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.
The best time to fertilize a fiddle leaf fig is when?
During the summer growing season, fertilize fiddle leaf fig trees about once a month using a high-nitrogen plant food, such as one with an NPK ratio of 3-1-2. Winter is not the time to fertilize.
Supplements like coffee are good for them since they prefer neutral pH soil (the ideal level is 6.5).
despite the fact that it contains a reasonable amount of nitrogen, are overly acidic and may hurt the plant by turning the leaves yellow.
How should a fiddle leaf fig tree be nourished?
A fiddle leaf fig can be fertilized in a number different ways. No matter how you fertilize, be careful not to overdo it because this can cause fertilizer burn or scorched leaves in indoor plants of all kinds, not only fiddles! Also bear in mind that winter is a time when plants normally slow down their growth and require less additional nutrients, so fertilizer is not necessary during this time.
Several methods for fertilizing your fiddle leaf fig are listed below:
using liquid fertilizer, which is typically diluted with water and applied to the soil by simple watering.
Dry fertilizer is frequently applied to the soil’s surface and then watered after.
Are fiddle leaf figs able to tolerate coffee grounds?
Applying coffee grounds directly to the soil of indoor plants can lead to excessive moisture retention, fungus infestation, and plant growth impairment due to excessive acidification of the soil.
Without a comprehensive system for composting and decomposing organic matter, together with adequate drainage, the grounds themselves will accumulate and may obstruct the soil’s ability to breathe. As a result, the soil will start to produce mold and attract gnats.
Excellent drainage
They truly do need proper drainage, I can’t stress that enough. I frequently observe new plant owners taking these lovely plants and placing them in a container without any holes. And they’ll reassure you that everything is fine. Why someone would say to a beginner grower, “Yeah, they don’t need drainage, just monitor how much you water,” is beyond me. That is untrue. In a pot without drainage, I’ve never seen a fiddle leaf fig grow satisfactorily.
The ideal way to handle drainage is to have an outer attractive pot, such as a basket or a lovely gold pot, and an internal pot with excellent drainage. Don’t feel bad if this is new to you; I had to have someone tell me this when I first started keeping houseplants.
Fast-draining soil
The inside pot in a gorgeous outer container serves as your drainage system, but a quick-draining soil is crucial. When I used Miracle-Gro indoor potting soil, my first fiddle leaf fig actually had a lot of issues. Bless Miracle-Gro for attempting the difficult task of developing a single potting soil that is suitable for all indoor plants. This is virtually impossible because ferns want constant moisture and many other plants prefer to dry out between waterings. Therefore, it is hard to create a soil specifically for each indoor plant, and Miracle-soil Gro’s simply holds too much water for a fiddle leaf fig. The best soil, in our opinion, is our quick-draining Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Potting Soil.
Our potting soil works fairly well for most houseplants, with the exception of those that want to be extremely damp, such khalifa or ferns, as well as for arrowheads and monstera. If you don’t want to spend the money on specialized soil, you may lighten up regular soil, such as Miracle-Gro indoor potting mix, by adding half bark and half cactus mix. This will allow the soil to aerate and drain more quickly.
Don’t overwater.
The main cause of plant death complaints I receive daily via email is overwatering. Personally, I overwater. My affection for my plants is so great that I over-care for them by giving them too much love and water. We manufacture a soil meter specifically for fiddle leaf figs because this is where they come in very handy. To determine how wet the soil is at the root ball, it is crucial to insert the moisture meter into the ground. Although the soil may appear to be dry on top, it may still be entirely damp underneath. Before you water, make sure to test.
I advise watering no more often than once per week. I water some of my fiddle leaf figs every week, some every two weeks, and some once a month. The size of the container, the size of the plant, and how well the soil drains all play a role. You’ll start to have a decent sense for how quickly your plant uses up water once you’ve gotten to know it, its container, drainage system, soil, location, and climate.
How to Set Up Your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s Watering Schedule | Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource Center
Which fertilizer is ideal for fig trees?
Your fig trees need as much sun as possible to produce huge, delicious fruit. Although fig trees can take some shade, placing them in full sun will yield the best results.
