How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Sharing tips about maintain 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 house.

Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I typically get questions on maintain all these crops.

I hesitated to write 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 concern 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 high suggestions within the feedback.

What Is A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

A fiddle leaf fig plant can be referred to as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical timber that do extraordinarily effectively 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 area and generally is a gorgeous, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor affect and can be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive.

On this publish, I’m sharing tried and examined tips about maintain 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 comfortable and get sufficient gentle. Often, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it may get plenty of daylight. These crops additionally are likely to do effectively in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. In case 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 plenty of members use develop lights on their crops. Have a look across the space and be sure to don’t have AC vents that can be blowing straight 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 may 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. Shiny, oblique gentle is often greatest. 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 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 occurring. 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 stage 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 is not going to disturb the roots. It will assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to circulation via extra freely. A superb 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 significantly 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, maintain it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your home the place it would stay. This manner, it may 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 circulation via 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 effectively. Verify along with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate in your local weather.

While 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 broaden. They really do higher after they’re barely certain, and plenty of fiddle leaf figs do effectively within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that measurement, or barely larger. Necessary: be sure the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply circulation via. 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 via and stop root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is prospering. In case you discover that it wants a bit increase, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and triggered issues, so I ended utilizing it.) In case 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. In case you stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive affect on the leaves. You may 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 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 obligatory. (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 comfortable, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you may need to repot: the soil is pulling away from the sides and you may see plenty of roots, a bacterial an infection (plenty of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You may keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s plenty 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.) In case you see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with a couple of inches of soil, encompass with plenty of contemporary new soil, and water.

Okay, pals! That’s all I’ve obtained 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 discovered over time? Please share the entire fiddle leaf fig care suggestions with us!

xo

Gina