Last question I promise. Baby Ficus Repens. I just clipped the living stiff off and covered them with a damp towel in a 1 gallon freezer bag, then I taped the clipping to the bag and covered it with a layer of sun-colored plastic. It is also important to provide this vine with support so that it can grow up and around whatever structure you have placed it in. I used floral wire around the very tip to help train it to grow upwards but It is starting to look a little brown and leafless around the wire area.. could that be affecting its growth? I watered once per week and everything seemed ok until early summer. Yes, it is bad for the mortar that holds the bricks together but we dont actually use the chimney and I like how it looks! Cut any new growth with pruners and apply herbicide. Fantastic site and great information thanks I am just about to get it for my house. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming. This way, you'll apply the chemical exactly where you need it, without leaching it into the surrounding soil. We have a 15 year old vine covering a wall off of our patio. Do we need to cut it way back close to the wall? My suggestion would be to consolidate your plants to one area that you think is reasonable to trim and maintain. (I notice you pay good attention to your blog and answer quickly, so please help, as the house painters are here, and I have decisions to make! Creeping Fig Toxicity. It is about 3-4 feet tall from the ground. Should I prune it back to the green? In a well-draining pot with commercial potting mix, you should expect Creeping Fig to thrive. If you only find dead tissue I would cut to the ground and let it grow back from the roots this spring. Plant the cutting in a small pot filled with sterile potting mix. Creeping fig is a fast-growing, evergreen vine that is perfect for growing in pots. But as the plant matures, the leaves become much larger and leathery, and less attractive for indoor growing. So keep the potted plant away from them as much as possible. Aim for soil that is kept moist at all times. Use a humidifier. Use twist ties to secure the top and bottom of the plastic wrap. Creeping figs require a variety of soils, but sandy loam is the best option. Call a licensed health professional, as soon as you notice that a child or pet has eaten from the Ficus Pumila. Purple, pear-shaped fruits that have a dark brown color and a purple or purple shape. I am planting at least 10-12 creeping figs is that a good idea? When growing large, it is common to plant creeping fig (Ficus pumila) plants in arbors and shrubs. The resulting juice is cooked then cooled into a gelatinous jelly. With potted plants, it's not practical to keep increasing pot size with each annual repotting. Creeping figs are drought tolerant and can be planted in shade or sun, in addition to being good candidates for salt spray cultivation. I have cut most of it back. Other than watering, creeping fig requires little maintenance. It looks great much of the time but is a constant battle and can be destructive if you turn your back. Wear protective gloves before propagating a Ficus Pumila plant as the sap has a high toxic level that causes serious skin irritation. Another sign of inadequate water is dropping leaves. We had an unusually cold spell here this winter and it killed the existing leaves and stems. It can eventually reach lengths of up to 15 feet. Enclosing the pot in a clear plastic bag may help hold in humidity. 4. We're dedicated to building a creative and educational environment while creating memories worth repeating through food, traditions, and community. The sap from the Creeping Ficus plant is toxic to both people and pets when ingested. Adequate lighting should be provided for the climbing fig plant to maintain proper growth. This might sound crazy, but what about glue? Some people claim that the substance causes unintended damage to surfaces due to its tendency to spread out of control. All parts of Creeping Fig Vine are considered poisonous if ingested. If you have really cold weather forecasted you could cover them, but I think its better to get these going now. You can divide one clump into two or three, depending on how thick it is. Here, it again has the old looking big leaves and figs but is not as thick (maybe 4-6 inches at the thickest parts). Place the Creeping Fig stem in a jar of water and wait for it to grow roots. University of California. Temperatures indoors should be kept between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and never allowed to dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. For proper growth, efforts must be made to meet its light, soil, water, temperature, and pruning requirements. Creeping Fig is a member of the mulberry family and can be found in more than 1,000 locations. Furthermore, it can crack and lift up patios and buildings, as well as cover lawn areas adjacent to them. I wonder if they would climb it. If your dog has skin irritations, try a different type of dog food without the creeping figs. It grows while you look at it. Indoor figs are rarely consumed, and their plants are rarely illuminated. I am guessing that you may have the same issues as the previous question, so I will defer you to those answers too. When the plant is overwatered, the roots cant get the oxygen they need to survive, and the leaves will start to die. I am so happy I found this forum. Any recommendations on what to do to help it along? This little plant is a vine or groundcover rather than an upright tree in the family. The creeping fig is a hardy shrub that can grow to be 6 feet tall and wide. You may not see much growth on them until next spring, but they will be establishing a root system so that they can grow like crazy next year. I would keep watering it regularly (especially during the dry season) and it should recover without any problems. How to Get Creeping Fig to Climb the Way You Want Attaching creeping fig to a wall shouldn't really be necessary, but you may want to take some steps to encourage growth in a particular direction. the leaves are all brown and curled. Work your way toward the main