Excellent Fiddle-Leaf Care for your fig plant strengthens it and increases its resistance to illness, while neglect leads to sickness, brown patches, and other issues. Fortunately, there are only 10 essential yet straightforward steps to taking good care of your fiddle-leaf fig tree. To have a happy and healthy plant, abide by these guidelines!
Provide Proper Drainage.
The cornerstone of the health of your plant is its root system. Many people are unaware that roots require both water and oxygen to function correctly. Your plant’s root system needs proper drainage in order to breathe and remain healthy. Root rot can develop in the soil and harm your plant if there is insufficient drainage.
How Often To Water A Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant:
It’s crucial to let the soil around your plant to get a little bit dry in between waterings in addition to allowing enough drainage. Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig often only requires one watering per week. One of the biggest mistakes brand-new Fiddle-Leaf Fig owners make is using too much water. Make sure you aren’t drowning your plant by being conscious of its water needs. Brown stains and falling leaves are indications that you’ve overwatered.
Give a Winter’s Rest.
Your plant gets less sunlight throughout the winter, which gives it less energy to carry out its metabolic processes. As a result, it needs less fertilizers and water. To give your plant a chance to relax over the winter, water it less and stop fertilizing.
Accept the Loss of Older Leaves.
In order to make room for new development, plants constantly expand and shed their older leaves. As they get taller, fiddle-leaf fig trees lose their lower leaves. If your plant has healthy new development, it’s okay if it occasionally drops its lower leaves.
Provide Humidity.
For a Fiddle Leaf Fig, the optimal humidity range is between 30 and 65 percent. If your area is particularly dry, you might need to spritz your plant or provide a humidifier to give it some extra humidity. Keep your indoor fiddle-leaf fig tree away from heater vents because they can dry out your plant.
Care For Problems Immediately.
Fiddle-Leaf Due to the high energy requirements for the development of their enormous leaves, fig trees grow quite slowly. As a result of how long it takes people to recover from issues, treating illnesses as soon as possible becomes even more crucial. If you notice brown patches, leaf drop, or an insect infestation, be sure to take action right once.
Repot When Needed.
In a few years, if your fiddle-leaf plant is in good health, its root system will start to exceed its pot. To give your plant more room to grow, it might be time to repot if you notice roots extending from the pot’s bottom or borders. If your plant has outgrown its current container, top dress it rather than repot it by taking out the top 4 inches of dirt and replacing it with fresh soil.
Fertilize the Fiddle-Leaf Properly.
For fiddle leaf figs to grow their big, gorgeous leaves, they need a lot of nutrients. Feed them frequently with Root Rocket Fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 3-1-2, such as Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant Food. A deficiency of nutrients can be detected by yellowing leaves and poor growth.
Use the Proper Tools.
It’s crucial to always have the right equipment on hand for effective Fiddle Leaf Fig maintenance. A rolling plant stand that enables you to move and rotate your Fiddle-Leaf Fig indoors is one of these, along with a watering can, a moisture meter, sharp pruning shears, and other gardening tools.
Check on Your Plant Weekly.
Getting to know your plant better is the greatest approach to care for it. Spend some time each week checking on your fiddle leaf fig. Before you water, check the soil to determine if it is moist or dry. Check the leaves for any indications of insects or brown stains. After that, turn your plant so that it receives consistent sunshine. Finally, record any alterations, such as new growth.
One of the most satisfying plants to raise is a fiddle-leaf fig tree, especially after you learn what they require. Order a copy of The Fiddle Leaf Fig Expert book right away on Amazon to learn everything you need to know. Additionally, you may sign up for The Ultimate Fiddle-Leaf Fig Care Webinar and become a member of the Fiddle Leaf Fig Club.
Do fiddle leaf figs need direct sunlight?
Although they can withstand moderate sunlight, it’s not their preferred environment. It’s a good idea to put the plant near a south or west-facing window, but not directly in the sun, as it prefers steady, ambient light. They can tolerate up to six hours a day of direct sunlight, if necessary.
