out, maintain good lighting, temperature regime at +25-30 °C. It may be necessary to install underfloor heating.

When growing ficus Eden from seeds, it should be taken into account that they germinate unevenly, some are able to sprout only after 2 months.

Seedlings should be thinned out every 3-4 days, removing weak specimens. It is necessary to regularly spray the seedlings with settled water from a spray bottle, but do not overfill them. Seating according to individual containers It is recommended only after 2-3 months.

Plant propagation by cuttings is more common, since an adult specimen will be produced earlier. However, it must be remembered that the survival rate and rooting of shoots in this case is much worse. Unlike seeds, it is best to root cuttings in spring or summer; you can use what is left after pruning plant material. To remove excess milky juice, you need to place a twig in warm water for a few hours. After this, dry the cut area a little, sprinkle with chopped activated carbon.

The cuttings should be planted in a moist nutrient substrate, having previously cleaned bottom part from leaves. It is enough to deepen it by 2-3 cm. Place it on top glass jar or transparent plastic bottle(after removing the tapering part) to create a mini-greenhouse. Rooting occurs in 2-3 weeks. All this time, the cuttings should be kept in a greenhouse and the soil should be moistened periodically. Transplanted to permanent place, it is necessary to maintain the shelter for another week, gradually accustoming the seedling to the environment.

Pests and diseases

If the agrotechnical recommendations for planting and care are followed, the sacred ficus has good immunity, but when cultivated in an unfavorable environment, problems are possible. Among the pests of indoor plants, thrips, spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs are dangerous. Insects must be washed off the branches and the plant must be sprayed chemicals subject to safety rules. Replanting with accompanying treatment with approved products will help get rid of soil pests.

Ficus can get sick due to excessive watering. The danger of root rot is that the symptoms are not immediately noticeable. If you delay in transferring to new pot and creating an optimal microclimate, the plant will die. Best protection– prevention. When used for planting garden soil and sand must be calcined, watered hot water, potassium permanganate solution for disinfection.

Sacred ficus It is highly decorative and suitable for creating unusual compositions when intertwining the trunks of several seedlings. This culture produces beautiful trees bonsai. Does not require complex care, but is sensitive to environmental conditions.

Very interesting representative A large genus of ficus of the Mulberry family is Ficus sacred, or religious (Ficusreligiosa). It is also called the Bodhi Tree or simply Bo, as well as Peepal. The tree is native to India and its natural range extends from the foothills of the Himalayas to the east, southwest China, northern Thailand and Vietnam. Followers of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism revere and worship this tree.

According to legend, thousands of years ago, a prince from Northern India, Siddhartha Guatauma, sat under fig tree and meditated. When Siddhartha fully understood the meaning of life, he achieved the highest and perfect enlightenment of Bodhi and became Buddha Supreme, or the Awakened One. According to legend, not only Buddha, but also Vishnu was born in the shade of the Bo tree. In Buddhism, this tree is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Silk threads of red, yellow and white and pray for the parents to be rewarded with offspring. In India, the Bodhi tree is widely planted around temples.

The tree, considered historically associated with the Buddha, grew on Bodh Gaya in the northern Indian state of Bihar, but in the 2nd century BC. it was destroyed by King Pushpiamitra, but it was resumed later in the same place with a new plant received from him. In the 7th century AD. it was again destroyed by King Sassanka. And the Bodhi tree, now located on Bodh Gaya, was planted in 1881.

A descendant of the plant in whose shade Buddha received enlightenment, Sri Madha Bodhi, was planted in 288 BC. in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and is considered oldest tree among flowering plants.

Ficus sacred grows as an evergreen or semi-deciduous tree, reaching a height of 30 m. Growing in a climate where there is never frost, it sheds only part of its old leaves during the dry season. The leaves are arranged on smooth shoots in a spiral. The petioles are long, reaching 13 cm. The leaf blade is broadly ovate, 7-25 cm long and 4-13 cm wide, thinly leathery, with entire, sometimes corrugated edges. Their distinctive feature is the presence of a thin, extended tip in the form of a tail. The central vein is clearly visible, the lateral veins are clearly visible. The stipules are oval and reach 5 cm. Like all ficuses, peepal has a milky sap. Pseudofruits (syconia) are spherical, located in pairs in the leaf axils, reach 1.5 cm in diameter, and turn purple when ripe. For them, the plant received another name - Sacred Fig. This is a monoecious plant. Ficus sacred blooms throughout the year. Flowers are pollinated by a wasp of a certain species. Birds, monkeys eat fruits, the bats, pigs that spread the seeds.

The plant often begins its life as an epiphyte, settling in the leaf litter in the hollows of other trees. From there, the peepal tree sends down aerial roots, which later serve as its support, forming a banyan tree. This species does not form aerial roots from lateral branches, like other ficuses. It grows as a single-trunk tree, the diameter of the trunk with smooth, light gray bark can reach 3 meters or more.

As befits a divine plant, it heals ailments. All parts of the Bo tree are widely used in medicine. The leaves are the most valuable. Juice is squeezed out of them or powder is made and used to relieve fever, dysentery, constipation, and boils. Fruits are used to normalize digestion, used for dehydration and heart diseases, as well as for poisoning. The roots help cope with inflammatory processes. Extract from the roots reduces the level of uric acid in the body, thereby helping with gout. The bark from the roots helps with any inflammation in the mouth and throat area, back pain and ulcers. Milky juice, as one of the components, is used in the treatment of many fungal skin diseases. The bark is used to treat wounds, and the seeds help with bladder diseases.

Currently, ficus sacred grows in tropical gardens around the world. It is valued for its external aesthetics and the religious veneration associated with the name of Buddha. In countries where there is no pollinating wasp, it is propagated vegetative way(by cuttings).

