Buddha's paradise tree - sacred ficus "Eden. Ficus sacred: rules for indoor care and reproduction Ficus religious
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Characteristics of the plant, tips for growing sacred ficus at home, how to reproduce, pest and disease control, facts for the curious.
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Sacred Ficus (Ficus religiosa) can be referred to under the following synonymous names: Sacred Fig, Religious Ficus, Bodhi tree. This evergreen representative of the flora belongs to the genus Ficus of the same name, which is part of the Mulberry family (Moraceae). It is possible to meet such a plant in India and Nepal, in the vastness of Sri Lanka and in the southwestern regions of China and countries located on the Indochina peninsula. It prefers to settle in mixed and evergreen forests growing on the plains, but can "climb" into the mountains to a height of one and a half thousand meters above sea level.
This variety of ficus bears its specific name due to the fact that most often such giant trees have been grown since ancient times near Buddhist temples, and the sacred fig is considered by adherents of this religion to be a symbol of the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha, who is the spiritual mentor and founder of the legend of Buddhism. That is how they began to call Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha, after he sat under a similar tree. In the Sinhalese dialect, the ficus is sacred and became known as the Bodhi tree (bodi), the Bo tree or Pipal.
The religious ficus differs from its “brothers” in the genus by its rather large size, as in nature there are specimens whose height approaches 30 m, but when grown in rooms, its parameters reach 3 meters or more. Therefore, the plant is not often used for keeping in small rooms, but is suitable for decorating large halls, winter gardens or greenhouses. The crown in nature is quite sprawling and its dimensions are almost 10 meters in width. When the sacred ficus is still young, it has a small number of aerial roots, but since the plant often begins its life as an epiphyte, located on the trunks or branches of large trees, such roots grow over time and can turn into a banyan tree. Or it can grow as a lithophyte - finding a place for itself in the crevices of buildings (some photos show that the tree seems to grow into a temple), over time braiding it with its roots.
In this case, the root processes descend to the soil and begin to take root and thicken in it. After a few years, they resemble the trunks of thin trees and can represent numerous “woods”, supporting a wide crown. The bark covering the young shoots of the plant is light brown in color, with a small redhead, which resembles the color of the branches of the ficus racemose, but the bark of the trunk and branches of adult specimens is gray.
On the shoots are smooth leaf plates of the original form with a thin-skinned surface. Their length can reach 8–12 and even 20 cm, while the width is 4–13 cm. The edges of the sheet are smooth, straight or with a slight waviness. At the top, the sharpening takes on a drip shape resembling a “tail”, and at the base, the contour of the leaf is heart-shaped. When the leaves of religious ficus are still young, they cast a reddish tint, which eventually changes to light greenish (if the light level is moderate), but if the foliage is under direct sunlight, then it acquires a bluish-green tint or the color becomes dark green , with a bluish tint. On the surface, all veins of a lighter color than the main background are clearly visible. The shape of the stipules is oval and their length is 5 cm, when the leaf is fully opened, they fall off.
Leaf plates are located on the branches in the next sequence, and the length of the petiole is commensurate with the length of the leaf, and sometimes it can grow larger. If the areas in which the sacred ficus grows are characterized by dry air, then twice a year the plant loses its foliage for a short time.
When flowering, a kind of inflorescence is formed, taking the form of a hollow pot - it is called syconium (pseudo-fruit). The flowers are in such a formation and look like brown moss on its walls. The syconia are located in the leaf axils mainly in pairs. The surface of the inflorescences is smooth. The pollinators are special ficus wasps - blastophages (Blastophaga quadraticeps). After the pollination of the flowers, the seedlings, unsuitable for food, mature, which, when ripe, will change their color from green to purple or dark purple.
Despite the growth rate and impressive size, the sacred fig can be recommended for growing to beginner lovers of home flora. Often the plant can be cultivated in the bonsai technique.
