Ficus Ginseng Moss Micro-Landscape: A Bonsai-Style Miniature Terrarium

The plant in the photo is a small bonsai-style Ficus ginseng, and the moss underneath is Leucobryum (pincushion moss).

There are no other plants in this setup.

This piece was created a few years ago, and it has stayed in good condition for a long time.

Its maintenance is also very simple.

I’ve posted the tutorial in the past—if you’re interested, please scroll down.

Let’s begin with the plants.

For pincushion moss, I’ve already introduced it thoroughly in previous posts (please search my blog).

The main plant here is Ficus ginseng.

🌱 Ficus ginseng (Ficus microcarpa in bonsai form)

“Ficus ginseng” is not a strict botanical species name.

It is a commercial term used for bonsai forms of Ficus microcarpa whose roots have been cultivated to swell and resemble ginseng.

Growers typically raise the roots in the ground for many years until they thicken, then prune or graft the plant to create the “mini tree + chunky roots” look you see here.

🌳 Features & Appearance

1. The iconic “ginseng root”

The swollen, knotted, or forked roots are its biggest attraction.

These roots are formed after years of ground cultivation in nurseries.

2. Small leaves and compact branching

The leaves are oval, thick, and deep green.

This makes the plant ideal for miniature bonsai, terrariums, and moss landscapes.

3. Extremely hardy and beginner-friendly

It adapts well to different levels of light and humidity.

Even in indoor low-light spaces, it maintains steady growth.

🌞 Growing Conditions

Native range: Tropical regions of Southeast Asia (southern China, India, Thailand, etc.).

Light: Prefers bright indirect light; tolerates low light. Avoid harsh direct sun, which may scorch the leaves.

Temperature: 20–30°C is ideal; dislikes temperatures below 10°C.

Humidity: Prefers medium to high humidity but also tolerates dryness.

🌿 Care Tips

( if you keep it under a glass dome like mine)

1. Light

Place it somewhere with gentle natural light.

Avoid strong direct sun, which can overheat the space inside the glass dome.

2. Watering

Since the dome traps moisture, watering needs are low—once or twice a week is usually enough.

But honestly, many people still worry about watering frequency. Don’t overthink it—more is better.

You can spray it, you can dunk it in water, or you can pour water directly.

With the planting method shown in the photo, it’s practically impossible for this setup to get waterlogged or for the roots to rot.

If you’re leaving home for a while, just leave a little water in the dish.

3. Ventilation

You’re already ventilating every time you lift the dome to water.

Once or twice a week is enough—no need to monitor it intentionally.

You could even open it daily to mist; it won’t harm the plant.

If you forget to water or go on a trip, it still won’t die, because the humidity inside the dome remains high.

The only possible issues are leggy growth or mold, which can happen if air circulation is low for extended periods.

🛠 Simple Making Process

First, I used two stones and glued them together to create a container with a large cavity at the top and another cavity at the bottom.

I then covered the bottom cavity with a piece of plastic mesh.

I placed a small amount of sphagnum moss on the bottom, then put the Ficus ginseng in.

The roots came with their original soil—no cleaning necessary.

After positioning the plant, I used red clay to fill all the gaps between the stones.

Finally, I covered everything with moss, and that’s it.

So as you can see, this setup cannot become waterlogged.

The structure simply doesn’t allow water to accumulate around the roots.

This reflects one of my basic principles for watering:

If you’re unsure about how often to water—or don’t want to bother remembering—

then design a planting system that remains safe no matter how you water it.

Here are detailed photos

This is the building video: