Fiddle Leaf Figs can be encouraged to branch by notching, which doesn’t entail the plant’s height being reduced. Instead, tiny cuts or “notches” are made all the way up and down the stem or trunk to promote the formation of new growth lower on the plant.
There are two distinct notching patterns. The first slashes diagonally through the FLF trunk at a depth of about one-third, immediately above a leaf or node. Similar in nature, the second involves two cuts and the removal of a tiny “chunk” or piece of the trunk. To remove a small portion of the trunk, make the two slices just 1-2 mm apart.
It might be challenging to properly notch a plant without accidently decapitating it or cutting too deeply. It’s unquestionably a more sophisticated technique with variable outcomes. If you want to try it, I also advise going numerous notches. Not all of them have a 100% success rate. So if you want two or three branches, you might want to do six notches.
The best stem for notching is one that is more aged or woody. It might be advisable to wait till your FLF stem reaches maturity if it is still green before attempting to notch.
Tips for Notching:
- You may have more control over the notch with a craft knife than with a pair of cutters.
- Directly above a leaf or node, cut the notch.
- Cut the notch diagonally, about a third of the way into the stem’s depth.
Why aren’t my fiddle leaf figs growing?
Because it is expertly prepared with the ideal N-P-K ratio for fiddle leaf figs, we adore Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food. The best aspect is that it is so mild you can incorporate it into your weekly watering schedule! In this manner, you can guarantee that your tree receives the ideal dosage each time and that you never have to remember a fertilizer plan.
Repot your fiddle.
Fiddle leaf figs frequently have limited growth as a result of outgrowing their pot or becoming root-bound.
This occurs when the roots encircle themselves so tightly that they are unable to branch out or absorb the nutrients or water needed to maintain growth.
It’s usually time to repot your plant if you see a bunch of roots poking out of the top of the soil or the bottom of the pot. Since most fiddle leaf figs require repotting every two to three years, you should consider doing so if you haven’t done so already.
Although repotting seems frightening, it need not be. You can learn everything you need to know about repotting your fiddle leaf fig from this article. The top 4 inches of soil can be removed and replaced with new soil if your fiddle leaf fig is too large to be repotted.
Your fiddle leaf fig can develop and thrive after the appropriate watering schedule, nutrients, and pot size are in place because environment is important for a healthy plant (indoors or outdoors)!
How much time does a fiddle leaf fig require to grow new leaves?
Fiddle Leaf Figs are infamously difficult to grow. There are a few typical maladies of this plant, like brown spots and leaf drop, that can make it sick or, worse, fast bring about its demise. The secret to keeping your plant happy and healthy is to keep an eye out for them and catch them early. Keep an eye out for these indications of a possibly sick fiddle leaf fig.
Brown spots on the leaves
The leaves of fiddle leaf figs are incredibly prone to browning. Brown spots that start to form and spread should be investigated even though a few small markings here and there are not a cause for concern.
Due to two opposing factors—either overwatering or underwatering—most brown patches on fiddles are unfortunately difficult to diagnose. Here’s how to distinguish between them:
Overwatering, which results in root rot, is probably to blame for brown patches that appear in the center of the leaf and spread outward. A fungal illness called root rot will eventually kill your plant by spreading to the leaves. You should repot your plant as soon as possible if it has root rot. Take the plant out of the ground, wash the roots thoroughly, and cut off any that are brown or mushy. After that, repot the plant in new soil with adequate drainage and remove the damaged leaves.
Are the brown spots on your fiddle beginning at the outside border of the leaves and moving inside? The plant is probably too dry for this to be the cause. Give your Fiddle a thorough rinse, and make sure it’s not too close to any heaters or air vents because that will likely cause the plant to dry out more quickly than is desired.
Finally, trauma may cause brown spots to form at random. A plant can suffer trauma just by changing homes (i.e. changing environments). If only one or two of your plant’s brown, damaged leaves are present, remove them at the stem and give your plant some time to heal.
The new growth is smaller than the older leaves
A healthy plant always shows new development, and if your Fiddle’s leaves are getting big and strong, your plant is doing fine.
The presence of little, stunted new leaves, however, may indicate that your plant is deficient in nutrients. Consider repotting your plant if it has been a while since you gave it fresh soil, or just fertilize it in the spring and summer to give it the extra nutrients it requires.
