Your plant most likely arrived in a plastic pot if you bought it from Home Depot or another supplier.
To keep the roots bone-dry, these pots incorporate drainage holes on the side. That’s because growers regularly moisten plants’ roots with water, and growing containers are made to allow water to drain quickly. This lessens (or completely eliminates) the chance of root rot, but once you get your plant home, it becomes hazardous.
Don’t put off repotting your plant because fiddle leaf figs can dry out and sustain severe harm in just a few days in these containers. If you have to wait a few days or weeks, make sure to water your plant every day while it is in the grower’s pot. Pour the water on the plant gently so it has time to soak in rather than simply draining out the side drainage holes.
Understand proper drainage.
Understanding correct drainage is the most crucial long-term investment you can make in the health of your fiddle leaf fig plant.
Because fiddle leaf fig trees are prone to root rot, you must ensure that your container has excellent drainage and that your plant never sits in water. To keep your root ball dry, you’ll need a container with a drainage hole and some cactus mix or other materials, such Smart Gravel.
My preferred planters are those made of ceramic with drainage holes, such as this one or the following one, both of which are available at Home Depot.
Select the right container.
You’ll need to purchase a new container that is 3–4 inches wider in diameter (across the top) than the one your plant is now in. Grab a tape measure to make sure your new container is bigger than your old one in both width and height. Avoid going overboard because oversized pots might encourage root rot. The new pot should have a maximum diameter increase of 6 inches over the old one. A 16- or 18-inch pot will work as the majority of the large fiddle leaf fig trees at Home Depot are in 12- or 14-inch pots. Your new pot must have drainage holes at the bottom, otherwise, plant homicide will have occurred. A sizable ceramic pot like the one below works best for me as a container.
Get the right potting soil.
Your plant needs nutrients from the soil in order to grow, as well as for proper drainage and moisture management.
I always plant fiddle leaf figs in our premium potting soil. Don’t give in to the temptation of using soil or dirt from your garden for succulents or other plants. Houseplants require soil that is prepared to promote airflow and water retention.
What kind of pot is ideal for a fiddle leaf fig?
Once you have your fiddle-leaf fig at home, it is necessary to repot it in a pretty container that complements your decor and is also good for the health of your plant. Since gardeners water their plants daily to bathe the roots, the majority of fresh plants are shipped in plastic growth containers with drainage holes to keep roots dry and prevent root rot.
Finding a container that retains water better than plastic growing pots while still having a sufficient drainage system to support the root ball’s growth is ideal because fiddle-leaf figs require the ideal balance of moisture and dryness is essential for their growth.
Look for containers that are an inch or two taller and 3 to 4 inches larger in diameter than the pot that your fig was grown in. However, avoid purchasing a pot with a diameter of more than 6 inches, since this may encourage root rot in your plant.
Your pot also has to have drainage holes in the bottom and a saucer or reservoir underneath to catch any extra moisture.
Picking the Proper Potting Mix & Soil Amendment
Finding goods that enable your plant to perform to its maximum potential is the first step in picking the ideal potting mix and soil amendment for your fiddle-leaf fig. Our organic potting soil from Jobe’s offers an all-natural answer to your fig’s fundamental demands. Our potting mix, which contains BiozomeRa special combination of beneficial bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and archaea, helps the roots of fiddle-leaf figs develop quickly and maintain moisture without the use of any hazardous substances.
Consider include a perlite soil amendment while potting to truly make sure our potting mix stays loose, prevents compaction, and provides for optimum water drainage for your fiddle.
Repotting Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig in Four Steps
There are only a few stages involved in potting your fiddle-leaf fig plant, but you must take your time and handle it gently the entire time to prevent damage:
Find a Workspace
It is now time to move your plant to its new location because you have a suitable fiddle-leaf fig container and potting soil. Make sure you’re in a place that you don’t mind getting dirty because this process might be messy. Think about moving your plant on a piece of plastic or an old bed sheet outside on your patio or inside.
Fill in Jobe’s Potting Mix & Soil Amendment
Give your fig a platform for its root ball to sit on by adding 4 to 5 inches of potting soil to your new container. While your plant is inside the pot, make sure it isn’t overstuffed with soil. Check to see if the top of your fig’s root ball protrudes above the rim of the pot to determine this. Remember to include your soil amendment as well!
Remove & Transfer
Next, carefully detach the growing container from the root ball of your fig. Do not force your fig out of its pot if you are having trouble doing so. Carefully cut the plastic container’s side using a pair of scissors.
After being removed, place your fig inside the new pot while keeping it upright by the trunk. Next, fill the container with potting soil and soil amendment until it is completely full. After that, lightly compact the dirt to allow your fig’s roots to breathe.
Initial Watering
It’s time to water your fig for the first time once it has been potted. To guarantee that any air in the soil has been released, completely submerge the pot in water. You might need to add more potting mix if you see that the sides of the soil are now lower than the middle.
Allow your plant to dry for at least an hour after the soil has been thoroughly moistened and even reached the top of the pot. Then, before taking your fiddle-leaf fig inside, be careful to completely drain the water reservoir of the pot.
Are figs with fiddle leaves suited to terracotta pots?
