You recently bought or already have a fiddle leaf fig. What’s next?
The Ficus lyrata, commonly known as the Fiddle Leaf Fig, is featured on the covers and in images of numerous design journals. Its tall stature and large, graceful leaves add drama and height and unify entire rooms. Despite where you’ve seen Fiddle Leaf Figs in pictures, some individuals don’t aware that they need to be placed just in front of a window. They can be challenging to care for until the plant adjusts to your environment and until you figure out when to water them. Continue reading to discover how to keep your fiddle leaf fig alive and healthy for many years to come.
Light
The best setting for Fiddle Leaf Figs is in front of a window that gets direct morning or afternoon light. You want a window that faces primarily eastward, westward, or southward; you don’t want nearby trees or structures to shade the window. If your Fiddle Leaf is positioned right in front of the window, a north facing exposure can also work if there is enough room and nothing blocking your view of the sky. You should gradually adapt your tree to being in several hours of direct sunshine if you plan to position it in front of a southern exposure. If you do this too quickly, the leaves may burn and develop brown scorch scars. Over the course of 1 to 2 weeks, gradually increase the amount of time it spends in front of a southern window.
The amount of light your Fiddle Leaf Fig need to thrive depends in part on its size. The amount of light a plant needs will increase with its size. For instance, a window would need to be much taller to accommodate a 7′ tall tree than it would a 4′ tall tree.
In general, your fiddle leaf fig will require more light to preserve its existing leaves and spur the growth of new ones the more leaves it has. In order to tell us that it isn’t getting enough light to support all of its leaves, a plant will respond when it isn’t getting enough light by losing lower and interior leaves.
It’s crucial to maintain your plant in front of the window during the winter months when natural light isn’t as abundant but also ensuring sure it doesn’t catch any chilly air from drafts that blow in. If your windows are drafty, try moving your Fiddle Leaf 2 to 3 feet away from the window to observe how it reacts. In most cases, keeping plants at this distance allows them to avoid any sporadic cold air blasts while yet receiving an equivalent quantity of light. For more advice on winter maintenance, keep reading.
Where in my home should I place a fig tree?
Even while it may be alluring to position your fiddle leaf fig wherever it blends in with your decor, doing so will benefit both you and your fiddle in the long term. Although being close to a window is acceptable, it should be at least a few feet away from any windows. Just keep it out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Even better if you have a sheer curtain that can block off the sun’s rays for your fiddle leaf fig. The window should ideally be facing south or east. Simply told, a Fiddle Leaf Fig shouldn’t be placed close to a north-facing window because it won’t get enough light there.
Use a compass app on your phone to determine the direction the windows in your house face if you are unsure of their orientation. Knowing this will help you take better care of your plants.
Which Direction Should Your Fiddle Leaf Fig’s Window Face?
Avoid placing your Fiddle Leaf Fig in front of a north-facing window if at all possible because they receive the least amount of sunlight. Such windows might get adequate light if you reside in a southern temperate climate, though. There is less light coming through these windows the further north you are from the equator.
East-facing windows benefit from the sun’s early morning light, but they don’t get much of its late-day illumination. Your Fiddle Leaf fig requires at least six hours of total daily sunlight, therefore this is a concern. Carefully consider the window’s size and check to see if it receives any noon light.
Windows facing west get the greatest natural light during the day. The sun’s beams are strongest at this time. Therefore, you should exercise caution if you plan to place your fiddle leaf fig in front of one since its leaves may burn. To protect it, keep your plant at least a few feet away from the window.
The sun shines brightest and for the longest on south-facing windows. They are perfect for fiddle leaf figs as a result. Just be careful not to place your plant too close to a window or you run the danger of burning the foliage.
Despite their reputation for being picky, fiddle leaf figs can adapt to poor illumination. Focus on giving your plant the greatest care possible even if you don’t have the finest lighting for it. Avoid overwatering and use fiddle leaf fig plant food when fertilizing. Additionally, remember to turn your fiddle leaf fig when watering! Your plant will eventually tilt toward its light source because it seeks sunshine. Without consistent sunlight exposure, leaves will also be less wholesome.
This article was modified from Claire Akin’s Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource. For additional information on how to take care of the fiddle leaf fig, see their website.
A fiddle-leaf fig tree needs how much sun?
The fiddle-leaf fig will not withstand situations with both low light and high light, in contrast to other plants (looking at you, monsteras!). It must be placed in an area with lots of bright, indirect light. Furthermore, it requires a few hours of direct sunlight each day.
