The majority of tall houseplants don’t need to be shaken in order to keep themselves upright as they grow, and there really is no need unless you are putting them outdoors, according to Richard Cheshire, plant doctor at Patch Plants (opens in new tab). In all honesty, if you place your plants outside for the summer, you won’t need to worry about shaking them because there will be some actual wind to do it for you.
There is scientific proof (opens in new tab) that plants benefit from thigmomorphogenesis, a process that describes how plants react to the many types of “mechanical disturbances” they encounter in the field. Wind is one among them, but there are also raindrops and animal brushes and nibbles as they go through the forest. Plants have developed to react to even light touch over millions of years, which triggers several survival mechanisms in the plant leaves.
Therefore, if you wish to do this, occasionally touching your house plants will undoubtedly benefit them, even if they presumably receive enough stimulation from the water droplets if you regularly spritz them with water.
The ever-popular fiddle leaf fig is one plant that actually benefits from being shook rather than just touched. As a result of the lack of breeze indoors, fiddle leaf figs in particular can become rather frail and struggle to maintain themselves, according to Richard. Giving them a firm shake now and then is always a good idea.
So shake away if you do have a fiddle leaf fig at home. All other indoor plants will thrive with just a light touch or spritz every so often.
How frequently should a fiddle leaf fig be shaken?
But if you have a fiddle leaf fig, it’s time to shake up your normal plant care regimen. You just need to do this: Take hold of the fiddle leaf fig’s trunk and gently jiggle it every day for one to two minutes (or really, whenever you remember to do it).
Why should a fiddle leaf fig be shaken?
“To keep my fiddle upright while it was young and immature, I used a wooden dowel. I was able to remove the dowel and it no longer need extra support because it was able to strengthen itself over time as it grew and with frequent shakings, Paige added.
So even though I wouldn’t advise you to shake your plants firmly, giving them a gently rock would not harm them. In addition to your FLF, I can see this idea working well for Rubber plants, Monsteras, Alocasia, and Pilea plants. They all have thick stems that frequently need to support a lot of weight as the leaves enlarge. This will probably become a regular component of how I take care of my plants. Play some music, get moving, and invite my plants to join in. It seems like it would be enjoyable.
Does shaking the plant encourage growth?
There is no genuine need to shake your plants, according to Patch Plants’ plant doctor Richard Cheshire.
According to Richard for Gardening etc., “Most tall houseplants don’t need to be shook to keep themselves upright as they grow and there really is no need unless you are putting them outdoors.”
Instead, moving your plants outside during the warmer months can give them a little breeze and do it for you organically in a way that won’t necessarily harm them.
However, there is proof that some plants profit from a phenomena known as thigmomorphogenesis, which describes how plants react to the many kinds of “mechanical disturbances” they encounter in the wild, such as wind and rain.
How can you determine the health of a fiddle leaf fig?
Akin developed the website and published the book to share how to grow strong fiddle leaf fig plants. Although many indoor gardeners wish to grow the plant, she discovered that there is very little reliable and comprehensive information on cultivating them.
You will find all the information you require in this comprehensive, simple-to-read guide to succeed with fiddle leaf fig plants. This involves determining whether your plant is healthy or whether it needs some additional special care and attention.
Akin lists numerous symptoms of fiddle leaf fig plant illness along with their causes. Brown stains on leaves, which may indicate over- or under-watering, are one of these. Fungal disease, which develops when leaves are overwatered, is what causes brown blotches in the middle of leaves. Browning on the leaf edges is a sign of dry, drafty air and inadequate irrigation.
Your fiddle leaf fig plant may be suffering from a lack of sunlight or inadequate nourishment if it is dropping leaves all over the plant and the leaves are yellow.
If your fiddle leaf fig has new growth and the new leaves are bigger than the old ones, your plant is likely healthy. Additionally, the plant will have glossy, brilliant green leaves and a beautiful overall appearance.
1. Ensure adequate drainage.
Plants of the fiddle leaf fig don’t respond well to wet soil. The plant roots’ ability to breathe and maintain good health depends on adequate drainage.
2. Prevent overwetting.
Every time you water, give the soil a little time to dry out. The plant will die from root rot if the soil is kept wet. The book contains details on how much water was used to water fiddle leaf figs.
Why should I Wiggle my Fiddle leaf fig?
Your indoor tree’s trunk can be moved to simulate wind, which will help you become more resilient outside. You can also leave your tree outside for extended periods of time to strengthen its trunk and expose it to the elements. Once you get the leaves inside, be sure to inspect them for bugs.
What are the best growing conditions for an indoor fiddle leaf fig tree?
Know that your fiddle leaf fig tree prefers moderate temperature changes and place it in a sunny spot within the house. The tree should be planted in a container with well-draining soil that is kept humid but not soggy since this might cause root rot.
