Sharing recommendations on the right way 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 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 typically get questions on the right way to handle all these crops.
I hesitated to jot down this put up 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 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 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 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 put up, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on the right way 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 blissful and get sufficient gentle. Normally, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it will possibly get a lot of daylight. These crops additionally are likely to do nicely in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and huge home windows. In the event you dwell in an space that’s not well-lit, you should use a develop gentle. 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 you 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 sizzling solar and powerful direct daylight on the plant as a result of it will 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 gentle is often greatest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.
Watering
Okay, so there are fairly a couple 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 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 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 move by 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 go away 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 otherwise. If it rains, drag your sturdier crops 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 dwell. This manner, it will possibly have time to regulate to the lighting and surroundings earlier than you additional shock the plant by repotting. For potting soil, just be sure you use one thing that allows water to move by 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 nicely. Test along with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate on your local weather.
Whenever 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 after they’re barely certain, 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. Essential: make certain the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply move by. 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 by and forestall root rot.
Fertilizing
You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is prospering. In the event you discover that it wants a bit of enhance, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and brought on issues, so I finished utilizing it.) In the event 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 of humidity. In the event 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 often mist by hand. I take advantage of 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 manner, dusty leaves don’t hinder the power 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 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 crucial. (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 blissful, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you may need to repot: the soil is pulling away from the sides and you’ll see a lot of roots, a bacterial an infection (a lot of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You may keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a lot of drainage and avoiding overwatering.
If you’ll want to 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.) In the event you see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with a couple of inches of soil, encompass with a lot of contemporary new soil, and water.
Okay, buddies! That’s all I’ve acquired for ya, and I’ll add extra to this put up as I consider new suggestions.
Do you might have plant infants? Any nice suggestions you’ve realized over time? Please share the entire fiddle leaf fig care suggestions with us!
xo
Gina
