How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing tips about the right way to handle a fiddle leaf fig tree, how usually to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these essential questions!

Meet Frida Kahlo. She’s our attractive fiddle leaf fig plant that greets everybody who walks into our dwelling.

Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I usually get questions on the right way to handle these kind of vegetation.

I hesitated to write down this submit as a result of I was a infamous plant killer and killed a number of indoor vegetation. Over the previous handful of years, I’ve FINALLY discovered my groove, and whereas I really feel fairly assured about my routine, I’m nonetheless scared to jinx something.

I can’t assist however concern that as SOON as I publish this submit, Frida’s leaves begin to recoil and burst into flames. However I’m going to go for it.

I hope you discover some useful ideas right here and my fellow fiddle leaf lovers, please share your prime ideas within the feedback.

What Is A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

A fiddle leaf fig plant can be known as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical bushes that do extraordinarily nicely open air in reasonable and humid environments.

Over the previous 10 years or so, they’ve surged in recognition. Fiddle leaf figs generally grace journal covers, Instagram, and Pinterest posts.

It’s a stunning houseplant that may add to the aesthetic enchantment of your area and generally is a gorgeous, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor affect and can be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this submit, I’m sharing tried and examined tips about the right way to handle a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and maintain it trying lush, wholesome, and thriving for a very long time.

How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Correct Placement and Lighting Necessities

The important thing with fiddle leaf figs, tropical vegetation, and home vegetation is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be pleased and get sufficient mild. Normally, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it might probably get a number of daylight. These vegetation additionally are inclined to do nicely in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. If you happen to reside in an space that isn’t well-lit, you should use a grow light. I’m in a fiddle leaf Fb group (obsessed) and lots of members use develop lights on their vegetation. Have a look across the space and be sure you don’t have AC vents that can be blowing immediately on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an effective factor, be careful for an excessive amount of sizzling solar and robust direct daylight on the plant as a result of it might probably trigger sunburn. We have now one other fiddle leaf, Fred, who was forgotten outdoors and was sunburned. He had brown spots for fairly some time however has lastly recovered. Shiny, oblique mild is often finest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly a couple of strategies right here: the cup methodology (watering a small quantity steadily) or the extra rare methodology (LOTS of watering about as soon as per week). I discovered that the cup methodology did NOT work for me. She was dropping leaves like loopy and I used to be pacing across the plant, making an attempt to determine what the heck was occurring. A recreation changer: the water meter! I ordered this from Amazon and checked her water each 7-10 days. I ONLY water the plant when the soil dries and the meter reaches a moisture degree 2 or 3, after which I soak the heck out of it. I’ll use 4 massive measuring bowls stuffed with filtered water and drench the soil. (Frida prefers filtered water from the fridge and never from the sink. Our ranges right here in Tucson are too acidic and it was affecting her leaves.)

Earlier than watering, use the water meter or a chopstick to poke holes within the soil – don’t fear it is not going to disturb the roots. It will assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to movement by way of extra freely. A superb rule of thumb for the quantity of water to make use of: water till it begins to come back out of the drainage holes after which depart it alone.

A word: fiddle leaf figs LOVE rain and I really feel like rainwater is so significantly better for vegetation than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply in a different way. If it rains, drag your sturdier vegetation outdoors!

Potting Medium

Tip: earlier than you pot your fiddle leaf fig, maintain it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your home the place it’ll reside. This manner, it might probably have time to regulate to the lighting and setting earlier than you additional shock the plant by repotting. For potting soil, just remember to use one thing that permits water to movement by way of as an alternative of holding the water, which may trigger root rot. They promote particular soil for fiddle leaf figs, and I do know many who’ve had good luck with cactus/succulent soil. I used Miracle Develop potting soil and it labored nicely. Test together with your nursery to see what potting combine they suggest in your local weather.

Once you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an unlimited pot as the basis system doesn’t want a ton of room to increase. They really do higher once they’re barely certain, and lots of fiddle leaf figs do nicely within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that measurement, or barely larger. Necessary: ensure the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply movement by way of. I additionally prefer to put small rocks on the backside of a pot earlier than including the plant and soil, so water can simply transfer by way of and forestall root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is flourishing. If you happen to discover that it wants slightly enhance, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and induced issues, so I ended utilizing it.) If you happen to select to make use of fertilizer, do that twice a 12 months: as soon as in the summertime and as soon as within the winter.

Routine Upkeep

Misting! As I discussed earlier than, FLFs love humid environments and thrive in slightly humidity. If you happen to reside in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive affect on the leaves. You possibly can place a humidifier on low near your plant, or sometimes mist by hand. I use this mister from Amazon and solely mist the leaves once I water (as soon as each 7-12 days). I mist the leaves after which wipe off any mud with a paper towel. This manner, dusty leaves don’t hinder the power to get daylight.

Weak trunks: I’ve heard of individuals gently shaking their tree’s trunks each few days, particularly in the event that they’re weaker/smaller. That is to stimulate the excessive winds and encourage a stronger trunk. I haven’t accomplished this for Frida, however might do that for Fred.

Enjoyable word: fiddle leaf figs will develop as excessive as their ceiling permits. Our ceilings are 30 ft tall, and I HOPE SHE GROWS THIS HUGE with all my coronary heart.

Repotting

I’ve discovered that these vegetation are finest left alone, so I’d solely suggest repotting if completely essential. (It may trigger stress for the vegetation and we don’t wish to stress them out!) Some websites suggest repotting each 2-3 years to get recent vitamins from the soil, however I really feel like if the plant is pleased, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you may wish to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you’ll see a number of roots, a bacterial an infection (a number of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You possibly can keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a number of drainage and avoiding overwatering.

If it is advisable repot, shake off the surplus soil from the roots, and trim away any of the roots’ ends which might be overgrown. (It’s like giving it a haircut.) If you happen to see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with a couple of inches of soil, encompass with a number of recent new soil, and water.

Okay, buddies! That’s all I’ve bought for ya, and I’ll add extra to this submit as I consider new ideas.

Do you could have plant infants? Any nice ideas you’ve realized over time? Please share all the fiddle leaf fig care ideas with us!

xo

Gina