Ficus microcarpa ‘Moclame’

Tropical origins and background of Ficus microcarpa ‘Moclame’

Ficus microcarpa ranges across tropical and subtropical Asia and the western Pacific. In humid habitats it can begin growth above ground on another tree, send roots downward and develop into a large woody fig with aerial roots.

‘Moclame’ is a named cultivar of Ficus microcarpa grown as a houseplant.

Maintaining Ficus microcarpa ‘Moclame’ indoors

• Shape: Follow the natural rounded outline when pruning. Clip protruding shoots back to outward-facing leaf nodes to preserve the rounded outline, and remove a few inward-growing twigs when the centre becomes crowded.
• Light: A very bright window position with strong indirect light and some gentle direct sun helps the crown remain full.
• Water: Let the surface dry and wait until the pot feels clearly lighter, then water through all of the potting mix and empty any water collected below the pot.
• Potting mix: A loose houseplant mix with bark and pumice or perlite lets moisture spread through the roots while excess water drains away.
• Temperature and humidity: A room at about 18–27 °C suits ‘Moclame’. Ordinary household humidity is generally suitable and supports fresh side shoots and leaves as they develop.
• Feeding: Use a balanced houseplant fertiliser while fresh side shoots are appearing. Once the crown stops putting out new shoots, hold off until growth starts again.
• Repotting: Move to a slightly larger pot when roots compact the mix, drainage becomes sluggish or you are watering noticeably more often than before.
• Propagation: Leafy stem cuttings from healthy shoots can be rooted to grow new ‘Moclame’ plants.

Common setbacks in Ficus microcarpa ‘Moclame’

• Many green leaves fall soon after moving the plant: A sharp change in light or temperature can make leaves drop. Leave the plant in one bright stable place and keep its watering rhythm steady while it settles.
• Lower leaves yellow while the pot remains heavy: The potting mix is staying wet for too long. Give the pot more drying time; if the mix smells sour or roots feel soft, remove every rotten root back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the damaged roots and repot in fresh free-draining mix.
• Leaves fold or curl along the central vein and dark thrips or dark scarring appear inside: Ficus leaf-gall thrips may be feeding there. Isolate the plant, remove badly affected leaves, then use a product labelled for thrips on indoor ornamentals and repeat only at the interval given on its label.
• White cottony clusters appear where leaves meet the stems: Mealybugs are likely. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects from these tight spaces, then use a product labelled for mealybugs on indoor ornamentals at the repeat interval on its label.

Ficus microcarpa ‘Moclame’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs, and avoid contact with its milky sap.
• The latex contains ficin and psoralens, which can irritate the mouth, digestive tract, skin and eyes.
• Exposure may cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, stomach pain or a skin rash. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or persist.

Why is it called Ficus microcarpa?

Classical Latin ficus means fig. Microcarpa means ‘small-fruited’.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Ficus in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 1059; Joseph Pitton de Tournefort had proposed the name.

Carl Linnaeus the Younger first described Ficus microcarpa in 1782 in Supplementum Plantarum, page 442.