What Is The Difference Between Ficus Pumila And Ficus Elastica?

How close to wall should I plant Ficus Pumila?

Only one Ficus Pumila plant is required for indoor pots or a small outdoor garden. This quick-growing vine needs at least 10 feet of vertical clearance and 3 feet of horizontal room. Indoors, the plant is typically grown on a trellis to embellish a side wall in a living room or corridor.

Ficus Pumila will grow easily from a hanging basket and is also used in bonsai tree displays. Ficus Pumila can reach up to 15 feet tall, so you need to prepare your outdoor garden accordingly.

The plant will trail down towards the ground, so it must have at least 3 feet of vertical clearance. You need an ample horizontal surface to plant your Ficus Pumila in the yard or along a wall outdoors. Growing in a container is recommended as the plant is just as quick to grow outdoors.

Is Ficus pumila poisonous?

Contact with the milky sap of Ficus pumila, like other plant species in the Moraceae family, can produce phytophotodermatitis, a potentially fatal skin irritation. Although not harmful in and of itself, F. pumila is classified in the FDA Database of Poisonous Plants.

Ficus Pumila are also reported as a common cause of phytophotodermatitis in Japan. Ficus Pumila should be washed carefully with soap and water before handling or eating to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.

Blue stained tooth syndrome is a major concern for Ficus Pumila cultivators. It is a rare but potentially lethal condition. In rare instances, the contact of decaying leaves or flowers from Ficus Pumila with the roots, trunk or fruit of other Moraceae plants can cause this phenomenon to occur.

Blue stained tooth syndrome causes leaves and fruit to stain blue, resulting in a lack of photosynthesis and chlorophyll production.

Are Ficus Pumila toxic to dogs?

The Ficus Pumila plant produces ficin, a hazardous sap-like material that is harmful when swallowed or comes into contact with the skin, eyes, or mouth of dogs. Vet costs may quickly add up. Ficus Pumila is reported as common cause of phytophotodermatitis in Japan.

Ficus Pumila should be washed carefully with soap and water before handling or eating to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Ficus Pumila contains toxic amounts of ficin and can cause blue stained tooth syndrome, a rare but potentially lethal skin irritation.

Ficus Pumila is also reported as a common cause of phytophotodermatitis in Japan. A woolly vine, which has the ability to wrap itself around trees and other objects, will grow rapidly if left to its own devices outdoors.

Close supervision is necessary when growing Ficus Pumila indoors as it may wrap itself around the pot or trellis. The symptoms of Ficus Pumila poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, and tachycardia.

How big will a Ficus Pumila get?

The Ficus Pumila can grow up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. The plant is naturally a vine and will trellis itself if left alone. If it falls over or climbs too high you can simply cut the tendrils off or train them to grow over the trellis instead of the wall. No two vine stems are alike, although the leaf shape will be similar in all Ficus Pumila.

The size of the plant is dependent on the amount of light and warmth it receives. Ficus Pumila thrives in bright sunlight and warm temperatures, so when you cut it back (in winter) make sure to let the plant go through a dormant period in order to start the growth process over again.

One of the more striking features of Ficus Pumila, is its bark which wrinkles up at the base and splits from top to bottom. The bark has a smooth texture and feels slightly slippery when touched. The hardiness zone for Ficus Pumila is hardy to -10° C.

Does Ficus Pumila like to be misted?

A ficus pumila (creeping fig) enjoys dampness, yet soaking the leaves attracts Mealy Bugs. Learn how to recognize and handle Mealy Bugs, a type of houseplant pest that leaves a sticky, white, cottony residue on plants. Ficus Pumila will benefit from a thorough spray of water.

Mealy bugs have been growing in popularity recently as houseplants are becoming more prevalent in the home and because they are quite attractive to look at. They are usually found inside the houseplant, but may occasionally be found outside of the plant as well.

In general, most cases of mealy bug infestation as houseplants is caused by poor hygiene, more specifically inadequate cleaning of watering can and foliage. Misting will require you to spray your plant generously several times a day. You may want to learn how to water without a sprayer.

