Ficus pumila or Creeping Fig, as they are commonly known, are evergreen, climbing plants that are favoured for their ability to grow on walls. They produce colourful foliage as they grow densely across the surface. They are generally trouble free, easy to grow, and very rewarding. Follow our Ficus pumila care tips to get the most from your plants.
Providing the best fertiliser for Ficus pumila plants is important to ensure they thrive. The correct fertiliser depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or in soil, and getting this wrong can be disastrous for your plants. Our articles provide the best advice about fertilising creeping figs so you can achieve the amazing results you are after.
Ficus pumila grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertiliser to use is either container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertilisers can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.
Ficus pumila require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s Shrub Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. This fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s Shrub Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Shrub Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Ficus pumila are showy plants that do require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications so you use more of their products. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.
The soil pH refers to how acid of alkaline the soil is. Ficus pumila prefer a soil pH within the range of 6.5 to 7.5 which means they can tolerate some level of acid or alkaline in the soil. As the pH of the soil moves away from this optimum range, the nutrients the plant is taking up (or not taking up) through the roots changes. If the shift in pH is too far, this can result in deficiencies of some nutrients and toxic levels of others. In either case this can cause the plant to become sick or even die a slow death.
The best way to know whether the pH is correct for your plant is to do a test. The Plant Company has pH test kits available that are easy to use and only take a few minutes to get a result. Preferably this test should be completed before planting so any pH issues can be corrected without risking the plant. A pH less 5.5 should have sparing amounts of dolomite lime applied along with Shrub Fertiliser. A pH above 6.8 should have small amounts of soil acidifying fertiliser applied. In both instances the fertiliser should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. A retest of the soil pH should be undertaken after four weeks and small adjustments made again. If the pH is in the optimum range, just use Shrub Fertiliser thereafter.
Caring for Ficus pumila is about making sure the plants are thriving. Our plant care articles provide the necessary details to give you the greatest chance of success. Afterall, there is nothing worse than investing in the plants, putting the effort into planting them, and then having them fail. Therefore, follow our advice and give yourself the best chance of success.
The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant Ficus Pumila, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Winter is the perfect time for mulching your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Shrub Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Caring for Ficus pumila in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.
Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Ficus pumila Issues And Troubleshooting.
Ficus pumila plants do have issues from time to time. Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying issue(s) and have the remedies to fix the problem. The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to help you in the quest for answers to address any problems and diseases.
The main pests of Ficus pumila are aphids, thrips, mealy bugs, and mites. These pests will often cause the leaves to discolour and have a mottled appearance. Where such pests are present there may also be a black mould on some of the leaves and stems. This is a mould that feeds on the sugars released from the plant by these insects feeding. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time. All of these pests are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
Leaf yellowing in Ficus pumila can result from over-watering, being grown in poor draining soil, or both. This can promote diseases such as Phytophthora, and is discussed in the article, Why Is My Ficus Pumila Dying? Other common causes are too much shade, or the plants have not been fed for a number of years. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with Shrub Fertiliser during spring if you think this is the cause.
On dense bushes the internal leaves will often yellow before being shed. This is due to a lack of light and is normal. On the other hand, when plants that have been grown in the shade or very low light conditions, then suddenly exposed to full sun, they can become bleached. In this instance, the sun has damaged some of the leaf pigments. The good news is the plant will survive, but it will look terrible for a time.
Pests sucking on the leaves can cause a yellowing but this is often mottled and varied across the plant. The article, Ficus pumila Pests, discusses these and their control.
There can be many reasons why a Ficus pumila looks sick or is dying and it is often an iterative process to determine why. The most common reasons are presented below and organised from most likely to least likely based on The Plant Company's experience.
Black mould on Ficus pumila is caused by Sooty Mould Fungus. This fungus feeds on the sugars released by feeding insects such as aphids and thrips. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time as long as the pests causing it are controlled. Most pests that feed on Ficus Pumila are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
When Ficus pumila are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die, and is most likely to be seen on young or weak plants. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is wet, discolouring of the stems, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.
Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered, or planted in soils that are poorly drained or that hold too much moisture (e.g., clay soils). Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided. The article, Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil gives good advice on how to correct drainage.
Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer has fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can sometimes recover. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, and using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.
Propagating Ficus pumila propagation is a relatively straightforward process when you have the right advice. They are easily rooted, and our articles give you the best chance of doing this successfully and efficiently.
