How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on find out how to deal with 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 dwelling.

Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I usually get questions on find out how to deal with 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 be referred to as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical timber that do extraordinarily properly outdoor 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 generally is a gorgeous, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor impression and can be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this put up, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on find out how to deal with a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and preserve 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 blissful and get sufficient gentle. Often, it is a north or south-facing window, the place it might 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 isn’t well-lit, you should utilize 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 to 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 sizzling solar and robust direct daylight on the plant as a result of it might 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. Vivid, oblique gentle is often greatest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly a number of strategies right here: the cup technique (watering a small quantity ceaselessly) 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 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 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 is not going to disturb the roots. This may assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to stream by way of extra freely. A very good 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 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 own home the place it can reside. This fashion, it might have time to regulate to the lighting and atmosphere earlier than you additional shock the plant by repotting. For potting soil, just remember to use one thing that allows water to stream by way of 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 along with your nursery to see what potting combine they suggest to 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 broaden. They really do higher once they’re barely sure, 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 greater. Essential: ensure the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply stream by way 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 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 a bit increase, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and triggered issues, so I finished 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 a bit humidity. If you happen to reside in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive impression on the leaves. You possibly can place a humidifier on low near your plant, or often mist by hand. I use this mister from Amazon and solely mist the leaves after 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 carried out this for Frida, however might do this 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 greatest left alone, so I’d solely suggest repotting if completely crucial. (It may possibly trigger stress for the vegetation and we don’t need 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 blissful, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you would possibly need 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 a number of inches of soil, encompass with numerous recent 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 suggestions.

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

xo

Gina