Dwarf fig tree in pot
Ficus pumila in pot
Ficus pumila creeping
Fig on Ficus pumila
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Ficus pumila, the dwarf creeping fig tree
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
When you see a Ficus pumila, it's hard to believe that this small plant native to eastern Asia is the cousin of the imposing African fig tree or the gigantic Ficus elastica. Yet they all belong to the Moraceae family.
How to recognize Ficus pumila, the creeping fig tree?
Ficus pumila is a woody plant with a creeping habit. In pots, it can grow from one to five meters in all directions. But in the wild, some specimens are no longer miniature. There are dwarf fgui trees with vines over fifteen meters long!
The branches have aerial roots with spikes at the nodes. These enable the plant to climb or cling to the ground.
The heart-shaped leaves are arranged in pairs on the stems. Their embossed color ranges from dark green to bronze. Some cultivars, such as Ficus pumila White Sunny or Ficus pumila variegata, have white margins. Blades measure between three and six centimetres long and two to five centimetres wide. As they age, they grow larger and tougher.
Flowers appear in the leaf axils between May and July. Outdoors, they go unnoticed among the foliage. Indoors, they rarely appear.
Like other fig trees, Ficus pumila produces a fig. The fruit is edible. Its taste does not make it a highly sought-after delicacy. However, in Taiwan and Singapore, a liquid is extracted from the seeds. Once transformed into jelly, it is used to make sweets.
The fruit is harmless, but the rest of the plant is toxic. If you have pets, grow your dwarf fig tree in suspension. This will keep it out of reach of your dog and cat.
Our maintenance tips
Ficus pumila don't like change. Once yours has been installed away from draughts, don't move it again. It could lose its leaves.
Watering
Ficus pumila like to keep feet cool. Keep the substrate moist, especially in summer, watering as soon as the soil dries on the surface (by less than a centimetre).
Always use rainwater at room temperature. It's non-calcareous and provides the plant with the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Spray
In our homes, heating dries out the air. To remedy this, spray the foliage of your Ficus pumila with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Ficus pumila to give it more space.
Choose a pierced pot slightly larger than the previous one. First lay a bed of clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage. Top it off with a special potting soil for green plants. This will provide your shrub with nutrients, at least for a few weeks.
You can place the pot in a saucer filled with moist clay balls. This will improve the hygrometry without risk to the roots.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Ficus pumila, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
To stimulate the growth of your Dwarf fig, use a green plant fertilizer.
Cleaning
Cleaning the leaves with a clean, damp cloth removes dust and limits pest attacks.
Prune
Trim your Ficus pumila, whatever its size, to make it denser. Use a clean, sharp tool. Shorten each branch by at least five centimetres, cutting above a healthy leaf. Remove dead branches too.
Caution! Sap is toxic. Wear gloves for protection.
Plantation
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Choose a location in the sun and sheltered from the wind. Soak the root ball of your Dwarf fig while you prepare the soil.
Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball. Take the opportunity to work the soil. Remove stones, weeds and plant waste.
Plant your plant in the center. The top of the rootball should be level with the ground. Fill in with garden soil. You can add potting soil or compost to enrich the soil. Tamp lightly and water to eliminate air bubbles.
Mulch the soil to retain moisture and reduce evaporation.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Locate a stem with aerial roots. Bury it in the pot at the foot of your mother plant. You can hold it down with a wire or paper clip.
Cut the graft when the roots have grown to three or four centimetres.
Cut the graft when the roots have grown to three or four centimetres.
Place the reject in a pot with holes adapted to its size. Pour a thin layer of gravel or clay balls into the bottom. Add potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Plant your cutting and cover the roots with soil.
Water for the first time to facilitate contact between roots and substrate.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Family | Moraceae - Moraceae |
| Type | Ficus - Ficus |
| Species | Dwarf fig - Ficus pumila |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposures | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Beginner Fritillary Toxic |
| Origins |
East Asia Southeast Asia |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 10b |
| Leaf color |
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| Fruit colors |
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