In our latitudes, the birch fig has conquered the status of one of the most popular indoor plants. No wonder, because the plant is quite robust and easy to care for.
The birch fig (Ficus benjamina) belongs to the mulberry family and is similar to the rubber tree. It is native to India, Malaysia, southern China or northern Australia and is often found in parks or on roadsides in the tropics. In the wild, weeping figs grow sprawling crowns and reach heights of growth of up to eight meters.
So that you can enjoy your ficus for a long time, you must follow a few care instructions, because the birch fig is not as robust as is generally assumed. However, if you observe the following tips and care instructions, the Ficus benjamini is guaranteed to be the star on the windowsill.
First of all:
All parts of the birch fig are poisonous. The escaping milky juice can lead to allergic skin reactions. Be careful with children and pets!
Origin and importance of the birch fig
As history teaches, the birch fig is one of the oldest plants of all. Fossil remains have been found which confirm the existence of the plants around 30 million years ago. The distribution area today is quite broad with Africa, Australia and South America. However, wild specimens cannot be compared with the domestic houseplant. The ficus grows twenty meters and more as a wild plant. The largest known specimen is in India and has a lush crown over 130 meters in diameter.
In the course of its long history, the birch fig has been given various meanings. In the Middle East, for example, the plant is valued as a tree of peace. The Indonesians, on the other hand, regard the plant as a connection between the human and spiritual world. Since Buddha was enlightened under a fig tree, the birch fig is even sacred in East Asia.
Plant Description
The birch fig grows as an evergreen shrub or tree. In its original home, the birch fig even forms lush trunk diameters of up to half a meter. The huge treetopcan also be up to ten meters in diameter! But birch figs have relatively small leaves. After budding, the foliage initially appears light green and slightly wavy. The older leaves, on the other hand, are smooth and have a rich green colour. Inflorescences are also visible in the leaf axils. The small orange-red fruits then develop from the rather inconspicuous flowers.
The flowering time of the birch fig varies between the different plant species. If the birch fig is kept in the room, it rarely blooms. The flowers hidden inside appear in the leaf axils after 15 to 20 years at the earliest. All Ficus species have male and female flowers. Since insects are necessary for pollination, indoor plants will not usually bear fruit.
What types of birch figs are there?
Probably the most prominent representative of the ficus is the small-leaved birch fig, which is the subject of discussion here. Ficus benjamina, like the related rubber tree, can grow to about room height and can be purchased in different green and variegated varieties. But there are other beautiful varieties as well. For example, something like this:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Ficus lyrata | The violin fig is suitable for large rooms and grows quickly and sprawling. The leaves appear wavy and lyre-shaped. |
| Ficus aspera | This ficus loves warmth and comes from Polynesia. The leaves impress with their white-green marbled coloring. |
| Ficus retusa | This species is very similar to the Ficus benjamina and is preferably used for bonsai design. |
| Ficus buxifolia | This is a particularly fast-growing shrub with broad, triangular leaves and copper-colored shoots. |
| Ficus rubiginosa | A cooler location is a good choice for the brown-red rubber tree. The shrubs can reach heights of growth of up to four meters in their native Australia. The plants grow slowly and prefer a cool winter position. |
| Laurel fig | The laurel fig is a popular type of ficus that develops thick aerial roots. The laurel fig can also bear fruit in room culture. However, these are not suitable for consumption. |
How to plant the birch fig correctly
When planting the birch fig, there are a few things to consider, because the plant is less robust thanperhaps generally accepted. The ficus has certain requirements with regard to the right location and the preferred substrate. Weeping figs with colorful leaves are usually more sensitive to changes in location and temperature fluctuations. Plants with lush green leaves, on the other hand, are a little more robust and can tolerate longer periods of sunlight or cooler temperatures.
❍ Location:
You should attach particular importance to the location search, because the birch fig does not like to move and stay at the chosen location. Because it is not uncommon for the sensitive plant to react with a complete leaf fall after a change of location.
The plants generally prefer a light location. However, blazing sunlight does not get them. Only birch figs with conspicuous leaf markings should be in a slightly sunnier position, since too shady a location is detrimental to leaf colouration. The ficus also resents temperature fluctuations. Year-round cultivation at room temperature is still possible. If you want to assign your birch fig to a cooler winter location, you should note that the plants do not tolerate temperatures below 15 degrees. Added to this is the generally unpopular change of location.
There is nothing wrong with the birch fig spending the summer on the balcony or terrace. However, you should be careful when changing location. Otherwise, you would most likely resent the plant if you move it abruptly. Leaf fall is the result. This can be avoided if implementation takes place gradually. However, it requires a sure instinct. Move the plant a few centimeters a day towards its new location. In any case, it should be protected. The plants must not be directly exposed to wind and rain and also do not tolerate the blazing sun. Morning or evening sun, on the other hand, does not damage the plant.
❍ Substrate:
You can use conventional potting soil for smaller indoor plants. When keeping them in buckets, it makes sense to enrich the soil with compost and thus provide the plant with a valuable natural fertilizer. If you mix in peat and compost in a ratio of 1:1, you can produce a high-quality humic soil yourself. In general, the quite demanding plants should not be planted in cheap soil. This is often not permeable enough and damages the roots if you have watered too much. Drainage made of potsherds is a good way to improve the depth of the soil.
❍ Planting Instructions:
❶Select a planter and put on gardening gloves.
❷ Prepare the substrate as just described.
❸ Place the plant in the plant pot, protecting the roots.
❹ Fill in the substrate.
❺ Press the soil down well.
❻ Water the plant.
