How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on how one can handle a fiddle leaf fig tree, how usually to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these vital questions!

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

Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I usually get questions on how one can handle some of these vegetation.

I hesitated to jot down this put up 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 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 suggestions right here and my fellow fiddle leaf lovers, please share your high suggestions within the feedback.

What Is A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

A fiddle leaf fig plant can also be known as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical bushes that do extraordinarily effectively outside 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 house and could be a gorgeous, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor affect and can also be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this put up, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on how one can handle a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and preserve 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 blissful and get sufficient mild. Normally, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it could possibly get a number of daylight. These vegetation additionally are inclined to do effectively in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and huge home windows. In the event you stay in an space that’s not well-lit, you need to use a grow light. I’m in a fiddle leaf Fb group (obsessed) and plenty of members use develop lights on their vegetation. Have a look across the space and ensure you don’t have AC vents that will likely be blowing immediately on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an effective factor, be careful for an excessive amount of sizzling solar and powerful direct daylight on the plant as a result of it could possibly 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. Vibrant, oblique mild is often finest. Lightening situations make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly a couple of strategies right here: the cup technique (watering a small quantity incessantly) 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, attempting to determine what the heck was taking place. 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 giant 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 move via extra freely. An excellent 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 go away it alone.

A observe: 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, preserve it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your home the place it is going to stay. This manner, it could possibly have time to regulate to the lighting and setting earlier than you additional shock the plant by repotting. For potting soil, just be sure you use one thing that permits water to move via 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 effectively. Verify together with your nursery to see what potting combine they suggest on your local weather.

Once you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an infinite pot as the foundation system doesn’t want a ton of room to increase. They really do higher once they’re barely certain, and plenty of fiddle leaf figs do effectively within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that measurement, or barely greater. Necessary: be sure the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply move via. I additionally wish to put small rocks on the backside of a pot earlier than including the plant and soil, so water can simply transfer via and forestall root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is flourishing. In the event you discover that it wants just a little enhance, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and brought about issues, so I ended utilizing it.) In the event 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 just a little humidity. In the event you stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a optimistic affect on the leaves. You may 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 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 achieved this for Frida, however might do that for Fred.

Enjoyable observe: 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 obligatory. (It may possibly trigger stress for the vegetation and we don’t wish to stress them out!) Some websites suggest repotting each 2-3 years to get contemporary vitamins from the soil, however I really feel like if the plant is blissful, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you may wish to repot: the soil is pulling away from the sides and you’ll see a number of roots, a bacterial an infection (a number of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You may keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a number 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.) In the event you 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 contemporary new soil, and water.

Okay, mates! That’s all I’ve acquired for ya, and I’ll add extra to this put up as I consider new suggestions.

Do you’ve got plant infants? Any nice suggestions you’ve discovered over time? Please share all the fiddle leaf fig care suggestions with us!

xo

Gina