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Ficus rubiginosa

Ficus rubiginosa

Belonging to the genus Ficus which includes more than 700 plants, the Ficus rubiginosa is a very branched and tortuous shrub that already in the first years of life has a rather dense crown. This ficus can be grown both in open ground and in pots in an apartment, the difference lies in the fact that in pots it reaches a maximum height of 2 – 3 meters while if grown in open ground it can also reach heights of 10 meters. A characteristic of Ficus rubiginosa is that of having leaves with an oblong shape, whole and leathery with a length between 8 and 10 centimeters. The leaves are dark green and have ribs in the lower part, they are also pubescent at a young age and become hairless over the years.

Cultivation

To ensure that this plant develops in the best way it is recommended to place the plant in particularly bright places. Unlike the other varieties of Ficus, this plant can also spend hours in direct sunlight. The ficus rubiginosa can withstand higher temperatures but what it does not tolerate are the temperatures that drop below zero. The ideal soil for this Ficus must be deep, loose, well drained and rich in elements. As far as irrigation is concerned, it is good to know that Ficus rubiginosa needs constant and regular watering and it is important that, between one watering and the other, the soil is dry. As regards the fertilizations, they must be done every 15 – 20 days by mixing liquid fertilizer with the water used for irrigation.

Curiosity

The fertilizer to use is a specific fertilizer for green plants, you can buy it in any plant shop. The Ficus rubiginosa has a sapling habit and by virtue of this it is advisable to plant it in a very large pot in order to protect the plant from gusts of wind (a too light pot could be moved or overturned). Ficus are very frequently attacked by parasites or take fungal diseases. As far as diseases are concerned, they are able to resist but are very sensitive to parasite attacks. To avoid that they are often attacked we should be careful and give the plant all the care it needs. The parasites that most attack these types of plants are mites, thrips and scale insects.

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