Rubber Tree ‘Belize’ is an interesting evergreen houseplant. The preferred location for the rubber tree ‘Belize’ is a semi-shaded place with a permeable and humus indoor plant substrate. Under optimal conditions, Ficus elastica ‘Belize’ grows upright and branched, reaching heights of up to 1.8 m, and widths of about 1 m. This variety has the following colors: dark green, pale green, cream-white or light pink. The plate itself has a wide-oval shape with a sharp point on the top of the leaf, smooth, leathery, glossy. The central vein of a purple shade, is expressed on both sides. Leaves grow to 23 cm in length and 13 cm in width, the petiole may reach 2.5 cm. Young, not yet blossoming leaves are shrouded in pink pristines to 18 cm long. Ficus Belize looks very exotic, so it is perfect for any room.
Taking care of Ficus Belize at home
This plant, although it belongs to the species elastica, but it requires careful care at home.
- Lighting: Since this type of ficus is motley, it requires bright lighting. Ficus Belize can fit southern, south-eastern or southwestern windows, as well as “walks” in the fresh air in the summer.
Important! Do not forget to shade your green favorite from the direct rays of the midday sun.
- Temperature: in summer the plant will be most comfortable within + 68°F – +77°F, in winter the minimum limit should be + 59°F.
- Watering: in summer Ficus Belize requires daily watering or after a day, and in winter season – once a month, maximum – once a week.
The lower the temperature in winter, the less often the plant needs to be irrigated.
- Humidity: in summer, daily spraying with clean, constant water at room temperature is obligatory, and in winter, depending on the temperature, the frequency of spraying decreases.
- Transplant: as with many congeners of Belize Ficus, annual transplant is necessary only for young plants, and the pot is changed for a larger one (add about 2 cm in diameter). More adult ficuses such frequent transplantation is not necessary, it is enough once in several years. Plants of “noble” age are not transplanted at all, but only replace the top layer of the earth.
- Fertilization: fertilization is carried out from spring to autumn from 2 to 4 times a month, in winter, if cold, less often, if warm – do not stop. For this purpose, use universal, complex fertilizers, alternating organic and mineral. Mainly need to ensure the supply of nitrogen.
- Reproduction: multiplication is carried out with cuttings and air taps. In the first case, cut the spring young or stem petioles to 15 cm with several leaves. The lower leaves are removed, and the upper ones are carefully bound in a bundle. Rooting occurs in a special substrate of peat and sand or perlite. When the first roots appear, the young plant is transplanted into the soil usual for the ficus.
In case of breeding by air it is necessary to make an incision and cover it with moist moss and polyethylene on a village shoot. The sphagnum should always be kept moist. As soon as the roots appear, the sphagnum will be separated and together with moss it will be transplanted into the usual soil mixture.
- Pruning: only the shoots that are too long are cut back. Pruning is done in late winter or early spring.
Ficus diseases and pests
Ficus Belize is very demanding, but at the same time looks very attractive, so many florists will want it in their collection. In this case, they need to be attentive to all kinds of adverse conditions of this plant. Thus, due to changes in temperature, light and humidity in the ficus may fall leaves. Excessive humidity and stagnant water in the ground lead to fungal diseases. If this happens, then do not hesitate to optimize the watering and the temperature of the content, and the crown should be sprayed with fungicide. The fungus may also cause the ficus leaves to begin to dry. In this case, spray with fungicide will also help. Among the pests the most dangerous are shield and mealy worm, from which you can get rid by removing absorbent cotton soaked in alcohol and rubbing leaves with a solution of systemic insecticides.