Rules for the care of sacred ficus at home
- Lighting and location selection. The plant is a lover of bright light, but it can suffer from direct sunlight, so it is recommended to grow religious ficus in east and west-facing rooms, a southern location is also suitable, but then you need to put a ficus pot at a distance of at least 2 meters from the window, or else hang thin curtains that scatter light. If the light level is low, the sacred fig will respond by shedding foliage. Since for the normal growth of this variety of ficus, illumination of 2600–3000 lux is necessary, then in winter it will be necessary to carry out supplementary lighting. The same approach is recommended if there is no way out, and the pot of Ficus religiosa is in the north facing room.
- Content temperature. Like any representative of the ficus genus, this plant is also distinguished by its love of warmth, therefore, in the spring and summer months, temperatures should be maintained within 20–25 degrees, and with the advent of autumn and throughout the winter, they can be reduced, but so that the thermometer does not fall below 15 units, but the lighting then rises. However, according to many opinions, it is possible not to create such a period of “rest” for the sacred ficus with a decrease in heat; it feels great year-round at room temperature. But it is worth mentioning that the plant should be protected from hot air, which will be pumped by heaters and batteries in the winter season. When airing, it is worth removing the ficus from the path of the draft, as a quick drop of foliage can occur. The Bodhi tree also reacts to the effect of temperature changes or a change of place.
- Air humidity when growing sacred ficus, it can be average, although the plant adapts to the conditions of dry air in the apartment, but it will be grateful for the daily spraying of the deciduous mass with warm and soft water. It is good to place household appliances nearby that create “artificial fog” (air humidifiers or steam generators). And also religious ficus will feel good next to a decorative pond, a large aquarium or pool. But if this is not possible, then you can put the pot with the plant in a deep pan, at the bottom of which expanded clay or pebbles are poured and pour a little water there. The main thing is that the bottom of the flowerpot does not touch the edge of the liquid, as this can cause root rot. It is possible, while the plant is not large, to regularly wash its crown in the shower, covering the soil with a plastic bag before this. Regular wiping with a soft damp cloth is required to remove dust from them and increase humidity and thus. If the air in the room where Ficus religiosa is kept is dry for a long time, then its leaves will begin to fly around.
- Watering ficus sacred at home. Since the leaf plates of the sacred ficus are large in size, the evaporation of moisture from them is quite fast. Therefore, watering due to such a “water consumption” should be regular and plentiful, but at the same time acidification of the soil should not be allowed. The best guideline in this case is the condition of the topsoil - as soon as it has dried up, moisturizing can be performed. If the substrate is in a waterlogged state, the plant will respond by dropping foliage. Only well-settled and warm water (temperature about 20–24 degrees) is used for watering the Bo tree. You can use distilled, rain or river water.
- fertilizers for religious ficus, it is required to make from the beginning of the activation of the vegetation process. Although the plant does not have a pronounced dormant period, it is better to start feeding the pipal with the advent of spring and until September. The frequency of such top dressing will be once every 14 days. It is recommended to use preparations intended for ficuses or complex mineral fertilizers, which contain a lot of nitrogen or potassium. It is better to choose products in liquid form in order to dissolve them in water for irrigation, if the drug is granular, then it is distributed on the surface of the substrate. The Bodhi tree also responds well to organic matter (mullein infusion), which is alternated with mineral supplements.
- Transplantation and advice on soil selection. Since the plant has a rather high growth rate, transplants, especially at a young age, will have to be done every 1-2 years. There is evidence that in just a year the growth of a seedling is up to 2 meters. But in this case, one should focus on the state of the root system of the sacred ficus - if it has become too crowded in the container, then it is time to transplant. It is advised to take a new pot 4–5 cm larger than the previous one, but you should not increase it too much, since the soil will not dry out when watering, and this will lead to its souring and subsequently rotting of the root system. When the “Bo” tree reaches such a size that it will be difficult to transplant it on its own, and the diameter of the pot begins to measure 30 cm, then transplants are no longer performed, but only a 3-4 cm layer of soil is changed from above. Before pouring soil into a new container, it is recommended to always place a drainage material of about 4 cm first. It is the average fraction of expanded clay or pebbles, on top of which coarse-grained sand is placed.
