Care of the indoor plant Ficus deltoidea or Mistletoe fig |
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The genus Ficus, family Moraceae, includes 900 species of trees, shrubs, and climbing plants. Some species are: Ficus deltoidea, Ficus carica, Ficus binnendijkii, Ficus elastica, Ficus salicaria, Ficus benjamina, Ficus lyrata, Ficus radicans, Ficus pumila, Ficus ingens, Ficus retusa, Ficus cyathistipula, Ficus rubiginosa. Common names: Mistletoe fig, Delta Fig, Fig Shrub. This species is native to Southeast Asian. They are large shrubs or small trees that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height grown in pots. It has attractive glossy, leathery leaves of a circular shape. They can produce flowers indoors most of the year; the fruits are not edible. They are used as an indoor plant because they are tropical plants that do not resist intense cold. In Barcelona (Spain) they can be seen in pots at the entrance of shops and hotels. Ficus deltoidea needs a light exposure avoiding direct sunlight in the hottest hours of the day. They do not resist temperatures below 8 ºC (46.4 ºF); they appreciate a period of winter rest at 10 ºC (50 ºF). The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of peat, leaf mulch, and coarse sand. Transplant every 2 years in spring. Water moderately waiting for the substrate to be almost dry. Fertilize every 15 days with mineral fertilizer during spring and summer. They do not need pruning. If the humidity is low, they can be attacked by mites and mealybugs. If there is excess watering, they lose leaves quickly. They propagate by cuttings of lateral shoots in spring. |
Images of the plant indoor Ficus deltoidea or Mistletoe fig |
 Ficus deltoidea  Ficus deltoidea  Ficus deltoidea |