🌿 Terrarium Care Sheet
Ficus pumila Variegated (Variegated Creeping Fig)
Growth habit: Climbing / creeping vine
Terrarium use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (excellent, but not beginner-proof)
 
🌞 Light
Bright, indirect light is non-negotiable
Medium light = green reversion + weak growth
❌ Direct sun through glass will scorch leaves
👉 If the variegation fades, the light is wrong. Period.
 
🌡️ Temperature
Ideal range: 18–28 °C
Growth slows below 16 °C
❌ Cold drafts cause leaf drop and sulking
 
💧 Humidity
Prefers 65–90% humidity
Performs best in closed or semi-closed terrariums
In open builds, mist consistently
 
💦 Watering
Keep substrate lightly and evenly moist
Do not allow full dry-outs
❌ Waterlogged media = root rot + leaf yellowing
 
🌱 Substrate
Needs excellent drainage + airflow
Recommended mix:
Coco peat / fine bark / perlite / leaf litter
Attaches readily to cork bark, wood, rock, and foam backgrounds
 
✂️ Pruning & Growth Control
Moderate to fast grower
Must be trimmed regularly in terrariums
Remove any solid green shoots immediately (they outgrow variegated growth)
 
🌿 Feeding
Light feeder
¼-strength balanced fertilizer every 4–6 weeks
❌ Overfeeding = larger leaves + loss of variegation
 
🐜 Pests & Common Issues
Spider mites in dry, open setups
Mealybugs on stressed plants
Leaf drop usually means light or water inconsistency
 
⚠️ Important Terrarium Reality Check
Needs more light than normal Ficus pumila
Will outgrow micro terrariums if ignored
Not a “plant-and-forget” option
 
✅ Best Uses
✔ Medium to large terrariums
✔ Vertical walls and background coverage
✔ Contrast plant among mosses and darker foliage
 
❌ Not Ideal For
✖ Tiny nano terrariums
✖ Low-light builds
✖ Zero-maintenance setups
 
🧠 Straight Talk Verdict
Ficus pumila Variegated is beautiful but demanding.
Give it light, humidity, and discipline with pruning — it rewards you with crisp white-green contrast.
Neglect any of those, and it quickly turns into a messy green vine.