Ficus pumila is propagated by cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually taken from autumn until mid-spring. A stem about 10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with 2-3 leaves at the top, and is clipped just below a node at the base. The leaves are often cut in half to reduce transpiration losses which could cause the cutting to dry out. The cutting is dipped in rooting hormone, then inserted into propagation growing media. The tray of cuttings is placed under mist with bottom heat also applied. The cuttings will have taken root inside of three weeks as a general rule. The Plant Company generally applies a fungicide once per week while the cutting strikes.
Planting Ficus pumila and getting them to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to give you the greatest chance of success when growing Creeping Figs.
Ficus pumila can take a moderate frost once they established and The Plant Company recommends protecting them until they are at least 20 cm tall. Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants if you are worried. Be careful to harden off recently purchased plants if you intend to plant these during winter and frosts are likely. Do this by gradually exposing them to the cooler conditions over a 2-3 week period or until such time as you think that a frost won’t damage them. The Plant Company recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted. Generally speaking, a good sized Ficus pumila planted in spring will cope with frosts the following winter.
Ficus pumila can cope with coastal areas provided they are not covered in salt spray. Being constantly coated with sea spray can result in leaf burning and ultimate death of the plant. Planting on the opposite side of the house to the beach is generally fine.
If the soil is too saline, this can also prove detrimental to the plants and result in them becoming stunted and not performing. If you elect to plant in this environment, The Plant Company recommends ensuring the soil is well prepared with organic matter such as compost and water regularly during dry periods.
The answer to this question depends on how much shade. In shaded conditions Ficus pumila tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light, and leaf colouring becomes less intense. In full sun they tend to be more compact with a better colouring. That said, Ficus pumila will grow well with just 4-5 hours of direct sun during the day, or with large amounts of dappled sunlight.
Please note that a Ficus pumila hedge that extends under a large tree or through a shaded area will generally differ in the colouring when compared to other areas in full sun.
Ficus pumila do not grow well on heavy soils, including clay and are likely to die a slow death. In such environments the plants are likely to succumb to the root rot diseases such as Phytophthora. You might find articles, How To Test If My Soil Is Poorly Drained and Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil useful.
Ficus pumila look amazing when grown in pots and managed appropriately. They are commonly grown to trail from the pot, or trained to grow on a pole. The most popular varieties for this are Ficus pumila Minima, Ficus pumila, and Ficus pumila Ice Caps.
To grow a Ficus Pumila in a pot, choose a pot that is no less than twice the size of what the Ficus is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them. Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.
The key to having an amazing Ficus pumila in a pot is to both keep it fed correctly (see article Best Fertiliser For Ficus Pumila Grown In A Container) and not to over-water it. Over-watering is the most common reason Ficus fail.
Generally speaking, Ficus pumila does not have invasive roots when compared to some other species. However, if you plant it on top of drainage lines, the roots are probably going to grow into those lines. If, on the other hand, you’re worried about it lifting concrete, we have not observed this occurring. However, if roots are left behind when a plant is removed, they can regrow.
Ficus pumila will easily cover an area of four-square metres inside of five years. It may do this earlier with favourable growing conditions. The Plant Company has put a lot of effort into determining how big each plant will grow in an unrestricted growing environment. Far too often we see people planting a garden too densely and then having to spend a lot of time trimming or removing plants later. This is something we want our customers to avoid and we therefore provide size information so the planning can be right from the start. Be sure to check out our Ficus pumila varieties and the detailed information that accompanies both this, and our other plants.
The decision about how far apart to plant Ficus pumila depends on how quickly you want the surface to be covered. If you are wanting quick coverage, a spacing of 75 cm is recommended by The Plant Company. If you are on a budget and not in a hurry, a spacing of 1.5-2 m is fine.
Ficus pumila are generally regarded as fast growing and will more than double in size each year. Be sure to start with strong and healthy plants at the outset. Our article, What To Consider When Buying Ficus Pumila, covers this subject.
Ficus pumila make fantastic narrow hedges, but they need a trellis or fence to grow on. To create an outstanding hedge The Plant Company recommends spacing them 50 cm apart. You may need to train the stems either by tying or twisting them, depending on what the trellis is constructed with. The key to an amazing Ficus pumila hedge is to trim it little and often. This helps keep them dense and encourages the colourful, new growth. The best hedges are trimmed 2-3 times per year. The Plant Company has produced articles on fertiliser for Ficus pumila, and Ficus pumila Troubleshooting to help you grow amazing plants.
