How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on easy methods to 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 beautiful 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 easy methods to handle a majority of these vegetation.

I hesitated to write down this publish 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 worry that as SOON as I publish this publish, 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 effectively 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 is usually a gorgeous, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor influence and can be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this publish, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on easy methods 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 completely happy and get sufficient mild. Often, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it could possibly get a lot of daylight. These vegetation additionally are inclined to do effectively in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. In the event you stay in an space that isn’t well-lit, you need to 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 shall be blowing immediately on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an efficient factor, be careful for an excessive amount of scorching solar and powerful direct daylight on the plant as a result of it could possibly trigger sunburn. We’ve got one other fiddle leaf, Fred, who was forgotten exterior and was sunburned. He had brown spots for fairly some time however has lastly recovered. Vibrant, oblique mild is normally greatest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly just a few strategies right here: the cup methodology (watering a small quantity regularly) 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, attempting 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 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. It will assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to circulate by means of extra freely. An excellent 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 go away it alone.

A notice: 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 otherwise. If it rains, drag your sturdier vegetation exterior!

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 can stay. This fashion, 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 remember to use one thing that permits water to circulate by means of as a substitute 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 effectively. Examine along with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate to your local weather.

Whenever you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an unlimited pot as the foundation 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 effectively within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that measurement, or barely larger. Necessary: make sure that the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply circulate by means of. 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 by means of and stop 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 slightly enhance, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and precipitated issues, so I finished utilizing it.) In the event you select to make use of fertilizer, do that twice a yr: 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. In the event you stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a optimistic influence on the leaves. You may 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 notice: 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 greatest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely crucial. (It could actually trigger stress for the vegetation and we don’t wish 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 happy, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you may wish 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 may keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a lot of drainage and avoiding overwatering.

If you want 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 just a few inches of soil, encompass with a lot of contemporary new soil, and water.

Okay, buddies! That’s all I’ve obtained for ya, and I’ll add extra to this publish 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