“Lighting is the first and most crucial factor you should take into account before purchasing a fiddle. Little did I know that by placing my fiddle in a room with a north-facing window when I first took it home, I was sort of setting myself up for failure “Greene explains. “Fiddle-leaf figs like lots of light, and they frequently need up to five hours of direct light each day,” says the author. It thrives “near to south- or west-facing windows, or directly in an east-facing window,” according to Greenery Unlimited, and nothing can be anything blocking that light (like a building or trees). Additionally, because it grows toward the sun, you must rotate it once a month.
In addition to these lighting requirements, you also need to gradually introduce sunshine; you cannot expose it to too much sunlight at once. Otherwise, the lovely green leaves of the fiddle-leaf fig can burn and get brown spots. On the other side, too little sunlight will cause its leaves to become brown or yellow, or even worse, fall off. It also hates being moved around a lot since it could lose its leaves. Most likely out of spite. Even if your plant sustains some combat wounds in the process, you’ll finally locate the best location for it, even if it takes some trial and error.
“Adding a grow lamp ($23) is one of the things you can do to supplement that light if you already have a fiddle-leaf fig but feel like it’s not getting enough,” advises Greene. They’re fantastic since you can automatically control how much light it receives each day, especially if they include a timer.
Can a fiddle-leaf fig be planted in a bedroom?
Given how frequently it appears in home publications, television shows, and blogs, the fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular houseplants right now. The appropriate lighting is crucial to keeping your plant healthy in a bedroom environment because its huge leaves are its focus point.
The gloomy understory of the jungle is ideal for fiddle leaf figs, but indirect light from an east-facing window also promotes their growth. To improve the humidity around the plant, place your fiddle leaf fig on a plate of stones with water in it. In conclusion, the fiddle leaf fig prefers everything in moderation, including temperature, water, and light. Your plant will suffer if there is an imbalance between these components.
A fiddle-leaf fig should it be indoors or outdoors?
Indoor plants called Ficus Lyrata, sometimes known as fiddle-leaf figs, need particular attention. Your fiddle-leaf fig needs nutrients like sunlight, fertilizer, and trimming to remain healthy all year long. When taken care of improperly, a fiddle-leaf fig might become brown and withered. Our advice on taking care of a fiddle-leaf fig will enable it to thrive in your environment.
How can I tell if the light reaching my fiddle leaf fig is adequate?
Measuring the space between the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig tree is another proven way to determine whether it needs more sunlight.
The leaves of a fiddle will grow more closely together than those of a fiddle that must reach for its solar energy.
Here is an illustration of a fiddle leaf fig that displayed these precise signs. Just two years ago, I gave my mother this beautiful plant:
As you can see, the leaves were able to remain near to one another without suffocating one another due to the abundance of sunlight offered by the greenhouse environment. It was flawless.
I sent it over to my mother without checking for a bright spot in her home. The greatest spot she could locate in her house was close to a window, although it received little natural light.
After a year, she was able to move the large plant outside for some summer heat and humidity, but as you can see, the branches had already started to spread:
This fiddle leaf fig tree had a terrific summer, but when winter arrived, it had to return indoors.
It is now as follows:
Watch for this lanky, “reaching” appearance and address it right away by moving your plant steadily closer to the sun.
Can direct sun damage fiddle leaf figs?
As you may well know, I have a slight obsession with fiddle leaf figs. They are a beloved houseplant but can be a little difficult to maintain. The false information on the internet simply makes this situation worse! However, it becomes far simpler to raise a strong, thriving Fig once you are aware of what the FLF’s native environment is like.
In order to help you grow fiddle leaf figs like an expert, I thought I’d bust a few fiddle leaf fig care misconceptions in light of some recent mistakes I’ve heard.
Six Myths about Fiddle Leaf Fig Care
Contrary to popular belief, FLFs don’t actually require intense indirect light. Fiddle Leaf Figs will accept whatever amount of light you can provide! They are full-sun plants by nature and, after being hardened off, can withstand a full 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Your FLF may not be accustomed to direct sunlight if you’ve seen a negative outcome. Without progressively exposing them to direct sunlight, they risk developing sunburned leaves and over-drying. But as soon as a FLF is used to focus light, it will expand rapidly! Spend some time exposing your FLF to around an hour of moderate, direct morning light every day as you work your way up to placing it in full sun.
