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Ficus altissima(FIK - us al - TISS - ih - muh ) is also called Lofty Fig , Asian Council Tree , or simply Council Tree . It is a anthesis plant in the Mulberry or Moraceae family of industrial plant .
This magnanimous , evergreen plant aboriginal of southeastern Asia is moderately epiphytic . In the wild , it usually starts out growing in the branches of another type of tree . It apace grow aerial theme and abundant foliage to smother out the host .
Ficus Altissima Care
Size and Growth
found in the landscape painting , in a tropical setting , Lofty Fig can very speedily reach the lofty height of about 40′ pes with a crown of about 30′ foot .
Thistype of Ficusis adorable due to its contrasting variegate leaves and colouring of deep green and lime green - yellow .
Flowering and Fragrance
This case of Ficus does not commonly bloom indoors . In a wild background , all sort of fig tree produce rather unusual flowers that seem to be inside out .
Altissima has no perfume .
Light and Temperature
Keep the plant in a consistently tender scene with bright , indirect ignitor . This setting will grow the most beautiful leaf coloration .
When grow Ficus indoors avoid placing your plant in direct igniter as this may burn the leaves .
If keep alfresco , your Altissima Ficus will develop in direct sun . Otherwise , locate it in a setting where it will have protection from the sunlight . A covered deck of cards or patio or under a tree that provide high shade are all first-class choices .
Sunburned Ficus leave will be ironical and chocolate-brown in the center of the leafage . Under watered Ficus leaves are dry and browned on the tips .
As a tropic plant , this character of Ficus prefers affectionate temperatures . idealistic temperature for Ficus image from 60 ° to 68 ° degree Fahrenheit .
Your plant will savour time expend outdoors during warm weather condition . But be certain to bring it in when temperature pretermit below 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Watering and Houseplant Fertilizer
Water your council tree thoroughly when the top duad inches of soil have become wry . Check the soil closely so that you will acknowledge when it is metre to water .
Poke your finger into the top of the land . If the top couple of inches are dry , it ’s time to irrigate your flora . Do not water again until the first couple of inches of soil are juiceless .
It ’s toilsome to say how often you should water your Ficus because this depends on several factors . If the gentle wind in your house is quite desiccate , you will need to irrigate more often . But , if you have a relatively high humidness level , weewee less .
to boot , the season will bear on the oftenness of lachrymation . H2O more during the hot summer months and less often during the wintertime when your plant is not rise as much .
As a tropical industrial plant , this case of Ficus likes a very humid surround . It ’s a good idea to surround your Ficus with other houseplant so that they can partake their humidness .
A humidifier is not needed as exuberant humidity can cause problems with fungus ; but , if your Ficus is all alone , it may demand a humidifier .
Ficus are heavy tributary . Indoor they do not require lots of fertilizer . They will do well with a half - strength dose of liquid fertilizer once every month during the natural spring and summer . Do not fertilize in the wintertime .
When providing plant food , take care not to damage the plant ’s fragile rootage system . An unreasonable amount of fertilizer or abrasive chemical plant food can fire the roots or cause your Ficus to cast leave-taking .
So it ’s always a good idea to fertilize Ficus with organic fertiliser or to add organic thing , such as aged manure(but not indoors ) , to the soil as a course of plant food .
Soil and Transplanting
utilize any upright quality , stock houseplant mixing as a pot medium for your Ficus tree . If you do not have commercially purchased potting stain on hand , you may make a adept potting intermixture using :
When you repot your Ficus , take care not to damage the roots . You ’ll live that it is time to repot when you see antecedent start to get out of the drainage hole .
Move up to the next sized pot , no more than a brace of inch turgid than the pot the flora is already using .
If you give your works too much space for roots , it will put its energy into turn roots , and the leaf will not be as vibrant as you might care .
Another way to know that it ’s sentence to repot is if your industrial plant has cease putting out fresh leaves . This may mean that it does n’t have space to grow at all any longer .
The best metre to repot your Ficus is when it is about to need watering . withdraw the flora from the pot carefully ; set it up in its new great deal , add fresh soil and give it a dear watering .
Grooming and Maintenance
Control your Ficus ’ outgrowth and enhance its soma with regular pruning . Prune off any drained or damaged foliage and shape the canopy of the tree diagram as you desire .
The proficient meter to prune is late in the winter or very early in the spring before your plant begins to put out new growth . Always use a very sharp , sterile cutting instrument . shave right above a leaf node to encourage more forking stems .
CouncilFicus Plant dropping leavesdo not like excessive handling or exposure to sudden change in temperature , Inner Light , and other ambient conditions . Remember to place your plant carefully and avoid disturbing it unnecessarily .
NOTE : Ficus Audreyis relate to Ficus Altissima .
How to Propagate Ficus Altissima
To propagate your Ficus , you’re able to either apply the melodic phrase layer method or take cuttings . direct cutting is the most coarse and easiest method acting .
After pruning , set aside some healthy cuttings and set them in slightly moist grime to found root . When you see new growth on your thinning , you ’ll know it ’s time to set it up in its own gage plant .
Ficus Altissima Pest or Diseases
Avoid move this tree as Ficus do not care it . Identify the perfect locating for it before you bring it home . Keep it in that fix and debar moving it . Frequent moving will cause leaf drop .
When move your industrial plant indoors or outdoors , do so gradually to avoid shock . Remember that anytime you move your Ficus plant , it may experience leaf drop . If this happens , do n’t desperation , the leaves will grow back before long .
If you mark the edge of leave dry out or dark-brown or yellow spot on the leaf , this is a signal from the plant that it needs water .
Be careful not to overwater , and do n’t allow your plant to sit in water as this can cause ancestor buncombe .
extravagant watering will cause yellow foliage bakshish . Too little lacrimation will stimulate brown , crispy leaf .
have-to doe with : Getting free Of Ficus Mealybugs
Is Altissima considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, pets?
When you prune , you will mark that the industrial plant seeps very white , milky sap . Take care not to get this on your tegument as it is slenderly toxic and can be irritating . think of to wash up with soap and water after pruning your Ficus .
Is the plant considered invasive?
All Ficus trees are fellow member of the Mulberry or Moraceae crime syndicate of industrial plant . As such , in conducive preferences , they can become invasive .
Suggested Ficus Altissima Uses
Usually save as a houseplant , Council Tree is a close relation of the Fiddle Fig . Although this type of Ficus is nearly related to the Fiddle Leaf Fig , it is comfortable to wish for .
It ’s well-heeled to grow Asian Council Trees as houseplants as they grow quite well in container even into due date .
These colorful , attractive plant make excellent specimen and serve as a beautiful focal point in any abode setting .
In raging region , you could plant Council Tree outside , where it will strive a height of 40′ understructure .
In their aboriginal place setting , these trees are harvested to produce latex paint and fiber . Because of their quick rate of growth , they help with re-afforestation in Thailand .
