Ficus thunbergii Miniature Oakleaf Fig
Quick Stats:
Care Level: Easy
Light: Shade to Partial Shade
Humidity: 75-100%
Plant Size: Small, will spread indefinitely
Terrarium Size: Small
Placement: In Soil
Introduction to Ficus thunbergii Miniature Oakleaf Fig
This cute little climbing ficus is basically a small version of Ficus pumila, another popular terrarium plant. Thunbergii varies in that it has smaller leaves and grows much more slowly than it’s larger counterpart. Care is easy, as long as you keep it nice and humid. It will grow vertically or as ground cover and it makes a great addition to any area in the vivarium with mild shade and room to spread.
Lighting, Watering, and Humidity Requirements:
Ficus thunbergii likes to be in mild shade, but not darkness. Make sure that indirect light is hitting it for at least ten hours a day to keep it extra happy. It doesn’t enjoy direct terrarium lighting, but will tolerate it, so planting it under an overhang is your best bet. And it loves water! It should be planted in or very close to a water feature such as a waterfall for optimal growth. It would also do well with its roots next to a pond, and its leaves in a high humidity area. If the humidity is too low it will dry out quickly, so keep a close eye on it at first to ensure it’s in the best spot possible.
Terrarium Placement:
This bright green ficus is a climbing vine and will attempt to hold on to any obstacles you place beside or above it. It is quite dainty and rather slow growing, so you may want to elevate it if you choose to put it in the background, or it would work well up a side of the terrarium as well. If you’d like to use it as a background plant, you can add a bit of soil in a planter higher up in your hardscape and place the fig in there. Just make sure it’s in a high moisture area or you are watering it daily. It can also be used as ground cover, but will attempt to climb anything it grows into.
Maintenance and Seasonal Care:
This is a fairly low maintenance plant, due to its slow growing nature. It can be pruned back if it gets too tall, but the extra height can also be woven around into other areas of the terrarium, and this is preferred to cutting. It does not require any seasonal changes and does not bloom.
Cool Facts:
-Used to be a variant of Ficus pumila until it was classified as its own species!
-Will spread both vertically, horizontally, and across the ground.
-Toxic to cats and dogs, but safe for reptiles and amphibians.
-Small and dainty leaves make it perfect for a small vivarium.
