Chinese banyan

Chinese banyan Care

Ficus microcarpa

What is the plant

Ficus microcarpa, also known as Chinese banyan, Malayan banyan, Indian laurel, curtain fig, or gajumaru, is a tree in the fig family Moraceae. It is native in a range from China through tropical Asia and the Caroline Islands to Australia.

The ficus genus belongs to the family of mulberry plants (Moraceae) and is the most popular indoor tree species for beginners at Bonsai. There is differing information about the number of existing ficus species, there may be between 800 and 2000. They live on all continents in the tropical regions and are very suitable for being kept as indoor Bonsai. Some figs can become very large trees with a crown circumference of more than 300 m (1000 ft). Typical for all fig Bonsai species is their milky latex sap, which will leak from wounds or cuts. The tropical figs are evergreen trees, small shrubs or even climbing plants. The Ficus Ginseng has a thick, pot-bellied trunk, similar to the Ginseng root.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

16°C - 27°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 11b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water the Chinese banyan as soon as a soil becomes dry on one centimeter, water so as to moisten all of it. During a growth period (spring, summer), watering should be regular - once or twice a week - but measured in order not to asphyxiate a roots of plants. In a fall, space a waterings gently, until winter.
Pruning
Use sharp pruning shears to remove the sucker branches and the errant branches that are growing in the wrong direction or making it difficult to fertilize the tree. Since lemon cypress has a conical habit, trim the tree as per its natural shape. Trimming should be done every week during the summer.
Fertilizer
Mix the recommended amount of liquid fertilizer and water in a watering can. Then simply pour the mix into the soil as if you're watering the plant.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Requires either part sun or part shade do well in filtered light for most of the day.
Soil
Loam soil offers a great balance of silt, sand, and clay as well as a bit of hummus.
Propagation
Chinese banyan can be propagated by cuttings, which can be taken from the tips and rooted. Alternatively, you can do eye cuttings.

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Temperature
Temperatures hovering around 60 to 70 or 75°F (15 to 25°C) are perfect if kept all year round.
Container
Choose a pot with drainage holes, which also ensures potting soil doesn't stay too wet after watering your houseplants. The excess can freely escape out the bottom of the container, allowing oxygen to make its way to plant roots.
Popularity
97,698 people already have this plant 10,608 people have added this plant to their wishlists

What's wrong with your plant?

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Common pests
Scale is the most common pest for banyan trees. They look like brown bumps on the leaves. Apply neem oil to tree surfaces to get rid of these bugs.
Frequent diseases
Bonsai trees are not very susceptible to diseases. Overwatering and underwatering are more common problems, so keep track of those first!
Botanist’s tips
Every time you prune the plant, rotate it to ensure even growth

You can remove leaves while pruning – they’ll grow back!