Botanical Identify: Ficus pumila
Creeping fig has small, heart-shaped leaves that densely cowl its lengthy stems. Its rising habits make it a versatile plant indoors. To indicate off its thickly leafed vines, put this trailing, climbing, creeping ficus plant in a dangling basket.
Higher but, you possibly can prepare its aerial roots to sink right into a moss assist, trellis or topiary. Tie it loosely to a assist with florist’s wire and this climbing fig will readily take maintain.
Need an alternative choice? Plant it as a floor cowl beneath a tall home plant and permit the stems to spill over the edges of the container. It makes a pleasant complement to Norfolk Island pine or a braided weeping fig (F. benjamina).
Creeping Fig Options, How-tos and Particular Helps
Yellow leaves? You over-watered. Water totally when potting combine is dry 1 inch down. Scale back water within the winter when progress has slowed.
Brown, shriveled, crunchy leaves could also be attributable to an excessive amount of daylight or too little water.
Brown leaf ideas are possible resulting from low humidity. Elevate the humidity round your houseplant. See “Humidity” ideas beneath.
Prune it again. Creeping fig is fast-growing and wishes some assist from you to form it or prepare it. Prune off new stems often to encourage branching and to form them as they develop. Pruning as much as one-third in spring will preserve the plant compact.
Repot in spring. This creeping ficus houseplant prefers to be barely pot-bound. Repot each 3 years, shifting to a pot 1 dimension bigger or preserve it in the identical pot and simply give it recent potting combine. Use a pot with drainage holes to stop root rot.
Place a small trellis within the pot for Creeping Fig to climb. Photograph ©RodrusolegFicus pumila Varieties
This creeping ficus houseplant is also referred to as Ficus repens. The variegated cultivars are the most well-liked.
Ficus pumila ‘Minima’ has tiny leaves, making this humidity-loving plant an excellent addition to a terrarium. White-edged ‘Snowflake’, ‘White Sunny’ and ‘Variegata’ are just some closely variegated ficus cultivars.
Creeping Fig Care Ideas
Origin: China and Japan
Peak: Trailing to three ft (90 cm)
Gentle: Vivid, oblique daylight is right for Creeping Fig. It can tolerate low mild, however not direct solar. Dry, shriveled leaves are attributable to an excessive amount of solar. This ficus houseplant responds nicely to rising underneath a develop mild.
Water: Preserve soil evenly moist spring by means of fall. Water much less in winter, permitting the highest of the potting medium to dry out earlier than watering once more. Yellow leaves are an indication of over-watering.
Humidity: Attempt to preserve 50% relative humidity or increased. Indoor air can turn out to be extraordinarily dry through the winter months so it is a good suggestion to make use of a humidity monitor, fairly than guess. If relative humidity drops beneath 50%, place the plant on a tray of moist pebbles or use a cool-mist room humidifier. Younger crops might be stored in a Wardian case to encompass them with the moist air they crave.
Temperature: Will tolerate cool to heat temperatures (55-85°F/13-29°C).
Soil: Good-quality, all-purpose potting combine
Fertilizer: Feed month-to-month spring by means of fall with a balanced (corresponding to 10-10-10 NPK) liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Cease feeding in winter, when progress is slower due to decrease mild ranges.
Propagation: Take 3-4 inch stem tip cuttings in spring and root in perlite or recent potting combine. Use rooting hormone powder to make sure the stems will rapidly develop roots.