Plants go through a lot of changes during the winter. For starters, they can be impacted by lower temperatures, a lack of humidity, and less light!
Like me, you probably have a passion for Fiddle Leaf Figs and want to know exactly what winter means for your plant and how you can keep it healthy during the chilly months.
Fiddle Leaf Figs occasionally go dormant in the winter. Due to less-than-ideal environmental conditions (Fiddle Leafs are tropical plants! ), this is when they seem to stop developing.
But even in chilly climates, your FLF can continue to develop and thrive! I was able to keep my FLFs developing new leaves without experiencing any unfavorable winter symptoms this past winter.
Are fiddle leaf figs leafless throughout the winter?
We questioned our farmer about the Fiddle Leaf Fig and the Alocasia, two plants that are particularly prone to winter leaf drop. It is well known that these plants require a little more care.
The absence of sunlight, coupled with cool temperatures and low humidity, are the most frequent causes of aloe leaf drop. Consider purchasing a humidifier and grow light to help it survive the colder months.
Alocasia plants receive increased heat and humidity in the greenhouse, therefore it seems sense that these plants would struggle in the winter when indoor temperatures and humidity are significantly lower.
When transplanted from their preferred location, Fiddle Leaf Fig plants can experience shock, but our smaller variety, Ficus lyrata bambino, is less picky. However, if it changes its environment for the winter, it might still be a little cranky. Additionally, fiddles are picky about their water and humidity conditions. Similar to how Alocasia leaf drop can be treated, Fiddle Leaf Fig leaf drop can be treated by providing additional lighting and humidity for plant health.
Do fig trees grown indoors fall dormant?
DID YOU KNOW A fig tree kept indoors throughout the winter requires no more maintenance than a potted houseplant? In actuality, less is required because figs hibernate over the winter.
My fig tree looks dead or dormant.
It most likely still alive if you can see green under the bark. Start at the tree’s peak. If the region beneath the bark is not green, go down the trunk to see if you can find any areas that may still be alive.
How are fiddle leaf figs preserved over the winter?
You’ve probably heard about how picky fiddle leaf figs are, as well as how harsh they can be when given poor care. If you’ve never taken care of one before, this can be scary. However, as fiddle leaf figs are one of the most common indoor plants, many beginners have had success cultivating them. Read up on these ten Fiddle Leaf Fig care commandments if you’re new to the game as well.
1. Verify that there is drainage The condition of your plant’s root system determines how healthy it is overall. Water and oxygen are two things that roots require to keep healthy. Your plant must be able to breathe properly for both of these to be in harmony. As a result, you should check to see if your planter or pot has a drainage hole as one of the first things to do. Keep your plant in its plastic nursery pot and slide it inside the ornamental container if the decorative planter you want to use doesn’t have one. At Lon & George, we actually pot all of our plants in this manner because it enables us to use svelte and fashionable planters and also ensures the safety and health of our plants’ roots.
In addition to draining, you need let some oxygen reach the roots. Aerating the soil occasionally is one approach to make sure the roots receive enough oxygen. You only need a chopstick and a few minutes to complete this.
2. Avoid overwatering It’s crucial to give your Fiddle Leaf Fig some time to dry out between waterings. This will keep them content because it mimics the conditions of their home environment. Although it may seem like a fairly straightforward operation, beginners with this plant frequently overwater it. Overwatering can result in more serious problems like root rot, which can hasten your plant’s mortality. Watering your Fiddle Leaf Fig no more than once per week is a good general rule of thumb. Never water a plant without first checking the soil; it might not need it as much as you believe.
How do you awaken a dormant fig tree?
Keep the fig tree in a container and put it into dormancy in the winter for far simpler and less labor-intensive fig tree care.
Allowing the tree to lose its leaves is the first step in winterizing a fig tree in a container. This will occur in the autumn, when other trees are shedding their leaves. While bringing your fig indoors to keep it alive all winter is technically possible, it is not suggested. The tree will want to hibernate and will appear unwell the entire winter.