- Sod (rich in nutrients, which includes many mineral trace elements, as well as such a mixture is light and loose) and leafy soil, taken in equal parts and a half of river sand, a little crushed charcoal is also added there.
- Leafy soil (it should be collected in forest park areas from under hardwood trees, taking a little rotted foliage), soddy soil and peat, which are taken in equal proportions.
- Sod substrate, peat and coarse sand in the ratio 1:3:1.
Since the sacred ficus is characterized by an increased growth rate, it should be regularly limited. In this case, it is necessary to shorten too elongated shoots. It is recommended to engage in such an operation before the start of growth activation, when the plant juices are not yet spreading too quickly. However, as the young branches grow, they will need to pinch the tops.
There is another method of shaping the crown of the sacred fig into the necessary shape. Since the young branches of the plant are characterized by increased flexibility, when using a wire frame, they are given any intended contours. Also among flower growers, the molding of Ficus religiosa trunks is also common - they are also quite flexible and elastic, they can be woven into a pigtail or tourniquet. But for this, it is necessary to place 3–4 pieces of young “Bo” trees in one container during reproduction.
Propagation of ficus sacred by seeds and cuttings
It is easy to get a new ficus by sowing seeds or rooting cuttings.
The simplest method is considered to be seed propagation, when fully matured syconium or purchased seed material is used. Usually sowing is carried out in a peat-sand substrate, pre-moistened. Then the container with crops is covered with a transparent plastic film and placed in a warm place (temperature about 25 degrees), with fairly bright lighting, but without direct sunlight. It is recommended to ventilate daily and if the soil begins to dry out, then it is sprayed with warm and soft water from a spray bottle.
After about 7 days, you can see the first shoots, then the shelter must be removed and the seedlings should be accustomed to room conditions. When a couple of true leaves unfold on young sacred ficuses, they are transplanted into a separate pot (about 7 cm in diameter), but if you take a container with a diameter of 10 cm, then 3-4 plants can be placed in it. As they grow, transplanting and pinching the tops of the shoots should be carried out.
If you try to root the cuttings, then there is evidence that they sometimes give roots very reluctantly. The blanks are cut in the spring, they should be 8–10 cm, the cut is dried from the milky juice and sprinkled with a root formation stimulator. Landing is carried out in peat-sand soil. Also, the cuttings are covered with transparent polyethylene. Will need daily airing and, if necessary, watering. In 14–20 days, the cuttings take root and are seated.
Diseases and pests of sacred ficus
With reduced dryness, the plant suffers from scale insects, spider mites or mealybugs. Spraying with insecticides is recommended. If the rotting of the root system has begun due to waterlogging of the soil, then it is necessary to transplant into a sterile pot and soil, followed by treatment with fungicides.
With any change in the regime or rules of maintenance, the religious ficus begins to throw off its foliage. If the direct rays of the sun constantly shine on the leaves, then it will begin to dry out along the edges and brown spots will appear in the center. With a lack of light, the shoots are strongly drawn out, and the size of the leaves becomes smaller.
Facts about sacred ficus for the curious, photo
It is interesting that the foliage of the sacred ficus has the property of constantly trembling, moving, and due to such continuous movement (even if the weather is calm), a rustle is heard. But this is due to the fact that the petiole of the leaf is quite long, and the leaf plate for it is too large. But in ancient times there was an opinion that mythical creatures "devas" or "gods" live on the trees, which contribute to the movement of the leaves.
Ficus religious has the property of guttation - that is, if the level of environmental humidity increases, then drops of moisture begin to collect on the tips of the leaves, as if the tree begins to “cry”.
Pilgrims from all over the world on the branches of sacred ficus trees growing near temples at all times tied colorful ribbons, and the local population at their base put their offerings.
