Attach stainless steel wire through each eye hook and pull tightly. This means you may need to water creeping fig more than other landscape plants or houseplants, especially during hot weather. Soil-based blends are heavier and retain more water than peat-based mixes. It can cling to almost any surface, even plaster abundantly coated with multiple layers of paint (my situation). The fig family (Ficus spp.) Creeping fig can be planted in sun or shade, and it has a good tolerance to salt spray. Inside, a location in front of a north-facing window provides acceptable light levels. Victoria Lee Blackstone is a horticulturist and a professional writer who has authored research-based scientific/technical papers, horticultural articles, and magazine and newspaper articles. The creeping fig is an evergreen climbing species which you might have seen crawling up the walls of large mansions or a quaint house in the country. Since the fast growing vines of a Creeping Fig easily cling to just about anything, it’s also a great plant for topiaries. As we already mentioned, the Creeping Fig is happiest in moist soil with good draining properties. In a vivarium, Ficus pumila 'Creeping Fig' makes a great filler/background plant. Use a soil testing kit purchased from a garden center to determine the pH. Mild soap. If you want to make your own soil-based potting mix, the University of Florida’s recipe is to blend equal parts of compost, topsoil and sand. In these locations, you’ll need to water the plants more frequently and increase humidity levels around them by placing their pots on pebble-filled trays filled with water. Step 2 If you receive less than 2 inches of rainfall on a given week, you should water your plant. Although creeping fig has a higher water requirement than other species, its roots must not sit in waterlogged soil. Ficus pumila 'Creeping Fig' has moderate to high light needs. If you want to keep your creeping fig looking its best – not to mention acting in the way you want it to – you need to trim prune the wayward branches and their dark, mature leaves. Once the plants have rooted well this plant will need very little water. Cornell University cautions that areas with higher light and temperature cause creeping fig to dry out. However, if your region drops below freezing, the plant should be brought indoors. Create 3 rows of this wire horizontally across the area. As a clinging vine, creeping fig has aerial rootlets that attach readily to walls, trellises and arbors. You can also water less often in winter. If your plant is covering a tall wall, don’t ignore the overhanging vines because they’re out of … Feeding. Creeping fig is very hardy and drought tolerant once established. includes more than 1,000 species, with some varieties grown as ornamentals instead of bearing edible fruits. You will need to be vigilant with your pruning to keep this vine in check. The humidity in the viv is high- but the majority of the cuttings I attached to the back wall are pretty close to the lights. Step 1 Test your soil prior to planting. If you have a ficus plant, it may either be an inside or outside plant. If the top of the soil is dry, it needs to be watered. Hi Margueritte-The Creeping fig (Ficus Pumila) only needs to be kept moist not wet. It’s important to choose a soil-based potting mix that also provides good drainage. It is best to check the top of the soil before watering. You can use a masonry bit and drill to make holes in the concrete and place an eye hook at either end of the area. You’ll first need to choose a wall for your creeping fig to climb on. The more intense the light, the faster and more compact Ficus pumila 'Creeping Fig' will grow. Cut the vines of the climbing fig at the base just above ground. This plant can tolerate more extremes when it adjusts to the temperature. Young leaves are heart-shaped and about 1 inch long, while mature foliage is oblong and up to 4 inches long. These can be potted directly back into the substrate for a super easy propagation process. Creeping fig is a delightful little houseplant. For the best results, allow the top two cm of the soil to dry before watering the plant. Water and Humidity. Another excellent use for creeping fig is in topiaries. trim some of the dead stuff and put a bag over the whole pot. Creeping fig can be planted in sun or shade, and it has a good tolerance to salt spray. To prevent this, clip the edge of the groundcover regularly. Get some... Light. If it dries, it will start dropping leaves. Choose a stem … It can also be used as a groundcover. Attaching the Creeping Fig to a concrete wall requires giving the vines a few starter rows of wire. Plus, the vine’s adhesive pads make it hard to remove, so consider planting it on privacy walls, but avoid the walls of your home. However, it's worth noting that even very healthy and well-cared-for plants will likely only last a few years in their potsultimately their root structures are designed for aggressive and spreading growth. Potting soil. It grows in part shade with softer morning sun, as afternoon sun is too harsh and will burn or dry leaves. Creeping fig is sensitive to cold temperatures and won’t grow well in front of drafty doors or icy windows during winter. "At first, I groomed three times a year; now it takes six," she adds. Allow the vines to dry for one week. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a true clinging vine that has a tendency to dry out if you don't meet its needs for light, water and humidity. left in the bag the live ones will sprout roots at the leaf node areas. For indoor care, keep your creeping fig's soil moist but not overly wet. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. If you want your creeping fig to grow faster, it’s a good idea to use fertilizers for it. Because creeping fig is sensitive to dry air, increasing humidity up to 40 percent also helps keep plants from drying out. It can damage wooden structures. If you want to keep your Ficus pu… She is also a former mortgage acquisition specialist for Freddie Mac in Atlanta, GA. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County: Care and Selection of Ficus, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Homemade Potting Mix, University of Minnesota Extension Service: Rubber Trees, Weeping Figs and Other Friendly Ficus, University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension: Ficus Pumila -- Creeping Fig. If you want to see all the other plants we have propagation guides on check out our propagation page . Too much water can cause root rot over a period of time. Caring for Your Creeping Fig Plant Watering. Pear-shaped fruits may grow on creeping fig outdoors, but rarely on plants grown indoors. This tiny leafed plant, native to Japan, Vietnam, and China, is an excellent table plant, hanging plant, or climbing plant. It can potentially damage structures when the roots get into cracks in walls. The older the vine, the faster it grows. The soil should not feel dry at the surface, but nor should it be sitting in water, which can cause root rot. If there’s a freeze, the leaves will turn brown and fall off but usually come back in spring. Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a fast-growing vine that can be used to soften the look of concrete garden walls. Other folks may prefer theirs more natural and loose. Varieties & Similar Plants You will need to be vigilant with your pruning to keep this vine in check. The soil surface should not develop cracks or pull away from the sides of containers. And it's highly unlikely your indoor plant will ever bloom or yield fruit. Too much water will cause yellowing of leavea and if kept wet for a period of time the leaves may start dropping. This vine needs well-drained soil and moderate moisture until it becomes well established. While it prefers warmer climates, it can be grown in colder regions. what ever is alive in the container just let it grow in the pot. Like its larger relatives, it prefers warmer climates and grows best outdoors in USDA Zones 8 through 11. that is how i brought my creeping fig back. If there’s a freeze, the leaves will turn brown and fall off but usually come back in spring. During its first growing season, water the plant frequently, and reduce that frequency once it has matured. Creeping fig (ficus pumila) or climbing fig is an easy plant to propagate. The creeping fig belongs to the same family as edible figs, giant banyan trees and rubber plants. To keep the creeping fig looking good, Elsie says, "shear it like a sheep." The key to healthy growth is to provide as much warm, humid air as possible, plenty of even moisture, and bright light but not direct sunlight. Although creeping fig can only be pollinated by the fig wasp, (Blastophaga pamila), it is easily propagated by cuttings as the vine will root wherever it touches soil. Most fig species perform best when the soil dries between waterings. Growing Creeping Fig. There are cultivars available, including 'Minima', with slender, small leaves; ’Quercifolia’, with leaves resembling those of a miniature oak; and 'Variegata', the leaves of which have creamy white markings. But creeping fig should not dry out too much and its root ball should remain moist. The Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology, Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program, UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). It grows outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, where its vines may reach 15 feet or longer. Select a stem of a mature creeping fig plant that appears healthy and blemish-free. A: I have seen walls covered with the creeping fig (Ficus pumila), and it does give a lovely ivy-covered wall affect. Since it holds tight and grows quickly, it can easily cover just about any topiary form. I am not having much luck due to the plants drying out too quickly. But creeping fig should not dry out too much and its root ball should remain moist. It’s also one of the smallest members of the ficus family. One ornamental species does not take the more common upright form of most figs. In general, creeping figs need steady moisture. Basically, creeping fig vine doesn’t tolerate extreme lighting, including full sun or complete shade. You can substitute vermiculite or perlite for sand for a lightweight mix. The new growth is what you want for a tidy look: it is tight to the wall or fence while the older growth gives a more “shaggy” look and sticks out quite a bit. Small, light green leaves are very atrractive on this fast growing vivarium plant. After studying botany and microbiology at Clemson University, Blackstone was hired as a University of Georgia Master Gardener Coordinator. In its native habitat in tropical jungles, creeping fig grows on forest floors where, underneath tree canopies, it is adapted to lower light conditions. Instead of conventional soilless potting mixes, creeping fig responds best to soil-based mixes, notes Missouri Botanical Garden. Keep It Alive Not only does creeping fig not require rich soil, it also is less aggressive and easier to contain when it … But creeping fig on a wall can be manageable if you trim it back and grow it in a container to manage its size. Most fig species perform best when the soil dries between waterings. For proper indoor creeping fig care, the soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. Creeping fig will grow under most light conditions, from bright sun to deep shade, although it grows much faster in a sunny spot. Prune to control rampant growth and to remove horizontal branches which stand out from the support and produce unattractive adult foliage. Each year we propagate around 1500 hundred to sell in our wholesale nursery. Initially, in the first year, creeping fig will grow slowly, if at all. If you use this plant as a groundcover near a wall or building, it will grow onto the wall very quickly. The ficus species contains over 1,000 different types of plants. I have a back wall thatâ s about 5 ft concrete and 2 feet pressure treated wood added to the top. This vigorous vine will completely coat your … Creeping Fig. A wilted ficus may just need help to be revived. You will want to fertilize your creeping fig in the spring and summer about once a month. However, it can also be grown as a container plant that is moved indoors for the winter or grown as a houseplant. Pinch the fig plants back if you want to encourage fuller growth. If you inherit some out of control creeping fig you may need to use pruners or even loppers to get rid of the large stems so that the new growth is nice and tight to your wall or structure. The small (1”-2”), thin, delicate, heart- … Clear away enough foliage to easily access the base of the vines, but do not pull the vines from the side of the structure. To keep creeping figs in top condition, make sure the plant receives approximately 2 inches of water weekly. It also helps to fill in any cracks in a wall before growing a creeping fig there. This vine needs well-drained soil and moderate moisture until it becomes well established. Dig a hole at least 1 ft (0.30 m) away from the brick wall. Unlike much of its family, which grows as upright trees and shrubs, this little plant is a groundcover or vine, depending on how you grow it. The fig’s root ball should remain moist between watering sessions. The plant’s wandering stems and small leaves create an interesting lacy pattern as the vine grows across the wall. I have been attempting to grow creeping fig on the back wall (foam/silicone/coco fiber) of my viv. Full sun to partial shade is required for healthy leaf coloring, as well as a soil pH between 6.1 and 7.8. The plant is a close cousin to fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyarata), weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), and even the edible fig (Ficus carica). this will make sort of like a mini greenhouse. 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