Finding a location where the conditions are as consistent as possible throughout the day is the finest thing you can do for these plants as they are creatures of habit. Placing your plant in low light is one thing you must never do.
Can my plant go outside?
Of course, you can take care of your fiddle leaf fig outside given the correct circumstances. It might perhaps act and develop to a height of more than 40 feet if you locate it in the ideal location. Your garden should, however, be entirely frost-free and never drop below 50 degrees at night in order to prevent any issues.
On summer days, you should use caution as well. Keep your plant from getting too hot too quickly and water it frequently so the roots have access to moisture all the time. Similar to when you keep it as a house plant, you should be watchful of how much direct sunshine it gets.
Why do the leaves turn brown?
You have some homework to complete if the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig are starting to turn brown. There are several potential causes, but light and water are the most frequent ones.
In most cases, water is the culprit if the edges of the leaves are becoming brown. If just the lower leaves are impacted, overwatering has created root rot. The likelihood of the plant being thirsty increases if all of the leaves are going crispy. Unhappy leaves that are going brown in the middle show that the plant needs more humidity since it is receiving too much light.
What’s the difference between a fiddle leaf bush and a tree?
An established fiddle leaf tree can cost hundreds of dollars, so you’ll probably end up nurturing a smaller plant to grow tall. Ficus lyrata likes to grow straight up if left unattended, but you can encourage branching by either pruning the new growth or notching the stem.
To notch, choose where you want a new branch to grow and make a 1/8-inch cut into the stem just above a node using a clean knife. The node should produce a new branch. The lower leaves can then be removed when your plant appears very healthy.
Should I mist my plant?
When caring for any rainforest plant, especially in the winter, misting is a need. Fiddle leafs prefer a humidity level of 65 percent, which is substantially higher than that of most houses.
Filling a spray bottle and leaving it next to the plant is the ideal method for misting. You can regularly spritz it with room-temperature water in this manner. Misting your plant is very crucial after dusting its leaves. For your plant, a humidifier is ideal if you can afford one, but regular misting with a spray bottle should suffice.
How long does it take for the plant to grow?
Most fiddle leaves can grow up to 10 feet tall indoors. They might even outgrow your home if they’re truly content. However, that may take up to 15 years. Of course you two want to stay together for that long, but it can be difficult to wait for a plant straight out of a magazine.
These are not the quickest-growing plants, but with proper care and fertilization, the 18-inch bush you purchased from the garden center should mature into a respectable-sized tree in 34 years.
Should I cut off brown spots off the leaves?
Although brown stains on the leaves are unsightly, you shouldn’t immediately remove them. After all, in order to photosynthesize, the plant requires its leaves. Your plant won’t thrive if the leaves are pulled out as soon as spotting appears.
Your plant is attempting to tell you something when its leaves turn brown, whether it’s water, fertilizer, sunshine, or pest control. The best course of action is to try to identify the issue, fix it, and then postpone pinching off the damaged leaves until your plant has produced some healthy new growth.
Are fiddle leaf fig toxic?
Yes. We’re not talking about plants that are aesthetically pleasing but dangerous here, but if you have kids or animals in your house, you should be cautious of them around any Ficus family plant, including your fiddle leaf fig.
A healthy adult won’t suffer long-term consequences from ingesting the plant, but cats, dogs, and small people can get hurt from the calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves. A burning, irritated mouth, trouble swallowing, drooling, and vomiting are indications of an adverse response. Consult a doctor straight away if you believe that your child or pet may have consumed a portion of the plant.
Where should I position my fiddle leaf fig for maximum benefit?
The Ficus lyrata, commonly known as the Fiddle Leaf Fig, is featured on the covers and in images of numerous design journals. Its tall stature and large, graceful leaves add drama and height and unify entire rooms. Despite where you’ve seen Fiddle Leaf Figs in pictures, some individuals don’t aware that they need to be placed just in front of a window. They can be challenging to care for until the plant adjusts to your environment and until you figure out when to water them. Continue reading to discover how to keep your fiddle leaf fig alive and healthy for many years to come.
