How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing tips about deal with a fiddle leaf fig tree, how typically to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these necessary 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 typically get questions on deal with all these vegetation.

I hesitated to put in writing 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 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 also be referred to as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical bushes 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 lovely houseplant that may add to the aesthetic enchantment of your house and generally is a beautiful, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor influence and can also be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this put up, I’m sharing tried and examined tips about deal with 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 vegetation, and home vegetation is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be comfortable and get sufficient mild. Often, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it could actually get numerous daylight. These vegetation additionally are inclined to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. Should you dwell 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 be sure you don’t have AC vents that might be blowing instantly on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an effective factor, be careful for an excessive amount of scorching solar and powerful direct daylight on the plant as a result of it could actually trigger sunburn. We’ve one other fiddle leaf, Fred, who was forgotten exterior and was sunburned. He had brown spots for fairly some time however has lastly recovered. Brilliant, oblique mild is often finest. 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 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 is not going to disturb the roots. This can assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to stream via extra freely. A great 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 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 in another way. If it rains, drag your sturdier vegetation exterior!

Potting Medium

Tip: earlier than you pot your fiddle leaf fig, hold it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your home the place it is going to dwell. This fashion, it could actually 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 stream 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 properly. Verify along with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate on 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 develop. They really do higher once they’re barely sure, and plenty 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: make sure that the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply stream via. 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 via and stop root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is flourishing. Should you discover that it wants somewhat enhance, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and precipitated issues, so I finished utilizing it.) Should 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 somewhat humidity. Should you dwell in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive influence 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 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 executed this for Frida, however could do this 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 finest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely vital. (It could actually trigger stress for the vegetation 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 comfortable, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you may 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 may keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s numerous drainage and avoiding overwatering.

If you have 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.) Should you see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with a number of inches of soil, encompass with numerous contemporary new soil, and water.

Okay, associates! 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 discovered over time? Please share all the fiddle leaf fig care ideas with us!

xo

Gina