Houseplants can replace the role of furniture when it comes to make your home look upscale. Have you ever heard fiddle leaf fig? It’s not fruit, yet it’s an ornamental plant. It refers to an upright leafy tree with spreading evergreen leaves. Interestingly, the leaves have a shape that looks like a violin. If you pick this plant to liven up your space, it’s important that you think about the fiddle leaf fig care.
Yes, it’s such a brilliant idea to have this plant at your home. However, you have to understand how to care it properly. Here are some considerations about how to care for fiddle leaf fig:
In this article, we'll cover
Never Let Fiddle Leaf Fig Get Too Much Light Exposure
As a famed gardener from New York (Harnek Singh) says, fiddle leaf fig requires an east-facing window to be placed nearby the plant so that it can get adequate sunlight. In a general sense, the light must not be too bright or too much. Despite so, the plant needs a high amount of indirect light. It’s such a bad idea when you place it next to a window facing south or west. The afternoon sunlight passing through the window is super strong.
The expert also adds that a fiddle leaf fig tree will have a serious health problem when homeowners put it in the darkness. There is a variety of symptoms when it’s treated like that. Some of them include how the foliage become pale and lethargic and how the leaves are loaded with some spots. Once you come across the symptoms, never hesitate to remove the plant into a place with good illumination. Having a good sun at home is necessary.
Native to the tropical regions of Central and West Africa, the fiddle leaf fig tree loves thriving under other plants’ canopies. Therefore, if you plan to grow outdoors, it’s vital that you avoid it from the full sun. It is great to be nurtured in partial shade.
How is the Potting Soil?
Fiddle fig tree requires well-drained, rich in humus soil with moisture. Considering the pH level is another thing you can’t think little of. For the health reason, the pH level must range from 6 to 7. It’s not that hard to control the pH level as you can make use of a pH kit. There is no way better other than letting the soil you’ve just watered dry out to shun the leaf dropping as well as rotten root. It’s pretty fine that the showy tree is resistant to drought.
Unlike other houseplants commonly planted in a small pot, this spreading-leaf tree requires a bigger version of the container. This one allows the plant to grow optimally. In the near future, it usually grows large and heavy. Re-potting is highly needed to maintain the health value and make it stronger each year. True to its name, this procedure is removing the living organism into another medium, way larger.
Start the re-potting procedure by finding a bigger container with great drainage. Bad drainage, for sure, leads to the rotting process taking place on the root. Fill the new container with a combination of a potting mix including coarse sand and porous soil. Place the big decorative plant at its new home and fill the gaps beside the remaining soil. The following thing to do is watering it and letting it dry. A month later, be sure to fertilize it.
Under-Watering is Such a Serious Problem for Fig Leaf Plant
Another important thing to keep in your mind is nothing else but the under-watering issue. Some of you often ignore this type of thing yet it matters that much on the fig leaf plant. Consistent moist is a fundamental aspect that makes the development of the plant in good condition. There are some indications when it faces the under-watering. The symptoms include the color change from green to yellow or brown and leaf drop.
Another sign that the fig leaf plant experiences the under-watering is how the leaves of it become floppy and weak. There should be intense watering when the season changes (especially from winter to spring). This action is required to do to ensure that the plant remains hydrated. Put the mater another way; regular watering is a must. It’s arguably the main consideration when it comes to fiddle leaf fig tree care.
Mind the Over-Watering
Like under-watering, over-watering could be another threat hampering the growth of indoor fig tree. You need to understand that soaking is different from watering. Yes, it’s true that the level of moisture needs to maintain yet it doesn’t mean that you can pour ample water on the plant. It’s possible to get infected some diseases and lead to the lack of oxygen. In a nutshell, the roots can easily die if you don’t stop this type of wrong care.
The Risk of Giving too Much Food
Giving fiddle leaf fig fertilizer on a daily basis is such a brilliant thing. However, feeding the plant too much nourishment brings a horrible thing to the plant. Not only does it cause leggy stem but plenty of food intake can kill it. It’s such a serious problem. A great recommendation from an American botanist is that instead of giving too much food every day, it’s better to top the surface with soil that’s rich in nutrient once a year.
Set an Environment Favored by the Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant
Finally, ensure that the setting for the fiddle leaf fig plant to live is quite similar to its natural habitat in Africa. There is no need to be the same, yet you can enhance the atmosphere by giving warmth to the rest of your space. You need to know that it’s highly susceptible to the chilly environment. When the winter comes, make sure to keep the plant inside. Cold exposure can lead fatality on the plant.
In a few words, there are some worth-noting points when fiddle leaf fig care is highlighted. From proper watering to adequate feeding, the care needs to be set as its natural environment.