Light
The best setting for Fiddle Leaf Figs is in front of a window that gets direct morning or afternoon light. The ideal window to choose has a primarily unobstructed eastern, western, or southern exposure. You don’t want the window to be shaded by nearby trees or buildings. If your Fiddle Leaf is positioned right in front of the window, a north facing exposure can also work if there is enough room and nothing blocking your view of the sky. You should gradually adapt your tree to being in several hours of direct sunshine if you plan to set it in front of a southern exposure. The leaves could burn and develop brown scorch scars if they receive too much direct sunshine too rapidly. Over the course of 1 to 2 weeks, gradually increase the amount of time it spends in front of a southern window.
The amount of light your Fiddle Leaf Fig need to thrive depends in part on its size. The amount of light a plant needs will increase with its size. For instance, a window would need to be much taller to accommodate a 7′ tall tree than it would a 4′ tall tree.
In general, your fiddle leaf fig will require more light to preserve its existing leaves and spur the growth of new ones the more leaves it has. In order to tell us that it isn’t getting enough light to support all of its leaves, a plant will respond when it isn’t getting enough light by losing lower and interior leaves.
It’s crucial to maintain your plant in front of the window during the winter months when natural light isn’t as abundant but also ensuring sure it doesn’t catch any chilly air from drafts that blow in. If your windows are drafty, try moving your Fiddle Leaf 2 to 3 feet away from the window to observe how it reacts. In most cases, keeping plants at this distance allows them to avoid any sporadic cold air blasts while yet receiving an equivalent quantity of light. For more advice on winter maintenance, keep reading.
The ideal temperature for fiddle leaf figs?
Since houseplants gained popularity, the Fiddle Leaf Fig has been the indoor plant that has dominated fashion and design trends (Ficus lyrata).
This plant can be found as a tree or in its younger, more shrubby stage. It has huge, glossy green leaves on a substantial-sized plant that can grow to be at least 8 feet tall. The ficus family, which is made up of many species that have long been popular indoor plants, includes various species, including the fiddle leaf, which has some of the biggest leaves of any of them. It can be difficult at first to keep a fiddle leaf fig happy at home, but after you learn some of its fundamental preferences, you can maintain your temperamental fiddle’s happiness and health!
Let’s just clear up one thing first.
The fiddle leaf fig is a drama queen in general. In other words, these plants consistently prefer certain conditions, and if those requirements are not met, they sulk by shedding leaves. You guessed it: Your plant will drop leaves if it is moved, turned, or repotted. It will also drop leaves if exposed to frequent drafts or intense heat.
However, your fiddle leaf fig may still live on even though its leaves are falling. In the first 24 weeks after getting your new Ficus plant, some leaf loss is typical. If, however, the leaf falling is severe or continues, check your plant’s hydration and lighting needs to see if it is growing in the best conditions.
The fiddle leaf is not the simplest indoor fig to maintain, so if you have had trouble with one in the past or want to take a shallower dive into the Ficus world, we advise trying one of the simpler figs first. If you’re worried that your house or workplace may not have enough light, consider growing a Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis), which can tolerate lower light levels, or the Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica), which is just as cool but distinct from the fiddle leaf.
The best lighting is consistent bright or filtered light, but avoid extended direct sunlight; place yourself in an east-facing window or a few feet from a south or west-facing window. To maintain balanced growth, rotate the plant every so often.
Water
In general, most Ficus prefer consistently moist soil—never soggy soil. Prior to watering, the top 24 inches of the soil should always be dry. Water until the water runs out the drainage holes. It’s preferable to err on the side of too little watering than too much as you learn more about your plant’s watering requirements. The majority of problems are caused by overwatering, especially in the winter when development is slower. Be sure to tailor your watering frequency to the season and water roughly half as frequently in the winter. Additionally, plants growing in lower light levels could need less water than the same plants growing in higher light levels.
