I love my fiddle leaf fig tree but was very hesitant about buying it in the beginning because it has a reputation of being difficult to maintain. So many of you have shared your tips with me, so today’s post is going to be all about how to care for fiddle leaf fig trees.
This tree makes the perfect home plant because it adds color to a light room and freshens it up. I also love the sculptural-like shape with the bushy green leaves and skinny trunk. It can be expensive to buy, but it’s worth it if you can take care of it. Hopefully, today’s post will help you do that!
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Watering
Contrary to what you’re expecting, the fiddle leaf fig tree doesn’t like a lot of water – and it only needs to be watered once every 10 days. This is great for me because I don’t spend a ton of time at home. You can always check to see if the plant needs water by poking an inch of your finger into the soil or using a stick. If it seems dry, you probably need water. There’s also an app called Koubachi Wi-Fi Plant Sensor that tells you exactly when your plant needs water. One of you recommended this sensor and I think it’s worth checking out. If you end up overwatering, you may end up with brown leaves that start to fall.
Bear in mind that the amount of water your plant needs will reflect the size of your plant and kind of pot you have.
Light
This plant loves light, but you don’t want it to be direct because scorching hot afternoon sun can burn the leaves! I have my plant near a window but not directly in front of it. Also, keep it away from air vents because fiddle leaf fig trees don’t like breeze. Once in place, you can rotate the plant but don’t move it around too much because they don’t like that. Rotating the tree will help it grow straight. You’ll notice when it starts to lean too much.
Soil
One of the tips I received and tried was to cover the soil with moss. It helps keep the plant moist in between watering. So far, I think it’s worked!
Pot
Once you buy a fiddle leaf fig tree, always remove it from the cheap container it comes in and re-pot it. One of you recommended changing mine and getting one of these Lechuza planters! After reading about it, I just think they are the best from the irrigation process to the product selection and colors.
Leaf Care
Keeping the leaves clean are important since the plant thrives on light. I like to clean mine with banana leaves or coconut oil, but I know some people just wipe them down with a wet cloth.
For everyone who has asked, I hope these tips were helpful! If you have any other ones for me, chime in down below!