The properties of the sacred fig have been known since ancient times, since with its help it was possible to cure up to 50 types of diseases, including: diabetes mellitus and asthma, gastrointestinal diseases, epilepsy and some inflammatory and infectious ailments.
Either religious ficus (Ficus religiosa) is a semi-deciduous or deciduous tree belonging to such a genus as ficus and the mulberry family (Moraceae). In nature, it is found in the southwestern part of China, in Sri Lanka, Burma, India, Nepal, and also in areas of Indochina.
This tree is quite powerful and in the wild it can reach a height of 30 meters. It has strong branches, a wide crown and spectacular leathery leaves of a fairly large size. Simple leaves in length can reach 20 centimeters, their edges are straight and slightly wavy. Their base is wide-heart-shaped, and the tip is very long, elongated into a thin “tail”. Green smooth leaves have a bluish tint and pronounced pale veins. The alternate leaves have petioles, the length of which is equal to the length of the leaf plate itself.
The inflorescences are axillary and have the form of small, smooth, spherical syconia, which are also paired. They are colored green, which eventually changes to dark purple. You cannot eat them.
Most often, the sacred ficus begins to grow like an epiphyte. He can settle on the crevice of the building or on the branches of trees. Then he puts out long aerial roots that rush to the surface of the earth. Having reached it, they take root and turn into a fairly strong trunk, which becomes a support for the plant. It happens that as it grows, the trunk takes the form of a banyan tree.
Also, this species is distinguished by its interesting feature. If the air humidity is very high, then small droplets of water form at the ends of the leaves. This phenomenon is called guttation. It may seem that the ficus is "crying".
This plant got its specific name due to the fact that Buddhists consider it sacred. There is a legend that says that sitting under this plant, Siddhartha Gautama was able to achieve enlightenment and become a Buddha. For many hundreds of years, such a ficus has been planted near Buddhist temples without fail, and pilgrims still tie colorful ribbons on its branches.
Sacred ficus is quite easy to grow indoors, as it is not very whimsical and non-capricious. However, in order for the plant to be strong and healthy, you should know a few simple rules of care.
illumination
It grows well in bright, but with diffused lighting, but it also feels quite comfortable in a slightly shaded place. Suitable light level is 2600-3000 lux. Ficus is recommended to be placed near a window of western or eastern orientation.
If the light is not enough for the plant, then its leaves may fall off.
Temperature regime
He loves warmth very much. So, in the warm season, it is recommended to grow it at a temperature of 20 to 25 degrees. In winter, make sure that the room is not colder than 15 degrees. A dormant period is not necessary for such a plant, it can normally grow and develop in a warm room in winter. But it should be noted that it must be removed away from heating appliances.
Does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, drafts. With a sharp change in conditions of detention, foliage may fly around.
How to water
Regular and fairly plentiful watering is needed. However, at the same time, make sure that water does not stagnate in the soil. As a rule, water the plant only after the top layer of the substrate has dried a little. Water for irrigation must be separated and at room temperature.
Humidity
The increased humidity of the air is completely optional, but in these conditions the plants feel best. For large ficuses, conventional methods of increasing humidity are not suitable. If the air in the room is too dry, then you can use the “artificial fog generator”. And even if there is an artificial reservoir, you can place a ficus near it.
If the humidity is too low, then all the leaves may fall off the plant.
Earthmixture
Suitable soil should be loose, rich in nutrients with a pH of 6–6.5. You can buy ready-made soil mixture for ficuses. And if you wish, you can cook it with your own hands. To do this, it is necessary to combine peat, sod and leafy soil, as well as coarse sand, taken in equal proportions. Do not forget about a good drainage layer, which will help to avoid acidification of the soil.
Fertilizer
Top dressing is done 2 times a month. To do this, use mineral and organic fertilizers, which should be alternated. Fertilizers should be rich in potassium and nitrogen.