Choose a full sun position for your Ficus pumila. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread Shrub Fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
The Plant Company has produced specific articles to help you grow amazing Ficus pumila:
Placing mulch around Ficus pumila helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.
Choose a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage for your Ficus pumila plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Once out, you need to assess the roots before progressing. If they are not all bound up, and haven’t been growing in a circle within the container, place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If, however, the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, simply cut through those very outer roots on either side. You don’t need to be any more aggressive than this or remove any of the growing media. You can try and tease the roots apart, but this generally breaks them which is why we cut them. NB: cutting roots is not essential, even if the plant is root-bound as explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Shrub Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.
Yes, Ficus pumila is considered an invasive plant in some regions. This is because it grows vigorously up walls and the like, and can smother native vegetation. Spreading plants can end up growing across roof areas, into guttering, and will also climb trees. When plants are removed from walls, they will leave plant residues that are difficult to remove. Please check local government rules ahead of planting if you are concerned.
The climbing fig (Ficus pumila) are very easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot and prepare the soil by adding compost or sheep pellets. Feeding your plants in spring with Shrub Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing. The Plant Company has produced a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Ficus Pumila.
Ficus pumila owe their popularity to their colourful foliage and wall climbing ability. The Plant Company often uses them to cover concrete and brick fences, as well as retaining walls. They can transform these bland structures into something that is fresh, whilst adding both depth and texture to a planting. They are challenging to use as a groundcover, as they will climb any other plants, and do require regular trimming to look good. Explore The Plant Company’s Ficus pumila varieties to find the one that suits your design needs!
Only potting mix should be used when plants are grown in a container. Often people will try and cut corners and use soil or mixes that contain both soil and potting mix with poor results. The same applies to when plants are potted up with compost as it holds too much moisture. Soil also contains weeds and tends to become compacted in a container, hence why it is not used in this manner. The Plant Company has nursery grade potting media which is pre-loaded with the correct amounts of fertiliser and micro-nutrients to keep the plant sustained with nutrition and actively growing for the next 12-months. After 12-months, simply add a couple fertiliser tablets to keep the plant fed for the next 12-months.
Soils rich in fertility and organic matter that are well-drained will produce amazing plants. The soil should be well prepared with either compost or sheep pellets mixed in at planting or spread on the soil surface after planting. It is important that the soil being planted into won’t restrict root growth and for this reason, clay soils are not well suited to Ficus pumila. Clay soils also tend to be very wet which will negatively impact the performance of the plant, and can ultimately result in plant death.
Feeding your Ficus pumila plants in spring with Shrub Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Liberal amounts of organic fertiliser can also be used. Do ensure that plants are watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.
Ficus pumila are best planted any time from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting any time from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.
A full sun or partial shade position with good drainage and shelter is essential for getting the best results with Ficus pumila. In shaded conditions they tend to become “stretched” as the branches extend to chase light, and leaf colouring becomes less intense, often tending towards darker green. In full sun they tend to be more compact with a better colouring. The plants will benefit from some shelter during establishment. However, once they are growing, they can cope with moderate wind.
The Plant Company have produced this series of articles to provide advice for trimming Ficus pumila so you can manicure your plants with confidence and success.
Ficus pumila will generally sprout when cut right back, even up to 5-10 cm above ground level. However, this relies on the plant having heathy shoots at the outset. This activity is best undertaken during spring or summer using secateurs or a pruning saw. Please note: Ficus pumila grown in shade environments may struggle to re-establish when cut back severely. Similarly, growing sub-optimally due to disease or nutritional issues may also struggle to regrow. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting plants any lower than 10 cm above ground level to ensure a better chance of success with this procedure.
Ficus pumila are trimmed to remove excess foliage and to shape the plant(s). This is best done during early spring, late summer, or both. You can be as gentle or aggressive as you like when trimming. A mistake often made is to trim the plants hard enough. This error generally results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain. Ficus pumila are very forgiving plants and even if you get the trimming wrong, they will recover!
Ficus pumila can be trimmed at any time of the year, though early spring and late summer to early autumn are the times recommended by The Plant Company. At these times the plants will produce good amounts of colourful, new growth. Moreover, the growth in autumn will not be at risk from frost injury. Light trimming to remove unsightly foliage can occur at any time of year.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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