How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on the best way to 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 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 the best way to handle some of these crops.

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 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 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 ideas right here and my fellow fiddle leaf lovers, please share your high 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 effectively 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 put up, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on the best way to handle a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and maintain 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 comfortable and get sufficient mild. Normally, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it could possibly get a lot of daylight. These crops additionally are likely to do effectively in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and huge home windows. Should you stay 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 crops. Have a look across the space and ensure you don’t have AC vents that will likely be blowing straight on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an effective factor, be careful for an excessive amount of sizzling solar and robust direct daylight on the plant as a result of it could possibly 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. Shiny, oblique mild is normally greatest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly just a few strategies right here: the cup technique (watering a small quantity regularly) 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, 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 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 won’t disturb the roots. This may assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to circulation by 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 be aware: 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 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 own home the place it should stay. This manner, it could possibly have time to regulate to the lighting and atmosphere earlier than you additional shock the plant by repotting. For potting soil, just be sure you use one thing that permits water to circulation by as an alternative 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 effectively. Examine together 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 develop. They really do higher after they’re barely certain, and lots of fiddle leaf figs do effectively within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that measurement, or barely greater. Vital: make sure that the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply circulation 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 stop root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is prospering. Should you discover that it wants just a little enhance, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and prompted 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 just a little humidity. Should 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 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 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 completed this for Frida, however could do this for Fred.

Enjoyable be aware: 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 crops are greatest left alone, so I’d solely suggest repotting if completely needed. (It could trigger stress for the crops and we don’t wish 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 comfortable, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you would possibly wish 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’ll be able to 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 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 just a few inches of soil, encompass with a lot of recent new soil, and water.

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

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

xo

Gina