Ficus lyrata is one of our most popular plants at Flora Grubb Gardens, our nursery in San Francisco, and we almost always have it in stock. Come get yours right now! Continue reading for advice on how to grow and take care of these plants.
The fiddle-leaf fig, or Ficus lyrata, is the ideal interior specimen plant. The plant has erect, violin-shaped leaves that are enormous, densely veined, and tall. Our retail plant shop in San Francisco almost always has Ficus lyrata on hand.
These plants are indigenous to the tropics, where they flourish in hot, muggy weather. As a result, the home grower may find it difficult to replicate these steamy circumstances, making them a little more difficult. Fortunately, they are rather resilient plants that can endure less-than-ideal conditions for a fair amount of time. Last but not least, F. lyrata are really produced as larger specimen plants. If you can place them in a floor-standing planter that will allow the plant to grow to at least 6 feet, that would be ideal. In tropical settings, trees frequently reach heights of 40 feet or more. These are not naturally trimmed down to reasonable sizes due to their enormous leaves, though they can be shaped with light trimming.
Ficus lyrata plants don’t require much maintenance. Spotting on the leaves, which is particularly obvious in a plant with such huge leaves, is one of the most prevalent complaints about these plants. This spotting is typically brought on by a leaf injury, such as mechanical harm or a mite infestation. When exposed to air, the sap of Ficus lyrata can produce these brown patches. The plants are also vulnerable to a number of leaf-spotting and fungus diseases, which are often brought on by poor air circulation and an excessive amount of moisture that collects on the leaves. By keeping the plant well-trimmed and eliminating any dead leaves or twigs that you spot, you can assist stop this form of attack.
However, if your plant is dropping leaves, it’s probably due to inadequate moisture at the roots, low humidity, and cold, dry air. To raise the surrounding humidity, try spraying the plant frequently. Finally, because these plants are particularly sensitive to high salt concentrations, flush your potting soil completely on a regular basis, preferably once a month, to avoid salt buildup.
Pests include aphids, mealybugs, mites, scale, and whiteflies can harm Ficus lyrata. If at all feasible, locate the infestation as soon as you can and use the least hazardous remedy.
Repotting: Healthy specimens have vigorous, quickly developing roots (which is pretty typical for any ficus). Try to repot the plant once a year, increasing the pot size by two to four until the plant is the required size or you can no longer handle the container. After placing plants in large containers, remove the top few inches of soil and replace it once a year with new potting soil.
Advice: Avoid often turning or moving this plant. The plant should be placed permanently, and to keep it clean, use an old T-shirt to dust it. As necessary, stake and prune. Only leaves facing the light will remain on Ficus lyrata; ones facing a darker wall or corner will wither away. If you move or reposition your ficus, be prepared for leaf loss.
Ficus lyrata need strong, filtered light. Even a little sun won’t kill them, especially if they’re in an eastern-facing window. When housed in a too-dark environment, plants won’t develop quickly.
Water: Keep it moist, but don’t let it stand in water because that will cause it to lose leaves and develop root rot.
Fertilizer: For plants that are not in ideal conditions or are recuperating from stress, apply Maxsea All Purpose Fertilizer seasonally and up to monthly.
How is a fiddle leaf fig planted?
Managing soil moisture is essential for fiddle leaf fig success. Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix is ideal for growing plants because it contains coconut coir, which stores and releases water while facilitating simple soil rewetting. It should be placed in a container with multiple drainage holes that is 1/3 broader than the plant’s root ball. Place the plant so that the top of the root ball is approximately an inch below the top of the pot and fill the bottom third of the pot with potting soil. More potting soil should be added around the root ball, and once the plant has been fully watered and allowed to drain, it should be placed.
When you notice roots poking through the bottom of the container, repot fiddle leaf figs using the instructions above. These plants don’t want to be disturbed, so don’t repot them more frequently than required. Depending on how quickly the plant is growing when it is still little, you might need to repot it every year.
Is it difficult to grow ficus lyrata?
This West African native plant is planted inside because of its lovely semi-lobed and oval leaves, which all appear to develop to different proportions. This plant was given the name fiddle because of the fiddle-like (violin-shaped) shape of its leaves.
Although it may take this ficus up to 10–15 years to achieve full maturity, after 3–4 years of growth, it begins to resemble a beautiful tree or other ornamental house plant.
Trunk and leaves: As you can see from the picture on the left, the leaves have pronounced veins running through the middle and from the center to the edge. These lustrous leaves can reach a length of 12 inches and a width of at least 5 inches. Although sturdy, the trunk is rather peculiar and grows quite long and thin, giving the plant a bushy appearance at the top without lower leaves.
Displaying: Because they prefer bright lighting, they thrive in greenhouses and conservatories. Although sufficient light must be provided – wherever they are sitting – they are the kind of plant that looks wonderful near doorways, corridors, fireplaces, and other prominent sections of a room.
Flowering: Fiddle leaf plants will develop flowers and eventually fruits in their natural habitat and outside, but this rarely occurs indoors.
