There have been more plant-related questions than usual since spring has arrived, and one in particular: you guys want to know how to repot a fiddle leaf fig tree. You don’t want to startle them because they can be challenging plants (or worse, kill them).
It just so happens that the timing is ideal because my tree needs to be replanted, and I’m going to walk you through the procedure in detail with images. This fellow is being transferred from the modernica pot to a bigger basket.
Okay, let’s get started! To start, now is the perfect time to replant… The go ahead has been given to you. Recall this article’s advice for growing healthy houseplants? Because they are in a dormant condition throughout the winter, I advised you against repotting your houseplants. Replanting in the spring, which is currently the plant’s natural development cycle, is the greatest time to promote growth.
First, locate a planter. Make sure the planter you purchase has a 23-inch-larger diameter than the one you already have. It really makes little difference whether there is drainage or not. Since it’s less untidy, I personally like drain holes to be absent.
Step two is to fill your planter 12 with rocks or gravel if you bought a pot without drainage. Add soil on top when the gravel is in place.
What kind of potting soil works best? I have a lot of gardening equipment in my garage because, as you guys know, I have a major fixation with indoor plants. Actually, I like to mix the soils.
Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, Moisture Control Potting Mix, and Twice As Big Potting Mix are the three Miracle Grow items I combined. I divided each into equal halves. Of course, you don’t have to bother searching among a myriad of various dirt containers, but that’s what I had on hand and it worked for my tree. The Moisture Control would probably be my top pick if I had to pick only one.
Step Four is to take your tree out of its current pot. This should be done outside because it requires a lot of cleanup afterwards. If the tree is prepared for repotting, the entire rootball should come out when you gently tug on the base of the trunk, as seen below.
Fifth, place the tree in the fresh planter. Make sure the root ball is 23 inches away from the center of the trunk.
SIXTH STEP: Gently press the edges until they are solid after backfilling with potting soil. After watering the tree, if the dirt isn’t firmly compacted, you might need to add more soil when the edge settles.
STEP SEVENTH: Remove any yellowing leaves by pruning them. These leaves are often near the bottom of my tree, tiny, and very easy to remove.
Step 8 is to use a wet sponge or cloth to clean the leaves. There is no need for soap when I use warm water and a dish cloth. The plant will develop more quickly and be able to absorb more sunlight if the dust is removed.
Step Nine is to wait and drink. After repotting my tree, I normally let it sit for a day before hydrating it. It’s just what I’ve always done and what has worked for me; this is a contentious subject. I’m aware that many people prefer to water right away after planting, and that’s fine too! A helpful tutorial on how to water a fiddle leaf fig tree was shared by my friend Ashley. whichever suits your plant. The sun can be harsh on a fragile plant, so it’s best to wait at least a day before putting it back in direct sunlight.
All there is to it is that! For those of you who are curious about the basket, I just purchased an inexpensive plastic planter to fit within it because the two went together improperly. When you’re ready to repot your fiddle leaf fig, I hope my thorough comments will be useful. Isn’t it amusing how, although being the same tree, it appears different in each photograph? Undoubtedly, my tree has a positive side. Ha! I should probably rotate it more frequently.
I’ve been keeping an eye on other hip interior plants, including palms, but the ficus lyrata is still a design mainstay and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. For more, see my Pinterest board.
Here is a list of some of my favorite cool planters if you’re looking for any (of all prices)…
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What should my fiddle leaf fig be planted in?
PRO TIP: Rinse the leaves of your plant with room temperature water every three months. This makes sure they can absorb and photosynthesize sunlight more effectively by clearing away any dust that has accumulated.
Always evaluate your plant’s watering requirements as soon as you get one. It is important to check the soil’s moisture content first to make sure it isn’t wet directly under the surface before giving your plant a drink. Additionally, think about aerating your plant’s soil before to the first watering. Aerating can help with drainage, let the soil breathe, and let moisture escape because many farmers compact the soil to prevent it from shifting while being transported.
As it originates from a region of the world where it gets extremely dry in between rainstorms, the fiddle leaf fig like its soil to be kept continuously, uniformly moist with a brief drying out interval between waterings. When the top two inches of soil have dried, thoroughly water the plant. Check the soil frequently until you establish a habit with your plant. If you allow the soil to dry deeply to the lower root system, leaf loss will result. On the other hand, excessive soil moisture can induce leaf drop and root rot.
