Improper watering could be the reason why your Creeping fig is dying. Hot/Cool winds can harm the creeping fig too. Low humidity is bad for creeping figs too.
Creeping fig vine is also called Creeping ficus, Climbing fig, and Fig ivy. Creeping fig is grown both indoors and in the garden.
Creeping fig vine is grown for its beautiful foliage. The plant is also grown indoors in hanging baskets. Although Creeping fig is pretty hardy it does run into some issues.
Let’s see what the problems are and how to fix them!
Why do Creeping Figs turn yellow?
Creeping figs turn yellow mainly due to overwatering. The creeping fig plant also turns yellow if the plant gets cold/warm winds.
Creeping Fig shriveling
The creeping fig shrivels up and turns yellow due to overwatering. Overwatering leads to waterlogged conditions which can harm the plant greatly.
This situation usually arises if the plant has been sitting in waterlogged soil for too long. Check the soil with your fingers often.
Overwatering is common when the soil is heavy/clay. Is there a lot of degraded compost around your Creeping fig?
How to fix an overwatered Creeping fig?
The first thing you need to ask yourself is, does the soil drain well? If you think soil doesn’t drain well, add some Perlite to it to increase drainage.
Remove degraded compost and mulch from the soil if you overwatered your Creeping fig.
Do you grow your Creeping fig in a pot? Does the pot have drain holes? Make sure that your pot has draining holes to drain excess water away.
Prune the affected branches back and let them grow back healthy. Do not prune if most of the vine turned yellow.
Warm/Cool air
The creeping fig turns yellow if the plant is exposed to winds that are warmer/cooler than the ambient temperature.
Do not put your Creeping fig beside heating/cooling vents. Cold breezes and warm winds damage the Creeping fig greatly.
Do not ever put your Creeping fig beside windows in the winter. Keep the Creeping fig away from the windows if your location gets a lot of warm winds.
If the Creeping fig gets warm/cool air, the leaves turn yellow/brown and fall off.
Rootbound Creeping fig
Creeping fig leaves also turn yellow if the plant’s roots are congested in the small pot. Rootbound creeping fig fails to absorb the essential nutrients.
The creeping fig turns yellow as it can not absorb the much-needed nutrients. The symptoms are quite similar to that of improper watering.
Tip: Repot your Creeping fig in the spring to give the plant some time to grow its roots.
Why is my Creeping Fig turning brown?
Creeping fig dries out and turns brown if the plant is in lower humid conditions. Underwatering also causes Creeping fig leaves to turn brown. Creeping fig leaves also turn brown if the plant gets direct sunlight.
Why is my Creeping fig crispy?
Creeping fig turns brown due to lower humidity. The creeping fig plant needs optimum humidity in the ambiance to thrive.
Creeping fig needs at least 40% humidity to thrive. If it falls below that then the leaves turn brown.
You can increase humidity around your Creeping fig by placing a bowl of water near the plant. You can also mist the plant often to keep it in good condition.
Get a humidity meter and check the humidity if needed but do not diagnose the issue improperly. This might damage your plant further.
Underwatering
Your Creeping fig plant needs adequate water to thrive. If the plant gets less water than required the leaves turn brown.
Underwatered Creeping fid plant’s leaves go dry and turn brown. Leaves going dry is the unique sign of underwatering that distinguishes the condition from other possibilities.
Potted plants need to be watered more often than the plants that are in the ground. Touch the soil with your bare fingers and feel it.
Water the soil so that it never goes dry at the same time make sure that the soil is not waterlogged. Place the plant in a partial-shade place.
Direct sunlight may drain away water from the soil in the summer. Check the rootball by uprooting the plant carefully(If the plant is potted).
If the rootball is bone dry, run water through for a few minutes under the tap. Make sure the rootball is wet before repotting it.
Tip: You can guestimate the plant’s water needs by lifting the pot. If it’s heavy the soil is moist.
Creeping fig pests
The creeping fig plant can be infected by a variety of pests like Aphids, Mealybugs, and Spider mites. You can identify the pest/disorder by observing the plant closely.
Aphids
Aphids are tiny insects that come in different colors. Aphids can be found on the distorted/curled leaves. Such affected leaves turn yellow eventually.
Aphids suck the plant sap through the leaves of the Creeping fig plant. These pests then excrete honeydew which attracts a variety of fungi(Sooty mold).
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are close relatives of scale insects. These insects appear as cottony masses on the branches of the affected plant.
Mealybugs also secrete honeydew that causes sooty mold. Mealybugs also suck the plant sap out of the creeping fig plant and turn the leaves yellow.
A severe infestation damages creeping fig badly. Leaves turn pale/yellow as the bugs suck the plant sap out through the leaves.
Spider mites
Spider mites are tiny insects that leave webcasts on the host plant. This is the main sign that helps confirm their presence.
A severe spider mite infestation can damage the Creeping fig greatly. Respond as soon as you see early signs of infestation.
How to treat pests on Creeping fig?
Here are some natural ways to deal with pests on your Creeping fig. I’ve tried all these methods on my own plants and I can assure you they work well.
- Spray the affected plant/parts of the plant with a stream of water to dislodge the insects. This works the best in case of an early infestation.
- Hang yellow sticky cards around your creeping fig to detect infestations early.
- Spray Horticulture oil like Neem oil on the affected plant to eliminate the pests efficiently. Spray multiple times if needed.
- Spray Insecticidal soap on the affected plant in case of a severe infestation.
Happy Growing 🙂