Attractive appearance, air purification in the house - all this provides ficus Abidjan. This unpretentious plant was very popular with our grandmothers. The plant got its name because of the locality in Africa where it comes from. Among all the rubber species, it was ficus Abidjan that for a long time remained one of the most common. It is believed that the ficus has magical properties. Various peoples of the world associate various signs and beliefs with it, and the first mention of the plant is found in the Bible.
Features
The birthplace of the ficus Abidjan is West Africa, the city of Abidjan, which means "cut leaves" in the local language.
This is a beautiful, luxurious rubber tree with dense glossy dark green leaves. It is characterized by oval leaves with a pointed end and a smooth surface. Initially, they unfold in red. Gradually, only the burgundy vein remains.
The length of the leaves is 20-30 cm, the width is 15-20 cm. The stem of the tree is green, the bottom is grayish, tree-like.
In room conditions, the ficus grows up to one and a half meters, not growing much in breadth.
The plant belongs to centenarians - able to live up to 50 years. It will not bloom, but it will decorate the interior. Propagated by cuttings.
Care
Ficus Abidjan care is simple and consists in providing proper lighting, regular watering, comfortable temperature, periodic transplants, top dressing.
First of all, the plant needs to provide the right lighting. Ficus is placed in such a place that it does not have to be moved often.
It is best to choose the east or southeast side. Here is a soft, favorable, diffused light. Although home care for ficus Abidjan provides for the location of the pot with the plant in cool partial shade, but so that it is not deprived of sunlight. When placed in a dark corner, the tree will drop leaves and begin to wither.
Irrigation
Care for ficus Abidjan provides for proper watering. The tree can not be overdried, poured. To ensure the right amount of liquid, it is enough to water twice a week. In winter, the number of waterings is reduced to once a week.
You can find out if a plant needs water procedures by looking at the top layer of soil. If it dried up by 2-3 centimeters, then this indicates the need to water the ficus.
During the heating season, tree spraying is carried out. It is recommended to use distilled waterroom temperature. Water is drawn from the tap and immediately poured over the tree.
Unsettled water contains a lot of lime, nitrates, which adversely affect the general condition of the foliage: they form a white coating, which is difficult to get rid of.
Temperature
Caring for ficus Abidjan at home provides for compliance with the temperature regime. The plant feels comfortable at temperatures from +18 to +24 degrees in the warm season, and in winter it needs to provide a temperature of 16-18 degrees.
If the room is hot (above +25 ° C), then the ficus needs additional moisture in the form of spraying. In the cold season, the pot is additionally insulated with a warm cloth. If the pot is on the floor, and the tree itself does not have time to grow, then it must be placed on a dais, since hypothermia greatly harms the roots.
Features of reproduction
If it is necessary to obtain new specimens, ficus Abidjan is propagated. This can be done in many ways: layering, cuttings, sheets.
The easiest way to get a new plant is cuttings - this is the most affordable method. For rooting, the top is cut off and placed in water. It is changed as often as possible, as juice flows out of the cut. The container with the handle is placed in a moderately lit place. After two weeks, the cutting gives the first roots. As soon as they grow to 1.5-2 cm, the ficus can be transplanted into a permanent container. To improve rooting, the seedling is placed in a greenhouse for two weeks.
Propagation by layering is a more painstaking way to get new plants, although the process itself is much more interesting. For reproduction, the trunk is slightly incised, about one third. Sand is placed in the incision, due to which the incision will not overgrow. Then this place is covered with wet moss, a plastic film is applied on top. Moss is regularly moistened. After a while, roots will appear through the layer of moss. When they grow up, the shoot is cut off from the trunk, planted in a separate container, where it will take root further.
It is difficult to propagate with a leaf of ficus Abidjan. In order to get a new plant, it is necessary to cut the leaf with part of the trunk. The workpiece is planted in wet sand, covered with polyethylene. Roots will sprout in a month. You can try to root a ficus leaf without a cutting, but in this case, the chances of success will be 50/50.
Transfer
To get ficus Abidjan like in the photo, home care involves periodic transplantation.
After purchase, the plant must be transplanted into another soil, since the transport mixture is not suitable for further development, it does not contain nutrients. However, you should not immediately transplant, you need to wait a couple of weeks. This is necessary in order for the ficus to acclimatize, get used to a new place. Often, ficus trees can hardly tolerate a change of scenery and can throw off foliage and even die. After two weeks, you can safely carry out a transplant. To do this, take a loose, nutritious soil mixture with a neutral pH level. Can dothe composition yourself or transplant the plant into a ready-made composition for ficuses. When self-made, they take equal proportions of soddy soil, peat, leaf soil and sand.