A soil probe, which enables you to check your plant’s moisture level at the root level and may also be used to aerate the soil if ever overwatered, is the finest method we have found to obtain an accurate moisture reading throughout the soil. Choosing our Monitor Brass Soil Probe is a classy move.
We strongly advise potting your fiddle leaf because it is difficult to keep it alive for a long time in its nursery container. Just be sure to use a permanent planter with sufficient of soil mass and, most importantly, drainage. You must be extremely careful not to overwater your Fiddle Leaf Fig if it was planted in a container without a drainage hole. In this situation, we advise giving your Fiddle Leaf Fig a little extra time to dry out in between waterings and checking the soil’s moisture content at the roots with a soil probe before watering. Particularly in our self-watering containers, these plants thrive!
Should I fill the bottom of my fiddle leaf fig with rocks?
Any container can be filled with gravel or drainage rocks, although using a pot with drainage holes is still advised.
Do you possess an ornamental pot devoid of drainage holes? While some individuals enjoy doing it themselves by drilling a hole in the bottom, this can be laborious and could result in the pot cracking! In this situation, staging your plant, which is leaving it in its plastic nursery pot and merely setting it inside the decorative container, is advised.
Considering that it not only provides ideal drainage but also enables our customers to use chic mid-century plant supports, we actually do this for all of our plants!
This article was modified from Claire Akin’s Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource. For additional information on how to take care of the fiddle leaf fig, see their website.
Are fiddle leaf figs fond of small pots?
Floppy Leaf Only when they are root-bound do figs require an increase in pot size. In their containers, these plants typically prefer to be tight. Therefore, you should only repot a plant after you observe roots encircling the pot’s outside edge, masses of roots visible on the surface, or roots protruding from the pot’s bottom.
Holding onto the plant’s base or trunk, you can confirm this by gently wiggling and removing the plant out of the pot. The plant should come out of the pot pretty easily, and you can count the roots you can see to determine whether or not they are root bound (many roots going horizontally around the pot).
Every two to three years, you should repot your plant with new soil even if it isn’t root-bound. By doing this, the plant will be able to absorb new nutrients from the new soil. Instead of increasing the pot size, simply utilize the same pot to do this.
Before replanting with new soil, the dirt should be gently broken up and as much old soil as possible should be shaken off the roots.
Do fiddle leaf figs need drainage holes?
I’m sure everyone is familiar with the fiddle leaf fig tree (also known as the ficus lyrata). They have a reputation for being both attractive and challenging to maintain alive. You could feel a little saddened by a fiddle leaf that is dead or dying. It’s a painful process to watch as those lovely leaves begin to fall. I hope this post is helpful whether you’ve had one die or if you’re just too afraid to get one. For this specific species, several plant aficionados have some tried-and-true tips. I enjoy learning about what other people do to maintain their fiddle leaf. I wanted to provide you everyone access to five of my favorite tried-and-true fiddle leaf tips. Potting: What do you do after bringing a magnificent fiddle leaf home? When you first buy these trees, the majority of them are packaged in flimsy, inexpensive plastic. When I arrive home, I prefer to remove my tree from these jerks. I use traditional terracotta pots for my plants.
My mother instilled in me the value of clay or earthenware pots above plastic ones because they allow the soil to breathe “breathe. Make sure the earthenware pot you choose has a drainage hole (this is crucial!). A fiddle leaf needs drainage to survive. Without a hole at the bottom of the container, water might collect within and rot the roots, which will destroy the plant. Fiddle leaves dislike being consistently wet. I’ll get a pot that isn’t much larger than the container it arrived in originally. The roots want a close fit in the pot.
Next, add some small stones to the bottom of the pot that are 1.5 to 2 inches high (you can get them at most plant stores). These stones aid in drainage and prevent soil from draining away when you water the plant. Make sure the tree stays straight as you pour mud along the sides. Once the sides are completely covered in soil, I press the dirt all the way down by placing my palm along the sides. My preferred potting soil is a cactus/palm blend that can be purchased at nearby hardware stores. Sand is a component in potting mix that aids in drainage and keeps soil loose. I’ve loved using this mixture for the past five years.
