10 Reasons Why Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) is Dying and their Remedies

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Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) may die due to overwatering, underwatering, improper feeding, hot direct sunlight, incorrect temperature, poor quality soil, diseases and pests among others.

Creeping Fig also called Climbing Fig is one of the popular Ficus varieties and is useful as a trailer or climber. It produces a dense green carpet which makes it one of the best indoor ground covers.

Ficus pumila grows best in medium to bright indrect light (filtered light), average warmth of 16-28⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose potting soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila).

If these conditions are not provided, the plant may begin to die. Below are 10 reasons why a Creeping Fig may die and how to solve them.

10 Reasons Why Creeping Fig is Dying with Fixes

1. Pest infestations

Creeping Fig is prone to sap-sucking insects like aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects and spider mites which may cause the plant to become wilted, stunted, drop leaves and begin to die. Pest infestation is prevalent in dry conditions.

How to fix it

Ensure that the Creeping Fig is healthy by providing it with the right growing condition to minimize pest infestation. Therefore, raise humidity or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other humid areas in the home. In addition, keep the plant well pruned by removal of dead and yellow foliage to discourage pest infestations.

If the pest infestation is heavy, isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it for the pests. Some effective products that you can use to get rid of the pests are insecticidal soap and neem oil. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

2. Root-rot disease

Creeping Fig is prone to root-rot. The disease is characterized by yellowing, wilting and leaf drop which is rapidly followed by browning and plant death. The disease is prevalent in soggy soil due to poor soil drainage.

How to fix it

Carefully, slip the Creeping Fig out of its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution.

Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil. Do not water the plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.

To prevent root-rot in the future, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is well-drained to prevent it from getting soggy.

Avoid overwatering in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time, therefore, the plant does not require much water. Read more on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.

3. Improper feeding

Overfeeding a Creeping Fig will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. When the roots die, they cannot take up nutrients and water required for photosynthesis, thus the plant begins to die due to lack of food.

Underfeeding implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients needed for growth, therefore, the plant begins to die.

How to fix it

Feed Creeping Fig monthly during the growing period with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to promote a lush growth. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn and death of the plant. Learn how to feed houseplants.

4. Poor quality Soil

Poor quality soil does not drain easily and therefore it easily becomes compacted or soggy which can result in reduced growth and causing the Creeping Fig to begin to die.

How to fix it

Grow your Creeping Fig in well-drained soils which are rich in organic matter to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.

Photo: Amazon

Harris All Purpose Premium Potting Soil Mix

Photo: Amazon

Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix

Photo: Amazon

Back to the Roots Organic Potting Mix

5. Too little light

Adequate light is necessary for photosynthesis, which is the process of making food which is needed for growth and energy for the plant. Too little light means that the plant cannot make enough food for growth and development which results in stunted growth and causing the plant to begin dying.

How to fix it

Position your Creeping Fig to a brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and prevent leggy growth. Check out this post on understanding light for houseplants.

6. Too low humidity

Too low air humidity for Creeping Fig will cause dry, shrivelled leaves, leaf drop which can cause the plant to begin dying.

How to fix it

To raise humidity for your Creeping Fig, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You may grow to the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen and other humid areas in the home. The plant is also great for a closed terrarium as a high humidity can easily be maintained inside a terrarium. Read more on how to increase humidity for houseplants.

7. Extremely pot-bound plant

Though a Creeping Fig grows best when slightly pot-bound, when it becomes extremely pot-bound it begins to wilt, drop leaves and eventually die.

This is because the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when the plant is watered which will cause the plant to wilt, drop leaves and may die.

How to fix it

Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole and repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one.

Thereafter, repot your Creeping Fig at the beginning of the growing season when it has become pot-bound but avoid frequent repotting as it prefers to be slightly pot-bound. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

8. Exposure to hot direct sunlight

If you expose your Creeping Fig to hot direct sunlight, it will begin to turn brown, wilt, drop leaves and may eventually die as it grows best in a medium to bright indirect light.

How to fix it

Position your Creeping Fig in a more shaded spot or instal a light curtain to protect it from hot direct sunlight to prevent its eventual death.

9. Incorrect watering

Incorrect watering; either overwatering or underwatering Creeping Fig will result in yellow leaves, leaf drop and eventual death of the plant.

Overwatering will result in soggy soil causing the roots to die due to lack of oxygen. When the roots die they cannot take up water which causes the leaves to yellow, drop and eventually the plant may die.

Underwatering implies that there is too little moisture in the soil and therefore, the plant has no water to take up to the leaves. This causes the leaves to drop and the plant may die if the situation is not corrected.

How to fix it

Creeping Fig requires that the soil be kept moist at all times during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.

Cut down on watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. In addition, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.

10. Cold drafts

Cold drafts on Creeping Fig coupled with too wet soil will cause sudden drops in temperature which may lead to reduced growth and eventual death of the plant.

How to fix it

To prevent death of your Creeping Fig, keep the plant away from cold drafts from windy doors, drafty windows, air conditioning units and others to maintain an average warmth of 16-28⁰C. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.

In addition, reduce watering in the cold season and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.