How to Care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
I’ve always loved the look of a fiddle leaf fig tree so when it was time to redo our dining room I knew I wanted one in that room. This room is fiddle leaf fig magic – the perfect amount of sunlight for it to take off. These plants can be tricky and their large leaves can be prone to brown spots. But once you figure out what your tree likes, it’s easy to keep them happy.
Soon, my tree started to get a little out of control. I had heard about being able to propagate a fiddle leaf fig tree and thought my overgrown tree was a perfect candidate.
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Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips
Plant your fiddle leaf fig in a container that has really good drainage in the bottom of it. Some people don’t re-pot their tree once they bring it home but I’ve always put mine in a container that is just a little bit bigger than what it comes in. If you don’t re-pot, you can line a basket like this one with a trash bag and place the fiddle leaf fig directly in it. Did I mention good drainage? That’s critical and helps avoid root rot.
One of the most common questions I get about our FLF’s is how ofter should you water? I only water once a month but make sure to soak it through thoroughly. Not giving it a good soak will cause the leaves to brown on the edges, especially if you live near saltwater like we do. I’ve recently started using filtered water for ALL my plants to avoid brown spots on the leaves.
Don’t move it. These plants prefer to be left alone in their indirectly sunny spot.
Keep your plant dusted and I wipe mine down occasionally with milk. Sounds super strange right? But, they love to be dusted and the protein in the milk helps them. Plus it makes them so pretty and shiny.
How to Propagate your Fiddle Leaf Fig
The first thing I did was fill up a couple of large vases with tap water and let them sit overnight. This allows the water to chlorine to evaporate. Don’t have that kind of patience? Use distilled water to fill up your vases and make sure to use a vase that can support your cutting so that it is upright.
I’ve learned through doing this process a few times now with my fiddles, that when I replace the water each week, the roots grow much faster!
I chose to trim the tallest stalk of my fiddle leaf fig tree with healthy leaves. It was the biggest and causing the tree to lean the most. I cut enough of the tree off so that it would be able to stand straight again and gave me enough of a stalk to put into the water, about 3 inches under the last leaf.
Pro Tip: make sure the stalk of your tree is still green where you cut. This will ensure that the tree will sprout roots on your cutting and regrow on the original tree.
Leave two or three stems on your cutting so that it has enough leaves to generate the energy it needs. Too many leaves left on the stem and it will take more energy than it can generate to grow roots.
Place the fiddle leaf fig cutting in the water in a bright spot without much direct sunlight. My fiddle leaf fig gets a little bit of direct morning sun and seems to like it. I placed my cuttings in the same room.
Periodically check the water and refresh it weekly. It took my cuttings about a month to sprout enough of a root system that I could place them in soil.
Some people recommend using a rooting hormone like this one but I didn’t have one on hand and rooted mine without it. I’ve learned through doing this process a few times now with my fiddles, that when I replace the water each week, the roots grow much faster!
Plant your baby fiddle leaf fig trees in the soil. Place them in a sunny spot and keep the water moist for the first month or so. It took a LONG time for my cutting to sprout any sort of growth. Of the two that I planted, the one with two leaves is the one that sprouted new growth. Don’t give up on them, even if the leaves start to brown and get ugly. Give it time, water, and sunshine and you will be enjoying a new baby fiddle leaf fig tree in no time. It’s really easy, just not fast.
Use a good fertilizer like this one. Do you have a fiddle leaf fig tree? Any secrets to keeping yours happy?