The simplest approach of cleaning huge leaf plants can have a significant impact with just a spray bottle and a cloth. Sprinkle plenty of water on the plant or each leaf before gently wiping away the dust. Keep in mind that leaves can be delicate, so be careful not to handle them roughly. This could be a very time-consuming process, depending on the size of your plant!
What should I use to wash my fiddle leaf fig leaves?
Your best option might be to spritz the leaves and wipe them down with water and a soft cloth if your plant is too huge to take outside or into the shower. Avoid the temptation to add any special ingredients or oils that could clog the plant’s pores because applying anything to the leaves of your plant other than basic water is bad for it.
Use a spray bottle of distilled water to protect your plant if your water is particularly hard or if you have a water softener. I use a clean towel and this tiny spray bottle from Amazon (seen below). Spray each leaf, carefully wipe it off, and then repeat as necessary to thoroughly clean your plant. Each leaf might need to be completed twice or three times.
Cons: Because wiping each leaf can harm your plant, this is the method I least like to employ. The undersides of your plant’s leaves cannot be cleaned with this procedure, and it takes a lot of time. Finally, because the contaminated spray water will fall down around your plant, I find it annoying and messy. To protect your floor, you might wish to place a towel underneath your plant.
Provide humidity.
In fact, fiddles adore dampness as tropical plants. It maintains the suppleness of their leaves, enhancing their sheen and gorgeous deep green hue.
Keep your tree away from vents, heaters, and drafts. If you live in a dry region, use a humidifier or pebble tray to add some extra humidity.
In order for your tree’s new leaf buds to emerge healthy, green, and glossy, give it a shower every now and again.
Clean your leaves.
Again, it may seem obvious, but one of the main causes of dull leaves is hard water stains and dust.
Cleaning your leaves is also good for your health because plants utilize them for photosynthesis, which is like eating and breathing, and for respiration, which is like breathing.
Wipe your leaves down occasionally with distilled water and a tiny bit of detergent-free soap.
Showering cleans the leaves.
The main advantage of washing your instrument is definitely this! Showering is a good way to get dirt and dust off your fiddle leaf fig leaves.
Not only does dust on the leaves appear ugly, but it can also harm your plant! Your plant’s pores may become clogged with dust, which will make it challenging for it to perform photosynthesis (make energy from sunlight). Additionally, it can obstruct your plant’s ability to breathe. Your plant might essentially starve AND suffocate from dusty leaves!
An occasional shower may keep leaves gleaming, useful, and clean! (Try our new Houseplant Leaf Sheen as well, since it not only keeps pests away while giving your leaves a healthy shine and protection from dust.) It’s ideal for both cleaning and safeguarding. It eventually even aids your plant in retaining more of its own hydration.)
I have a fiddle leaf fig. Can I use olive oil on it?
Are you all prepared for a new week? I realized this past weekend just how quickly summer flew by. Even though we were out and about every weekend for the past three months, it feels like we have accomplished nothing. I had so much on my to-do list that I wanted to get done over the summer because I was unhappy with the little progress I had made. I can at least cross off taking care of my Ms.Dee from the list. You know, I was thinking the other day that it would be nice to show our beloved Fiddle Leaf Fig some attention as well while I was splitting up some indoor plants that I hadn’t touched in 14 years. For precisely a year, it has been kept in the identical IKEA container that I purchased it in. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to stop developing as a result.
Basic Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Maintenance:
- There is a lot of ambient light.
- Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, once a week or longer.
- a warm environment (60 to 90 degrees F)
- Avoid vents, drafts, and drifts.
- When required, turn the plant to maintain it in the same position. They dislike being frequently transported.
- Repotting after a purchase should only be done when new growth is apparent.
- Repotting should only be done after the Fiddle Leaf Fig has become established and grown enough for the roots to be seen on the bottom of the container. Their roots want to be closely clustered.
- Use a container that is one or two inches larger than the root ball when you repot plants for the same reason.
- Pull the plant out slowly.
- Loosen the root ball and repot in an excellent potting mix that has been fertilized in a container that is one to two inches larger than the root ball.
If not regularly cleaned, the huge leaves of these show stoppers nearly often become massive dust collectors. I must admit that during the course of the year, I may have cleaned the leaves just once.
Yuck! According to what I’ve read so far, you can use these to clean and shine up the leaves of your indoor plants;
- a mixture made of milk and water.
- Within banana peels
- little olive oil
- Natural Mayo
- Cocoa Butter (My method)
I often use a damp towel to clean my indoor plants, but this time I put a few drops of coconut oil on a soft cotton kitchen towel. See the distinction?
I had the vague impression that the idea behind using Mayo or Olive oil was that the oil (in Mayo) naturally made the leaves shine. Both of these are heavier than coconut oil, which I always keep on hand. I reasoned, “Why not?” Actually, coconut oil has a long history with us and is something we adore. Kerala, the region of India where I was born, translates to “land of Coconuts.” Naturally, coconut and coconut oil play a major role in our cuisine. The latter is used for practically everything, including cooking, moisturizing skin and hair, and even as medicine!