What does this entail for your indoor, shade-free Figgy? Bright indirect light is still possible for FLFs, but they probably won’t develop as much as they could. Lack of sunlight can contribute to health problems and sluggish growth. You might wish to use a grow lamp to augment the FLF’s growth if you want to keep it in an area without direct light. You may learn more about the ideal grow lights for your needs from this site.
As you likely already know, a few factors determine how frequently your FLF (and all plants) require water. And the amount of light they receive has the most impact on how frequently plants need watering. This is true because plants absorb water from their roots as they use light to generate energy. Therefore, the amount of light they receive affects how much water they use, which affects how frequently they need water.
The season as well as the soil type, pot size, plant size, surroundings, and climate all have an effect on how frequently a plant has to be watered. Even though it would be wonderful to reduce everything to a weekly watering schedule, it is simply not possible. A set-and-forget watering regimen won’t work well for fiddle leaf figs.
Checking the soil is the easiest way to determine whether your plant needs watering. Use your finger to check if the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry because fiddle leaves prefer to dry out a little between waterings. If so, it is prepared for water.
Keep in mind that it’s typical for the deeper soil to feel damp. Never let the soil dry completely because it would cause the plant to perish. However, this is a good indication that the plant is ready for water when the top layer of soil dries off.
Remember that seasonal and environmental changes will affect how much water plants need.
Don’t worry if this all sounds a little confusing. Over time, you will learn how frequently they require watering in your surroundings. In the beginning, a trustworthy moisture meter might assist in assisting you in understanding how quickly the soil of your FLF dries out.
The cup method, which is a well-liked way to water a fiddle leaf, has been making the rounds online. According to this strategy, you should give your plant a specific number of cups based on its size. Give a fiddle that is one foot tall one cup of water, and one that is three feet tall three cups.
This system’s creator, I’m sure, intended to prevent people from overwatering their plants. We can love our plants a little bit too much at times, am I right? Long-term, nevertheless, it can be detrimental to your plant. Because of this style, many customers have come to me with FLFs that are dry, damaged, or waterlogged.
The ideal technique to water a plant is to give it enough water until the excess drains out the bottom, allowing the entire rootball in the soil to thoroughly absorb water. As long as you have a drainage hole, it doesn’t matter how much water you feed your plant in this situation! You could feed it one or five litres as long as the soil is evenly moistened and the extra water drains.
This is effective for several reasons. It prevents the roots from running into dry soil sections and allows all of the roots to get water. Additionally, it enables the flushing out of the pot of any fertilizer, salts, or mineral buildup that may be present in the water. These things can build up in the soil over time if you water your plant using a cup (and with little water pouring out), which could eventually cause the plant to burn or get damaged.
It can be confusing, but overwatering is a problem brought on by giving your plant too much water too frequently rather than by the amount the plant actually receives. Therefore, before you water again, be sure to check that the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry with your finger.
Although it’s not ideal, staking a weak or leaning trunk can be useful. You really want your FLF to be able to stand firmly on its own, don’t you? If your FLF trunk is seriously bent, staking can be useful for quick, temporary support.
There are alternatives to staking that can be used to encourage the FLF trunk to thicken and grow straight.
First, move the trunk. Yes, that does sound absurd. However, the wind naturally bends and sways the tree trunk in nature. The plant responds by strengthening and thickening its trunk so that it can withstand the wind. Spend a few minutes jiggling the trunk once or twice a week if your FLF is indoors. Start swaying at about mid-height and build up to a significant bend. Your FLF is more resilient than you might believe and won’t break! It need this bending to compel it to become stronger. You should see a difference after a few weeks!
Two: The absence of leaves can also result in a slender trunk. This is so that the trunk may expand since leaves supply it with nutrition. The trunk won’t receive as much support as it requires if the leaves don’t converge closely. A shortage of sunshine is frequently the cause of a thin, leggy-appearing FLF (like the one pictured above); the FLF develops rambunctiously in quest of light. Put your FLF in a more light-filled area as a result. Additionally, by encouraging additional growth (back-budding) farther down the trunk, trimming the tip may help sustain your FLF. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for bracing a sagging FLF trunk.
Finally, a good fertilizer can aid in the trunk’s development of strength. After utilizing fertilizer for a while, I really noticed a difference in the shape of the trunk of my fig tree. When I brought it outside, it actually thickened and stopped bending in the wind. This is an excellent fertilizer that has been particularly created with the proper ratio of nutrients FLFs require, if you haven’t tried one on your fig yet. See this post for more information on fertilizing your FLF.