Transplant Features
This is a fast growing plant. So, as a rule, in 12 months a small seedling can become a two-meter tree. In this regard, young specimens need frequent transplantation (1 or 2 times a year). In this case, transplantation, as a rule, is carried out after the root system ceases to fit into the pot. Too large ficuses are not transplanted, but only replace the top layer of the substrate with them.
pruning
It is necessary to regularly cut young stems in order to restrain the growth of the plant and form a neat crown. Pruning is carried out before the start of a period of intensive growth, and later it will be possible to pinch the tips of young branches.
Formation features
In addition to pruning branches, there is another equally effective way to form a spectacular crown. The shoots of the sacred ficus are highly elastic. With the help of a special wire frame, you can set any direction for young stems.
A very popular way to form young plants is to weave their trunks into a pigtail. But for this, 3-4 ficuses should be planted in one container at once.
You can propagate the sacred ficus quite quickly and simply with the help of seeds. This method is most popular with flower growers. Sowing seeds must be done exactly according to the instructions on the package. As a rule, the appearance of seedlings occurs after a week.
This plant can also be propagated by cuttings, but very often the cuttings do not take root.
Pests and diseases
It can settle on a tree, either. If you notice pests, then the ficus will need to be treated with special chemicals as soon as possible. Processing must be carried out very carefully so as not to poison yourself.
Most often, the plant is sick due to the fact that it is not properly cared for. So, due to any change in care, all foliage may fall.
However, we must remember that the leaves of the ficus fall off on their own, reaching two or three years of age. In this regard, leaf fall can be a completely natural process.
Probably, everyone knows the legend about how the Indian prince Gautama meditated, sitting under a tree, and achieved enlightenment, after which he began to be called the Buddha. But for many it will be a discovery that the tree of enlightenment mentioned in the legend really exists!
It grows throughout India and Nepal, in southwestern China, on the island of Sri Lanka, and is also cultivated as a houseplant. Its name is sacred ficus.
The legendary, but not fictional Bodhi tree: a description of the biological species sacred ficus
Sacred ficus (Latin name Ficus religiosa is also translated literally as religious ficus) is often called the Bodhi tree, tree of enlightenment or pipal. The plant, which is revered in Buddhist countries, is a species representative of the ficus genus (Ficus), belonging to the mulberry family (Moraceae). The religious ficus has a number of distinctive features.
- The birthplace of a perennial evergreen or semi-deciduous tree plant is Central and Southwestern Asia.
- The height of the sacred ficus in nature is up to 30 m, at home - 1.5-2 m.
- The Bodhi tree has a wide lush crown, which is formed by thick branches and fairly large leaves.
- The length of the leaf plate of sacred ficus is from 8 cm to 25 cm. Its surface is leathery. The edges of the sheet plate are straight or edged. The shape of the leaves is heart-shaped with a pronounced sharpening at the top, from which tails hang. On a greenish-gray surface, yellowish or cream streaks are clearly visible. The petioles of the leaves are long, sometimes their length is about the same as the length of the plate itself.
- The plant blooms all year round. From the axillary paired pseudo-fruits of syconia, purple fruits are formed that are inedible to humans. They feed on insects, birds, bats and livestock.
- If you keep the plant in a humid environment, water will begin to drip from the tips of its leaves.
Today, sacred ficuses are grown near Buddhist temples, where pilgrims perform various rituals with them. Usually, the Bodhi tree is asked for good luck and prosperity, a cure for ailments. According to legend, a childless couple, who will tie multi-colored threads around the trunk of a sacred ficus, the Buddha will soon give babies.
It is also interesting that the pipal 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. It does not take much effort to take care of him at home. The only caveat is that the plant really needs light.
Soil and utensils
You can plant a Bodhi tree in ficus soil mix, which is sold in every flower shop. Its pH is from 6.0 to 6.5. You can also prepare the soil yourself, taking equal parts of leafy and soddy soil, sand and peat. A pot for sacred ficus needs a spacious one with a hole in the bottom, which will prevent stagnation of water.
