Content:
Even experienced flower growers can hardly imagine how numerous varieties of figs can be, photos with names and descriptions of plants will help you to make your own opinion about them. In the traditional view, which was fixed in the middle of the last century, the ficus is a large evergreen shrub or tree covered with large dense leaves of almost oval shape. Ficuses met in abundance both in apartments and in various institutions due to their unpretentiousness.
Today, at the disposal of room culture lovers not only the well-known rubber plant, but also a host of other even more spectacular species, as well as variegated varieties and hybrids.
Ficus rubber-capped( Ficus elastica)
Ficus rubber-capped can rightfully claim the title of the most famous among relatives. It was him at the beginning of the last century who was considered a sure sign of philistinism and the bourgeois way of life unacceptable for a citizen of the USSR.
In the wild, somewhere in the rainforests of India or in Malaysia, this ficus looks quite different from what it is used to represent. The average growth of large trees is 30 meters, and some specimens reach a height of 60 meters. The diameter of the trunks reaches two meters, and from numerous shoots hang thin aerial roots, providing a powerful plant with additional nourishment and, if possible, rooting.
Ficus has recognizable leathery leaves that are 30 cm long and have almost elliptical shapes. The central vein is well marked and somewhat pressed into the leaf plate. Under natural conditions, the rubber-bearing ficus blooms, after which medium-sized rounded fruits, containing many small seeds, are formed on it.
At home, flowering is extremely rare, but the flower grows very actively. Therefore, the crown necessarily cut, otherwise reluctantly branching shoots lengthened immensely and lose their shape.
Ficus Robusta, an attractive large plant with powerful green leaves and branches with low branches, is the leader among the available varietal plants.
In addition to varieties with even green foliage, breeders also offer spectacular variegated forms. The large leaves of such plants are randomly colored in all shades of green, white and even pink. Moreover, pink or purple reflections are more visible on young shoots and only unfolding foliage. On some plants of the ficus rubber plant, a similar color disappears as the leaves grow older.
There are also three-colored forms, the upper leaves of which are greener and stand out with a bright pink streak, and the lower ones acquire a bluish-purple tint.
Ficus Melanie with dark glossy leaves up to 20 cm in length can be distinguished among rather miniature varieties. Young, readily bushy shoots and foliage are painted in rich reddish-brown tones. The leaves are more pointed than those of the ficus Robusta.
Ficus Benjamin( Ficus benjamina)
Brilliant Ficus is better known in the world as Benjamin Ficus, from whose photos it is difficult to assume that this is the closest relative of the species described earlier. The plant attracts with the graceful form of thin branches, forming a sprawling, somewhat drooping crown with time, as well as thinner and shallower than with ficus rubbery foliage.
Indigenous to southern Asia and northern Australia, the Benjamin Ficus in nature is a tall tree up to 25–30 meters high.
Air roots forming on the shoots at high humidity can reach the ground and root successfully. As a result, a single tree forms a huge arbor or banyan occupying a huge area.
This is one of the small-leaved ficus. The leaf plates, pointed with a smooth edge, do not exceed 10 cm in length and can be both monophonic and variegated.
For cultivation in the home today, many varieties are displayed with a more compact crown, short stature, small decorative foliage.
Among the latest achievements of plant breeders with effectively curved, like twisted foliage. An example of this is the Curly variety, in which leaf blades are not only curved, but also painted in light green and white. In Buklee, the leaves are larger and completely green, but they also look like an unusual tight curl. In Monique and Golden Monique varieties, the foliage is beautifully curved around the edge.
Ficus Benjamin Natasha is a well-known small-leaved variety with rich green leaves, a compact crown and medium growth. The plant lends itself well to shaping and is quite easy to maintain.
The Wiandi variety is similar to the ficus of Benjamin Natasha pictured in the photo, but due to the natural tendency to warp the stems, it will be a real gift for beginners bonsai. The plant has small foliage and a slow growth rate, which is a significant advantage for the crop.
The variegated ficus Kinki is another common sort of ficus, Benjamin. A characteristic feature of this variegated plant is a torn colored border around the edge of a pointed leaf blade. Such a edging is greenish, white or even cream.
Ficus microcarp( Ficus microcarpa)
The spreading tree in the photo is another popular room species of ficus. It is difficult to imagine that a tree with a height of about 25 meters is grown at home as a miniature pseudobonsai or a thick shrub that regularly forms.
Ficus microcarp belongs to small-leaved varieties. Oval dense leaves of rich green color with a leathery smooth surface sit on short petioles. Numerous shoots of the crown are densely covered with foliage up to 15 cm long.
