Ficus pumila Creeping Fig
Quick Stats:
Care Level: Easy
Light: Part Shade, but will tolerate full sun
Humidity: 60-100%
Plant Size: Small, will spread indefinitely
Terrarium Size: Small
Placement: In Soil
Introduction to Ficus pumila Creeping Fig
Ficus pumila is one of the most popular terrarium vines in the hobby! This is due to the fact that it does extremely well in bright, humid conditions, grows rapidly, and looks beautiful. It’s an easy plant to grow, and could be considered a weed with it’s high growth rate and impressive spreading ability. Be expected to prune this creeping fig regularly once it fills its allotted space.
Lighting, Watering, and Humidity Requirements:
Pumila likes light, but in nature it prefers to not be in direct sunlight. In the terrarium however, it does well under artificial lighting or partly shaded areas. As long as you keep its roots moist and the ambient humidity high, it will thrive no matter where you place it. It can be planted in waterlogged areas such as next to ponds or waterfalls, and it will even tolerate some degree of running water over its roots and leaves.
Terrarium Placement:
This little vine will spread forever if you let it. It makes an amazing cover plant for backgrounds, walls, overhangs, or anywhere else it has room to grow vertically and expand. It could be planted to cover a cork round, as an addition to a waterfall, or anywhere else with high humidity. It does prefer to have its roots in some type of substrate, with a preference for soil, but it’s not unheard of to find it growing out of moss. If you want to plant it high and guarantee its success, give it an elevated planter with a bit of soil to hang onto, but keep those roots moist!
Maintenance and Seasonal Care:
This little creeping fig doesn’t require any additional care seasonally and will not flower. It will keep growing though, and tolerates pruning very well. Simply snip off any excess plant as it becomes overgrown to keep it contained to its designated area. If you let it go wild, it will eventually cover every surface.
Cool Facts:
-Comes from East Asia.
-Can be used as ground cover too!
-Toxic to cats and dogs, but not to reptiles or amphibians.
