How to Care for a Ficus lyrata Bonsai
This article introduces the care of a Ficus lyrata bonsai and the key cultivation techniques for potting Ficus lyrata, let's take a look!
Ficus lyrata is an excellent Chinese herb that can expel wind and remove dampness, as well as detoxify and reduce swelling. It is mainly cultivated in the southern regions, Jiangxi, and Yunnan. It can be raised on a large scale or at home. Many friends do not know how to care for Ficus lyrata. The cultivation of Ficus lyrata includes five points: suitable soil, suitable lighting, suitable temperature, watering and fertilizing, and transplantation work.
1. Suitable Soil
Planting Ficus lyrata requires high-quality soil. The soil should be loose and breathable, with good drainage and preferably slightly acidic. Friends can mix the potting soil themselves, usually choosing peat soil, decayed leaf soil, and coarse sand, mixed in a ratio of 4:2:2, and some well-rotted base fertilizer can be added to the potting soil.
2. Suitable Lighting
Adequate lighting is essential for the Ficus lyrata to grow stronger. Insufficient light will affect the growth of the plant. In the summer, when sunlight is too strong,防晒 measures should be taken. In winter, when light is too weak, lighting should be appropriately increased. The most suitable lighting for Ficus lyrata growth is bright scattered light, with about 4 hours of sunlight exposure per day.
3. Suitable Temperature
The most suitable temperature for Ficus lyrata growth is between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. It has poor cold resistance. If the temperature is below 5 degrees, it will affect the growth of the plant. In winter, when the weather is cold, the temperature of the soil should be controlled to be above 5 degrees for the plant to survive the winter safely.
4. Watering and Fertilizing
Ficus lyrata prefers a humid environment, so it should be watered regularly, keeping the soil moist, and watered every three or four days. When the temperature is too high, some water should be sprayed around it. When the temperature is too low, the amount of watering should be appropriately controlled.
For fertilizing Ficus lyrata, apply thin fertilizer frequently. During its growing season, apply liquid nitrogen fertilizer every two weeks. In summer, apply nitrogen fertilizer every month. No fertilizer is needed when the temperature is too high. In winter, when the temperature is too low, no fertilizer is needed either.
5. Transplantation Work
After the Ficus lyrata has rooted and sprouted, and grown in the sunlight for a month, it can be transplanted into a pot. Make some small holes in the bottom of the pot to facilitate root aeration and drainage.
6. Propagation Methods
1. Cutting Propagation. First, cut a stem segment, leaving only one leaf on the cutting. After the cut end heals, insert it into the soil, keeping the surrounding temperature at 25-30 degrees, and water moderately after a month.
2. Layering Propagation. Strip the bark from a woody branch and bury it deeply in the soil, ensuring good ventilation in the environment. After a month, separate it from the mother plant and replant it in the soil.
The above introduction to how to care for a Ficus lyrata bonsai and the key cultivation techniques for potting Ficus lyrata are provided for netizens to reference.