- Pour it into the towel with just 2 drops of the solution.
- To disperse the oil over a greater area, rub the cloth on itself before applying gentle pressure to the leaves. This makes sure that the coating of the leaf is very thin. Again, because the oil is so light, the leaf’s pores won’t become clogged.
- Keep in mind to avoid applying oil to the leaf’s underside. For the underside, water would be adequate.
How can I get glossy, healthy leaves?
First things first: We do not advise cleaning your indoor plants with leaf-shining treatments. There are various commercial plant shine products available, and many stores utilize them to enhance the appearance of their plants. Nevertheless, leaf shine products sometimes cause more harm than benefit.
Stomata, which are microscopic pores found in plants, are essential for many of the organisms’ processes. Stomata allow oxygen to enter through during respiration. Stomata let carbon dioxide to pass through during photosynthesis. Additionally, stomata let water vapor to flow through during transpiration. Numerous leaf shine items block these apertures with oil or wax, which restricts the critical gas exchanges that stomata are necessary to.
Even while the leaf shine product makes the promise that it is clog-free, its residue might draw in more dust and dirt, giving you a plant that is ultimately not all that shiny. You get caught in a never-ending cycle of cleaning and re-shining as the foliage gets harder to clean.
We all agree that plants are beautiful, but if you want to bring out even more of their beauty, there are safer ways to do it without endangering the health of the plants.
Clean plants’ leaves with a damp cloth.
Wet the towel (or sponge) and squeeze away the extra moisture. Place one hand softly underneath each leaf to support it while the other hand wipes down the top of the leaf while moving away from the stem. Repeat the procedure on the leaf’s underside, where common houseplant pests like to conceal themselves. Use a gentle brush if the leaves are delicate or little.
Shower your houseplants.
All plants, but especially those with numerous leaves, benefit greatly from a light, lukewarm shower. To make sure the water cleanses the undersides of the leaves, carefully run your hands through the vegetation. For ferns, orchids, and palms that enjoy dampness, this technique works well. Just be careful not to overwater your plant while you’re doing it (only water plants in containers with drainage holes) and be sure to shake off any extra water from the leaves afterward.
Clean leaves with a bit of soapy water.
Try combining water and all-natural liquid soap if water alone is insufficient. Either bathe your hands with the mixture and gently apply it to the plant, or you can carefully wipe the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in the soap and water mixture. Clean the plant’s leaves from top to bottom; doing so may assist get rid of any potential pests. When finished, thoroughly rinse the plant to remove all of the soapy liquid, then shake off any extra water.
Or opt for a mixture of vinegar and water or lemon juice and water.
Vinegar and water are also useful for removing residue accumulation on leaves. But be careful not to go overboard. Start by combining a gallon of water and one teaspoon of vinegar. After that, carefully dab the mixture onto the leaves of your plants using a delicate cloth. Bonus: The smell of vinegar works wonders to deter pests and curious animals. Lemon juice is a good substitute for vinegar. Mineral salts can be dissolved with the aid of an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar. Lemon juice and water, in contrast to vinegar and water, won’t get rid of pests on your plants, but it will dissolve mineral buildup from hard tap water on your leaves.
Should fiddle leaf fig leaves be sprayed?
Our preferred approach for giving your violin humidity isn’t misting, but fresh leaf buds are the one exception.
The emergence of new baby leaves from their leaf sheaths can result in tearing since they are thin, sensitive, and have a tendency to stay together (see, that almost rhymes!).
New leaf buds should be misted, but only the lead buds, and not so much that the water runs off onto the surrounding leaves.
Give your new baby buds a nice sprinkling a few times each week, and if you’d like, gently dab up any surplus water with a clean, soft towel.
In a dry climate, you can still grow a healthy fiddle leaf fig. It requires a few additional tools, but it is entirely possible! Even if you reside in the middle of the desert, follow these recommendations for a beautiful, healthy tree.
How can a fiddle leaf fig be kept content?
Placing your fiddle leaf fig in the ideal location within your home will ensure its success. Put it in a location that is not exposed to wind or drafts (stay away from air vents! ), receives sunlight without being overly hot, and, on top of that, some humidity won’t harm. Greenery NYC offers a light-measuring guide if you’re unsure whether a particular location in your home is perfect for a fiddle leaf fig to live its best life.
Added advice? Your fiddle leaf fig tree should be rotated frequently, not moved. Fiddle leaf figs usually grow toward the sun, so rotating your planter once a month might promote more balanced growth and prevent it from bending in different directions.
Do fig plants benefit from coffee grounds?
Coffee grinds might be an excellent addition if you have alkaline soils or want to lower the pH level of your garden soil because fig plants like acidic soil. The addition of coffee grinds close to the root zone will aid in moisture retention and generate soft spots for new roots to enter. If adding coffee grounds close to the tree, make sure the soil is thoroughly mixed with them before spreading them to prevent hard, dry spots from forming.
Is it okay to sprinkle cinnamon on my fiddle leaf fig?