The Bo tree prefers hot, humid climates and can grow indoors, but prefers full direct sun. It is unpretentious to soils, but light loams with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction are optimal.

Maintenance and care indoors

Ficus sacred is quite common among our amateur gardeners. Peepal is grown and how potted plant, followers of Buddhism dress it up on Bodhi Day (December 8). The main thing that needs to be taken into account for it successful cultivation- This great need for light.

Soil composition. You need to add turf soil and sand to the purchased soil (3 parts peat soil, 1 part turf soil, 1 part sand). Replanting is carried out in spring and summer as the roots fill the volume of the pot.

Watering moderate, as the soil dries out. Prefers light drying to abundant watering.

Feeding universal fertilizer in the spring and summer.

Pruning tolerates it well, and often simply needs it to maintain the shape of the crown. It is held at the end of winter and beginning of spring.

in winter It is advisable to place the plant in bright light, lower the temperature to +18 0 C, reduce watering, and spray frequently.

In summer It is advisable to provide the ficus with a place in the open air in direct sun (carefully monitoring the level of moisture in the substrate). On hot days it is necessary to spray frequently.

Pests. At home, ficus sacred is very susceptible to damage spider mite, so you need to humidify the air more often. It can also be affected by scale insects and mealybugs.

About measures to combat these insects- in the article Pests of indoor plants and measures to combat them.

Reproduction. Easily propagated by cuttings. Rooting lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.

Probably everyone knows the legend about how the Indian prince Gautama meditated while sitting under a tree and achieved enlightenment, after which he began to be called Buddha. But for many it will be a discovery that the tree of enlightenment mentioned in the legend really exists!

It grows everywhere in India and Nepal, in southwest China, on the island of Sri Lanka, and is also cultivated as indoor plant. Its name is ficus sacred.

Legendary, but not fictional Bodhi tree: description of the biological species ficus sacred

Ficus sacred (Latin name Ficus religiosa is also translated literally as ficus religious) is often called the Bodhi tree, the tree of enlightenment or peepal. The plant, which is revered in Buddhist countries, is a species representative of the genus Ficus, belonging to the mulberry family (Moraceae). Ficus religiosum has a number of distinctive features.

1. Homeland of perennial evergreen or semi-deciduous tree plant– Central and South-West Asia.
2. The height of ficus sacred in nature is up to 30 m, at home - 1.5-2 m.
3. The Bodhi tree has a wide lush crown, which is formed by thick branches and fairly large leaves.
4. The length of the leaf blade of ficus sacred is from 8 cm to 25 cm. Its surface is leathery. The edges of the leaf plate are straight or edged. The leaves are heart-shaped with a pronounced point at the top, from which tails hang. Yellowish or creamy veins are clearly visible on the greenish-gray surface. The petioles of the leaves are long, sometimes their length is approximately the same as the length of the plate itself.
5. plant blooms all year round. The axillary paired pseudofruits of syconia produce purple fruits that are inedible for humans. They feed on insects, birds, bats and livestock.
6. If you keep the plant in a humid environment, water will begin to drip from the tips of its leaves.

Today, sacred ficus trees are grown near Buddhist temples, where pilgrims perform various rituals with them. Usually people ask the Bodhi tree for good luck and prosperity, cure for illnesses. According to legend, if a childless couple ties multi-colored threads around the trunk of a sacred ficus tree, Buddha will soon give them children.

It is also interesting that the peepal tree is the Buddhist equivalent of the New Year tree. In the photo you can see him dressed up on Bodhi Day, December 8th.

How to grow an enlightenment tree at home

Ficus sacred in a pot looks very neat. You don't need to put a lot of effort into caring for it at home. The only caveat is that the plant really needs light.

Soil and dishes

You can plant a Bodhi tree in ficus soil mixture, which is sold in every flower shop. Its pH is from 6.0 to 6.5. You can also prepare the soil yourself by taking equal parts of leaf and sod land, sand and peat. A ficus sacred pot needs to be spacious with a hole in the bottom that will prevent water from stagnating.

Lighting and temperature

In an apartment where the temperature in summer ranges from 20 to 25 °C, and in winter the air heats up to 18 °C and higher, the plant will feel most comfortable. Ficus religiosum is detrimental to sudden changes in temperature, so it must be protected from drafts, and in heating season move away from the battery.

The best place for a flower is near an east or west window in light shade. In summer, the tree of enlightenment can be taken outside into the sun's rays. It is easy to determine that a ficus sacred plant does not have enough light by the condition of its leaves: they become lethargic and may fall off.

Humidity and watering

The soil under the plant should dry out slightly between waterings, but not dry out completely. The plant is watered with moderately soft, settled water. Its leaves are regularly sprayed or wiped with a damp sponge.

Top dressing

Improve appearance and accelerate tree growth universal fertilizers, which must be applied every 10 days in spring and summer and every 30 days in autumn and winter.

Pruning and replanting

To keep the crown of the plant beautiful, it is pruned often and regularly. Because root system Ficus sacred grows quickly, it is replanted in May-June of each year. When, due to the size of the tree, replanting becomes impossible, the top layer of soil is changed annually.

Reproduction

The Bodhi tree can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. The seeds are sold in bags with the intriguing inscription “ficus sacred Eden” and have fairly good germination. Plant cuttings take 14-28 days to root.

Diseases and pests

An indoor flower reacts to stagnation of water in the soil, drafts, lack of light or other flaws in care by dropping its leaves.

Among the pests it is most afraid of are aphids, scale insects and mealybugs. But after treatment with insecticides, the ficus religiousa recovers very quickly.