Soil
To ensure the success of your fiddle leaf fig plants, use a high-quality, rich, well-draining potting soil. Fiddle leaf figs don’t like their soil to be too wet or too dry.
Temperature & Humidity
The ideal temperature range for fiddle leaf figs is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But watch out for drafts from windows or doors, fans, or heating vents when planting a fiddle leaf fig. Higher humidity is favorable for fickle fiddles. There are several ways to increase the humidity in your home, including:
- Add a sizable humidifier to increase the humidity in the entire space, or use a smaller tabletop humidifier to target specific plants.
- Misting: Misting can be a terrific way to increase humidity, but if done improperly, it can promote leaf diseases. Use a fine mister and only spray in the morning to give the water time to evaporate during the day.
Fertilizer
To maintain healthy growth and vibrant color, use a basic indoor plant food diluted to half strength. Use fertilizer from March through September, but avoid feeding during the winter. When watering newly transplanted plants for the first time, Malibu Compost Tea for Houseplants can be used to stimulate stressed plants or assist prevent transplant shock.
Toxicity
If consumed, the plant is harmful to both people and animals in all parts. Being in contact with sap while handling plant parts might cause moderate skin irritation; use caution and gloves when handling.
Pruning
Pruning is best done in the spring when the plant is actively growing again because it encourages branching or horizontal development (many Ficus species will “bleed from cut areas with a white sap that is sticky and contains latexprotect floors and furniture with paper, cloth, or plastic sheeting before pruning indoors, and wear gloves for protection).
Troubleshooting
One of the main issues that farmers face is leaf browning, which can result from a variety of issues. It is useful to make a note of the shape, pattern, and color of the spots as well as where on the plant the damaged leaves are located (i.e. toward the top or bottom of the plant). Due in part to their big size, fiddle leaf figs’ leaf issues can often be the most striking; each damaged leaf has a significant effect. They can be vulnerable to environmental shock and transplant shock, as was previously noted, and will likely exhibit some degree of leaf drop for the first 24 weeks after being brought into your home. If brown patches appear or dropping persists, one of the following factors may be to blame:
- Older leaves (toward the interior and lower parts of the plant) are typically harmed first by root rot brought on by overwatering; the damage appears as a black area in the middle of the leaf or sporadic dark blotches.
- prolonged dryness/underwatering
- Most damage occurs to the newest leaves, which are on the leaf’s edges.
- infection with bacteria
- regions of new growth that are worse off may become yellow, appear unnaturally tiny, or have spots that are more brown or reddish in hue than black.
- Pest-specific insect damage varies; keep an eye out for exceptionally shiny or sticky leaves as a sign of pests nearby and conduct a closer inspection.
Scale and fungus gnats: Regrettably, Ficus plants are virtually as common among insects as they are among people. Scale can be hard to see, especially in the beginning phases of the “infestation,” and when they are, they can be numerous and challenging to get rid of. They resemble tiny tan lumps that can be removed with a fingernail or small tool. They are typically seen along the midrib of a leaf (top or bottom) or on a stem at the point where a leaf is joined. You may identify issues early and get back on the road to recovery by regularly inspecting your plant and cleaning its foliage. Find out how to spot scale and get rid of it here.
If you start to experience fungus gnat issues, top-dress with Mosquito Bits or lightly dust the top of the soil with Diatomaceous Earth. Avoiding overwatering your plants and waiting until the top 2 or 3 inches are dry before watering again are the best ways to keep fungus gnats away.
The Little Fiddle
The ficus in this image is a “Little Fiddle,” which is a smaller variation of the fiddle leaf fig. It doesn’t just have a cute growth pattern; it also has a tendency to be a little bit more resilient than the bigger fiddles. Fiddle leaf figs can grow in a variety of shapes, such as trees, bushes, and columns.