Ficus benjamina - it is an evergreen shrub (or tree) of the Ficus genus and the Mulberry family. Ficus is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and it can be grown at home as a houseplant. It easily reproduces and perfectly decorates the interior of any apartment or office. But, despite its unpretentiousness, the ficus needs proper care. Therefore, many indoor plant lovers have a question: “Why does the Benjamin ficus not grow, and how should one take care of it?”. In order to answer it, you need to understand the possible causes of poor growth of the ficus.
Did you know? In the wild, the Benjamin Ficus grows to 20-25 meters. It is distributed in China, India, in the north of Australia, on the Philippine Islands and in the South of Asia.
Lack of light
Since the ficus grows mainly in southern latitudes, being at the same time a heat-loving plant, sunlight is simply necessary for its growth. Therefore, if the question arises: “Why does Benjamin's ficus not grow at home?”, Immediately pay attention to the lighting. Sunlight affects the color of the leaves and the condition of the whole plant. Lighting should be good - the ficus likes bright, sunny places. But make sure the summer is on him no direct sunlight. If the leaves of ficus are dark green, this variety is best placed where the light will be scattered.
Did you know? A ficus with variegated leaves needs more light for photosynthesis than those with dark leaves.
Temperature mismatch
Given that the ficus is a heat-loving plant, as we have already mentioned, when grown at home, it is necessary to maintain a certain thermal regime. If the temperature is low, the leaves of ficus begin to curl and even fall off.
For normal growth of the described type, the temperature in the room should be within +18 - +30 degreesand as soon as it drops to +15, you need to put the ficus in warmer place (for example, if he was standing on the veranda or balcony, bring him into the house).
Air humidity
If you provided the plant with the right lighting and temperature, and the ficus does not grow anyway, and you no longer know what to do, it is quite possible that it simply lacks humidity.
In order to avoid such a problem, spray the ficus from the sprayer. This will help maintain moisture and maintain plant growth. Another sign of a lack of moisture is the brown color of the leaves.
Wrong watering
Looking for the answer to the question "Why does Ficus Benjamin not grow?", Pay attention to the correctness of watering:
- Carefully monitor the frequency of watering the plant (it will be more dangerous if you water the plant very often).
- Avoid stagnant water in the pot.
- Do not forget about the drainage system during transplantation.
Never water the ficus with water from the tap. It contains a lot of chlorine, as well as lime, which is very harmful for plants, as it provokes a slowdown in their growth. Water for watering ficus should be defended and filtered. Water the ficus as the soil dries. Water should be sufficient to moisten the soil and roots that are at the bottom of the pot.
Important! Excess water that flows into the pan, be sure to pour. If the water is very quickly poured into the pan - ficus requires a transplant.
Nutrient deficiencies or oversupply
If Benjamin Ficus grows poorly, it is worth thinking about the lack of nutrients. With limited fertilizer, the ficus will not only stop growing, but can also shed yellow leaves.
- For sufficient saturation of the plant with nutrients, fertilize it about once every three weeks.
- In the summer you can fertilize once every two weeks.
- Feed for ficus sold in any specialty store.
Use universal or special dressings for ficuses. Also, as a fertilizer, suitable ash, sapropel, bird droppings.
Important! Do not get carried away with frequent fertilizer ficus. It can only harm the plant. The excess of nutrients will lead to the fact that the leaves of ficus will turn brown and begin to fall off.
Frequent relocation
The ficus does not like to change places, especially if it is done very often. Therefore, it is highly undesirable to change its usual "territory" where it grows. It is best to put the plant away from drafts and heating batteries, in a dimly lit place, otherwise Benjamin's ficus will grow poorly.
If you notice that the ficus began to drop the leaves - this is the period of adaptation to a new place, you do not need to be afraid, in normal circumstances, the foliage will quickly recover. When changing places, watch the state of the ficus, if it began to turn yellow or the leaves curl up - find a more suitable place.
