How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on care for a fiddle leaf fig tree, how typically to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these vital questions!

Meet Frida Kahlo. She’s our beautiful 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 typically get questions on care for a lot of these crops.

I hesitated to jot down this put up as a result of I was a infamous plant killer and killed a number of indoor crops. 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 worry that as SOON as I publish this put up, 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 timber that do extraordinarily properly outside in reasonable and humid environments.

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

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

On this put up, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on care for a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and hold 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 crops, and home crops is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be completely satisfied and get sufficient mild. Often, it is a north or south-facing window, the place it may get a lot of daylight. These crops additionally are likely to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. When you dwell 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 crops. Have a look across the space and ensure you don’t have AC vents that might be blowing straight on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an efficient factor, be careful for an excessive amount of scorching solar and robust direct daylight on the plant as a result of it may trigger sunburn. Now we have one other fiddle leaf, Fred, who was forgotten outdoors and was sunburned. He had brown spots for fairly some time however has lastly recovered. Vibrant, 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 technique (watering a small quantity continuously) or the extra rare technique (LOTS of watering about as soon as per week). I discovered that the cup technique 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 sport 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 stage 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 won’t disturb the roots. This may assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to circulate by extra freely. rule of thumb for the quantity of water to make use of: water till it begins to return 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 crops than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply in another way. If it rains, drag your sturdier crops outdoors!

Potting Medium

Tip: earlier than you pot your fiddle leaf fig, hold it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your own home the place it can dwell. This fashion, it may 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 circulate by as a substitute of holding the water, which might 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 properly. Verify together with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate to your local weather.

Once you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an infinite pot as the basis system doesn’t want a ton of room to develop. They really do higher once they’re barely certain, and lots of fiddle leaf figs do properly 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 circulate by. 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 and stop root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is flourishing. When you discover that it wants a bit increase, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and brought on issues, so I ended utilizing it.) When you 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 a bit humidity. When you dwell in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive affect on the leaves. You’ll be able to place a humidifier on low near your plant, or often 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 fashion, dusty leaves don’t hinder the flexibility 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 finished this for Frida, however could 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 crops are finest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely needed. (It could actually trigger stress for the crops and we don’t need to stress them out!) Some websites advocate repotting each 2-3 years to get contemporary vitamins from the soil, however I really feel like if the plant is completely satisfied, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you would possibly need to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you may see a lot of roots, a bacterial an infection (a lot of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You’ll be able to keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a lot of drainage and avoiding overwatering.

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

Okay, pals! That’s all I’ve obtained for ya, and I’ll add extra to this put up as I consider new ideas.

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

xo

Gina