Lighting and temperature
In an apartment where in summer the temperature ranges from 20 to 25 ° C, and in winter the air heats up to 18 ° C and above, the plant will feel most comfortable. For religious ficus, sudden changes in temperature are destructive, so it must be protected from drafts, and during the heating season it should be rearranged 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 out into the street under the sun's rays. It is easy to determine that the sacred ficus lacks light by the state of its leaves: they become lethargic and may fall off.
Humidity and watering
The soil under the plant between waterings should dry out slightly, 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 the appearance and accelerate the growth of the tree universal fertilizer, which must be applied every 10 days in spring and summer and every 30 days in autumn and winter.
Pruning and transplant
To make the crown of the plant beautiful, it is pruned often and regularly. Since the root system of the sacred ficus grows rapidly, it is transplanted in May-June of each year. When, due to the size of the tree, transplantation becomes impossible, the topsoil is changed annually.
reproduction
You can propagate the Bodhi tree from seeds or cuttings. Seeds are sold in packages with the intriguing inscription "ficus sacred Eden" and have a fairly good germination rate. Plant cuttings take root 14-28 days.
Diseases and pests
The indoor flower reacts to stagnation of water in the ground, drafts, lack of light or other flaws in care by dropping leaves.
Of the pests, he is most afraid of aphids, scale insects and mealybugs. But after treatment with insecticides, religious ficus recovers very quickly.
A useful plant used in folk medicine and purifying the air, it has a highly decorative crown. Sacred ficus is an unpretentious indoor flower that grows and develops rapidly at home. Creating a favorable microclimate for a tree is required to maintain a beautiful appearance and increase immunity.
Description and characteristics
Ficus religiosa is an evergreen, semi-deciduous, monoecious plant of the Mulberry family with grayish branches. Leaflets with parameters 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 plate. The veins are light green, pronounced.
Ficus religious in its natural environment grows up to 30 m, the diameter of the trunk is 3 m. At home, it is much smaller, but grows rapidly, reaches 2 m in height in a year. The species belongs to banyans, forms many aerial roots, which, having reached 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 or more, a standard tree or an interior decoration by intertwining the flexible shoots of several young plants with each other.
Flowering lasts from April to June. The green inflorescences are bowl-shaped, subsequently producing purple or reddish berries filled with many small seeds. They vaguely resemble figs, but are inedible.
Because of the shape of the fruit, the ficus is also called the sacred fig. The wood is porous, soft, sticky milky juice is released on the cuts.
How to grow an enlightenment tree at home
Eden is unpretentious in care, but demanding on the environment. When exposed to adverse factors, it sheds foliage, becomes susceptible to infectious diseases, changes the color of leaf plates. It is not necessary to arrange a rest period, but if desired, you can move it to a cooler room.
Home care for sacred ficus includes:
- watering;
- spraying;
- top dressing;
- transplant;
- forming and sanitary cutting;
- protection from drafts, diseases and pests;
- maintaining an optimal microclimate.
Soil and utensils
For the sacred ficus Eden, it is recommended to use a special soil that allows water and air to pass well, with a neutral pH. It is allowed to assemble it yourself from turf, leaf and peat soil, river sand in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. The substrate for growing seedlings from seed material should consist of 70% peat, 20% a mixture of vermiculite and perlite, 10% coarse sand.
Capacity should be selected taking into account the size of the root system. Ficus does not tolerate stagnant moisture, so you need to take care of the presence of drainage holes. Uncoated clay pots remove excess moisture well, allow air to pass through, and a large weight makes an instance with a developed aerial part more stable.
Lighting and temperature
Sacred ficus requires a sufficient supply of light, otherwise the tree will begin to shed its foliage. With gradual accustoming to direct sunlight, the plant tolerates them well. Placement in partial shade is possible, but this will affect the decorative effect of the indoor flower. In winter, it is advisable to place it next to the most lit window, but drafts should not be allowed. The culture is thermophilic; in the spring and summer, the temperature should be maintained within + 22-30 ° C.
