How To Take Care Of A Fiddle Leaf F...

Sharing tips about the way to maintain a fiddle leaf fig tree, how usually to water it, how a lot water, how a lot daylight, all of these necessary 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 way to maintain these kinds of vegetation.

I hesitated to jot 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 concern 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 high ideas within the feedback.

What Is A Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

A fiddle leaf fig plant can be known as a Ficus lyrata. They’re tropical timber that do extraordinarily effectively outside 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 area and is usually 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 put up, I’m sharing tried and examined tips about the way to maintain a fiddle-leaf fig tree, discover time to repot it, and preserve 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 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 may possibly get a number of daylight. These vegetation additionally are likely to do effectively in areas with excessive ceilings, skylights, and enormous home windows. In case you dwell in an space that’s not well-lit, you should use a grow light. 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 will probably be blowing instantly on the plant.

Whereas the solar is an efficient factor, be careful for an excessive amount of sizzling solar and robust direct daylight on the plant as a result of it may possibly 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. Vibrant, oblique gentle is normally finest. Lightening circumstances make all of the distinction.

Watering

Okay, so there are fairly a number of strategies right here: the cup technique (watering a small quantity continuously) 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 massive 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 circulation 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 go away it alone.

A observe: fiddle leaf figs LOVE rain and I really feel like rainwater is so a lot better for vegetation than sink water. Name me loopy, however they reply in a different way. If it rains, drag your sturdier vegetation 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 home the place it can dwell. This fashion, it may possibly 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 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 effectively. Test together with your nursery to see what potting combine they advocate in 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 develop. They really do higher once they’re barely sure, and lots of fiddle leaf figs do effectively within the preliminary pot from the nursery. I’d select a pot round that measurement, or barely greater. Necessary: be sure that the pot has a drainage gap so the water can simply circulation by. 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 by and forestall 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 little bit increase, I like this fertilizer blended with filtered water. (It was too acidic with our sink water and precipitated 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 little bit humidity. In case you dwell in a dry local weather, misting could make a optimistic affect on the leaves. You may place a humidifier on low near your plant, or often mist by hand. I use this mister from Amazon and solely mist the leaves once I water (as soon as each 7-12 days). I mist the leaves after which wipe off any mud with a paper towel. This fashion, 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 might do this for Fred.

Enjoyable observe: 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 vegetation are finest left alone, so I’d solely advocate repotting if completely vital. (It may 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, go away it alone haha. Some indicators you would possibly wish to repot: the soil is pulling away from the perimeters and you may see a number of roots, a bacterial an infection (a number of brown spots on the leaves), or root rot. You may keep away from root rot by ensuring there’s a number of drainage and avoiding overwatering.

If you have 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.) In case you see any mushy roots, trim these off too. Place right into a pot with a number of inches of soil, encompass with a number of recent new soil, and water.

Okay, pals! That’s all I’ve received for ya, and I’ll add extra to this put up as I consider new ideas.

Do you’ve got plant infants? Any nice ideas you’ve realized over time? Please share all the fiddle leaf fig care ideas with us!

xo

Gina