trunk of the plant. Wash off the roots, separate it out into smaller bunches of creeping fig. A nonselective herbicide, such as glyphosate, is effective at killing creeping Ficus pumila vines. To avoid the problem, plant creeping fig in a protected location. The juvenile leaves work well in indoor pots as long as the plant is young; however, as the plant matures, the leaves become much larger and leathery, making indoor planting less appealing. It was quite beautiful until the awful February Texas Freeze disaster this year. Grow it alongside other plants. Creeping Fig indoor plants feature stunning green leaves that are heart-shaped and possess slim stems while Outdoor Creeping Fig plants feature a more mature, bushy foliage with a rubbery sheen and an elliptical shape. Be careful when pruning not to trim off one-third of the entire plant at once as this would damage the plant. Im afraid of damaging the plants growing on the wall as we didnt plant them and Im not sure where the mother plants are located. A burrowing fig is a houseplant that thrives in warm, humid conditions. organically without hurting the lawn? I would prune back small pieces until you get to a point where there is live tissue. As a juvenile form of climbing fig, the tree can grow to a foot tall and only 2 inches in diameter. My suggestion to you is to remove it from the sides of the house and keep it on only your fence. It doesnt have much ground to grow from but has always been healthy and did not require much care except for trimming. 2. Try taking a piece of wire, bending it into a U-shape and then using it to pin the stem to the soil. We can't go by a common name as often multiple plants share the same common name but are very different plants. If you see some green, go ahead and leave it. You could also use a trellis or fence to attach to the wall. It's a good idea to wear gloves when pruning the plant. Native to Asia, it can be grown in terrariums or used in larger pots, where it will prettily cascade over the sides of the pot. Every 4 or 5 months, whether we like it or not, at our house it is time to spend an hour or so on a Saturday morning trimming the creeping fig along the side of our house. Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants. Leave it alone for another month or so. It now seems, unsurprisingly, that some of these large, old plants are dying and detaching from our walls. After the creeping fig has established itself, apply moderately moist water to the soil. The results are immediately pleasing and well worth the hour or so that it requires. My question is if I grow flowering climbers on the same fence will the ficus take them over, and will I still be able to control the ficus with the climbers growing on same fence. Hello! Now I have a fair amount of dead branches underneath the live branches that are sort of hanging off the wall in some places. Re-posting this from r/houseplants since I didn't get any responses. If you want to completely eradicate the vines and start over in an area, you can use the herbicide glyphosate to kill them off. It is tolerant of rootbound roots, but it thrives best when repotected. Ficus Pumila can survive a less humid climate, but for a flourishing look, keep the humidity level high. The plant is aggressive and quickly attaches to most surfaces with its strong, adhesive roots. Creeping figs are regarded as fast growers, and can grow up to 1 foot each year. The Ideal temperature range should be between 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. I think it sounds like you need to give your creeping fig a really hard cutback. I have been watering regularly but Im not sure it will come back. To help it focus its energy on growing roots, make sure your stem has a maximum of 2 leaves. It's not typically winter hardy in Atlanta but I've seen dozens of gardens here where it finds a warm wall and thrives happily for years. Overwatering can cause a plant to shrivel and turn yellow, just as it can when water is too much. Place the cutting in a small jar. If it is a new plant it is hard to say. When new growth begins to emerge, you can relocate to a more permanent container. Native to the tropical regions in Asia, the Pumila Ficus plant is a sturdy plant that can withstand a lot of unfavorable conditions except extreme cold. Pets who chew on plants can experience severe irritation of the mouth, throat, and intestinal tract. You'll need to apply the mixture during periods of dry weather in order to obtain the best results. Firmly grasp the base of the Creeping Charlie, and tug it up gently to remove all of the roots. It is fast growing and will quickly cover over . True to its tropical heritage, creeping fig prefers a warm, moist environment. We love our creeping fig on one wall of our detached garage and trim it back 2-3 times per year. Water Creeping Fig liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 in. Learning to alternate between both sunlight intensities is key for the Pumila Ficus. creeping fig will only stick to a solid surface like brick, cinder block, or stucco. I usually wouldnt recommend doing this too late in the fall, but now should be okay just make sure to fertilize and water plenty so that you can have it filled in for the winter months. Even if you are just starting to learn about propagation. They can grow on a wide range of soils, but prefer sandy soil with a well-drained, sandy texture. It certainly wont hurt to fertilize it and give it a little boost. The name of this grass is creeping signal grass or alexander grass ( Brachiaria plantaginea). Alternative Plants to Lesser Celandine Lesser celandine looks a lot like the native marsh marigold. If it is trimmed regularly you wont see the thick branches too much. Before watering, insert your index finger into the soil. This is a great question. Fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer to your creeping fig twice a year, in the spring and summer. In late fall, fig trees begin to drop their leaves, which they do again in early spring. 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. 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