The dwarf ficus is a miniature version of the ficus, its maintenance allows it to have a beautiful aesthetic. It is used to decorate the room without cluttering thanks to its small size, it fits easily in your home or in your office. This Asian plant provides purified air to the room in which it is located by absorbing all impurities. This kind of plant requires a minimum of maintenance. For this purpose, it will be necessary to have will and to respect some rules. Generally speaking, good watering, good light exposure, a good fertilizer every now and then, and a good amount of moisture will ensure its health and growth. Besides that there is another way to maintain this plant is to prune it.
This technique, widely used in Asia, allows you to keep control over the way the ficus will grow and branch out. However, you should know that pruning a ficus is a real art and each technique has its own meaning and its own purpose. Here are the 5 ways to prune your dwarf ficus.
How to prune your dwarf ficus?
When you own a dwarf ficus, it is normal to want to keep its size small. For this purpose, the only solution is to prune it as it grows. But not everyone is necessarily a specialist in the field and does not know the right method. Here are five ways to prune your dwarf ficus.
1. Cut the right branches
To give a beautiful aesthetic to your dwarf ficus, you have to know how to choose the right branches. you must remove those which will not be necessary for its growth and which could handicap it in the future. For that it is necessary to eliminate those which push askew or cross. be careful not to cut branches that serve as a pillar for other branches.
2. Space out the pruning sessions
You should know that pruning your dwarf ficus too regularly could cause wounds to appear. These wounds are sensitive and can be subject to infection. You have to wait for the scar time before you can start again.
3. Prune to keep the structure
This technique allows your dwarf ficus to keep its aesthetics and youth throughout the year. To do this, you have to do it during the right period. Wait until early spring or early fall to do this. You will need pruning shears or a sharp pair of scissors. The process is very simple, you have to cut at the branches that grow vertically to keep the size of your dwarf ficus. Repotting on the ficus should be done every 2 years, during this you can prune the roots of your plant to limit its growth.
4. Maintenance pruning
For the dwarf ficus, pruning for maintenance must be done several times a year. To do this, cut the youngest shoots with a secateurs or with a pair of sharp scissors. If the large leaves start to grow in late spring, they will need to be removed. this will allow your dwarf ficus to keep its small size and only grow small leaves. To obtain good branching, do not hesitate to prune the top of your tree.
5. Defoliation
You should know that this technique must be used in summer. You will need to bring your secateurs and prune the largest leaves at the end of spring. Normally the ficus should not be exposed to direct sunlight, but to limit the growth of the foliage of your dwarf ficus, it will need to be exposed to the sun. Subsequently to have access to the branches it is necessary to tie the ficus using a soft string.
Some tips that could help you effectively prune your dwarf ficus
In addition to the common needs with other ficus species, the dwarf ficus is a tree that needs specific care. Before embarking on the size of the latter, it will be necessary to take precautions and to respect all the steps and all the techniques. To keep the shape and size of your plant, you will need to cut in height and at the level of the roots. Pruning the roots also helps prevent them from overflowing to the surface of the soil as they grow and eventually breaking the pot.
To prune your dwarf ficus, you have to wait for the ideal period which is usually between spring or summer. This will allow the tree to heal well.
You have to be careful with the wounds present on your dwarf ficus, they can easily be infected by diseases. There is a method to hide scars. It suffices to apply mastic to them to protect them from possible infections.