Ficus pumila (Creeping fig) are one of the best plants for indoor hobbyists, but they do require some care. Learn more about growing creeping fig in your home or office.

The ficus pumila is a relatively easy plant to grow and propagate as long as you provide it with the basic requirements of light, warmth, water and air circulation.

Does Ficus Pumila blooms?

Ficus Pumila is dioeciously, which means it will produce either male or female flowers. You can tell the difference between male and female by the way their buds are shaped. The males will have a mop-head shape while the female buds are rounder.

Male flowers will appear in clusters while female flowers grow individually. If you’re growing your Ficus Pumila indoors, expect it to bloom sometime between April and August.

Blooming Ficus Pumila will display clusters of small, white flowers. Pruning Ficus Pumila often will encourage you to get more blooms.

Fertilizing Ficus Pumila with a fertilizer containing phosphorus encourages the production of flowers. Fertilizing in early spring and summer is recommended for maximum results, but the amount of fertilizer you apply depends on the pot size and if you are growing indoors or out.

Ficus Pumila is not self-fertile; it needs another Ficus Pumila plant to produce fruit. For Ficus Pumila to bloom the light levels must be high enough for the plants to photosynthesize.

What can I do to get more blooms from my Ficus Pumila?

Ficus Pumila will bloom if you properly prune it. Ficus Pumila likes to grow upright and is happiest when grown in a large container. Pruning will allow you to train the plant in a container or trellis and also encourages blooms.

Ficus Pumila blooms are short-lived, lasting for a few hours. If you get a lot of blooms and they start to wilt, it might be time to cut them down (in winter) and allow the plant to go dormant.

If your Ficus Pumila’s blooms turn brown in a matter of days and you fail to prune them off, you should consider having the plant examined by your local horticulturalist or veterinarian. Ficus Pumila should be fertilized in early spring and summer in order to get the best blooms.

Fertilizing in early spring and summer is recommended for maximum results, but the amount of fertilizer you apply depends on the pot size and if you are growing indoors or out. Fertilizing Ficus Pumila with a fertilizer containing phosphorus encourages the production of flowers.

What is the difference between Ficus Pumila and Ficus elastica?

The major difference between these two plants is their appearance. Ficus Pumila has thin, narrow leaves on short vines whereas Ficus elastica has thick, broad leaves on tall stems. Although these two species are closely related with many similar features, the two plants have different uses and should be kept separate in the garden.

Ficus elastica is the ideal plant for a seaside garden, where it grows as a tree. Ficus elastica grows to an average height of 20 feet, with a circumference of 15 feet and spreads to be about 9 feet in diameter. It needs plenty of sunlight and warmth as it cannot tolerate cold weather.

Ficus Pumila grown indoors or out is small enough that it will fit into most any container or patch of ground and can start climbing on trellises or old fence posts if left undisturbed. It is grown as a houseplant and is often used as an ornamental in a pot. Contrary to some reports, Ficus Pumila can be kept indoors without special lighting requirements.

Ficus elastica grows well in tropical climates, but not in winter. It can be grown outdoors in frost-free climates and the plant will even tolerate a light frost to die back to the ground. The leaves are pinnate and long, often 2 inches wide with 5 to 6 leaflets per leaf.

The plant sends up bare stems in the spring after the old leaves have died back. After a few weeks, new leaves will start to grow, first in pairs and then in clusters.

Ficus Pumila can be grown indoors in containers or out in the garden near a trellis where it is allowed to climb. When grown outdoors, Ficus Pumila should be kept out of direct sunlight and brought inside to winter over. An outdoor frost will not harm the plant, but winter temperatures below -5°F (15°C) will cause the plant to suffocate and die back.

The soil temperature should be kept around 65°F during the day and 90°F at night. Be sure not to overwater as this will rot roots. If you are growing outside, Ficus Pumila needs a sunny spot and well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 to 7.0.