After the fig tree’s leaves have all fallen, put it somewhere cool and dry. Frequently, individuals will put the tree in an inside closet, a basement, or an adjacent garage.
Every month, give your dormant fig tree some water. When dormant, figs require very little water, and overwatering the tree during this time can actually cause it to die.
You may observe the regrowth of leaves in the early spring. You can put the fig tree back outside when the evening temperature consistently exceeds 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius). Placement outside before cold weather has passed will result in the young leaves being scorched by the frost since the fig’s leaves will begin to grow indoors.
Do figs hibernate during the winter?
Figs fascinate a lot of gardeners. The extent of interest struck me when I gave away a scrawny, dormant fig plant that I had donated for a raffle and the winner informed me she had gotten several bids to buy it. Figs (Ficus carica and cvs., Zones 610), which are a symbol of family for those with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean ancestry, are a staple food. There are tales of plants that were propagated through the generations from Old World cuttings. There is also a sensory component. According to my neighbor Andreas, the fig trees’ enticing aroma transports him back to his native Greece. Others are drawn to the fruit because it is juicy and has a hint of the exotic that they were amazed they could cultivate.
At a glance | Pests and diseases
- Smaller bushes can be netted, individual fruits can be covered with mesh bags, or a motion-activated sprinkler can be installed to stop animals from stealing fruit.
- Root-knot nematodes make the roots bulge, which might hinder growth and produce subpar fruit. They most frequently cause issues in sandy, light soil. Consider growing plants in pots if nematode pressure makes it impossible for you to plant in the ground.
- Stunted growth and speckled leaves are two effects of the fig mosaic virus. Treat it as a condition to be managed because it is highly common and incurable. When conditions are favorable, symptoms are frequently outgrown by plants.
- A fungus called fig rust infects immature leaves, generating small, greenish-yellow spots that later grow and turn brown. In humid environments, where it might result in early plant defoliation and decreased output, it is a significant issue. It is more of an aesthetic issue elsewhere. By gathering and properly discarding fallen leaves, good sanitation can delay the spread of an outbreak and stop it from happening again the following year.
My motivation for cultivating figs is straightforward: The fruits don’t mature after being picked and are too perishable to ship when ripe. So I need to produce my own if I want to enjoy eating perfectly ripe fruit rather than just putting up with “fresh shop options.”
Get familiar with figs
Despite the fact that many people only identify fig plants with California or the Mediterranean region, they may be found in backyard landscaping wherever. They only need inventive gardeners to assist them in cooler climates.
With the exception of the warmest regions of North America, the plants are deciduous and go dormant throughout the winter. Contrary to popular belief, fig trees can withstand more cold. In certain cases, mature, dormant plants can withstand temperatures as low as 15 to 20F without suffering any harm. Fig hardiness is not a precise science, despite the fact that immature plants are more delicate than mature ones. Cold will harm fruit and young shoots before older, woodier stems. An already-dormant plant may endure frigid temperatures better than one that is actively growing. Other factors include wind, the length of the cold snaps, the plant’s exposure, and the magnitude of the temperature drop.
Numerous fig types yield more than one harvest annually. Although many types produce an early “breba harvest on wood from the previous year, the major late-summer crop grows on wood from the current year. But don’t look for blooms on a fig tree. A fig’s “fruit” is actually a cluster of small blooms arranged inside-out. While certain commercially available kinds need a little wasp to pollinate them in order to yield a crop, most figs produced in backyard gardens are “common figs,” which don’t need pollination.
Planting and summer care are straightforward
Finding an area with direct sunlight should be your primary priority when choosing a planting location. Other than that, figs are not particular about their soil and will grow in a variety of it as long as it is adequately drained. In the winter especially, wet roots might rot.
Fig roots are ferocious and voracious. Because they can mainly care for themselves, established in-ground plants are relatively easy to maintain. Weed growth beneath is typically negligible due to the dense mat of roots and the dense canopy of leaves that shades the ground. Apply compost as a top dressing to the soil surrounding fig plants every year. More frequent feeding may be required in sandy soil. To avoid producing plenty of leaves but no figs, avoid overfeeding. Until they become established, keep immature or recently transplanted figs well-watered.