Drainage from broken crumbs or expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the pot. You can add a couple of pieces of charcoal. Before transplanting, the plant is shed abundantly, then carefully removed from the pot, transplanted into a new container. It should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous one. After planting, the ficus is watered.
To grow a beautiful ficus Abidjan (see photo in the article), it is necessary to annually transplant the plant into a larger container. After three years, transshipment is carried out every 2 years. For large trees, the topsoil is replaced.
Feeding
Caring for ficus Abidjan at home involves fertilizing the plant with fertilizers. This is done from spring and continues until autumn. Fertilizers are applied twice a month, alternating mineral and organic. Fertilizer is applied strictly according to the instructions.
Formation
Abidjan differs from other varieties in its growth rate - it quickly develops upwards, almost without forming side branches. In good light, the main stem will grow rapidly, giving an increase of about half a meter per year. Because of this, the plant is limited in growth, carrying out the formation. It helps form a beautiful tree.
The first pruning is carried out at the height that is needed, measuring about 30 cm from the top. Lateral shoots are pinched at a distance of 10 cm from the top. With suchmethod, new branches begin to form on the upper bud.
Usually, during the formation, the growth of only one point is activated. Therefore, in the photo there are often several bushes planted in one container. This method of growing allows you to get a lush shrub, give it a decorative effect.
The formation of the tree is carried out in summer or spring.
Diseases, pests
Ficuses are capricious plants. They can suffer from a variety of diseases, they are affected by pests.
- Yellowed leaves. With a lack or excess of moisture, the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow. Therefore, it is recommended that at the first changes, immediately pay attention to the level of soil moisture. If it is too wet, then it is dried, reducing watering, and if it is dry, watering is increased.
- The leaves are falling. With a lack of nutrients, acclimatization, the plant sheds foliage.
- Darkening of leaf tips. Too high temperature, lack of moisture lead to darkening of the tips of the leaves.
- Powdery mildew. When a white coating appears on the leaves, and then droplets, the tree should be immediately treated with fungicides. It is carried out strictly according to the instructions on the package.
- Spider mite. Of the pests, ficuses are most often affected by spider mites. Pests appear due to low humidity. First, small yellow spots form on the leaves, then they increase in size, the leaves turn yellow. For prevention, foliage should be sprayed with soapy water and humidify the air.
- Shield. Ficus often affectsscab. The presence of a pest is indicated by brown spots on the leaves. Gradually, they begin to fade, fall off. You can get rid of the pest by treating the tree with special preparations, wiping the leaves with Actellik solution and other preparations.
- Centipede. If a centipede has started in the soil, then the plant should be transplanted, having previously disinfected the container, the new substrate. The old soil is completely washed out from the roots. If the plant is small, rooting can be accelerated by creating greenhouse conditions.
Signs and beliefs
Different peoples have their own beliefs, signs associated with the tree. According to Slavic signs, ficus Abidjan gives rise to discord in the house, negative emotions, and the Thais believe that the plant is able to drive out evil spirits and cleanse the house.
In ancient times, even before the revolution, every aristocratic family had a ficus. It was believed that the plant brings good luck and prosperity. It helps to move up the career ladder, build relationships in the family.
In Soviet times, people began to get rid of trees, considering them a relic of the revolutionary era. After the war, when many men died, ficuses began to be considered negative, blaming them for all the troubles. It was noticed that in those houses where the ficus grew, the men did not return from the front.
There is a mention of ficus in the Bible. It says that the plant gave the first clothes before Eve and Adam, after they were expelled from Eden. A close relative of the ficus, the fig was the first food for the expelled. Since then, the plant has becomea symbol of family well-being.
From biblical times, a sign was born that if a girl runs around a plant, she will soon become pregnant.
If a couple wants to have children, according to signs, a ficus should be placed in the western part of the bedroom. As soon as the plant has a new shoot, expect an addition to the family soon. This shoot is planted in a separate pot.
Conclusion
Ficus is a plant that loves female energy. Because of this, it must be cared for by a woman. If a man takes care of the plant, he will leave home.
Abidjan is a great choice for growers of all experience. It has a luxurious appearance, high growth rate, and is easy to care for. When creating excellent conditions, the plant can bloom with spherical flowers. However, the tree blooms in room conditions extremely rarely, these are isolated cases. It is mainly used for interior decoration. They create unusual designs with it, use it to fill large spaces, empty corners.
