Ficus pumila ‘Arina’

Species origin and growth background of Ficus pumila ‘Arina’

Ficus pumila is native from central and southern China through temperate East Asia and Indochina. It grows as a climbing shrub or woody vine.

‘Arina’ is a small-leaved green cultivar. Young creeping shoots carry the fine clinging foliage used indoors. As the plant matures, some older shoots become woodier and develop larger leaves.

Growing Ficus pumila ‘Arina’ indoors

• Moisture: Rewater when the surface has only just begun to dry and the deeper mix still feels lightly moist. The fine roots in a small pot can lose moisture quickly.
• Climbing support: Cork, bark or another rough support gives young runners a surface to grip. Keep a separate support between the plant and porous walls or unfinished wood.
• Light: Bright indirect light helps the small leaves stay closely spaced along the runners. Gentle morning sun is suitable after gradual adjustment.
• Potting mix: Use a light houseplant mix that holds moisture evenly, with fine bark or perlite to keep drainage open.
• Pruning: Trim runner tips with clean scissors to keep the plant within its space and encourage fine-leaved side shoots. When older growth becomes woody and starts producing larger leaves, cut back to younger fine-leaved runners to maintain the creeping form.
• Temperature and humidity: A temperature range of about 10–24 °C suits ‘Arina’. Humid air helps the runners grow well as they trail or climb.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while the runners are lengthening. If they stop growing, leave out fertiliser until fresh runner growth appears.
• Repotting: Repot when roots crowd the container or some parts of the pot start drying much faster than others.
• Propagation: Short tip cuttings with several healthy leaf nodes root readily in warm, lightly moist conditions.

Problems along Ficus pumila ‘Arina’ runners

• Runner tips become crisp and shed their leaves: The roots have dried too far, or hot dry air is hitting the plant. Rewet the mix evenly and trim dead runner sections back to a healthy green section of stem.
• Stems turn dark and soft where they touch the potting mix: The stems have probably stayed wet for too long and started to rot. Cut affected runners back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool; if roots are soft as well, remove every rotten section back to firm healthy tissue, discard the damaged material and repot in fresh airy mix.
• White cottony clusters hide where runners cross: Mealybugs are likely. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects from the stems and places where leaves attach, then use a product labelled for mealybugs on indoor ornamentals and repeat only at the interval stated on the label.
• Fine pale speckles and webbing spread through the small foliage: Spider mites are likely. Isolate the plant, rinse the runners where practical, then use a product labelled for spider mites on indoor ornamentals and follow the repeat timing on its label.

Ficus pumila ‘Arina’ 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.

How did Ficus pumila get its name?

Classical Latin ficus means fig. Pumila means dwarf and refers to the small juvenile leaves.

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

Carl Linnaeus first described Ficus pumila in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 1060.