I’m sure everyone is familiar with the fiddle leaf fig tree (also known as the ficus lyrata). They have a reputation for being both attractive and challenging to maintain alive. You could feel a little saddened by a fiddle leaf that is dead or dying. It’s a painful process to watch as those lovely leaves begin to fall. I hope this post is helpful whether you’ve had one die or if you’re just too afraid to get one. For this specific species, several plant aficionados have some tried-and-true tips. I enjoy learning about what other people do to maintain their fiddle leaf. I wanted to provide you everyone access to five of my favorite tried-and-true fiddle leaf tips. Potting: What do you do after bringing a magnificent fiddle leaf home? When you first buy these trees, the majority of them are packaged in flimsy, inexpensive plastic. When I arrive home, I prefer to remove my tree from these jerks. I use traditional terracotta pots for my plants.
My mother instilled in me the value of clay or earthenware pots above plastic ones because they allow the soil to breathe “breathe. Make sure the earthenware pot you choose has a drainage hole (this is crucial!). A fiddle leaf needs drainage to survive. Without a hole at the bottom of the container, water might collect within and rot the roots, which will destroy the plant. Fiddle leaves dislike being consistently wet. I’ll get a pot that isn’t much larger than the container it arrived in originally. The roots want a close fit in the pot.
Next, add some small stones to the bottom of the pot that are 1.5 to 2 inches high (you can get them at most plant stores). These stones aid in drainage and prevent soil from draining away when you water the plant. Make sure the tree stays straight as you pour mud along the sides. Once the sides are completely covered in soil, I press the dirt all the way down by placing my palm along the sides. My preferred potting soil is a cactus/palm blend that can be purchased at nearby hardware stores. Sand is a component in potting mix that aids in drainage and keeps soil loose. I’ve loved using this mixture for the past five years.
Light: This object adores it! Find a window with lots of light if you obtain a fiddle leaf. Make sure the light is direct and bright. Avoid hiding it in a dark spot away from the sun (if you can help it). Keep it in an area of your home that is bright and sunny since its leaves love to soak up the light. It is crucial to keep the leaves free of dust and grime because the tree thrives in strong light. When the leaves are covered in dust, they may literally “without a clean surface, they suffocate. I appreciate photosynthesis!
I use a moist towel to remove all the dirt and dust from the leaves around once a week. I use a leaf shine spray to make the leaves particularly glossy once they have been cleaned.
This tree will soon begin to slant toward the sun since it enjoys soaking up light. To keep the tree straight and balanced, rotate it slightly (some people do this once a month or every time they water).
The fiddle leaf does not like to be moved about much. Moving it around your home can actually make the leaves fall since it loves stability. You can move it to the sink to water it, but doing so repeatedly can lead to issues. Before I tried it and saw that my fiddle leaf did truly shed leaves, I had never really believed this. Avoid placing your tree in an area that gets a lot of drafts. A vent or door can significantly aggravate the tree, especially in the winter. Find a place in your house with lots of sunlight that is not close to a door or vent.
Watering: If you water your tree too much or wait too long (until it is completely dry), the leaves will turn brown and fall off. I usually water mine once a week, but I always make sure it needs water before I do. I occasionally wait two weeks (depending on weather conditions that affect moisture levels). I stick my finger approximately 3 to 4 inches into the earth to feel for dryness as a sign that it needs watering. If I detect any moisture, I’ll wait a few days and recheck. I’ll also lift the pot to see if the weight from the previous watering is still there. It’s time for water if it feels as though it has dried out. In the sink, I enjoy watering my (although this gets difficult with large plants). To remind you to water as needed, keep a nice indoor watering can nearby.
For their plants, some people like to use filtered water, but I just use regular tap water, and that works just great for me! Run lukewarm water into the pot and thoroughly moisten the soil’s top layer. I fill the pot to the brim with water, let it drain, and then refill it well. It takes about an hour for it to completely drain in the sink, after which I put it back where it belonged. Even if your fiddle leaf is too heavy to be carried to the sink, you may still water it thoroughly. I previously had a huge tree that was elevated on a plant stand. To water the plant thoroughly and let the extra water drain into the bowl, I would place a large bowl underneath the plant. The tree eventually ended up on Craigslist since our ceilings were too low for it and I lacked the skills to prune it. That gets me to my next piece of advice, which may seem a little frightening but is really not.
Did you know you may create fresh fiddle leaf babies by removing a branch from your tree for pruning and propagation? This about the fiddle leaf tree is wonderful. The plant that keeps delivering is this one! Your tree will grow horizontally if you prune it. When you prune the tree, it will actually grow larger. Until a local nursery worker demonstrated how to do it and then displayed the results, I didn’t believe it. Your cut will result in the formation of two new growths. It could be time for a trim if your tree is starting to look a touch spindly or top heavy. All you need is a little pair of pruning shears!
To prune, locate the node—also known as the point where a leaf joins the tree—and make a cut directly above the leaf. My preferred cuttings should have a minimum of 3–4 inches of bare branch on the bottom and a few leaves on the top. After you’ve chopped it off, immerse the cut in water and expose to the sun. The branch will begin developing roots during the next weeks. It’s a fantastic procedure! Once the cutting’s roots have expanded a little, you can pot it (I like the roots to be at least 3-4 inches long before I pot it). Be patient; this process could take a month or longer. To keep the water fresh, change it around once a week. You should have a ton of fiddle babies if you use the same potting procedure described above! I adore how adorable they are on my wicker side table.
I hope you will try this plant if you haven’t already. Any room it’s in gets a little bit of whimsy and delight from it (especially if you put it in a pretty pot like one of these). Try a faux fiddle leaf fig if you’re absolutely certain that you lack the green thumb necessary for live plants or the light required to keep one happy in your location. We enjoy combining real and fake plants throughout the house so that we may utilize both where appropriate. Please share any advice you may have in the comments section below, and be sure to check out all of our other plant care advice as well. xo. Janae