How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on tips on how to handle 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 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 typically get questions on tips on how to handle these kinds of crops.

I hesitated to put in writing this publish as a result of I was a infamous plant killer and killed a number of indoor crops. 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 also be known as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical timber that do extraordinarily properly open air 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 stunning houseplant that may add to the aesthetic attraction of your house and could be a gorgeous, 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 publish, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on tips on how to handle 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 crops, and home crops is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be completely happy and get sufficient mild. Normally, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it might get a number of daylight. These crops additionally are inclined to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. When you stay in an space that’s not well-lit, you should utilize a grow light. I’m in a fiddle leaf Fb group (obsessed) and plenty of members use develop lights on their crops. Have a look across the space and be sure 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 scorching solar and powerful direct daylight on the plant as a result of it might 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. Shiny, oblique mild is normally 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, attempting to determine what the heck was taking place. 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 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. This may assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to stream by way of extra freely. 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 depart it alone.

A notice: fiddle leaf figs LOVE rain and I really feel like rainwater is so a lot better for crops than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply in another way. If it rains, drag your sturdier crops 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 is going to stay. This fashion, it might have time to regulate to the lighting and surroundings 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 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. Verify along with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate to your local weather.

If 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 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 larger. Vital: be sure that 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 stop root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is prospering. When you discover that it wants a bit enhance, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and induced issues, so I finished utilizing it.) When 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 a bit humidity. When you stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a optimistic influence on the leaves. You’ll be able to 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 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 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 crops are greatest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely vital. (It could possibly trigger stress for the crops and we don’t need to stress them out!) Some websites advocate repotting each 2-3 years to get recent vitamins from the soil, however I really feel like if the plant is completely happy, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you may need 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’ll be able to keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a number of 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 might be overgrown. (It’s like giving it a haircut.) When you see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with a number of inches of soil, encompass with a number of recent new soil, and water.

Okay, associates! That’s all I’ve received for ya, and I’ll add extra to this publish as I consider new ideas.

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

xo

Gina