How to make bonsai from ficus Benjamin

Bonsai is the art of harmony and balance, it is a process of creating compact trees that sets a person on a wave with nature. To make a bonsai with your own hands, it is important to learn how to properly handle the plant and provide it with quality care. To form a bonsai from Benjamin’s ficus is a fairly common hobby, because it is simple and easy for beginners to grow such a picky plant.In addition, the plant does not need an additional resting period.

Ficus Benjamin bonsai

Features of growing bonsai

Bonsai from ficus Benjamin is grown by many gardeners with their own hands. In addition to the mentioned variety, they often resort to the formation of bonsai from Bengal, variegated, dark-leaved, rusty-red and blunt ficus. However, Benjamin’s ficus and Microcarp’s ficus are more malleable for forming with their own hands. It is necessary to provide plants with high-quality care in order to prevent leaf decay and deterioration of their appearance. A master class will be quite useful, which includes the step-by-step creation of a bonsai from ficus Benjamin.

Regardless of the type of plant, it is important to strictly follow these steps:

• to plant the flower correctly;
• trim and form the crown and roots in a timely manner;
• ensure periodic transplantation and constant care.

It is convenient to form a bonsai from Benjamin’s ficus in many ways, including:

• the branched root system of the plant;
• the presence of massive, corrugated and ornate trunks;
• the ability to quickly grow and develop leaves and roots;
• the presence of beautiful bark and small leaves.

Getting a beautiful tree with proper care, it is possible in a couple of years. It is very important to pay attention to the choice of the form of decorative structures, because the development of ficus depends on this. A specialized workshop can tell about how to form a plant. For ficuses, the options below are best suited.

1. A traditional erect form, which is mainly chosen by beginning flower growers because of its simplicity, because a straight column and branched thick roots are enough to make a bonsai. In an erect form, the number of branches gradually decreases upward.
2. An irregular erect form differs by the presence of a slight bend in the trunk (there may be several). Each bend should be formed with your own hands using laces. Neither sheets nor crowns can be located outside the container.
3. The inclined version assumes that the trunk is tilted in one direction, while the roots “turn” in the opposite.
4. Forked shape speaks for itself. In this case, one common root gives a pair of trunks.Forming such an option at home is considered quite difficult.

2 manipulations can help to grow a bonsai. This can be the formation of roots or crowns with your own hands. As for the first option, only multiple trimming is enough. To facilitate the task, a spacious large container filled with high-quality drainage is often used. It is important to monitor the pruning so that the sheets do not begin to fall off and turn yellow. Caring for ficus depends in many respects on nutrition.

An important element in creating a decorative tree is the selection of a container, because it can not be called an ordinary flower pot. Bonsai can be grown in containers with sizes not exceeding 30 cm and a depth of not more than 5 cm. The legs of the container should reach 10-15 mm in height, and the tank itself should be equipped with drainage holes: one for every 10 square meters. see

Actions to form the crown and trunk

The formation of the trunk is one of the important stages of cultivation. In order to give the tree the necessary shape at home, you need a thin wire, complemented by insulation, under which a soft cloth is placed to prevent damage to the bark of the plant.Next, proceed as follows:

• after rooting the seedling, the trunk should be wrapped in the planned bend and pulled a little;
• further Benjamin’s ficus bends in the desired direction;
• at the end of several months, the wire can be removed, since the tree will fix the desired shape on its own: you need to carefully cut the wire with sharpened scissors.

When trimming, which never brings ficus complications and troubles, it is important remember that you need to do this only after appearing on the shoot 5-10 . Ists

It is impossible to answer the question of how to make bonsai ficus Benjamin, without affecting the cutting threads: it promotes active growth and increasing the green mass of the plant. After the manipulations, 1 branch should remain with 2-5 sheets. It’s easy to carry out pruning yourself at home:

• Benjamin’s ficus pruning always starts from the bottom of the crown;
• its formation should go according to the plan to give the desired shape;
• shortening the branches, it is not necessary to touch the leaf of the plant;
• after pruning, it is important to lubricate the damage with garden varieties.

The best time to prune is considered spring, and for corrections “hairstyles” suitable summer, when you can remove the protruding branches that do not match the idea. Pruning is strictly prohibited after the arrival of autumn and during winter, when the ficus enters the dormant period.

Before forming your compact and comforting tree, it is important to remember an interesting feature of the plant: ficuses always “bleed”. Damaged after the cut, the place is covered with milk juice, which is dangerous for humans.

Features of care measures for bonsai

Care for decorative ficus at home is quite simple. In order not to cause trouble, it is necessary to take into account recommendations from professionals.

1. You can grow bonsai in the western or eastern part of the apartment, protected from direct exposure to the sun. The tree can be placed on windows and placed in the room itself. It is important that the tank is always provided with warmth and open air.
2. It is necessary to protect the plant from drafts and climatic changes (especially in the cold season).
3. From the ficus grown in room conditions, fleeting washed out the necessary useful components that nourish the soil, because the need for fertilizing is increasing. It is better to feed the tree regularly, using special preparations intended for fertilizer. Throughout spring and summer, the plant is fed every 14 days, and in the frosty season, dressing is reduced to 1 time in 30 days.
4. Care cannot be complete without daily, albeit not plentiful, watering. The best option would be to use an aerosol spray. It is possible to grow a decorative tree only due to additional moistening of the crowns: without this step, the leaves will dry and fall off.There is also a risk of developing an infection.
5. You can use chemical and organic fertilizers for feeding.
6. To perform a transplant, you will need to purchase or prepare a special mixture yourself.

After all the steps have been completed, the tank is placed in a dark place. Speaking about the soil mixture for bonsai, it is important to note that ficuses are considered the most unpretentious plants, because they get along with any soil. But, despite this, it is possible to grow real Japanese bonsai only on a special nutrient substrate from a uniform ratio of fertile turf, leaf soil, charcoal and half a fraction of sand. Self-care and preparation of the mixture allows you to save money and carefully monitor the ingredients used. If it is not possible, in a home-made version of the mixture, ready-made soils or universal slightly acidic substrates are used.

Natural ventilation, drainage and oxygen saturation of the roots are obtained using drainage. To form a special drainage layer for a shallow container, you need to follow a certain sequence of actions: first, the lower holes are covered with a plastic mesh, which is covered with coarse sand and a couple of centimeters of substrate.

Transplant and watering rules

For the first 3 years, the decorative tree is replanted every year using a new substrate, and the size of the new container should exceed the previous one by a couple of centimeters. The bottom of the tank is filled with coarse sand and covered with a net, the substrate fills only 1/3 of the container. After the ficus is taken out, brushed off from accumulated dirt and washed with warm water. The roots are shortened by 50%, and they completely get rid of thin filiform roots. The remaining wounds can be treated with a solution of activated carbon. Ficus is placed in a container and poured in such a way as to leave the upper third of the roots above the ground. The earth is compacted (but not too much), watered and covered with sphagnum.

Due to the small size of the container, it is important to monitor the regular watering of the bonsai: you must not skip a single day, because each leaf needs additional moisture. opportunities can be installed in the apartment air humidifier, location a small bowl filled with water or a fountain can come to life near the tree Such measures help to increase the level of humidity, especially when the bonsai is located near heating batteries, fireplaces, etc. In the hot season, you need to spray the plant with water 2-3 times a day.

Thus, to form a ficus bonsai is within the power of every grower who does not even have experience in crop production. Those who were able to grow a bonsai note that this process not only calms the nerves, diversifies leisure and helps to decorate the room, but also has a positive effect on health. Caring for a plant over time becomes a habit and a pleasant pastime.