Being a professional violinist, it probably comes as no surprise that the totally “in vogue” Ficus lyrata, often known as the Fiddle-Leaf Fig, is one of my favorite house plants.
I particularly enjoy the Fiddle-Leaf Fig’s rich, full leaves, though, and have found that caring for the two I own has been a complete joy – yep, you can’t just have one!
However, they have a well-deserved reputation for being challenging to maintain, but I have to disagree! Because their leaves aren’t too delicate and they can withstand a little drought better than my ferns, they are actually some of my easiest plants.
Therefore, I decided to give five of my BEST care advice in today’s post so you can confidently fall madly in love with your own Fiddly companion!
NO SENSUAL MOOD LIGHTING FOR THESE BEAUTIES!
You’ll have to realize that your intense love affair will only be a Summer Fling, even though your stunning, glossy new companion might appear simply tempting huddled beneath the stairway!
Fiddle-Leaf Figs require a LOT of indirect, bright light, so you should place them where they have a nice view of the sky but aren’t always bathed in direct sunshine (since this might burn the leaves). However, for the majority of the day, they both sit in rather bright, indirect light! A few hours of early morning sun is entirely safe, and in my experience, has encouraged my fiddles to grow, notably Frederick shown here!
First Fiddle Leaf I acquired, my smaller fig (not shown) spent the majority of the year quite dormant in the low-moderate light area of my stairwell. He underperformed significantly, so I transferred him to his new home on the landing a few months ago, and he is now LOVING LIFE! Our skylights allow him to receive much greater indirect light, and this season, he has developed SEVEN leaves.
LET THEM GET A LITTLE THIRSTY!
Overwatering is the most typical reason for a fiddle leaf fig’s demise. I am aware that it can be really difficult to resist dousing your lovely Fiddle in affection, but if you give him more water than he requires, you will drown his roots and destroy him.
Because every Fig is unique and every lighting situation is unique—factors that affect a Fiddle Leaf’s ability to use water—I won’t provide a detailed watering schedule for your plant. However, a good test to determine your plant’s thirstiness is to stick your finger one inch into the soil. Only water him if he feels dry! And when you do water him, make sure you water him well and deeply, letting the water drain out the pot’s bottom!
I suggest purchasing one of these useful water meters if you lack confidence in your ability to judge when your plant is ready for a watering. They eliminate all the guesswork!
But I will advise that your plant will find it difficult to gulp if it doesn’t get enough light. The soil needs more light if, 10 days after watering, it still feels damp an inch below the surface in the middle of the Summer. Plants naturally consume less water in the winter, therefore I’ve discovered that my fiddles can easily go up to three weeks without watering.
The size of the plant, in my opinion, is another factor. My larger plant uses water more frequently than my smaller plant since it needs more water as it grows more leaves.
KEEP ‘EM HOT & STEAMY!
Okay, “hot” might be a bit much, but since fiddles are native to tropical areas, they have evolved to survive in hot, muggy circumstances. Since most types of house plants prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18 and 23 degrees Celsius), the temperature in your home probably won’t be a problem. However, humidity levels might be tricky to maintain.
Don’t be tempted to put your Fiddle directly near to the radiator just because they like warm weather; the heat might be extremely drying! Even though my enormous plant is situated close to a split-system air conditioner, I have angled the vents so that they don’t directly hit it, and it seems to be content.
By placing a plant on top of a pebble tray or utilizing a humidifier, you may make your home more humid!
RUB A DUB DUB, YOUR BOY NEEDS A SCRUB!
While over-showering your fiddle’s roots won’t make him happy, you CAN give him a good old-fashioned sponge bath to show him some regular lovin’! We adore Fiddles because of their large, gorgeous, glossy leaves, but they are prone to collecting dust, so give the leaves a good clean down on a regular basis. He’ll not only look his best, but he’ll also be kept bug-free thanks to it!
HELP – MY FIDDLE HAS AN STI!
Ah, the dreaded “Soil-Tampering Insects,” also known as fungus gnats or the plant equivalent of herpes. These tiny, unwanted visitors are more of a nuisance than anything else, won’t hurt larger, established plants, but may do so to seedlings. If you’ve recently added any type of home plant, you may have also seen the appearance of some little, tiny flies that seem much more curious than your normal house fly — I’ve had several try to fly into my nose and have discovered numerous in my glasses of tea… GROSS!
But a long back, my dear friend Rachel Aust shared with me a fantastic tip about using cinnamon to help keep them at away! Seriously, what a simple and inexpensive fix! Once a week for a few weeks, simply sprinkle a thin coating on the surface of your soil after watering. Killing the larvae that the adult flies deposit in the soil will be beneficial!
Neem oil has also shown to be a very effective natural remedy for other pests like spider mites, in my experience.
BONUS TIP: SATIATE HIS HUNGER!
I’m still learning how to feed plants, but I thought I’d share what I’ve been using to feed my ravenous houseplants! Over the course of the Spring and Summer, I dispense one pipette of this wonderful little plant food from The Plant Runner Truck into my tiny watering can and water my plants with it. It seems to be working really well.