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The fiddle leaf fig, known scientifically as Ficus lyata, is a towering tree native to the tropical rain forests of western Africa. Like many of their tropical natives, Ficus lyata can reach heights upwards of forty meters, which makes them, seemingly, quite the unfitting houseplant. Despite this dissuasive detail, though, fiddle leaf figs can be cared for within the confines of the urban jungle. (Made possible by careful training and trimming of the trees’ branches and roots, of course). In modern times, the fiddle leaf fig’s popularity has been on the rise due to the species’ violin-shaped leaves by virtue of their full, luscious appearance. However popular they may currently be, these topical specimens remain a rare bunch to care for due to their (sometimes) finicky care requirements.
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Fiddle Leaf Fig Care
After completing some reconnaissance as per the proper forms of fiddle leaf care, I quickly discovered that the trees have extremely touchy root systems which respond drastically to the size of the pot they are placed in. All of the sources I confronted stated, multiple times for some, that a tree’s roots face shock when placed in a vessel too large for the proportions of its root mass. These authorities further provided that a tree should only be transplanted when a.) it has become (almost) too large to remain indoors or b.) its root mass literally protrudes from the top of the pot in which it is planted. If a transplant to newer, larger pot is necessary, it should occur only during the spring, when the tree will be in its natural growth cycle.
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As per usual, indoor specimens lack the nutrients provided by outdoor mechanisms and therefore require fertilization. This should be done monthly during their growing season, which spans from February to September, and can be put on hiatus from October to January during the dormant season. Water-soluble fertilizer are preferable, as they can be diluted; fertilizer should not be applied at full strength and should be diluted to, at most, 50% its normal strength. In order to flush excess minerals from building up within potting soil, trees’ pots should be thoroughly flushed on a monthly basis, as suggested by The Spruce.
The water requirements of fiddle leaf specimens align with the usual houseplant M.O.: water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Various resources suggested that plant caretakers refrain from watering their fiddle leaf figs on a schedule, as variations which occur in household humidity and seasonal sunlight impact the amount of water soil retains.
More general soil and water requirements dictate that fiddle leafs be potted with well-draining potting soil and that any standing water which may accumulate in the pot should be removed to alleviate the impact of root rot.
In regards to fiddle leaf figs’ sunlight requirements, moderation is the most fitting policy. The rain forest inclinations of Ficus lyata cause its needs for bright, indirect light, but occasional direct sunlight is not beyond the natural tendencies of specimens. In addition to protective sun measures, GardenGuides recommends that trees be rotated each week to ensure that a specimen grows vertically. During summer months (or any other period when the temperature falls anywhere between 15 and 20 degrees Centigrade), fiddle leaf figs can be brought outside to provide them with a more natural spectrum of natural light.
After considering these more general care tricks, it should be noted that more tender practices involve dusting the plant’s leaves to ensure they receive enough light for photosynthesis, as suggested by Shifrah Combiths, author of “Tips for Growing Fiddle Leaf Figs.”
Michelle Slatalla focuses on more drastic care tips to be used in the case of major tree ailments in her article “7 Secrets: How to Save a Dying Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree” on Gardenista, but for now, I will hope the basic care instructions I provided will suffice for any of your fiddle leaf friends’ needs!
It’s interesting that the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree have touchy root systems. It reminds me of how goldfish generally grow to be as large as the tank they are in. So by this logic, I’m tall because my house is big (not true). I’m surprised that a tree being transplanted would ‘shock’ it. Is it just because the soil has different nutrients, so it takes time for it to switch over to absorbing new nutrients? It doesn’t make sense from an evolutionary standpoint that a tree would be shocked when it has new soil. Wouldn’t that be a disadvantage?