Ficus Prestige Plant - Ficus Benjamina Prestige
Ficus Prestige Plant may look like a basic plant with narrow and droopy glossy green leaves, but it is a tropical specimen that has very specific growing requirements. In fact, Ficus Prestige Plant is a favourite among bonsai growers since it can be braided or shaped. In their native habitats, the Ficus is often seen as a landscape tree with hanging and buttressed roots and a magnificent crown. In the home, the Ficus is a beautiful specimen plant that can provide many years of lush foliage.
Light & Temperature
Indoors or outdoors, Ficus Prestige Plant need bright light, but only acclimated plants can handle the direct sun. They appreciate being moved outside in summer but do not place them in direct sunlight. Bright, direct light will scald the leaves and cause leaf loss. These plants cannot tolerate low temperatures or drafts. Maintain a temperature above 60 degrees Fahrenheit at all times indoors and outdoors, but they will do much better with temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering
Overwatering can be a problem for Ficus Prestige Plant. Water your indoor tree only when the first two inches of soil is very dry. Determine if the soil is dry by sticking your index finger halfway into the soil. Water the Ficus Prestige Plant evenly throughout the summer by giving it water until it begins to run out of the drain holes at the bottom (remove excess water so the tree is not sitting in moisture). Reduce the amount of watering in the winter. In dry homes, provide plenty of ambient moisture by misting often.
Soil & Fertilization
A Ficus Prestige Plant needs well-draining, fertile soil. Soil-based potting mixes should work well for this plant and provide the nutrients it needs. Feed your Ficus Prestige Plant with slow-release pellets at the beginning of the growing season. They are rapid growers and will benefit from monthly fertilization in the spring and summer and once every two months in the fall and winter.
Potting & Repotting
A healthy Ficus Prestige Plant will rapidly outgrow both its pot and your house. Repot only every other year to slow growth and keep the plant a manageable size. Check to see if the roots are coming out of the drainage holes and if so, repot. Repotting is best in the springtime when the plant is growing. When repotting, always use a pot of any material that is 2- to 3-inches larger than the last one and has plenty of drainage holes. Use high-quality potting soil for your repotted Ficus Prestige Plant
Pruning
Prune your indoor Ficus Prestige Plant to maintain its shape and prevent it from touching the ceiling. Pruning should take place in the winter when it’s not actively growing. Wear gloves and use a sterilized, sharp pair of pruning scissors. Cut back to just before a node so new growth can sprout. If your Ficus is overgrowing or becoming leggy, don’t be afraid to trim it back. New leaves will quickly sprout.
Propagating Ficus Prestige Plant
The best way to propagate a Ficus Plant is with a stem cutting. Here are the steps :
- With a sterilized pair of sheers, cut a stem section from the plant at least 6 inches long. Make sure the cutting has a woody base and green growth at the tip.
- Dip the bottom of the cutting in rooting hormone.
- Root the Ficus cutting in an 8-inch pot with drainage holes filled with well-draining potting soil.
- Cover the cutting with a clear plastic bag to keep the soil moist. Cut a tiny slit or two at the top of the bag so the plant can breathe.
- Roots will be strong in about 90 to 120 days; at which time you can remove the plastic covering.
- Transplant your plant outdoors or into a pot in the spring.
Plant Care Tips
- Plant drooping are signs of a thirsty plant in need of more frequent or deeper waterings. Dry and parched soil causes the plant to lose its natural stiffness and droop.
- Leaves curling can be due to inadequate light exposure. Less light causes less photosynthesis. This produces less energy to sustain the upright posture of the leaves.
- Browning leaf edges: Usually to do with lack of water, low humidity, lack of light or a combination.
- Scale and mealybugs will happily take up residence on the plant, if given the opportunity. A thorough wipe-down of leaves with a dish soap and water solution or insecticidal soap can be effective at stopping them, though repeated applications may be necessary.
- Losing leaves all of sudden: This can be caused by sudden temperature changes, moving the plant, cold drafts but over-watering is the common culprit.
Our Favourable Aspects
- Self-Watering Pot: Excess water gets stored in the reservoir below, the roots then absorb water via capillary action and the plants get water as and when required. It allows you to water less frequently making the plant easy to care for.
- Potting Mixture: It’s a mixture of appropriate amounts of soil, cocopeat & organic vermicompost. Provides best environment to the plant’s roots. It also contains slow-release Fertilizer which gives nutrients to the plants every time it is watered for 6 months.
- Packaging: Plant is secured in a good quality cardboard packaging. Inner Box holds the potted plant in place so that any movement during transit does not affect the plant. Outer box has slits which allow the plant to breathe freely during transit.
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