Ficus microcarp is called a strangler. Such a terrible epithet is associated with the lifestyle of a plant in nature. Young specimens of ficus settle on the trunks and branches of other tree cultures, but as they grow, the ficus braids them and literally suffocates them with roots. Although the banyan does not become a ficus of the microcarp, but such a device helps the plant to strengthen and obtain additional nutrition.
Ficus ginseng or ginseng is so named because of its external resemblance to the famous oriental herb that forms bizarre rhizomes. Unlike ginseng in nature, the ficus microcarp is not able to form such bulges protruding above the soil. Ficus ginseng is a truly man-made plant, obtained with the help of a seedling with special hormones and drugs that stimulate root growth.
Unfortunately, to multiply at home such a plant does not work, but the grower is guaranteed a perennial admiration of almost true bonsai. When caring for the culture, the ficus must be sheared and ensure compliance with the schedule of dressings. The lack of nutrition primarily affects the thickened rhizomes, which shrivel and can dry out completely.
The shrub form of the ficus microcarp is distinguished into a special variety. Ficus moklame is easy to distinguish by graceful densely leafy shoots forming a very dense evergreen crown. Maintain the desired shape of such a plant should be regular spring pruning.
Ficus Bengalese( Ficus benghalensis)
Among the varieties of Ficus, whose photos and names are familiar to fans of exotic cultures, the Ficus of Bengal has a special place. A characteristic feature of the plant is the ability to form a banyan. These terms refer to the growth of a single tree to the size of a real grove due to the rooting of numerous aerial roots.
Bengal's ficus has a light brownish bark, smooth oval-ovate leathery leaves and small reddish-orange fruits.
Ficus lyre( Ficus lirata)
Ficus lyre-like got its name due to the unusual form of foliage. Reminding a musical instrument. At the same time, this plant can not be called a small-leaf ficus. The length of the leathery, slightly pressed sheet plate can reach 50 centimeters.
A large species is not very common in florist collections. However, ficus lyre is very interesting when grown. Slowly growing shoots branch badly, but from the bottom to the top are densely covered with luxurious foliage.
Ficus sacred or religious( Ficus religiosa)
The sacral ficus tree differs from its relatives by the fact that during the rest period it loses the foliage in whole or in part. The plant grows rapidly, and in nature there are frequent specimens up to 30 meters high.
The heart-shaped sheet plate of this species of ficus would be very simple, if not elegantly elongated tip, equal in length to the entire 20-centimeter sheet. Smooth leaves with well marked veins sit on long petioles. In the rainy season, the sacred ficus is able to remove excess moisture. Her drops can be seen on the tips of beautiful leaves.
Between them on the shoots you can see a lot of small round fruits. When ripe, they turn red or purple, for people they are inedible, but the birds readily peck at them.
Ficus sacred in nature actively uses its aerial roots, descending to the ground and forming additional plant stems.
The name of this species of ficus can be easily recognized by an experienced florist and a follower of Buddhism. It was under the sacred ficus that the Buddha indulged in meditation, gained enlightenment and became for millions of people a symbol of faith and universal wisdom.
Ficus binnendik Ali( Ficus binnendijkii Alii)
Ficus binnendik is often called willow due to linear elongated leaves, very similar to willow foliage or weeping willow.
The Ficus Ali variety, as pictured, is very popular among gardeners. At home, the plant reaches a half meter height. And with the help of the annual trim, the crown can be given any shape.
In addition to the Ali variety, flower growers can make a ficus binnettika of a variegated variety in the house. It should be remembered that varieties with bright white or yellow-green leaves are more capricious and require special lighting conditions.
Like the variegated plants, in the photo, Ali Ficus grows well in a residential area, in a winter garden or greenhouse.
Ficus dwarf( Ficus pumila)
Among the giant varieties of ficus, whose photos and names are presented above, ficus pumila or dwarf can not even be called a tree. This is a perennial climbing or ground cover species, the lower parts of which shoots gradually woody, and the young stems are flexible and tenacious. On the vertical surfaces and soil of the ficus, aerial roots, which are formed along the length of the entire shoot, help to spread.
The leaves of the ficus pumila less than that of closely related species. The length of the ovate, slightly wavy leaf plate does not exceed 7 cm. Moreover, the leaves are smaller on young shoots, and much larger on mature stems. In addition to ordinary plants with green foliage, varieties with a white or yellowish-cream border around the edge of the leaf are now bred. In nature, the ficus blooms and bears fruit. But on a copy growing in a room pot, it is impossible to see pear-like orange fruits.
