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. A peat-based soil with some perlite works great. 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 is soil formulated for fiddle leaf figs?
Combine one part of an aerating material, such as vermiculite or perlite, with one part of a nutrient-rich material, such as peat moss or coco coir, to create fiddle leaf fig soil. Add two parts of top-notch organic potting soil after that. This ought to control water retention and maintain a pH level that is ideal.
The necessary elements must be gathered and combined in the proper proportions to create fiddle leaf fig soil at home. You want the majority of any soil mixture to be an organic potting soil of the highest quality. You next supplement this with material to fine-tune your soil to meet the needs of your plant.
We talked about the advantages of adding perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, or coco coir to your soil in the previous section. Use your hands or a small trowel to thoroughly mix it into your potting soil while you do this.
You can now plant or replant your fiddle leaf fig after combining the ingredients. You can also include some bark pieces or horticulture charcoal, if you’d like. These enhance drainage and guard against diseases that affect fiddle leaf fig trees.
As a side note, wait 4 to 6 months before fertilizing your soil mixtures. You don’t want to overdo it by adding more food and running the risk of fertilizer burn because the soil is already incredibly rich in organic nutrients.
Does fiddle leaf fig potting soil from Miracle Gro work well?
Finding the ideal soil for indoor fiddle leaf figs doesn’t cost a lot of money. A well-draining indoor soil mix is available from Miracle-Gro, a well-known producer of high-quality gardening supplies, and it includes a little amount of fertilizer to promote the plant’s health and growth.
This product can be used to grow a variety of indoor plants, including fiddle leaf figs. Its blend of perlite, coconut coir, and sphagnum peat moss promotes drainage while preserving moisture. Smaller fiddle leaf figs can be grown in this potting soil and can reach heights of 4 to 5 feet. It doesn’t offer further structural support, but for larger specimens, it can be blended with sand or gravel.
What kind of soil is best for fig trees?
Now is the time to begin digging! To begin, dig a hole that is exactly the same depth as the root ball and three times wider than the pot. Figs tolerate soils with a moderate amount of alkalinity but do best in slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5). Most typical garden soils have a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A pre-plant soil test should always be part of soil preparation. Use dolomitic limestone to raise the pH of your soil if it is too low. Till the soil after equally distributing the limestone across the entire area where the figs will be planted. Till a minimum 6-foot-by-6-foot area if you can so that each shrub may be planted at least 8 inches deep.
However, they will grow on many other soil types and are tolerant of heavy clay soils if drainage is excellent. Fig trees grow best in well-drained, organically rich soils. It will be worthwhile to add some organic compost to the native soil in poor fertility or dense clay soil. When the fruits are growing in the summer, they prefer the soil to hold a sufficient amount of water, but not so much water that the soil is continually soggy or damp.
In a row, bush-grown figs can be spaced as closely as 10 feet apart, and between rows, 15 feet. Figs grown as trees need to be spaced out 20 feet between rows and 15 to 20 feet between each row. Plants grown in containers don’t require pruning to be transplanted; simply take them out of the container, spread their roots, and place them in the planting hole. After adding soil to the hole, water it deeply enough to help the earth settle around the roots. When planting, avoid placing fertilizer in the hole.
Figs respond favorably to organic mulching. Mulch may mitigate nematode issues’ consequences.
In cactus soil, can fiddle leaf figs grow?
It’s time to repot your fiddle leaf fig into the soil you’ve chosen for it, whether you manufactured it yourself or purchased it.
First, carefully coax your fiddle out of the pot by tipping it on its side. If the grower’s pot is made of plastic, you can squeeze the pot to release the root ball. If necessary, you can additionally agitate the interior of the pot with a trowel or even a butter knife.
Massage the root ball of your fiddle after removing it from its original pot to get rid of as much of the old soil as you can.
After that, add a few inches of your new soil to a clean pot’s base. You can either buy a new pot or wash and disinfect an old one. Make sure your pot has openings for drainage.
