Ficus benjamina from the Moraceae family purifies the air inside the room where it is located by absorbing all impurities such as gas or smoke. This tropical plant of Asian origin needs to be maintained and deserves some care. You should know that his survival and his health depend on all of this. The braid system allows your ficus to change its appearance or aesthetics. This process takes place from the earliest age of your tree. For this you will need a few tools and follow a few steps to get the best results.
In general, the braid of a ficus is a technique that requires learning, not everyone has a green thumb. However, you just have to respect the different steps, for that you really need to have willpower because you will have to braid the trunks of your tree as it grows. Here are the 5 steps to follow to successfully braid your ficus benjamina.
The 5 steps to follow to braid your ficus benjamina
When we have just bought our young shoot of ficus benjamina, it is normal to wonder what we could do to have pretty braids when he grows up. For this purpose, it will be necessary to know the right technique to be successful. Here are five steps to follow to braid your ficus.
1. The choice of ficus
To cut a ficus benjamina, you must choose young branches that are easily malleable. The braid system requires at least 3 branches. These young branches should be pruned to the top. It is noteworthy that the branches of all ficus are quite flexible and strong. There is no need to worry about this, they are not likely to break easily. A white substance that is poisonous is present on each cut, use a water spray to remove this.
2. Trim unnecessary parts
First of all, get a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears. Eliminate the parts of branches that protrude from the braid. These could clutter during regrowth. Don't forget to water your plant to keep the soil moist. However, be sure to always check that the soil on the surface is dry before starting watering. Knowing that an excess of water could cause a multitude of problems.
3. Place a support
For the cuttings of your ficus benjamina, you must equip yourself with a wooden pole-type support that you will put on the 2 sides of the pot. These are useful for supporting the plant as it grows and helps keep the braids in place. Make sure that the height of each support reaches the bottom of the sheets. Finally, it should be noted that these supports must be replaced as your ficus benjamina grows.
4. Braid the branches
This step is very simple, you just have to adopt the right braiding technique, which is simply to assemble 3 branches by crossing them one by one starting from the base to give a whole. You have to braid up to the upper part, which means, up to the foliage. As your plant grows larger, the braids will get bigger and give a twist ensemble. We can say that braiding your ficus requires a little time and a minimum of willpower.
5. Fixing
First of all, before starting, you must have a string that will be both strong enough to support the braid and which is not too aggressive. Note that a string that is too aggressive could leave marks and injure your ficus. Tie the string to the end of the braid on one side and to the stakes that support it on the other. Check the ligature, it must be strong enough not to come off easily.
Some tips that could help you braid your ficus benjamina
You should know that braiding a ficus benjamina is purely aesthetic. This is not part of his interview. This technique should be done on young shoots to have a well twisted trunk once it has grown.
During the whole braiding process, it will take a few tools like a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut off unnecessary parts, a pair of gloves to protect your hands, wooden brackets and a string for fixing.
After having braided your ficus, you will need to ensure it has the right conditions for its survival and good growth. Don't forget to maintain it.
The plant that is the ficus will grow, the braid will not stop its growth. It will therefore be useful to renew the braid on the young shoots. The stakes or the stakes will also have to be replaced in the months following the first braid because the ficus will grow and they will no longer be suitable.