Figs grown in containers need to be fed and watered frequently. It works well to use a balanced, all-purpose plant diet. Because figs drop leaves and immature fruit as soon as the soil becomes excessively dry, consistent watering is essential for potted plants. To provide a steady flow of moisture, you can use pots with reservoirs or set a saucer under the pot to absorb runoff when the plant is irrigated. As the soil dries, the water will wick back up into the container.
Prune and shape to keep the plant manageable
Figs are untidy plants that sucker and grow into a tangle of branches when neglected. Crossing branches should be pruned out. Be cautious that when a leaf is removed or a branch is clipped, a white, sticky sap may be left behind, which can irritate the skin. When working with fig trees, those with delicate skin should wear gloves.
The ultimate height of the plant can be chosen by the gardener, who can then regulate that height through trimming. When choosing container plants, take into account the height of the entrances they must pass through to get to winter storage. Consider the ease of harvest and whether a ladder will be needed when choosing in-ground plants.
In warm climates with minimal risk of winter damage, fig trees can grow to be branched trees between 15 and 30 feet tall with a broad canopy. Grow figs as shrubs rather than trees in locations where cold weather will cause shoot dieback. A bush can be more easily preserved by wrapping or burying if it has numerous branches rather than a single large trunk. Keep four to five sturdy stems on a plant to make it grow into a bush.
Plan ahead for a sweet harvest
Pruning the plant when it is dormant will increase the production of main-crop fruit because fresh growth is when main-crop figs form. After the breba harvest, prune the plant in the summer to produce more breba fruit by eliminating around one-third of the branches.
Fruit doesn’t need to be thinned. Pinch off figs, though, that aren’t likely to ripen in cooler climates. In order to slow down vegetative growth, some gardeners in cold climates even pinch out the shoot tip after three to five figs have grown.
Try to plant in a microclimate that gives extra heat when summer heat and season length are limiting factors for fruit ripening, such as a south-facing brick wall that accumulates heat during the day and radiates it at night. The cultivation of cultivars that yield a large amount of breba is another strategy for cold climates.
How will you know when to harvest?
A fig’s premature picking releases white sap (pictured). the next time, wait longer. Although there are numerous indicators, not all fig varieties respond in the same manner when they are ripe. Here are a few typical hints.
- Fruit colors fluctuate.
- As the fruit grows bigger, it sags and the “neck relaxes
- Fruit still has the appearance of a light squeeze.
- The hole at the end of the fig releases a drop of liquid ” (the “eye).
- Skin breaks apart.
The remaining figs will not ripen once trees lose their leaves and go dormant, so they can be picked.
Should I water a fig that is dormant?
How frequently to water dormant potted fig trees in the winter is a question I am asked a lot.
Be careful not to overwater them or you risk rotting the roots. Whenever they are in an area with dry air (e.g. in a house with forced air heating, you might need to water occasionally.)
Here is what I say in my book Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t:
It’s crucial to water plants properly while they are dormant: just enough to prevent dormant trees from drying up and dying, but not so much that the roots rot. Normally, I check them once every month.
If you’re unsure whether your plant needs watering, dig down a few inches with your finger to check the moisture level in the soil.
You want to keep your plant dormant over the winter, which calls for cool, dark surroundings.
In the winter, when should I water my fiddle leaf fig?
Fiddle Leaf Figs prefer direct, bright sunlight to grow well. Their leaves may burn and scorch if exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time.
Water
Weekly waterings are beneficial to fiddle leaf figs, but they must wait until the soil is entirely dry between applications. To avoid overwatering and root damage in the winter, we advise watering less frequently.
Humidity
You can give your Fiddle Leaf Fig a humid environment by misting it frequently, putting it near other plants, or setting it on a pebble tray that has some water in it.