Repotting guide

When & how to repot String of Frogs (Ficus pumila 'Quercifolia')

Also called String of Frogs, Miniature Oakleaf Fig, Oakleaf Creeping Fig, Mini Oakleaf Creeping Fig.

More about string of frogs

About String of Frogs

Ficus pumila 'Quercifolia' · also called String of Frogs, Miniature Oakleaf Fig · houseplant

String of Frogs is a dwarf cultivar of creeping fig (Ficus pumila) with tiny, oak-leaf-shaped foliage on dainty trailing stems, prized for hanging baskets and terrariums. It wants bright indirect light, steadily moist soil and humidity above 50 percent. As a true Ficus, it is toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size: Indoors, a compact trailer: stems typically reach about 15-60 cm (6-24 in) and can lengthen over time wherever they can root. The straight species is a vigorous climber that can scramble 3-12 m (10-40 ft) outdoors, but the dwarf 'Quercifolia' cultivar stays small and slow.

Watch for — Yellowing leaves and mushy stems from overwatering: Soggy, poorly drained soil causes root rot. Use a well-draining mix, empty saucers, and let the top of the soil dry slightly between waterings.

How to tell string of frogs needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For string of frogs, watch for these signs:

Roots spiralling thickly out of the drainage holes or pushing the whole plant up out of the pot.
The pot is so packed that water runs straight through in seconds and barely wets the soil.
It has split a plastic pot, or the rootball is a solid mass with almost no soil left when you slide it out.
Growth and (for string of frogs) flowering have clearly stalled despite good light and feeding — but remember this plant likes being snug, so a little crowding alone is not a reason to repot.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot string of frogs

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded. String of Frogs is one of the plants that genuinely prefers a snug pot — it grows and flowers better with its roots a little restricted, so resist the urge to repot it on schedule. Slow-growing, evergreen trailing/creeping vine with a low, mat-forming to clumping habit; the species climbs with adhesive aerial rootlets, but the dwarf 'Quercifolia' stays compact and cascades, making it ideal for hanging baskets, shelves and terrariums. Foliage is the juvenile form throughout — tiny (under 1.5 cm / ~1/2 inch), bright-green, lobed leaves resembling little oak leaves or frogs..

What size pot to step string of frogs up to

Go up only one pot size — roughly 2–3 cm (about an inch) wider in diameter, no more. String of Frogs positively prefers a snug pot: it flowers and grows better when the roots are a little restricted. The single biggest repotting mistake here is over-potting — dropping string of frogs into a pot two or three sizes up. All that surplus soil holds water the small root system cannot use, stays cold and wet, and rots the roots within weeks. When in doubt, choose the smaller pot.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot string of frogs

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for string of frogs. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting string of frogs

Confirm it actually needs it. Slide string of frogs out and check the roots. Only continue if it is genuinely packed — this plant prefers a snug pot, so if there is still soil and room, put it straight back.
Pick a pot only one size up. Choose a pot just 2–3 cm wider with good drainage. Resist anything bigger; over-potting is the main killer here.
Ease it out gently. Water lightly the day before, then tip string of frogs out, supporting the base. Tease the outer roots free only enough to stop them circling.
Repot at the same depth. Add a layer of fresh well-draining, organic-rich potting mix, set the plant so the soil line sits exactly where it did before, and backfill around the sides, firming lightly.
Settle it in. Water once to settle the soil, then let it sit. Hold off on more water until the top of the soil dries — fresh soil around a small root system stays wet for a while.

Aftercare

Because the new soil holds more water than the old crammed rootball did, ease right back on watering — let the top of the soil dry before you water string of frogs again, or you will rot the roots in the very pot you just moved it to. Keep it out of harsh direct sun for a fortnight. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for string of frogs

String of Frogs wants well-draining, organic-rich potting mix. Use a peat- or coir-based houseplant mix amended with perlite or fine bark for drainage and a slightly acidic pH. The pot must have drainage holes. In terrariums it establishes in a moisture-retentive substrate over a drainage layer. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting string of frogs — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot string of frogs?

Only every 2–4 years, when genuinely crowded for string of frogs. Only repot string of frogs every 2–4 years, and only when it is genuinely root-bound — it flowers and grows best slightly crowded. Step up just one pot size in spring using well-draining, organic-rich potting mix. The key mistake is over-potting: a too-big pot stays wet and rots the roots.

What size pot does string of frogs need?

When is the best time of year to repot string of frogs?

Does string of frogs like to be root-bound?

Yes — string of frogs genuinely flowers and grows best when slightly pot-bound, so do not rush to repot it. The mistake to avoid is over-potting into a much larger pot: the excess soil stays wet, the roots cannot use it, and the plant rots. Only repot every few years and only one snug size up.

Should you fertilise string of frogs after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting string of frogs. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.