Sharing tips about how you can care for a fiddle leaf fig tree, how usually 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 residence. Frida receives SO many compliments each in real-life and on-line, and I usually get questions on how you can care for the following tips of crops. I hesitated to write down this submit as a result of I was a infamous plant killer. 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 surprise if Frida will recoil her leaves and burst into flames as soon as I press publish on this submit, 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!!
A fiddle leaf fig plant can be known as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical bushes that do extraordinarily properly outside 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 to your house, and generally is a beautiful, architectural assertion in your house. It makes a decor affect, and can be infamous for being a difficult houseplant to maintain alive. On this submit, I’m sharing tried and examined tips about how you can care for a fiddle leaf fig tree 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 completely happy. Normally it is a north or south going through window, the place it might probably get a lot of daylight. These crops additionally are inclined to do properly in areas with excessive ceilings, sky lights, and enormous home windows. Should you stay in an space that isn’t well-lit, you should utilize a develop gentle. 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 you don’t have AC vents that will likely be blowing immediately on the plant.
Whereas solar is an efficient factor, be careful for an excessive amount of sizzling son 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.
Watering
Okay, so there are fairly a couple of strategies right here: the cup methodology (watering a small quantity ceaselessly) or the extra rare methodology (LOTS of water each 7-12 days). 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, making an attempt to determine what the heck was taking place. A recreation changer: the water meter! I ordered this off Amazon and verify her water each 7-10 days. I ONLY water the plant when the soil dries and the meter reaches a 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 – it won’t disturb the roots. It will assist to oxygenate the soil and the water to move by means of extra freely. A superb rule of thumb: water till it begins to return out of the drainage holes after which go away it alone.
A word: fiddle leaf figs LOVE rain and I really feel like rain water 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 is going to 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 be sure you use one thing that permits water to move by means of as an alternative 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 properly. Test together with your nursery to see what they suggest on your local weather.
Once you pot the fiddle leaf fig, you don’t want an unlimited pot because the roots don’t want a ton of room to broaden. They really do higher after they’re barely sure, and plenty of fiddle leaf figs do properly within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d decide one thing round that measurement, or barely larger. Necessary: ensure that the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply move by means of. 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 although and stop root rot.
Fertilizing
You don’t *have* to fertilize your plant if the soil is wholesome and the plant is flourishing. Should you discover that it wants a bit enhance, I like this fertilizer combined with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and triggered issues, to I finished utilizing it.) Should 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! Like I discussed earlier than, FLFs love humid environments. Should you stay in a dry local weather, misting could make a constructive affect on the leaves. You’ll be able to 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 achieved this for Frida, however might do this for Fred.
Enjoyable word: fiddle leaf figs will develop as excessive as their ceiling permits. Our ceilings are 30 ft 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 vital. (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 completely happy, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you may wish 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’ll be able to keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a lot of drainage and avoiding overwatering. If it’s essential 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 a couple of inches of soil, encompass with a lot of recent new soil, and water.
Okay buddies! That’s all I’ve obtained for ya, and I’ll add extra to this submit as I consider new suggestions.
Do you’ve gotten plant infants? Any nice suggestions you’ve discovered over time? Please share the entire plant suggestions with us!
xo
Gina