You should leave about two inches of headroom at the top for watering. Set your tree straight in the pot and fill in the sides with your new potting soil.
Once your tree is in its new container, water it well and top it up with a bit more potting soil to account for settling.
I’m done now! Although repotting is quite simple, some fiddle leaf fig owners find the week or two that follows to be difficult. This is why.
Root Shock
A fiddle leaf fig may experience root shock, which can cause droopy or even lost leaves for about a week after a significant change in its environment, such as moving or being replanted.
At this point, many owners of fiddle leaf figs become panicked and begin to make even more alterations in an effort to lessen the effects of root shock, but this is actually the WORST thing you can do at this time.
After repotting your plant, put it in a location where it will receive plenty of bright, indirect sunshine and then leave it alone because fiddles thrive on constancy. Don’t plant it once again. Stop watering more. Additionally, wait at least a month before fertilizing after repotting.
Ensure that your tree receives lots of light, then give it some room. It will get better in a week or two and return to being its gorgeous, vivacious self!
Root Rot
Owners of fiddle leaf figs typically live in fear of root rot because fiddles are typically susceptible to this illness and can swiftly perish if it isn’t treated soon once it sets in.
This is one of the main justifications for why soil drainage and aeration are so important! The roots of your fiddle may begin to decay if they are left in water for too long.
Repot your plant into new, quick-draining soil and temporarily reduce watering if you do discover symptoms of root rot, which are typically mushy stems or dark-brown blotches on the lower leaves. Use our Root Rot Treatment when you do water to aid the roots’ recovery.
This is a typical query! The nutritional level of cactus soils is often not suitable for a ficus, but they can function rather well for a fiddle leaf fig. In the event that you decide to repot your fiddle in cactus mix, start fertilizing it with Fiddle Leaf Fig Food around a month after the initial repotting.
How often should I switch soil for my Ficus Audrey?
Every year, Ficus Audrey benefits from a fresh batch of potting soil. This guarantees that it receives plenty of nutrients and avoids compaction around its root ball.
Can I use cactus soil for Ficus Audrey?
For this Ficus, cactus soil may drain a little too quickly. It prefers more moisture to stay around its roots, so try a standard potting soil with 25% perlite or coarse sand added.
Do Ficus Audrey plants like wet or dry soil?
They enjoy damp soil, but if the potting mix is left too wet, the roots will rot. Drainage is therefore crucial to prevent rainwater from pooling and causing root rot.
What are the primary considerations for soil when repotting Ficus Audrey plants?
Make sure the soil is light, quick-draining, and rich in peat moss for moisture absorption when repotting a Ficus Audrey plant. To make sure there is a consistent source of natural nutrients as well, use compost or worm castings.
Does the size of the plant affect the soil mix for Ficus Audrey plants?
Ficus Audrey plants that are large and mature still require the same basic mixture. Given that they may be more susceptible to root rot than larger plants, little plants may do well in cacti mix.
Does the potting container influence the type of soil mix for Ficus Audrey plants?
Pots with poor drainage are difficult to make up for with soil mixture alone. To guarantee that the soil mix can function properly, choose pots that are of a sufficient size and have good drainage.
Do Ficus Audrey need deep potting containers?
These plants must be balanced out with deeper pots due to their height. When the container is roughly 1.5 to 2 times as tall as it is wide, the roots typically develop the fastest.
Describe perlite soil.
To increase aeration, water retention, and drainage in garden soil, perlite, a naturally occurring mineral, is added. In potting soil and seed-starting mixes, it frequently appears as tiny, white Styrofoam balls. To increase aeration and water drainage in flower beds and vegetable gardens, gardeners frequently use perlite. Perlite can be purchased both online and in garden supply stores in a variety of bag sizes. The National Organic Standards Board approves its usage in certified organic agriculture.
Does peat moss appeal to fiddle leaf figs?
Due to its growing popularity in the design industry over the past few years, Ficus lyrata, or more commonly known as Fiddle Leaf Fig, is regarded as the houseplant of the decade. In the plant community, it has become a necessity because who wouldn’t want a tree to flourish indoors?