Dropping leaves
Fiddle Leaf Figs can appear to drop their leaves out of nowhere. One leaf here and there is normal; but, if several leaves have fallen off in a short period of time, you must act quickly to rescue the tree. Once more, underwatering or overwatering are the most likely causes of leaf drop in fiddle leaf figs. How then can you distinguish between them? Look at the direction in which the leaves are falling from the plant: if the older leaves (at the bottom) are dropping first, overwatering is probably the cause. On the other hand, if the plant’s leaves are falling off all around, it’s probably not getting enough water. Here are a few more techniques for differentiating.
Leaves turning yellow
Do your fiddle leaf fig’s leaves appear to be yellow? There are several potential reasons:
inadequate lighting Fiddle Leaf Figs require as much direct, strong light as they can get. Even a little direct sunshine is acceptable, but stay away from locations with medium or low light. Remember that a Fiddle that receives insufficient light is more likely to overwater.
a lackluster diet. Due to a deficiency of nutrients in the soil, your Fiddle plant may have yellow leaves. You may want to attempt fertilizing it with liquid fertilizer.
Pests. If fiddles are being attacked by insects, their leaves may also turn yellow. If you have a suspicion that this is the case, thoroughly check the leaves’ top and bottom surfaces for any potential bugs.
Stunted or slowed growth
During the spring and summer, healthy fiddles typically produce new leaves every four to six weeks. It’s possible to see your plant add numerous new leaves in only a few days or weeks because growth usually occurs in spurts. It’s typical for there to be no new growth during the winter. Again, if you don’t observe the expected growth in this plant, it may require new nutrients in the form of a quality plant fertilizer.
Dirty or dusty leaves
When was the last time you washed your plant’s leaves? Plants breathe through their leaves in addition to absorbing sunlight through them. Your plant won’t be able to carry out either of these tasks as effectively as we’d like if a layer of dust is present on its huge leaves. A fantastic technique to keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig plant bright, healthy, and vibrant is to clean the leaves every few months. You may read about various cleaning techniques for your fiddle leaf fig here.
Fiddle Leaf Figs are known to be pickier than most plants, despite the fact that they can be quite low maintenance. Maintain a regular watering routine, fertilize in the spring and summer, and most importantly, ensure that your plant receives enough light year-round (yes, this may require moving it in the winter!). Keep a watch out for any of these symptoms since treating them quickly is essential to keeping your plant healthy and looking nice.
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.
How can you promote the growth of leaves?
You may make a fertilizer by mixing baking soda, household ammonia, and epsom salts. This fertilizer promotes plant development and helps plants keep healthy foliage.
How quickly do fiddle leaf figs grow?
Fiddle leaf fig trees have gained popularity in recent years among bloggers. I enjoy looking at the lovely interior design photographs on Instagram, which frequently feature potted fiddle leaf figs. One that I purchased last year perished slowly and sadly, leaf by leaf. Recently, I struck it lucky and paid only $12.99 each for a pair of fiddle leaf figs at Home Depot. Since these plants are elusive, I was thrilled to find them since I was determined to show myself that I could maintain one (or two) of them.
One of my plants was already displaying symptoms of distress when I came home. The few leaves at the top were withered. Because I want mine to live this time, I have been investigating this plant. I discovered that the experts frequently emphasized the following: Growing a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree: Tips and Tricks
- Avoid overwatering. a weekly glass of water
- It requires good lighting. The plant prefers consistent bright (indirect) light, although if placed in an Eastern-facing window, it can endure occasional full sun. Once it starts to slant toward the light, rotate the plant every several months.
- It’s crucial to maintain a stable atmosphere. Maintain a temperature range of 60 to 75 degrees.
During the (growing) summer, fertilize once every month, then repot as the roots expand. Also, bear in mind that this plant grows slowly.
This plant is indigenous to West Africa’s tropical regions, where it can naturally reach heights of 40 feet or more. In their natural environment, fiddle leaf plants will first produce blooms and then fruit, but this rarely occurs indoors.
As I previously indicated, my previous attempt to raise a fiddle leaf fig failed miserably. The poor thing quickly grew weaker as it started losing its leaves. Upon further investigation, I discovered that if your plant is dropping leaves, it either requires more hydration or is exposed to a draft. A good approach to raise humidity is through misting. In order to remove dust and enhance the glossy appearance, you should also clean the leaves with a soft sponge and water. Its leaves could dry out and fall off because to cold drafts coming in through windows, doors, and air conditioners.
