Here, it’s crucial to consider your watering practices along with the findings from your moisture meter. To maintain your plant at a moisture reading of 4, you wouldn’t want to water it a little bit every day. This would put your plant at danger for root rot and prevent the roots from ever receiving a deep watering.
To ensure that all of the soil is moistened and the roots receive a thorough soak, you should water your plant well until 5–10% of the water escapes through the drainage holes. After that, you should give your plant a week or more to dry out once more.
How much moisture does a fiddle leaf contain?
Do Not Over Water is the first Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree ownership rule. They don’t require watering every few days like most plants do. In actuality, you ought to let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Your fiddle leaf may even go up to ten days without needing water, according to The Urban Sprout.
Before adding further water, the top few inches of the soil in the pot should be dry.
Put your finger one to two inches into the soil to measure the moisture content. It is too soon to give your plant more water if it feels damp or moist. To the touch, it ought to feel dry.
A moisture meter can be purchased if you want to get fancy. Simply insert it into the soil, and it will show you how much moisture is present. While a moisture meter is by no means necessary, it helps increase your confidence when deciding whether or not to water your Fiddle Leaf.
So how much water should you give your Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree?
These plants are accustomed to the intense rainfall and extended dry spells seen in the rain forests of Africa. Therefore, you must give your plant a deep watering when you do water it.
After some time, the state of the plant’s leaves will indicate whether you are watering it enough or too much. Here are some examples of fiddle leaf fig tree leaves in good health.
Signs of Too Much Water
- beginning at the plant’s base, the leaves are beginning to turn a yellowish-brown color.
- patches growing in the middle of the leaf that are brown or black.
- leaves shedding
- Root rot is indicated by a musty smell coming from the roots and the soil.
Signs of Not Enough Water
- On the leaf edges, brown or dark patches appear.
- Brown patches can be found on the plant’s leaves all around, not only near the bottom.
Here is a picture of a leaf from one of our plants during a dry spell.
How should a fiddle leaf fig be used with a soil meter?
By putting a moisture meter in the soil, you can determine how wet the roots of your plant are. You can prevent root rot and a plant that isn’t getting enough water by using moisture meters.
The usage of conventional soil meters is challenging. In our Facebook community and on Instagram, we frequently receive inquiries about moisture meters.
We developed a moisture meter especially for fiddle leaf figs because of the difficulties our fiddle leaf fig devotees face.
This moisture meter was created to be error-free. Use by following these guidelines:
- Put the moisture meter midway between the pot’s exterior and the tree trunk.
- Plunge the moisture meter two inches into the ground.
- Find the number four. This indicates that you should water your fiddle leaf fig.
You may need to water your fiddle leaf fig every week, every two weeks, or once a month, depending on its growth.
After use, be sure to clean and dry your moisture meter. Keep the moisture meter away from the plant itself.
Does my Ficus have a bacterial infection or root rot?
- Most likely not. Despite the fact that this diagnosis is all over the internet, we have found it to be incredibly unusual in the thousands of Ficuses that our sister firm, Greenery NYC, has taken care of. It’s usually a different issue, like inadequate lighting or overwatering. If you’re curious to learn more, we do offer a guide on how to distinguish between bacterial and fungal leaf spots.
Help! My Fiddle Leaf Fig dropped a leaf!
- Moving and changing the environment can be hard on ficus trees. The Ficus plant will temporarily go into shock and drop its leaves since the dry, cold air is such a drastic change from the warm humidity of the greenhouse. This situation is only transitory, so don’t worry. Your tree won’t return to normal for a few weeks, and during that time it might lose a few leaves. However, if the leaves keep falling, it can be an indication of poor lighting or water.
My Fiddle Leaf Fig has brown spots and the leaves are dropping. What do I do?
- Overwatering is the most common error people make when caring for their plants. Even though they require a lot of water to stay healthy, moist soil will drown the plant. Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees prefer to let their leaves slightly dry out between waterings. Allow the plant to dry out until the soil is totally dry if your leaves begin to turn brown and fall and the earth is moist.
- Lack of light is the second biggest error people make. Fiddle Leafs need a lot of light to grow, and if they are not soaking up enough energy, they will begin to shed their leaves. It’s preferable to put your plant by a window if you’re unsure about where to put it. Please see our lighting guide for additional details.
- The fiddle leaf fig can also be severely damaged by underwatering. The edges of the leaves begin to brown and curl in when submerged, and this ultimately spreads throughout the entire leaf. Fallen leaves that were submerged in water will typically be entirely or largely brown and dry to the touch.
RIGHT: A dropped leaf that has been overwatered. A telltale indicator that the plant has received too much water is the browning that is spreading from the central node (or midrib) through the veins of the leaf. RIGHT: If the leaves have brown spots or holes, the plant is probably not getting enough light. This frequently occurs on the lowest leaves of the tree, which over time may start to lose light.
How do I tell when my Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree needs water?
- The simplest approach to determine whether your Fiddle Leaf plant needs water is to look at the leaves once you’ve determined that the top few inches of soil have dried out. The leaves will inform you they need water if they are not firm and straight and begin to look droopy. Until you develop a habit, be sure to check in with your tree frequently to make sure you don’t go underwater.
