- Pour birch figs - what should you pay attention to?
- Is a Benjamini fertilized all year round?
- Can I cut a Ficus Benjamina?
- Overwinter Benjamini healthy - how does that work?
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It is the gem within the Ficus genus. Thanks to its elegant, bushy, compact habit, the birch fig is also affectionately called Benjamini, as it resists the expansive growth of its fellow species. These care instructions show why the evergreen houseplant does not bring even beginners into trouble.
The Ficus Benjamini must not be too wet
Pour birch figs - what should you pay attention to?
Your benjamini likes to be watered moderately. The plant reacts harshly to waterlogging or dry balls by dropping leaves. Please water a birch fig regularly, whereby the substrate on the surface should dry well in the meantime. As long as the soil feels moist to a depth of 1 cm, the watering can remains. Please use mainly rainwater or stagnant tap water
Is a Benjamini fertilized all year round?
As an evergreen houseplant, the nutrient supply should never be completely stopped at any time of the year. The fertilizer intervals are adjusted to current needs. How to do it right:
- Fertilize liquid every 2 weeks from March to September
- Add green plant fertilizer to the irrigation water every 6 weeks from October to February
An exception applies in the period after repotting. Since the fresh soil is pre-fertilized, there is no fertilization for the next 6 to 8 weeks.
Can I cut a Ficus Benjamina?
Despite its affectionate nickname, a Benjamini can grow too large over time. Now you benefit from the good-natured pruning tolerance, because the mulberry plant is busy sprout again. However, the following details should be considered:
- A prickly pear pruning between March and July
- Wear long-sleeved clothing and gloves to protect yourself from the toxic, sticky milky sap
- Ideally, lay the cut back outside so that the floor does not get dirty
After cutting, please shower the plant with soft, lukewarm water and only carry it back into the house when the cuts have dried.
Overwinter Benjamini healthy - how does that work?
The birch fig loves a constant location with bright light conditions at a warm 22 to 28 degrees Celsius. Fluctuations are acknowledged with leaf shedding. Since the Central European winter is associated with a reduced supply of light, the following adjustment in the care program is essential:
- In autumn and winter the temperatures drop to 16 to 18 degrees Celsius
- Water Benjamini less according to the decreasing water consumption
- Fertilize every 6 to 8 weeks from October to February
In order to better cope with the influence of dry heating air, spray the birch fig with lime-free water once or twice a week.
tips
If your birch fig sheds the green leaves, there are various reasons for this: temperature fluctuations, cold feet or drafts cause the leaves to fall, as do waterlogging and dry balls. In winter, it is primarily the lack of light that leads to leaf loss. If the leaves turn yellow beforehand and then fall to the ground, the birch fig is reacting to hard water or a lack of nutrients.