The causes are varied - the result is always the same. If a birch fig comes into distress, it throws off all of its green leaves. This is by no means a reason to throw the exotic houseplant in the trash. With the right strategy you can save your Benjamini. The following instructions explain how to do it.
How to save a Ficus Benjamini?
To save a Ficus Benjamini, first remove the substrate and cut off dead roots. Then repot the plant in fresh potted plant soil, place it in a semi-shady place and fertilize regularly.
First aid measures – This is how the rescue operation begins
Regardless of whether the birch fig is dried out, watered over, sick or infested with lice - the sequence of rescue measures begins with these measures:
- Unpot the Benjamini with as little pulling force as possible
- Remove a stuck, compacted root ball from the edge of the pot with a knife
- Remove the substrate completely from the roots with your fingers or rinse it off
Use disinfected, sharp scissors to now cut out all diseased, dead roots. If more than 30 percent of the root volume is lost, cut the branches back by a third in proportion. Please consider the poisonous, sticky latex of your birch fig. Protect hands, arms, clothing and work area from contact with plant sap. Stains on textiles and carpets can usually no longer be removed.
Repotting brings Benjamini to life - Here's how it works
Clean and disinfect the existing bucket thoroughly. Only use the pot if it has an opening in the bottom for water drainage. On top of this, place a 2 to 3 cm thick layer of expanded clay or clay shards as drainage. An air and water permeable fleece prevents substrate crumbs from clogging the drainage.
Pott your plagued birch fig in a high-quality, peat-free pot plant soil (€19.00 on Amazon) with coconut fiber, bark humus and lava granules. At the end, the root disc should be a few centimeters below the edge of the pot so that nothing spills over when watering. Water the Benjamini thoroughly and place it in a partially shaded, warm window seat.
If the nutrient reserves in the plant soil have been used up after 6 weeks, fertilize every 2 weeks in summer and every 6 weeks in winter with a liquid fertilizer for green plants.
Tip
Can you diagnose pests or diseases as the cause of the problems with your Ficus Benjamini? Then quarantine the affected plant to carry out the rescue measures there. Thanks to this caution, you can prevent the infection of neighboring houseplants.