If there is a desire to create conditions for a state of rest, it is enough to reduce this figure to +15 ° C, but not to allow +12 ° C or less - the leaf plates will become covered with spots, fall off, the sacred ficus may die.
Humidity and watering
In nature, the variety grows in conditions of high humidity, so it is necessary to install a humidifier at home or often spray the flower with settled soft water from a spray bottle. When placed next to heating appliances in winter, surgery is also needed. The peculiarity of the species is that at high humidity, water droplets form at the pointed ends of the leaf plates. Wood responds well to washing out of the shower.
Water the sacred ficus Eden as needed with settled water at room temperature. From March to September, moisten abundantly after drying the topsoil. When the autumn cooling begins, it is necessary to drastically reduce watering. Otherwise, it is possible to discard the foliage, rotting of the roots. The plant tolerates a slight overdrying 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 develops rapidly, grows, strengthens the root system. The procedure must be combined with watering so that the funds do not burn the roots. The frequency of feeding is 1-2 times a month. Nutrient mixtures should contain a lot of nitrogen and potassium.
Pruning and transplant
The formation of the crown will provide the plant with a decorative look. A haircut is also necessary for the sacred ficus to restrain growth. In just a year, a tree can grow up to 2 m, if you do not pinch the top shoots. Removing the crown contributes to the formation of a denser aerial part. The operation should be done in early spring before the start of the active growing season. The culture is suitable for creating bonsai - young shoots bend in different directions with the help of a wire.
It is necessary to transplant a sacred ficus seedling 1-2 times a year, then 1 time in 1-1.5 years is enough. You should focus on filling the flower pot with the root system. The diameter of the container must first be increased by 2 cm, then by 6 cm. The root neck should be placed at the same level. When the plant reaches a large size, it is enough to replace the topsoil with a new one.
reproduction
The main ways of breeding 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 a lot of high-quality specimens, you can pre-mix it with coarse sand. Use a common container, lay drainage on the bottom, prepared soil mixture, pour abundantly. Try to distribute the seeds evenly over the entire surface, sprinkle with 0.5 cm of sand. Cover with a film or bag until shoots appear.
Periodically ventilate, moisten as the soil dries up, maintain good lighting, temperature at + 25-30 ° C. You may need to install underfloor heating.
When growing ficus Eden from seeds, it should be borne in mind that they germinate unevenly, some are able to sprout only after 2 months.
Shoots 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 fill it. It is recommended to plant in individual containers only after 2-3 months.
Propagation of plants by cuttings is more common, since an adult specimen will be obtained 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 the plant material remaining after pruning. To remove excess milky juice, put a branch in warm water for several hours. After that, dry the place of the cut a little, sprinkle with crushed activated carbon.
The cutting should be planted in a moist nutrient substrate, after cleaning the lower part of the leaves. It is enough to deepen it by 2-3 cm. Put a glass jar or a transparent plastic bottle on top (after removing the tapering part) to create a mini-greenhouse. Rooting occurs in 2-3 weeks. All this time, the cutting should be kept in a greenhouse, periodically moisten the soil. Having transplanted to a permanent place, it is necessary to keep the shelter for another week, gradually accustoming the seedling to the environment.
Pests and diseases
Subject to the agrotechnical recommendations for planting and care, the sacred ficus has good immunity, but problems may occur when cultivated in an unfavorable environment. Of the pests of indoor plants, thrips, spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs are dangerous. Insects must be washed off the branches, the plant should be sprayed with chemicals, subject to safety rules. Transplantation with concomitant treatment with permitted means will help get rid of soil pests.