Why isn’t my fiddle leaf fig tree flowering?
You should be careful not to overwater your fiddle leaf fig because it is prone to root rot. When storing the fig within a container, make sure the bottom has lots of holes to allow for proper drainage.
How do I fix a leggy fiddle leaf fig tree?
Give a leggy or tilted fiddle leaf fig tree bright, filtered sunshine as treatment. Please place your plant in the area of the house that gets the most indirect sunlight, which is usually six to eight hours per day. Don’t keep it in the Sun for too long, though; doing so could scorch the leaves.
Will wiggling my fiddle leaf fig tree weaken its roots?
Every one to two weeks, wiggle your fiddle leaf fig tree for 1.5 to 2 minutes to significantly thicken the trunk. Beginning with light shaking, progressively build up the force. If your plant is stake-supported, move it about at first with the support in place. You can take the stake out once your fig tree has gotten used to this practice.
Is vibration harmful to plants?
On the kitchen window sill, there is an orchid plant. She produced two blossoms a year for the first two years she was in my care. I am more of a brown thumb than a green thumb when it comes to home plants, so this performance beyond my expectations. I attribute it to both my own luck and the orchid’s incredible willpower. I was thankful that despite my lack of gardening experience, these two flowers managed to thrive.
But 2017 was an outlier. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking, baking, singing, and conversing, like many of us did.
This meant that my orchid received an exponential amount of company and care. In response, between May and October, she produced 13 magnificent blossoms. I hadn’t improved my skills; rather, I was simply more present, more aware of her, and, possibly, more inclined to engage her in conversation. But was there actually a connection between my presence and her blossoming? Had she heard me speaking to her?
According to Dr. Dominique Hes, a biophilia expert and the project’s principal researcher at Horticulture Innovation Australia’s Plant Life Balance, plants presumably don’t hear like people do.
However, some study indicates that conversing pleasantly with plants would encourage their growth, as opposed to yelling at them. However, this might have more to do with vibrations and volume than the meaning of the words. Plants respond well to low vibration levels, with a frequency range of 115–250 Hz being optimum.
Maybe it was a result of my sweet voice and musical preferences? Could my orchid’s unexpected vigor be explained by these positive vibrations?
According to Dr. Hes, “Smithsonian and NASA research shows that mild vibrations promote plant growth while harsher, louder vibrations have the opposite impact. ” The vibrations enhance interaction and photosynthesis, which boosts development and infection resistance. One could argue that the plants are content!
Horticulturist and founder of the Sydney-based firm Our Green Sanctuary, Rachel Okell, believes that healthy plants are essential. She claims, “I chat to my plants all the time when I’m looking at them. “When there is new growth, I get excited because it implies they are content and I’m acting appropriately.
So, would soft encouragement help if your dracaena was suddenly drooping like a grumpy teenager?
Whether it’s how you speak or whether you realize they need water, new soil, or nutrients, relationships, according to Dr. Hes, are crucial in this situation. Considering that they respond to vibrations, tone is also crucial.
Tim Pickles, a horticulture and proprietor of Tim’s Garden Centre in Campbelltown, southwest Sydney, noticed a change in our attitude toward plants last year. According to him, “people are falling in love with gardening. They are searching for something to cherish and love.
It is evident from the science that spending time with plants is beneficial.
Pickles thinks that because to 2020’s slower pace, we have had more time to reflect and breathe, which has increased our awareness and sharpened our senses.
Pickles’ hypothesis could account for my orchid’s passion. Is she prospering because we’re chatting, or is it just because I’m more aware of what she needs? Being home more often may have helped me observe rather than quickly grab the watering can in an effort to be a decent plant parent, as overwatering is one of the top causes of houseplant death.
We cannot dispute that there is something in it for us, whether or not we think that dialogue is good for plants. Plants and gardening have been shown to provide therapeutic benefits; these advantages include elevating our mood, enhancing our focus, and reducing stress.
What if, though, talking to your plant kids seems like odd behavior to you?
It seems obvious to me that spending time with plants is beneficial if you consider the science, vibrations, biophilic connection, and relationship-building, Hes explains. “For some people, this entails conversing, for others, listening to music, and for still others, it simply entails having them nearby while we work and unwind.
Okell concurs. She is benefiting from her practice of taking care of plants. She claims that her daily ritual of monitoring, dusting, rotating, and watering her plants is calming. “It has enabled me to maintain my composure and stay present. When the plants you care for bloom, you can feel accomplished. It’s very satisfying.
My orchid is still doing well as 2021 approaches. I can only ascribe this to our daily encounters because of the admiring stares, the welcomes and check-ins, and the attention because my fingers are not yet green (both intentional and incidental). She listens in on my phone calls and is frequently the only person who hears me sing I Will Survive before dinner. She doesn’t participate, but I believe she feels the affection, my orchid. Indeed, I am.