“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 my fiddle leaf fig need to be shaken?
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.
Is shaking beneficial to plant growth?
A rising number of plant enthusiasts claim that occasionally shaking indoor houseplants can promote growth and strengthen stems.
The unique plant-shaking tip has gained popularity on social media, but gardening experts have cautioned that it only works for rubber greenery, fiddle leaf fig, monstera, alocasia, and pilea.
The method of gently shaking is supposed to “imitate” the movement of the “wind” in nature, so encouraging the indoor plant to become stronger over time.
“Who else rattles their fiddle fig indoors?” In the Facebook page for Crazy Indoor Plant People Australia, Amanda from New South Wales stated, “It duplicates wind and reinforces them so they sit upright instead of sagging.”
A increasing number of plant lovers suggest that occasionally shaking indoor houseplants can encourage growth and strengthen stems (stock image)
What are the benefits of shaking houseplants?
Plant enthusiasts asserted that shaking indoor houseplants occasionally can encourage growth and strengthen stems.
However, gardening experts cautioned that the technique only truly excels with rubber greenery, monstera, alocasia, and fiddle leaf fig.
How can I tell whether my fiddle leaf is content?
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.
Do plants enjoy touching one another?
Everyone is aware of the comforting and stress-relieving effects that human touch may have in addition to being heartwarming. What about, however, specifically with regard to houseplants.
Does a kind touch from another houseplant in a pot make it feel better about the world? Or may it have other effects that might potentially prevent it from growing?
We will provide you with the conclusive response to the question of “should my houseplants contact each other?” in our helpful post. Let’s begin with a brief overview.
Generally speaking, indoor plants shouldn’t contact. Since they can sense touch, according to scientific research, being touched by another plant can trigger a genetic defensive mechanism that slows growth.
Additionally, plants in the home that touch one other run the risk of developing a pest infestation.
Therefore, the quick answer is no, indoor plants shouldn’t contact. Let’s learn more about why your indoor plants prefer to live alone and whether there are any instances when grouping them together would be better for their wellbeing.
Let’s start by investigating whether plants can feel being touched in order to gain a better understanding of whether houseplants should touch one other.
What causes my plant to wiggle?
Your plant’s leaves and stems were able to move, as you presumably noted in your experiment, but the plant’s location in its container remained same. This is due to the fact that plants cannot move around because of the ground they are anchored to by their roots. However, a plant can adapt to environmental changes by developing leaves in particular orientations and changing the texture of stem and leaf portions. Tropisms are the movements that many plants make.
You noticed a tropism in your own houseplant, which is one of the most prevalent ones. Phototropism is the term for the movement of plants toward the sun. The chemical reactions required to change water and carbon dioxide into oxygen, which mammals breathe, and glucose, which plants utilize as food are known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis requires energy, which sunshine gives wherever plants grow. Plants cannot create the food they require to exist without sunlight. By turning their leaves toward the sun, phototropisms enable plants to maximize the amount of sunlight that reaches their leaves. Plant phototropism can be so intense that some species, like sunflowers, will actively adjust their orientation throughout the course of a single day in order to track the location of the sun in the sky!
How come plants tremble?
Light causes plants to move. My foxglove was, I believe, heading in that direction, first toward the early and then the afternoon sunlight. The term “phototropism” refers to this motion. Auxins, specialized hormone cells, regulate growth by promoting cell elongation.
How frequently should fiddle leaf figs be shaken?
The fiddle leaf fig’s (or Ficus lyrata’s) picky reputation has been cemented when it first gained popularity again. Browning edges, root rot, and dropping leaves have caused plant parents anxiety. The most ardent among them have either purchased humidifiers and moisture meters or moved these trees around the house in search of the ideal light. However, it turns out that the best method to care for a fiddle leaf fig is to mostly leave it alone after all the anxiety and pampering. No doubt.
But even if you are an expert at taking care of fiddle leaf figs, you can still notice that your tree is tilting one way or the other. It may be top heavy as a result of good growth or it may be straining toward the light. And if you’ve succeeded in raising a healthy fiddle leaf fig, you’ve probably spent so much time creating the ideal environment for your tree to flourish in that you’ve probably overlooked one of the most crucial elements: mobility.
A ficus enthusiast recently shared a tip on TikTok that has gone viral, saying that shaking the ficus’ trunk for a few minutes each day actually helps it grow stronger and healthier. It’s true, as bizarre as it may sound!
Reasons why it function: Native to the lowland rainforests of western Africa, F. lyrata is frequently disturbed by wind, rain, and other animals. These experiences fortify the tree’s trunk at a young age, allowing the plant to grow naturally stronger over time. The tree’s overall health is improved by the movement, which lengthens the tree’s life.
The seller won’t often advise you to shake your tree to strengthen it if you buy one of these trees from a nursery. In fact, they’re likely to describe the plant as a difficult young child. 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). imitate the wind’s movement. It requires only a small motion. Consider it a personal connection with your tree.
This method is very useful if the stability of your tree is supported by a stake. Before exercising your tree, remove the support; after your session, replace it. You’ll notice after a few months that your tree’s trunk has grown stronger and is no longer supported by the stake.
The best aspect of this trick is that it doesn’t require any more resources (money, time, or expensive equipment), and while not all plant advice floating around on social media is genuine, it is firmly grounded in reality. Quite good!
Where in a house should a fiddle leaf fig be placed?
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.