Holding Weeping Figs as Bonsai
Weg figs are extremely popular as bonsai and are easy to care for, which makes them a popular plant for beginners. If you want to try your hand at bonsai cultivation, you have found an ideal candidate in the inexpensive and fast-growing birch fig. The plants should only be kept indoors. A bright location is important, because a lack of light can lead to a total loss of leaves.
Water the bonsai regularly and evenly. The soil must not dry out. But there should also be no waterlogging. During the growth phase you can give a bonsai fertilizer. The upright design or multiple trunks are the preferred design options. You can wire the plants all year round. However, care must be taken to ensure that the wire does not damage the bark.
An overview of the most important care tips
Casting:
Watering the birch fig requires a bit of finesse. The need for water is greatest in spring and summer. However, you should water moderately. The plants do not tolerate waterlogging. At room temperature and dry heating air, the water requirement naturally increases. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again. In this way you avoid a position that is too moist. The sensitive roots are then attacked very quickly and the plant loses its leaves. However, the same happens when the balls are dry.
The irrigation water should never come directly from the tap. Since the plants do not tolerate water that is too calcareous, it is advisable to water them with rainwater. Filtered tap water is also an option. You should estimate the average watering amount based on the following factors:
- Ambient temperature
- humidity
- Light conditions
- Quality of substrate
Tip: A regular spray mist with rainwater or low-lime tap water helps against excessively dry heating air.
Fertilize:
If you placed the plant in a substrate enriched with peat and compost, no additional fertilization is required. Otherwise you can provide the plants with a commercially available complete fertilizer for green plants at 14-day intervals between March and September. in theIn winter, you must then stop fertilizing.
Repot:
When repotting the plants, make sure not to choose a plant pot that is too big. Weeping figs have the peculiarity of appearing particularly bushy and attractive when the roots are not given too much space. Regular repotting is beneficial as changing the substrate gives the plant a growth spurt. Spring is a good time for repotting the birch fig.
Pruning:
You can remove dry plant parts and wilted leaves all year round. The birch fig also tolerates pruning quite well. This should preferably be done in spring, before the new shoots appear. In order for the plant to grow bushy, you can shape it all over. However, do not remove the shoots longer than a maximum of 20 centimeters. If necessary, another cut can be made in the summer. If disease or pests necessitate pruning, you can do it any time of the year.
Important:
When cutting, a slightly toxic milky sap escapes, which can lead to skin irritation. Sprinkle some water on the cuts to stop the sap flow and be sure to wear gloves while pruning.
Hiberation:
The birch fig should be left where it is in winter if possible. Between autumn and late winter you just have to water more sparingly. So that dry heating air does not damage the plant, you should frequently spray the birch fig with low-lime water. If the plant was outdoors in the summer, acclimatization to the winter stand should be slow and gradual. Temperatures below 15 degrees are to be avoided in any case.
Detecting and combating diseases and pests
If you avoid care mistakes, the birch fig is quite robust and can remain free of diseases and pests for many years. The following criteria will tell you if something is wrong with the plant:
- Leaves withering
- Leaves falling
- Growth remains limited
- luscious leaf green is lost
- Deposits and deposits on the leaves
Triggers for diseases are often too dry heating air or drafts, a change of location or too much or too little watering. But pests can also cause problems for the plant. Below is an overview of the most common causes of a diseased birch fig.
❍ Rain of leaves:
All owners of can probably do thatWeeping figs sing a song. If the plant does not get along with its location and receives too much or too little water and nutrients, the ficus shows its displeasure in a sometimes prompt and radical leaf fall. Before winter, on the other hand, leaf fall can have natural causes.
What to do?
If the birch fig loses its leaves, check the soil moisture, ensure sufficient nutrients and avoid locations directly above the heating or in the blazing midday sun.
❍ Scale Insects:
The scale insect prefers to use the bark of the birch fig as a shelter. The scale insect family consists of mealybugs, mealybugs and scale insects. The plant sap, which is sucked out of the host plant, serves as food for the scale insects.
What to do?
Scale insects are difficult to control. First of all, check the plant regularly and look out for dirty and sticky leaves. Then isolate the affected plant from the other houseplants, as the scale insects spread quickly. Then make a sud of curd soap and warm tap water and spray the entire plant with it. Leave everything on overnight and rinse off the suds the next day. The soapy water settles in the scale insects' airways, causing them to suffocate.
❍ Thrips:
Thrips also target the cell sap of plants. For this purpose, the thrips bore into the leaf surface. Affected leaves appear silvery over time. If dark discolorations are visible at the same time, the plant was also attacked by fungi. Since the insects can hardly be seen with the naked eye, the infestation often goes unnoticed for a long period of time, which can cause great damage to the birch fig.
What to do?
Affected plant parts must be removed immediately. Since the insects feel particularly comfortable in a warm and dry environment, you should spray the plant with water from time to time. You can put indoor plants in a foil bag or wrap them in household foil. The microclimate created in this way destroys the animals. Of course, thrips can also be combated with nematodes, which can be added to the irrigation water.
Propagating birch figs - this is how it works
❶ The propagation of the birch fig succeeds by cuttings. These are preferably cut in the spring and should be about 15 to 20 centimeters long. When cutting, be careful not tocompletely lignified shoots. Even soft cuttings are only suitable to a limited extent.
❷ In the lower part of the cutting you have to remove the leaves. Leave only a few leaves at the top.
❸ Now place the cutting in potting soil. Leave the leaves sticking out of the substrate.
❹ Then water the cuttings well and, if possible, cover them with a plastic hood or foil. Growth is faster at temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees.
❺ If the first new leaf tips appear, this is a sign of successful propagation. Once this is done, you can remove the cover and place the plant in a larger planter.