How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing recommendations on find out how to handle a fiddle leaf fig tree, how typically to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these essential 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 find out how to handle some of these 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 bushes that do extraordinarily properly outdoor 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 attraction of your house and generally is a beautiful, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor affect and can also be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this publish, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on find out how to 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 pleased and get sufficient gentle. Often, it is a north or south-facing window, the place it might probably get a lot of daylight. These crops additionally are inclined to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and huge home windows. If you happen to stay in an space that isn’t well-lit, you need to 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 instantly 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 might probably trigger sunburn. We now have 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 gentle is often finest. Lightening situations 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, 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 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 move by extra freely. An excellent 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 word: 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 otherwise. If it rains, drag your sturdier crops 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 own home the place it’ll stay. This manner, it might probably have time to regulate to the lighting and atmosphere earlier than you additional shock the plant by repotting. For potting soil, just remember to use one thing that allows water to move by 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 together with your nursery to see what potting combine they suggest to your local weather.

Whenever 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 after they’re barely sure, and lots 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 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. If you happen to discover that it wants a little bit enhance, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and precipitated issues, so I ended utilizing it.) If you happen to 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 little bit humidity. If you happen to stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a optimistic affect 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 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 that for Fred.

Enjoyable word: 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 finest left alone, so I’d solely suggest repotting if completely needed. (It may possibly trigger stress for the crops and we don’t need to stress them out!) Some websites suggest repotting each 2-3 years to get contemporary vitamins from the soil, however I really feel like if the plant is pleased, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you would possibly need to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you may 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 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.) If you happen to 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 bought for ya, and I’ll add extra to this publish as I consider new suggestions.

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

xo

Gina