Care level: This ficus seems to require a little more attention than the rubber plant, F. elastica, primarily because of its demand for light and sensitivity to losing leaves. Overwater is the worst thing to do. Additionally, excessive soil drying and low humidity levels will render leaves dark and unsightly. The majority of growers will be alright because it’s not nearly a novice plant and doesn’t require an expert.
What kind of soil is necessary for a ficus lyrata?
It’s time for soil after you’ve chosen a container for your fiddle leaf’s new home.
Fiddle leaf figs require potting soil that drains well and has a lot of organic content. It performs best on a peat-based soil with some perlite. For good reason, this is staple fare for the majority of indoor potting mixtures.
A fundamental ratio would be around two-thirds peat and one-third perlite. Though many other, more complex recipes might also be effective. I merely want to give you a rough idea of what constitutes adequate drainage in this area.
How fast does the ficus lyrata grow?
Ficus lyrata trees can grow up to 12 to 18 inches annually, or roughly 1 inch every month.
However, depending on a few variables, this growth rate fluctuates considerably. Fiddle leaf figs grow far more slowly indoors, as many homeowners have discovered. They might barely grow 2-4 inches a year.
The natural habitat of these plants is a tropical one. They are now often used as indoor houseplants due to their enormous, magnificent foliage. Taking children out of their ideal habitat has a big impact on how they develop.
After repotting, do you water the fiddle leaf fig?
The most crucial step in repotting your fiddle, regardless of whether it is root bound or simply needs new soil, is to remove as much old soil as you can and “fluff out” any roots that are bound.
Simply putting your Fiddle Leaf in a larger pot and adding dirt to the sides won’t help if it is root-bound. This is due to the roots’ training to encircle the pot; in order for them to develop normally once more, they must be fluffed out.
Additionally, adding new soil to the periphery will reduce the effectiveness of your irrigation. When watering a pot with two different soil types, the water will follow the shortest route to the bottom of the pot. This indicates that the roots are less likely to receive adequate watering.
Step One: Mix up your new Soil
Mix the new soil mix you want to use in a separate, sizable container or bucket. This step is unnecessary if you’re only using a bag of succulent and cactus mix.
Step Two: Lift the plant out of the Pot
Assemble the plant by its base. Gently wiggle and remove the plant out of the pot by turning the plant and pot on their side. This ought to be simple to accomplish. Squeeze the pot if necessary to aid in releasing it.
Step Three: Gently break away Old Soil
The goal is to get rid of as much of the old soil as you can without damaging the roots too much. Although some breakage is unavoidable, keep in mind that the little roots are crucial because they are the ones that transport nutrients. Stability is provided by the bigger roots.
To assist wash away the old dirt, you can either submerge the root ball in water or use a hose. When repotting, make sure the roots are not allowed to dry out. Additionally, be careful that the water you use is not almost frozen—this could shock the tropical plants.
Step Four: For Root bound plants, trim some of the longer, outer roots
Trimming the roots of plants that were root-bound can encourage fresh development. Cut off any very long, outer roots. Think of it as a hair trim—you don’t need to take too much off—just an inch or two all around (depending on the size of your plant).
Step Five: Fill the planter with around a third new soil
You should add about a third new dirt to the planter you are using. Place your plant back into the pot after that, paying attention to how high it is sitting. You should plant it so that the soil covers all of the roots and comes up to the top of the pot within an inch.
Step Six: Place the root ball into the Pot & Fill
You might need assistance holding the plant upright while you add fresh soil to the sides. Remember that the earth will settle, so firm up the area surrounding the roots to help the plant stand.
Step seven: Water the plant
Avoid skipping this step! When the plant is watered, the soil will be able to move around and settle in between the roots, leaving none exposed. Make careful to water it until a lot of the extra runs off. If you see that the soil level has decreased as well, you can tap the pot or gently but firmly press the soil down with your hands to help it settle.
Once the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry, wait to water your Fiddle Leaf Fig again (use your finger to test).
For about a month after repotting, avoid fertilizer because the roots have been disturbed and could become damaged. After the process, you can use a soil conditioner like Seasol to assist maintain the soil and plant robust and healthy without overpowering the plant.
After repotting, put your plant somewhere bright so it has time to acclimate. Fiddle Leafs typically dislike change, so it is best to let it acclimatize to its new container and soil at this point without making any additional modifications.
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Are fiddle leaf figs difficult to maintain?
placing a fiddle leaf fig tree in a large, contemporary container. Garden tools, dirt, and a container of Ficus lyrata on a hardwood floor. New house tree planting procedure
Fiddle Leaf Fig 10106:21
The fiddle leaf fig, which has been a popular houseplant recently, adds a stunning architectural element to any room in the house. Although this lush plant is beautiful and has shiny, violin-shaped leaves, it can be challenging to maintain. But don’t worry—we have advice to maintain it flourishing in your area.
The good news is that the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), if acclimated, can grow to be at least 6 feet tall, making it an impressive statement piece. If you want a different look, there are also various cultivars of the plant, such “Suncoast” and “Compacta,” that don’t grow as tall and are bushier.
So, before taking one of these not-so-cheap houseplants home, read our in-depth care instructions and essential information if you want to get the most out of your investment for years to come.