Sharing recommendations on the right way to maintain a fiddle leaf fig tree, how usually to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these vital questions!
Meet Frida Kahlo. She’s our attractive 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 usually get questions on the right way to maintain a lot of these crops.
I hesitated to write down this submit 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 submit, 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 known as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical timber that do extraordinarily nicely outdoor 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 enchantment 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 submit, I’m sharing tried and examined recommendations on the right way to maintain 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 crops, and home crops is to discover a place in your house the place they’ll be blissful and get sufficient mild. Normally, it is a north or south-facing window, the place it could get numerous daylight. These crops additionally are inclined to do nicely in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. Should you reside in an space that isn’t well-lit, you should utilize a develop mild. 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 ensure 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 powerful direct daylight on the plant as a result of it could trigger sunburn. Now we 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 mild is normally greatest. Lightening situations make all of the distinction.
Watering
Okay, so there are fairly just a few strategies right here: the cup methodology (watering a small quantity ceaselessly) or the extra rare methodology (LOTS of watering about as soon as per 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 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 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 is not going to disturb the roots. This can assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to stream via extra freely. An excellent 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 depart it alone.
A notice: 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 a different way. If it rains, drag your sturdier crops exterior!
Potting Medium
Tip: earlier than you pot your fiddle leaf fig, preserve it within the pot from the nursery within the space of your own home the place it would reside. This manner, it could 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 permits water to stream via 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 nicely. Test together with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate in your local weather.
Whenever you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an infinite pot as the foundation system doesn’t want a ton of room to broaden. They really do higher once they’re barely certain, and plenty of fiddle leaf figs do nicely 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 stream 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 forestall 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 a bit of increase, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and brought about 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 a bit of humidity. Should you reside 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 sometimes 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 executed this for Frida, however could do this for Fred.
Enjoyable notice: 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 advocate repotting if completely obligatory. (It could 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, depart it alone haha. Some indicators you would possibly need to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you’ll see numerous roots, a bacterial an infection (numerous brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You’ll be able to keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s numerous drainage and avoiding overwatering.
If it’s worthwhile 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.) Should you see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with just a few inches of soil, encompass with numerous contemporary new soil, and water.
Okay, buddies! That’s all I’ve bought for ya, and I’ll add extra to this submit 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
