How To Plant And Grow Fiddle Leaf Fig

When and Where to Plant Fiddle Leaf

Well-adapted to indoor temperatures and hardy enough to survive less-than-ideal conditions, here are the optimal conditions for the fiddles.

Planting Period

Figs can be planted year-round indoors, but we recommend repotting the fig during spring which is its growth period. Also, they grow up fast and young figs need to be repotted annually or if they are older, every three years.

Check whether your plant is pot-bound by looking at the bottom of the pot and see if the roots are growing out of the drainage holes. Even if they are not, it is still a good idea to re-pot as planned.

Soil Requirement

They prefer a loamy well-draining quality soil with a pH of 6-7 and a hardiness rating of 10-12. We recommend peat-based soil mixed with perlite or a 50-50 combination of cactus and houseplant soil to ensure good drainage.

They are sensitive to high salt levels, thus regular flushing of soil with water once a month should be done to prevent lethal salt buildup from treated water and fertilizers. 

Light Conditions

Place your fiddle leaf fig in a spot that gets bright but indirect light where they grow and look their best. Direct or too much light can result in burning, brown leaf patches, or yellowing foliage. 

Rotate the fiddle fig pot every few days to evenly distribute the sunlight across all the leaves.

Temperature

Fiddle Leaf Figs prefers the temperature of your home to be kept fairly steady at between 65 to 80 °F (18-27 °C) and above 15ºC during winter. Owing to its tropical nature and the tropics being near the equatorial, coastal regions, temperature fluctuations are minimal resulting in plants incapable of handling temperature changes. 

You may use an Air Conditioning unit to achieve the desired effect. Any sudden temperature changes even within the acceptable temperature range cause the fig distress.

Humidity

The plant requires a humidity of between 30 to 65 percent to thrive. You can achieve this through several methods, such as using a water sprayer to mist the leaves daily. Place the pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water which evaporates and humidifiers the ambient area. 

If you don't want to bother with the hassle, you can also buy a small humidifier for automation. Avoid placing the pot near windows where draughts can cause fluctuations in humidity and dry your plant.

Spacing

Leave some space around your plants for good air circulation and optimal growth. A suitable distance of 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) is sufficient to avoid crowding and also helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

Lack of air circulation causes excessive humidity which isn't physically harmful to the figs but exacerbates infections by promoting the growth of fungus and mildew.

How to Grow Fiddle Leaf Fig: Step-By-Step Instructions

While fiddle leaf figs can be grown from seeds, we do not recommend it. When they bloom, a unique wasp species from Africa is required for pollination. This means many seeds from untrusted suppliers tend to be fake grass seeds.

Even after the first hurdle, their seeds have a low germination rate, taking and then wasting 3 months of your time if they fail. Furthermore, the saplings are susceptible to problems making it difficult even for professionals.

1. By Propagation

For the best chance of success, take stem cuttings in spring or summer when the plant is in the growth season. Propagation by this method has a success rate of 75%, you can make two stem cuttings to increase your odds of success. Follow the steps given below:

1. Cut a stem just as thick as a pencil with one leaf.
2. Dip the bottom of the stem into a rooting hormone.
3. Push the cutting into peat-free composted soil. 
4. Put a plastic bag over the cutting and wait for 6 weeks.
5. Check if the cuttings have grown roots and then re-pot.

2. By Seeds

If you still want to proceed with seeds, then here are the steps to be followed:

1. Fill with the pot with 50/50 compost and vermiculite or horticultural sand.
2. Place the seeds on the surface, 2 per pot.
3. Cover the pot with a plastic bag and put it in a sunny spot. 
4. Keep it slightly moist but also well-ventilated to prevent seed rot.
5. Continue for 9-12 weeks and check if they have germinated.
6. Re-pot to individual pots.

3. Selecting A Pot

If your plant is just a seedling or a cutting, select a pot of 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter. 
Otherwise, if it is a sapling select a pot that is roughly 2 inches (5 cm) larger in diameter than the current existing one. 

4. Preparing the Potting Mix

You can use ready-made fiddle leaf fig soil mixes or make your own by following this recipe:

• 1/2 indoor plant soil mix at the top
• 1/2 cactus potting mix at the bottom

or alternatively,

• 1/2 peat-based soil
• 1/2 perlite mixed in

5. Re-potting

Remember to be gentle to the plant and follow these steps for a successful repotting:

1. Gently loosen the plant from the soil while taking care to not damage the root.
2. Lift the plant out while supporting its base.
3. Place it in the new pot.
4. Fill the topsoil around the plant. 

Fiddle Leaf Fig Requirements

Even if you have managed to get a successful germination, the first and the hardest hurdle has been overcome. However, having medium to low difficulty doesn't mean effort-free, it is still quite possible for your seedling or leafling to die without proper daily care and maintenance. 

For your plants to grow successfully, we have consulted our experts and summarized their advice into several easy tips for, for you to take the best care of your fiddle leaf fig.

Regular Monitoring

It is important to monitor your delicate fig tree regularly as there's no telling what will happen. One common misconception regarding the care of plants is about watering on a schedule, doing so will overwater some and underwater other plants. Only water the plants by checking the state of the soil.