Ficus can get sick due to abundant watering. The danger of root rot is that the symptoms are not immediately noticeable. If you delay transferring to a new pot and creating an optimal microclimate, the plant will die. The best protection is prevention. When used for planting garden soil and sand, it is necessary to carry out calcination, watering with hot water, a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Sacred ficus is highly decorative, suitable for creating unusual compositions when weaving the trunks of several seedlings. From this culture, beautiful bonsai trees are obtained. Does not require complex care, but is sensitive to environmental conditions.
A very interesting representative of a large genus of ficuses 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 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, Siddhartha Guatauma, a prince from North India, sat under a fig tree and meditated. When Siddhartha fully understood the meaning of life, he achieved the supreme and perfect enlightenment of Bodhi and became the Supreme Buddha, or 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 are tied around it and they pray for rewarding parents with offspring. In India, the Bodhi tree is planted everywhere around temples.
A tree believed to be historically associated with the Buddha grew on Bodh Gaya in the northern Indian state of Bihar, but in the 2nd century B.C. it was destroyed by King Pushpiamitra, but it was later renewed in the same place with a new plant received from him. In the 7th century AD. it was destroyed again by the king of Sassank. And the Bodhi tree, which is now on Bodh Gaya, was planted in 1881.
The offspring of the plant in whose shade Buddha attained enlightenment, Sri Madha Bodhi, was planted in 288 B.C. in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and is considered the oldest tree among flowering plants.
Sacred ficus 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 the old leaves during the dry season. The leaves are arranged on smooth poegs 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, drawn-out tip in the form of a tail. The central vein is clearly visible, the lateral veins are clearly visible. Stipules are oval and reach 5 cm. Like all ficuses, pipal has milky juice. Pseudo-fruits (syconia) are spherical, located in pairs in the axils of the leaves, reach 1.5 cm in diameter, turn purple when ripe. For them, the plant received another name - the Sacred Fig. This is a monoecious plant. Ficus sacred blooms throughout the year. A wasp of a certain species pollinates flowers. Birds, monkeys, bats, pigs feed on fruits, which spread the seeds.
The life of a plant often begins as an epiphyte, settling in the leaf litter in the hollows of other trees. From there, the pipal descends aerial roots, which later serve as its support, forming a banyan tree. Aerial roots from side branches, as in other ficuses, are not formed in this species. It grows as a single-stemmed tree, the diameter of the trunk with a smooth, light gray bark, can reach 3 meters or more.
As befits a divine plant, it heals ailments. In medicine, all parts of the Bo tree are widely used. Leaves are the most valuable. Juice is squeezed out of them or powder is made, used to relieve fever, dysentery, constipation, boils. Fruits are used to normalize digestion, are used for dehydration and heart disease, as well as for poisoning. Roots help to 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, in the treatment of 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, the seeds help with diseases of the bladder.
Currently, sacred ficus grows in tropical gardens around the world. It is valued for its external aesthetics and religious reverence associated with the name of the Buddha. In countries where there is no pollinator wasp, it is propagated vegetatively (cuttings).
The Bo tree prefers a hot, humid climate, 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 in the room
Sacred ficus is quite common among our amateur flower growers. Peepal is also grown as a potted plant and is dressed up by Buddhist followers on Bodhi Day (December 8). The main thing to consider for its successful cultivation is great need for light.
Soil composition. It is necessary to add turf land and sand to the purchased soil (3 parts of peat land, 1 part of turf land, 1 part of sand). Transplantation should be carried out in spring-summer, as the volume of the pot is filled with roots.
Watering moderate, as the soil dries. Prefers light drying to abundant watering.
top dressing universal fertilizer in the spring and summer.
pruning tolerates well, and often just 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, spray frequently.
Summer it is advisable to give the ficus a place in the open air under direct sun (carefully monitoring the moisture level of the substrate). On hot days, spray frequently.
Pests. At home, sacred ficus is very susceptible to spider mite damage, so you need to humidify the air more often. It can also be affected by scale insects, mealybugs.
About measures to combat these insects- in the article Indoor plant pests and their control.
reproduction. Easily propagated by cuttings. Rooting lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.