How can I tell if the light reaching my fiddle leaf fig is adequate?
Measuring the space between the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig tree is another proven way to determine whether it needs more sunlight.
The leaves of a fiddle will grow more closely together than those of a fiddle that must reach for its solar energy.
Here is an illustration of a fiddle leaf fig that displayed these precise signs. Just two years ago, I gave my mother this beautiful plant:
As you can see, the leaves were able to remain near to one another without suffocating one another due to the abundance of sunlight offered by the greenhouse environment. It was flawless.
I sent it over to my mother without checking for a bright spot in her home. The greatest spot she could locate in her house was close to a window, although it received little natural light.
After a year, she was able to move the large plant outside for some summer heat and humidity, but as you can see, the branches had already started to spread:
This fiddle leaf fig tree had a terrific summer, but when winter arrived, it had to return indoors.
It is now as follows:
Watch for this lanky, “reaching” appearance and address it right away by moving your plant steadily closer to the sun.
Which fertilizer is ideal for fiddle leaf figs?
One size does not fit all when it comes to plant fertilizer! Fiddle leaf figs are no different from other plants in that they require varying amounts of different nutrients. In order to prevent your fiddle leaf fig tree from developing an excess of some nutrients and a deficit in others, it’s crucial to choose a fertilizer that is suitable for it.
N-P-K Ratio
The N-P-K ratio, or the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in a fertilizer, is one of the most crucial aspects to take into account while looking for the finest fertilizer for fiddle leaf figs. The main minerals that plants require to maintain their growth and operations are listed above, however various plants require varying amounts of each. In much lower levels, fertilizers may also contain minerals including copper, calcium, sulfur, boron, and chlorine.
Fertilizer with a 3-1-2 N-P-K ratio, or 3 percent nitrogen, 1 percent phosphorus, and 2 percent potassium, is optimal for fiddle leaf figs. Keep an eye out for these statistics, which ought to be prominently stated on the package of any fertilizer you’re contemplating!
While a well-balanced 1-1-1 fertilizer can also come in handy in a hurry, 3-1-2 is the best for your fiddle leaf fig’s long-term health.
Liquid vs. Granules
Fertilizer normally comes in two forms: liquid that you give to your plant’s water and pellets or granules that slowly dissolve into the soil.
Each has advantages and disadvantages, of course. We find that it’s challenging to monitor exactly how many nutrients your plant is getting because the rate at which the pellets dissolve can be unpredictable. The slow-release granules are supposed to be used less frequently, which can make it simpler to remember when to fertilize.
In general, liquid fertilizer is simpler to manage, but it must be applied more frequently and frequently according to a more complicated plan than once every six months.
I like fertilizer that is liquid. I devised Fiddle Leaf Fig Food, a liquid fertilizer made especially for fiddles that is gentle enough to use every time you water, because I kept forgetting to fertilize my plants. Now that it’s become a habit, I simply add a little to my watering can when I water my fiddle. All of my fiddles are gorgeous!
We usually advise using liquid fertilizer since slow-release pellets are simply too simple to get wrong unless you are an expert. Additionally, you should never mix liquid and pellet fertilizers as this can quickly lead to overfertilization and chemical burn on the roots of your violin.
Soil pH
For a brief moment, let’s discuss soil pH because it has an effect on both the health of your tree as a whole and your fertilizing efforts.
When the pH level of the soil is a given value, plants grow and function at their best. This is important because a plant’s roots’ capacity to absorb water and nutrients depends on the pH of the soil. This means that even if you routinely use the proper fertilizer, if the pH isn’t right, your plant may end up being over- or under-fertilized owing to malabsorption.
Particularly fiddle leaf figs prefer a pH level of 6-7, which is rather neutral. The pH level of certain potting mixes will be listed on the package, but many are not. We’ve discovered that it’s wise to evaluate the pH of a potting medium before applying it to a plant. We adore this 3-in-1 soil meter that monitors light, pH, and moisture (which is also quite important). Test it out!
We also heartily recommend our Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Potting Soil, which is the ideal pH for fiddles if you don’t want to fuss with meters and labels. Additionally, it offers the perfect ratio of drainage and water retention to prevent over- or underwatering, and it’s also quite healthy! Even before you start adding fertilizer, your violin will have plenty of nutrients to get it off to a fantastic, healthy start in its new soil.