Ficus Danielle – indoor plant, the appearance of which is more like a small tree than a flower or shrub. The key difference is the juicy leaves of rich green color. What kind of care is needed, what you need to know about this plant, and what makes leaves fall off.
This variety of the popular Ficus Benjamina is not small in size – its height can reach up to 2 meters tall with good care. In a sunny to semi-shady location, its, glossy leaves with their dark green color make a particularly decorative appearance. Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’ feels particularly at home in a well-drained, humus-rich substrate. Drafts should be avoided.
A tree requires enough sunlight for intensive growth, but direct sunlight should be avoided. Lighting should be diffuse and bright. It is best to place the pot near the windows facing south-east or south-west. In summer Ficus Danielle feels best on the balcony – it is only important to take care of a suitable sun protection.
Important! All kinds of ficuses are afraid of drafts – leaffall instantly begins. Therefore, it is better to place the plant on a small stand that protects it from cold.
Warmth-loving trees feel comfortable only at temperatures not lower than 68°F. When reaching a minimum of 59°F-62.6°F, you need to cover the ground with a polyethylene film, protecting it from cold.
Choosing the ground, it is better to give preference to neutral soils, which are well permeable to air and quickly absorb moisture. You can buy a ready-made substrate for ficus, containing all the necessary useful substances. You can also prepare the mixture yourself by mixing the turf, sand and leafy soil. It is recommended to add a small amount of bone meal.
Ficus Danielle care at home
The dimensions of Ficus Daniella prevent it from being installed on a window sill or on a floor. It is better to use a special stand for this purpose – it will help to avoid the negative impact of drafts. In addition, it is necessary to follow the basic rules of care.
- Soil: A substrate that is as permeable and humus-rich as possible contributes to healthy growth.
- Watering: The intensity of watering varies from season to season: the soil is wetted much more often in summer than in winter. Warm, well-persistent water is used for this purpose. The procedure is repeated 1-2 times a week – everything depends on how quickly the top layer dries up. If water accumulates in a pallet, it should be drained immediately.In winter, watering is significantly reduced – enough 1 time in 2 weeks. But it is important to closely monitor the condition of the soil – if in this mode, it starts to dry out, then the frequency will have to increase accordingly.To ensure the necessary level of humidity, the leaves are regularly sprayed with warm water. The plant useful water procedures – once a month you can arrange a warm shower, carefully washed the leaves.
- Feeding: Nutrients are introduced into the “diet” of plants from March to December. In winter, the fertilizer is not used. You can choose a universal complex, or alternating mineral and organic concentrates. The proportions are selected in strict accordance with the instructions – if the leaves begin to turn yellow, dark or even fall off, then the food should be replaced or stopped at all.
- Pruning and formation: It is easy and convenient to work with this ficus variety – pruning does not harm the plant, and its branches are flexible enough to form any shape. You can also connect several small trees in one pot, weaving their trunks together.It is necessary to cut off the shoots with the spring. Creating the desired shape, it is important to use additional support, as well as a wire frame that allows the stems to grow in the right direction.
- Transplantation: It is necessary to choose the right pot for transplanting. To prevent the water from stagnating, there should be a drain hole in the pot through which the excess liquid will escape. A drain layer (ceramic shards, pebbles or expanded clay) must be placed at the bottom of the pot. Young, immature plants need additional support – it will protect the trunk from damage.The frequency of replanting depends on how intensively Ficus Danielle grows. It’s easy to understand that a domestic tree needs a new pot – if the roots penetrate through the drainage system and cover all the earth’s fodder, it’s time to choose a larger container.
Important: Too spacious and wide a pot will lead to an active growth of the root system, so the transplant container must match the size of the plant.
It’s better to start transplanting right after you buy – the “empty” substrate changes into a quality mixture filled with nutrients. If the plant is already planted in normal soil, you should give it a couple of months to get used to the new environment – and only then renew the pot.
There are several ways to reproduce Ficus Daniella:
- Cuttings – from the top of the plant is cut a branch with buds and leaves. The resulting juice is carefully removed. Stalk is immersed in water – it must be updated every 2 days. In 2-3 weeks will grow roots, so the plant is ready for planting in a special soil mixture.
- Air outlet – choose a shoot, which is almost woody. The edge of the bark is carefully cut, and then removed from the trunk. The place of cut is treated with special means for root formation, wrapped in a sphagnum, on top of which a polyethylene film is wound. It is important to make sure that the place always remains moist – in 3-4 weeks there will be roots. The sprout is cut and transplanted into the pot.
- Seeds – are sown to a special soil mixture, having undergone preliminary stimulation treatment with appropriate drugs. The surface is covered with a film – it is best to put it in a warm and light place, maintaining the necessary level of moisture. After 1-2 weeks, the first seedlings will appear, which will settle down as they grow.
Following simple recommendations, you can grow ficus by any of the 3 described methods.
Diseases and pests
Many owners are familiar with the problem that the plant suddenly begins to lose its leaves. In this case, it is necessary to review the care of Ficus Danielle, taking into account the following rules:
- Harmful draught – it is not recommended to install a pod on the floor using at least a small stand
- Watering – excess and lack of moisture are equally harmful, it is important to keep a close eye on the soil.
- Lighting – intensive growth requires bright but diffuse light
- Moving – you should immediately determine a suitable place for the plant without changing it.
- Dry air – the sprayer will help to refresh the leaves every day.
This variety grows quite intensively, so it is necessary to renew the pot regularly.
Excess moisture leads to the formation of fungus – leaves turn yellow, fall off, the small tree becomes weaker. Special fungicides are used for treatment.
The following pests pose a serious danger:
- Aphids
- Brush
- Powder worm
- Spider mite.
Diseases and treatment of Ficus Danielle is not uncommon, but with effort, greenery can be saved. It is only necessary to study carefully the inner side of the leaf – a weak soapy solution and a warm shower will help to solve the problem at the initial stage. In complex cases, special chemical preparations are used. Beautiful and unusual plant – the photo shows Ficus Benjamina Danielle. And, despite its large size, it will certainly find a place in any apartment, especially since the “green friend” has many useful properties.