Regular monitoring will help you know if anything is wrong in advance such as pests or diseases as it is easier to cure in its early stages than when it has set in completely.

Watering

If fiddle-leaf figs don’t get enough water, their leaves wilt and lose their color, whereas too much water will cause the leaves to drop and cause root rot. So it's a sensitive balancing act.

Use your fingers to feel the 2 inches of topsoil, if they feel dry then water your fiddle-fig. However, during winter, you should water less than normal through the same method.

Fertilizing

Use high-nitrogen plant fertilizer such as NPK 16-5-11 with a ratio of three parts nitrogen to one part phosphorous. You can also use water-soluble pellets or liquid fertilizers for houseplants for fiddle-leaf fig. Water your plant well before applying fertilizer to prevent high salt levels.

Your fig tree needs to be fertilized monthly during spring and summer and every two months during autumn and winter. 

Maintenance of Fiddle Leaf Fig

So your fiddle leaf has survived infancy and grown up to become a young fig. Now, they will no longer continue to be susceptible to problems like in their infancy or threaten to die immediately at the slight whiff of danger. That said, there are things that you can do to make your fig even stronger and healthier for the time to come through proper maintenance.

Don't worry though, from here onwards it's mostly smooth sailing and low-maintenance tasks.

Pruning

Pruning the fiddle-leaf fig sparingly on occasion is beneficial to the plant. You can do this during its active growing stage in late spring or summer.

• Take a hand pruner and  Do not harm the main trunk or any branches.
• Sterilize pruning shears with rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of disease.
• Identify areas for pruning such as yellowing, brown, or diseased leaves and stems.
• Trim the leaves at a 45-degree angle between the leaf nodes to encourage new growth.
• Don't remove more than 10 leaves at a time.
• Regularly check for old leaves near the best of the stem.

Shaping

You can also shape the fig tree in your desired look. Some may prefer a tree-like appearance with a branched canopy. To achieve this our experts suggest waiting first until your fiddle-leaf reaches 5 feet (1.5 m) or your desired height.

Then, cut the main trunk above a leaf node to encourage branching. Then additional cuts can be made on the branches to develop horizontal growth to promote a bushier plant. Alternatively, just follow the shape of the leaves to retain the natural look.

Cleaning the Leaves

The leaves of the Fiddle Leaf Figs are very delicate to heat, which is why they need mid-high humidity through misting to absorb ambient moisture through their leaves. Without the proper humidity, the leaves will start wilting and drooping before ultimately falling off.

Sometimes, the leaves can get clogged by a layer of dust which will hamper their ability to absorb moisture. To prevent this, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove the accumulated dust from time to time.

Repotting Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Repotting will be a very regular part of your fiddle leaf tree maintenance routine if you have potted it indoors. As the tree grows, so will its roots eventually becoming pot-bound if not repotted on time, making it difficult to re-pot which is necessary for adding growth space. 

If left alone, large bundles of roots become extremely thick and prevent proper flow and drainage of water through the soil to all of the roots, stunning or damaging the tree. 

Pruning The Root

Roots should be pruned rarely. Some of the situations that require root pruning are: being pot-bound, preventing the growth of the plant, having a root ball, or having compacted soil.  Pruning the roots is a very delicate task. Extreme care should be taken while doing so and no more than 20% of the root should be pruned at any given time

1. Pot-Bound Root: Trim the roots at the edges that have come out of the pot through the drainage hole. You should only cut enough roots to allow the plant to come out of the pot and not more.
2. Preventing Growth: Lightly trim the overall area of the roots near the sides and the bottom then put it in the same pot.
3. Root-ball: Cut an inch (2.5 cm) of the bottom-most roots and put it in a new pot with additional soil at the bottom. 

Repotting

Young fiddle leaf figs should be repotted every year in spring or when they are about to become pot-bound. To check, see if the roots are growing out of the pot drainage holes. Even if it’s not pot-bound, the compost should be changed every three years for adult trees.

If you don't want it to get bigger, return it to the same container after trimming the root ball carefully and adding new potting soil. 

Changing Compost

Changing soil is no longer necessary if they have perlite which prevents the compacting of the soil, in the case of fiddle leaf fig, the soil needs to be added as the overall volume of the new pot is greater than the volume of the old pot and to avoid over-salinity. 

Do not try to remove or wash off all the old soil as it can destroy the root hairs of the plant. Instead, just fill the bottom layers with new soil and move the roots and old soil to the new pot.

Types of Fiddle Leafs Fig

There are several selectively bred cultivars of Fiddle Leaf Figs for you to choose from.

• Ficus Lyrata is the main species and the commonly grown fiddle-leaf fig.
• Ficus Lyrata "Bambino" is a dwarf variety of figs that reaches up to just 40 inches (1 m) tall.
• Ficus Lyrata "Compacta" grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, featuring smaller, denser leaves.
• "Variegata" Ficus Lyrata has a showy mix of green and cream-colored leaves and is uncommon.