Sharing recommendations on how you can handle a fiddle leaf fig tree, how typically to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these vital questions!
Meet Frida Kahlo. She’s our beautiful fiddle leaf fig plant that greets everybody who walks into our residence.
Frida receives SO many compliments each in actual life and on-line, and I typically get questions on how you can handle some of these vegetation.
I hesitated to write down this put up as a result of I was a infamous plant killer and killed a number of indoor vegetation. 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 ideas right here and my fellow fiddle leaf lovers, please share your prime ideas within the feedback.
What Is A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
A fiddle leaf fig plant can also be referred to as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical bushes that do extraordinarily properly open air in average 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 lovely houseplant that may add to the aesthetic attraction of your house and could be 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 put up, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on how you can handle a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and preserve 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 vegetation, and home vegetation is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be comfortable and get sufficient gentle. Normally, this can be a north or south-facing window, the place it could actually get plenty of daylight. These vegetation additionally are likely to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. In the event you stay 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 vegetation. Have a look across the space and be sure you don’t have AC vents that can 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 could actually trigger sunburn. We now have 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 normally finest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.
Watering
Okay, so there are fairly a couple of strategies right here: the cup methodology (watering a small quantity steadily) or the extra rare methodology (LOTS of watering about as soon as every week). I discovered that the cup methodology 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 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 circulation via extra freely. 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 observe: fiddle leaf figs LOVE rain and I really feel like rainwater is so significantly better for vegetation than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply otherwise. If it rains, drag your sturdier vegetation outdoors!
Potting Medium
Tip: earlier than you pot your fiddle leaf fig, preserve it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your home the place it’ll stay. This manner, it could actually 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 allows water to circulation via 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. Test together with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate to your local weather.
If you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an infinite pot as the basis system doesn’t want a ton of room to broaden. They really do higher once they’re barely certain, and lots of fiddle leaf figs do properly within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that dimension, or barely larger. Necessary: be sure that the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply circulation via. 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 via 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 prompted issues, so I ended 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 stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive affect on the leaves. You possibly can place a humidifier on low near your plant, or often mist by hand. I exploit 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 executed this for Frida, however could do this for Fred.
Enjoyable observe: 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 vegetation are finest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely obligatory. (It could trigger stress for the vegetation and we don’t wish to stress them out!) Some websites advocate repotting each 2-3 years to get recent vitamins from the soil, however I really feel like if the plant is comfortable, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you may wish to repot: the soil is pulling away from the sides and you’ll see plenty of roots, a bacterial an infection (plenty of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You possibly can keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s plenty of drainage and avoiding overwatering.
If you might want to repot, shake off the surplus soil from the roots, and trim away any of the roots’ ends which might be 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 plenty of recent new soil, and water.
Okay, mates! That’s all I’ve acquired for ya, and I’ll add extra to this put up as I consider new ideas.
Do you might have plant infants? Any nice ideas you’ve realized over time? Please share the entire fiddle leaf fig care ideas with us!
xo
Gina