Left: a submerged Fiddle Leaf Fig tree; right: the same tree less than twenty-four hours later.
How much light is too much light for the Fiddle Leaf Fig?
- In New York City, fiddle leaf figs should thrive if placed directly in front of a window. However, they cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to the sun (being placed outside on a sunny day). They might be sunburned in exceptionally bright apartments (i.e., those with floor to ceiling windows), in which case your best chance is to position them in front of the window with a sheer curtain. The complete spectrum of the sun’s rays will be blocked by partial shades like solar shades, therefore avoid using them to filter the light.
Can I put my Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree next to the AC / heater?
- Floppy Leaf Tropical vegetation like fig trees prefer a humid atmosphere. They lose their leaves if the weather is too dry. Although fiddle leaves do well in air-conditioned apartments, never place them right next to an air conditioner or heater. It is recommended to move to a different location if their leaves are wagging in the air.
How often should I fertilize my Fiddle Leaf Fig?
- Fertilizing indoor plants from spring through fall generally results in their thriving. Use an organic houseplant fertilizer once a month, dilution and application instructions on the container. In order to ensure that your plant doesn’t require fertilizer within the first six months of receiving it, Greenery NYC employs an organic potting mix with a slow release fertilizer in the soil.
How often does my Fiddle Leaf Fig need to be repotted?
- We advise repotting bigger floor plants every 18 to 24 months. In order to allow for growth, you need often use a potting vessel with a diameter that is 2- 4 bigger. Selecting a pot that is significantly larger than the previous one could drown the plant’s roots. Repot your plant into the same container, add additional soil, and remove some roots and foliage if you’d like to keep it at its current size. Repotting should be done in the spring or summer when the plant is at its healthiest.
Can roots be harmed by moisture meters?
It’s easy to use your moisture meter. To guarantee that your sleek new gadget is used properly, follow these instructions!
To measure the moisture in your plant’s soil, gently insert the moisture meter into the soil while being careful not to damage any roots. If you run into a few roots, don’t panic, but don’t push through them.
If it’s time to water, the top window will be entirely white. Wait until it turns white before watering if it is even slightly blue.
Water your plant thoroughly as directed on the care instructions if it is, in fact, white. The moisture meter will progressively turn blue.
You can either leave your moisture meter in the plant’s soil or take it out every time you water. You decide!
How long should a moisture meter be left in the ground?
Moisture meters detect soil conductivity using the electrical resistance principle. Simply explained, stronger electrical currents indicate more moisture in the soil, whereas lower electrical currents signify drier soil, because water conducts electricity well. Some moisture meters can even detect the light levels around a plant in addition as the pH of the soil. Three-way meters are what they are known as.
Push the Metal Probe Into the Soil
Gently press the metal probe into the ground until it is about 4/5 of the way down. Remove the probe and try another area if you encounter resistance. The probe is sensitive, so you don’t want to press your luck.
Wait 30 to 60 Seconds
Typically, moisture meters provide a reading in 30 to 60 seconds. After 60 seconds, if you still don’t notice a reading, take the probe out, give it a gentle clean, and try again.
Read the Results
Moisture meters are simple to read once the findings are ready. The data displayed in the display window of a moisture meter may be on a numerical scale or a scale from dry to wet, depending on the type and brand. To increase clarity, the scales are frequently colored.
What humidity level is ideal for indoor plants?
This is crucial since the location where you enter the meter can affect the values you receive. The middle of the root ball is where you should take your reading. Insert the sensor roughly halfway into the pot, halfway between the plant’s base and the pot’s edge.
Step 2: Take your reading.
To find out how long to bury the sensor in the ground, refer to the instructions that came with your meter. When the required length of time has passed, the majority of meters will give you a reading. This will be a number between 1 and 10, with 1 representing total dryness and 10 representing total saturation.
Varying plants require different amounts of water. To know how to use the data your meter provides, it’s critical to investigate the requirements of your facility. (Be sure to read the symbols on the information tag on your plant to get a sense of how much water it requires.)
Succulents, snake plants, and other plants that thrive in drier environments will typically require watering at a 1 or 2.
When the meter reads three or four, water plants that demand medium amounts of water and prefer slightly moist soil, such as fiddle leaf figs and monsteras.
Watering needs for plants that require consistently moist soil, such maidenhair ferns, should be around a 5 or 6 or even higher.
Step 3: Remove the meter
This step is crucial because if you leave your meter in the dirt all the time, the sensor will become damaged and the meter won’t work properly or at all.
After using the meter, take it out of the ground, clean the sensor, and store it safely until you need it again.
You can give your plants the precise amount of water they require to remain healthy by using a soil meter. You won’t want to test soil with your finger or a stick again after you start using a soil meter!
Does humidity matter for fiddle leaf figs?
Excellent Fiddle-Leaf Fig care makes your plant stronger and more resistant to disease, and poor care generates a downward cycle of sickness, brown patches and 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.