Ficus spec. Colombia

Figs (genus Ficus) are very diverse and can be found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions. For terrarium enthusiasts, the most interesting species are those that climb as young plants and form small leaves. In nature, they all develop into large, woody plants that grow high in trees and produce typical fig fruits. However, in terrariums (even very large ones), they usually remain in their very small-leaved juvenile form, making them excellent plants for background walls.

Most are easy to care for and quickly grow into dense, green mats, but there are also slower and more demanding species.

This climbing fig likes it quite bright, but once it has established itself, it can also grow into darker areas of the terrarium on its own.

Initially, however, it should be planted in a bright location. With strong lighting of 3,000 to 8,000 lux or 60 to 200 PPFD (µmol/m²/s), it grows well and the leaves develop ideal coloring.

It likes a humidity of 60% or more.

It likes it warm. Temperatures of 22 to 28°C lead to the best growth. Especially with very moist substrate, the temperature should also be high, otherwise it tends to root rot. Established plants are significantly less sensitive and can tolerate (night) temperatures of 15°C well.

This creeping fig prefers a medium-fine, air-permeable but evenly moist substrate.

In nature, this plant grows on very nutrient-poor soil. In the rainforest, there is little to no humus, as one knows it from native forests. A thin layer of leaves/detritus, only 1 to 3 cm thick, is usually followed directly by dense clay soil or rock. The roots of the plants creep along the surface under the thin layer of leaves and almost never go deeper than a few centimeters into the clay soil. This plant should therefore be potted in a loose, only slightly acidic (pH value of approx. 5.5 to 6.5) and air-permeable mix. It grows very well in coconut fibers mixed with some sphagnum moss or tree fern litter. This is the same mixture that we also recommend as substrate for typical tropical terrariums.

It also grows well in a purely mineral substrate, but we recommend not repotting it directly after arrival, as this can stress it a lot. Most of our plants are already potted in the substrates we recommend and can remain in them.

In general, climbing Ficus species react badly to repotting. It is best to simply plant them with the complete existing substrate into the terrarium and then disturb them as little as possible.

Over time, they also form numerous adventitious adhesive roots and can also obtain nutrients through them. Sometimes they rot away at the bottom eventually and then live as pure epiphytes on the back wall. For a start, however, we always recommend planting them in substrate first. They grow significantly faster and better this way.

This Ficus should never dry out completely, but how moist it prefers to be depends heavily on the (substrate) temperature. At temperatures above 25°C, it can be kept constantly moist to wet, otherwise, it should be allowed to dry out at least on the surface. However, actual drying out almost immediately leads to leaf loss.

When cared for under grow lights, it can be fertilized year-round. It is a slow-growing species that does not require much fertilizer. No special fertilizer needs to be used. A normal complete fertilizer (N-P-K + trace elements) for houseplants is sufficient. We recommend halving the manufacturer's recommended dosage (this corresponds to about 500 µS/cm conductivity of fertilizer) and only fertilizing approximately every 4 weeks.

In a well-established, bioactive terrarium, it does not need to be fertilized.