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Ahh, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (insert all the heart eyes). Its stunning, unique shape and giant floppy but vibrant leaves make it a sought-after tree in the interior design world. It IS finicky and fickle. But it is also TOTALLY worth it, and so very rewarding if you are willing to learn how to properly care for it (oftentimes through trial and error).
Have you tried and tried (and tried) to care for and love and maybe OVER-nurture a Fiddle Leaf fig? Well, I am here to help. Yes, I have put in the time and the tears (yes) and frustration and plant heartbreak so I that I can now share with you how to keep a dang Fiddle happy and healthy! I am so glad that it was not all for naught afterall ☺ So, get ready to be REALLY excited to run out and getchu one of these beauties!
First, a backstory: Long ago (ok, 4-5 years ago), before the Fiddle was the beacon of stylish indoor plants that it is now, I found one at a local nursery. I paid $30 (yes, THIRTY) for a 6 footer. And, to make a long and heartbreaking story short, I OVER-loved the darn thing to an early grave. I had NO clue that, being a tree, it did not need the amount of water that a typical houseplant would require. So, I just basically soaked her whenever I thought about it (which was way too often, because I loved her so darn much).
I also didn’t consider how much light she’d need. I put her where I wanted her to be, vs a place that would be properly sun-lit for all of her photosynthesizing needs. Then, when I realized that she didn’t like it in that spot, I moved her, and moved her, and moved her again. The final straw for her was when I repotted her while she was in distress (I know. I know). These were my mistakes, and if you pay attention and listen carefully to my advice, I know that YOUR loved Fiddle will be able to live a much longer life!
1.Start strong: My number one tip is to get your new baby from a nursery that cares for it properly from the start of its wee life. Buying your fiddle from a big box store (you know the two) that has it sitting inside, deprived of light for weeks at a time, is unlikely to fare well in the end. Look for a fiddle that looks healthy NOW, so it doesn’t struggle to stay in that good place once you relocate it to your home.
2. Don’t re-pot right away: The SINGLEMOST important thing to remember about Fiddles is that they do not like change. Each time you try to change things up for these guys, they need some chill time to adjust. They’re quite dramatic. So, bring her home and put her down and just give her some dang breathing space, ok?! (Haha) Allow a month or so before re-potting, even if she is root-bound and clearly ready for a bigger home. Ideally, you don’t want to re-pot her at ALL until spring/summer. It’s tempting, but Fiddles are just fine to remain rootbound for a good while.
3. Find the right, forever spot: Ideally, when you bring her home, you want to know where you’re going to keep your fiddle FOREVER. So, envision the space with a large, thriving tree. Wherever you put her is most likely where she will want to stay long-term (if you have chosen the right spot). You’ll want her to be where she gets LOTS of hours of indirect sunlight, so consider that, as well. Directly in front of a window is where my dear Wilma sits (more on her name later) and thrives. You’ll also want to avoid drafts, so next to a door may not be ideal. So, set her in her new forever home and keep her there unless she freaks out.
4. Do NOT over-water: Fiddles are trees, and trees by default don’t need as much water as other types of plants. They also never want to sit in wet soil. Until I felt comfortable not over-watering my fiddle, I watered on a schedule, giving her 1-2 cups on the same day every week.
But then, I learned some valuable advice: water until water runs out of the drain holes at the bottom of the fiddle, and then go LONGER between waterings. So, I am watering her more generously now, but not at often. She seems to really love it! Something that helps me to know when to water is a moisture meter (this is the one I use). I check her about once a week (I insert the meter in a few places around the pot) and when the meter reads 2-3, I give her a good drink. She has actually perked up a lot since starting this new method of watering, and is growing faster!
5. Re-pot the right way: After she’s settled and on a watering schedule, you can consider re-potting (wait until Spring or Summer, if you can!). Signs that she may need a larger pot are: roots growing out of the bottom of the pot, water running straight through and out of the bottom despite being on the same watering schedule, or a tree that looks unwell despite having been healthy and thriving previously. Look for a pot that’s just a couple inches larger in diameter than your current pot. I always add pebbles to the bottom of my pot, to help with proper drainage. I also give the roots a GENTLE massage before backfilling with soil. Many people recommend cactus soil, but I use Kellogg Patio Plus (found at Lowe’s or Home Depot).
6. Feed her: I feed my fiddle with two different products. The first is a vitamin supplement that I use every time I water. This is particularly helpful when re-potting a fiddle. It helps them get “settled in,” so to speak. I started using this about a year ago and my fiddle has never looked better!
Secondly, I fertilize her. I finally got brave enough to try this a few months ago, and her rate of growth has noticeably increased! It is a very inexpensive option and is easily found at just about any store. I am so thrilled. I use this fertilizer at HALF of what the directions call for, which equates to 1 tsp. per gallon of water. This is very important, because the wrong ratio can burn a plant.
7. Prune once she is well-established: I did not do any kind of pruning until my gal had been with us for over a year. It was so scary, but I went ahead and clipped her bottom leaves and hoped she wouldn’t be too angry. This gave her more of a tree appearance, which I love. If you do decide to prune, do so slowly. Each week, clip off 2-3 leaves at most, using clean pruning shears.
8. Name Her: I know this is cheesy, ok? But give your fiddle a name! It’s good luck. Ours is named Wilma, as-in “WillMakeIt” because I was bound and determined to get it right this time. I am probably unreasonably attached to my girl, because I went and got her at a time that was really hard for me. Having found out that an unexpected surgery was on the horizon for me, and I was just kind of down. I found her and she cheered me up. She continues to thrive, and dang it, so do I 🙂