When it’s warm outdoors, container trees should be moved outside to sit in the sun; otherwise, they should be placed beside a big, bright window.
Burlap can be used to protect your tree from frost in the winter. Spread some insulating material around the bases of your trees to keep the roots warm, such as mulch or pine straw. Remember that since fig trees are tropical plants, they prefer to be warm.
Fig trees prefer to be dry as well. Place your tree away from areas that frequently flood or have standing water. Fig trees prefer to stay dry in the winter and fall but will require additional water during the growing season. Every several days, check on your soil. It’s time to give your tree more water once it’s dry, which should be around 2 inches below the surface. While not being soaked, the soil should be wet. Frequently, trees kept in containers dry up more quickly than ones rooted in the ground.
Except in cases when they are nutrient deficient, fig trees often don’t require fertilizer. When compared to trees planted in the ground, trees housed in containers require fertilizer more frequently. Give your fig trees a delayed release, well-balanced fertilizer once in the spring and once in the fall, such as formula 10-10-10 or 8-8-8.
How can a fiddle leaf fig be encouraged to produce more leaves?
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.
Do fig trees benefit from Miracle Grow?
Eating figs, or Ficus carica, are strange, delectable, and exotic fruits that have been cherished for ages. Although they may thrive in a range of environments, these natives of the Mediterranean region prefer a lengthy, hot growing season. If a neighbor cannily declines to share his fig bounty, offer to accept a cutting from his plant instead. Fig cuttings root well and only require knowledge of how to choose a branch to make the cutting from and what to place it into afterwards. A fig cutting can be successfully rooted in the majority of commercial potting mixtures, including Miracle-Gro soil.
Are fiddle leaf figs good with eggshells?
Some of the secondary nutrients that plants require, most notably calcium, but also modest amounts of potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, can be found in eggshells.
Eggshell addition won’t likely be of much use to fiddle leaf figs because they don’t require much calcium. Eggshells, on the other hand, are free and would otherwise be wasted, so using them on your Fiddle Leaf Fig won’t pose any problems. Just be sure to properly prepare them.
Eggshells must be carefully cleaned of any egg protein before drying (you can bake them or just let them air dry for a few days). After that, pulverize the eggshells into a fine powder that you can scatter over the surface of the soil. Your plant will receive calcium more quickly if the powder is finer.
Do fig trees benefit from eggshells?
The advantages and disadvantages of adding eggshells to your fig tree are discussed in this article. If you prefer to continue reading this blog’s other posts alone, you can skip it. If not, keep reading to learn what we discovered!
You might be asking why anyone would even consider adding eggshells to a fig tree. Calcium carbonate, the primary ingredient in all types of cement, is present in egg shells but is frequently absent from soils. Because calcium carbonate helps to establish the ideal environment for roots, this could be very beneficial to fig trees. It has also been used to treat citrus tree fungal infections, thus it might have the similar effects on fig trees.
Let’s examine the advantages of egg shells in greater depth. Eggshells are recycling at its best, to start with! They have no negative effects on the environment or any potential human contact because they are fully biodegradable and can be added to your own garden. Eggshells are reasonably high in phosphorus, magnesium, silica, and salt as well as calcium carbonate, all of which can aid your fig tree’s growth.
Unfortunately, it will be very challenging for you to mix eggshells into the soil if you have a tree in your yard. They would simply wash away in the rain because they are so little. Furthermore, it’s difficult to be certain that they would remain where you added them because hens enjoy scratching around in the mud and could accidentally consume them. It will take a while before they start benefiting your tree, even if they do stay where you want them to. Eggshells might take up to a year to totally deteriorate.
Eggshells are simple to obtain, which is the last pro and con. They are fairly simple to obtain if you have a chicken or access to inexpensive eggs. Just make sure you wait until they are totally dried off before adding too many fresh ones to your garden.
The drawbacks are next. You won’t be able to use eggshells in your own yard because they are so little, as I previously explained. Asking friends or neighbors who own hens if they’d be willing to let you collect their shells when they clean their coop will probably yield better results.