Light:
This magnificent tree enjoys bright indirect light and even a little early sunlight for no more than two to three hours. The leaves will lose their vibrant dark green color as the sun exposure increases. Put it near a window or entrance so that it gets lots of light. The brightest area of your home or room should host this plant.
Water:
This plant shouldn’t be left to sit in wet potting soil because doing so can cause root rot. It is better to let the soil dry up a little between waterings than to overwater. It is crucial to water your garden properly, enough so that the drainage system can function. When being watered, this plant needs a lot of water. Give the leaves a little water now and then; they will appreciate it.
Soil:
Fiddle leaf figs require a potting soil that drains properly. We advise using an indoor potting mix that contains peat moss, perlite, or vermiculite; alternatively, you can make your own mix by mixing half peat moss and half perlite. Without decomposing the roots, this mixture aids in moisture retention.
Food:
Start fertilizing after six months if your plant was recently replanted because the potting soil will still have enough nutrients. Then you can apply slow-release fertilizer and once more put it aside for the following few months. You can fertilize once or twice a year if you want to use fertilizer that has been diluted in water.
Repotting:
To give it more room to flourish, repotte it once a year. Use only pots that have holes for drainage. If the rootball is getting too big for the area, you can clip it (no more than 20% of it), leave it in the same pot size, and add fresh potting soil to let it grow more slowly.
Propagation:
Ficus lyratas are difficult to reproduce. With stem cuttings, this is the simplest method. Make your stem cutting with clean, sharp scissors; it should be at least 4″ long and contain a leaf and a portion of the stem. This can be placed in wet potting soil, and the soil should be wet until the new plant develops roots. Roots are growing if you try to pull the plant out of the ground and encounter some resistance. It requires some time, but it is well worth it.
Toxicity:
If consumed, fiddle leaf figs have a low toxicity level for humans, cats, and dogs. Intense mouth, tongue, and lip burning and irritation, profuse drooling, vomiting, and trouble swallowing are all indications of intoxication in animals. (ASPCA, *Source)
Facts:
- This tree picks where it will grow. You won’t relocate it to a different position once it has settled in, is content, and is producing new leaves without realizing it is unhappy about the change. It will appear dejected and change in appearance. I can assure you that it is pretty particular about where it goes and is not a big fan of change. Don’t relocate something if it’s healthy and content. If you really must move it, attempt to do so in an area with consistent humidity and lighting levels.
- Due to their size and tendency to accumulate dust, this plant’s leaves should be cleaned roughly once a month.
- If you’re watering it properly and it still drops a lot of healthy leaves, this may indicate that it needs more light.
Peat moss is it perlite?
Different substrates exist, such as perlite and peat moss. Perlite is volcanic glass processed by rapidly heating and expanding, changing from rock to a foamy texture. Peat moss resembles compost and is sphagnum moss that has decomposed. Although perlite also promotes soil aeration, both substrates retain water.
What is the purpose of perlite?
Perlite is added to soil mixtures (including soilless mediums) to increase aeration and change the substructure of the soil, preventing compaction and maintaining the soil loose and well-draining. For container gardening, a premium mixture of one part loam, one part peat moss, and one part perlite is ideal since it allows the pot to hold just the right amount of water and oxygen.
Cuttings root well in perlite and generate considerably stronger roots than they would if cultivated alone in water. Take your clippings and add them to a Ziploc bag that is roughly one-third full of moistened perlite. Put the cut ends of the cuttings into the perlite up to the node, add air, and then shut the bag. Place the air-filled bag in some shade and check for root growth after two or three weeks. When the roots are 1/2 to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm) long, the cuttings can be planted.
Perlite is also used in masonry building, plasters made of cement and gypsum, and loose-fill insulation. Perlite is used as an abrasive in polishes, cleaners, and soaps as well as in medicines and municipal swimming pool water filtration.