How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on handle a fiddle leaf fig tree, how usually 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 house.

Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I usually get questions on handle these kind of crops.

I hesitated to jot down 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 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 nicely open air 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 attraction of your house and is usually 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 publish, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on handle 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 crops, and home crops is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be completely satisfied 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 crops additionally are inclined to do nicely in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. When you stay in an space that isn’t 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 crops. Have a look across the space and be sure to don’t have AC vents that will likely be blowing immediately 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 could possibly trigger sunburn. We have now 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 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 every 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 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 stage 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. This can assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to movement by means of extra freely. A great 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 crops than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply in another way. If it rains, drag your sturdier crops outdoors!

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’ll stay. This manner, 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 be sure you use one thing that permits water to movement by means of as an alternative 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 nicely. Examine along with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate in your local weather.

If 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 broaden. They really do higher after they’re barely sure, and lots of fiddle leaf figs do nicely within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that dimension, or barely larger. Necessary: be certain the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply movement 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 forestall 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 just a little increase, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and prompted issues, so I finished utilizing it.) When 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 just a little humidity. When you stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a optimistic influence 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 accomplished 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 ft tall, and I HOPE SHE GROWS THIS HUGE with all my coronary heart.

Repotting

I’ve discovered that these crops are finest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely needed. (It could actually trigger stress for the crops 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 completely satisfied, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you may need to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you’ll see a lot of roots, a bacterial an infection (a lot of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You possibly can keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a lot of drainage and avoiding overwatering.

If you could 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.) 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 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 suggestions.

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

xo

Gina