How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on learn how to care for 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 beautiful fiddle leaf fig plant that greets everybody who walks into our house.

Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I usually get questions on learn how to care for a lot of these vegetation.

I hesitated to put in writing 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 suggestions right here and my fellow fiddle leaf lovers, please share your prime 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 timber that do extraordinarily properly outdoor in average 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 lovely houseplant that may add to the aesthetic attraction of your area and generally is 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 publish, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on learn how to care for a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and maintain it wanting 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 glad and get sufficient mild. Often, it is a north or south-facing window, the place it may get numerous daylight. These vegetation additionally are inclined to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and huge home windows. If you happen to reside in an space that’s not 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 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. We’ve got 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 normally finest. Lightening situations make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly just a few strategies right here: the cup technique (watering a small quantity steadily) 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 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 degree 2 or 3, after which I soak the heck out of it. I’ll use 4 massive measuring bowls filled 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 movement by extra freely. 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 observe: fiddle leaf figs LOVE rain and I really feel like rainwater is so a lot better for vegetation than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply otherwise. 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 own home the place it’s going to reside. This manner, it may 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 allows water to movement by 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 properly. Examine along 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 develop. They really do higher after 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: be sure the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply movement by. 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 and stop 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 just a little increase, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and induced issues, so I finished utilizing it.) If you happen to 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 just a little 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 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 carried out 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 toes 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 vital. (It might 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 glad, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you may wish to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you’ll see numerous roots, a bacterial an infection (numerous brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You possibly can keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s numerous drainage and avoiding overwatering.

If you must repot, shake off the surplus soil from the roots, and trim away any of the roots’ ends which are 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 just a few inches of soil, encompass with numerous recent new soil, and water.

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

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

xo

Gina