Light: This object adores it! Find a window with lots of light if you obtain a fiddle leaf. Make sure the light is direct and bright. Avoid hiding it in a dark spot away from the sun (if you can help it). Keep it in an area of your home that is bright and sunny since its leaves love to soak up the light. It is crucial to keep the leaves free of dust and grime because the tree thrives in strong light. When the leaves are covered in dust, they may literally “without a clean surface, they suffocate. I appreciate photosynthesis!
I use a moist towel to remove all the dirt and dust from the leaves around once a week. I use a leaf shine spray to make the leaves particularly glossy once they have been cleaned.
This tree will soon begin to slant toward the sun since it enjoys soaking up light. To keep the tree straight and balanced, rotate it slightly (some people do this once a month or every time they water).
The fiddle leaf does not like to be moved about much. Moving it around your home can actually make the leaves fall since it loves stability. You can move it to the sink to water it, but doing so repeatedly can lead to issues. Before I tried it and saw that my fiddle leaf did truly shed leaves, I had never really believed this. Avoid placing your tree in an area that gets a lot of drafts. A vent or door can significantly aggravate the tree, especially in the winter. Find a place in your house with lots of sunlight that is not close to a door or vent.
Watering: If you water your tree too much or wait too long (until it is completely dry), the leaves will turn brown and fall off. I usually water mine once a week, but I always make sure it needs water before I do. I occasionally wait two weeks (depending on weather conditions that affect moisture levels). I stick my finger approximately 3 to 4 inches into the earth to feel for dryness as a sign that it needs watering. If I detect any moisture, I’ll wait a few days and recheck. I’ll also lift the pot to see if the weight from the previous watering is still there. It’s time for water if it feels as though it has dried out. In the sink, I enjoy watering my (although this gets difficult with large plants). To remind you to water as needed, keep a nice indoor watering can nearby.
For their plants, some people like to use filtered water, but I just use regular tap water, and that works just great for me! Run lukewarm water into the pot and thoroughly moisten the soil’s top layer. I fill the pot to the brim with water, let it drain, and then refill it well. It takes about an hour for it to completely drain in the sink, after which I put it back where it belonged. Even if your fiddle leaf is too heavy to be carried to the sink, you may still water it thoroughly. I previously had a huge tree that was elevated on a plant stand. To water the plant thoroughly and let the extra water drain into the bowl, I would place a large bowl underneath the plant. The tree eventually ended up on Craigslist since our ceilings were too low for it and I lacked the skills to prune it. That gets me to my next piece of advice, which may seem a little frightening but is really not.
Did you know you may create fresh fiddle leaf babies by removing a branch from your tree for pruning and propagation? This about the fiddle leaf tree is wonderful. The plant that keeps delivering is this one! Your tree will grow horizontally if you prune it. When you prune the tree, it will actually grow larger. Until a local nursery worker demonstrated how to do it and then displayed the results, I didn’t believe it. Your cut will result in the formation of two new growths. It could be time for a trim if your tree is starting to look a touch spindly or top heavy. All you need is a little pair of pruning shears!
To prune, locate the node—also known as the point where a leaf joins the tree—and make a cut directly above the leaf. My preferred cuttings should have a minimum of 3–4 inches of bare branch on the bottom and a few leaves on the top. After you’ve chopped it off, immerse the cut in water and expose to the sun. The branch will begin developing roots during the next weeks. It’s a fantastic procedure! Once the cutting’s roots have expanded a little, you can pot it (I like the roots to be at least 3-4 inches long before I pot it). Be patient; this process could take a month or longer. To keep the water fresh, change it around once a week. You should have a ton of fiddle babies if you use the same potting procedure described above! I adore how adorable they are on my wicker side table.
I hope you will try this plant if you haven’t already. Any room it’s in gets a little bit of whimsy and delight from it (especially if you put it in a pretty pot like one of these). Try a faux fiddle leaf fig if you’re absolutely certain that you lack the green thumb necessary for live plants or the light required to keep one happy in your location. We enjoy combining real and fake plants throughout the house so that we may utilize both where appropriate. Please share any advice you may have in the comments section below, and be sure to check out all of our other plant care advice as well. xo. Janae