Caring for Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees
Repotting chores continue at my Bedford, New York farm with three of my giant fiddle leaf fig trees - not to be confused with the fiddlehead ferns, those furled fronds of young ferns that pop up in spring and are often harvested for use as vegetables.
The fiddle leaf fig, Ficus lyrata, is a species of flowering plant in the mulberry and fig family Moraceae. It is native to western Africa, from Cameroon west to Sierra Leone, where it grows in lowland tropical rainforests. Named for its large, leathery, glossy green leaves, the fiddle leaf fig is a very popular indoor houseplant, and when given plenty of light, and enough soil and room in its planter, it can grow quickly and beautifully for years.
Enjoy these photos.
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- I have always been fond of these large ornamental fiddle leaf fig trees. These three are very healthy, so they grow quickly. As you can see here, they’ve outgrown their clay pots and need to be moved into larger containers.
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- These are fiddlehead ferns, the coils at the top of ostrich ferns that are enjoyed in various spring dishes. I grow many of them in a shade garden outside my Tenant House. They are some of the first plants to emerge in spring.
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- The proper size of any planter depends on the plant, its potential growth rate, and the ultimate size desired when the plant is full grown. When repotting a specimen, always go one pot size up. Until I decide on more permanent vessels for these fiddle leaf figs, they’re being moved to these large plastic containers each with proper drain holes.
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- For these trees, Ryan is using Sungro Professional Growing Mix – formulated with sphagnum peat moss, coarse grade perlite, gypsum, Dolomitic lime, and a long-lasting wetting agent.
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- The fiddle leaf fig is a tropical tree closely related to other Ficus trees. Mature stems and the trunk have a thin woody bark.
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- The leaves sprout only from the branches and can get quite large. They are also rigid with a leathery feel. As they grow, the leaves are covered by a protective papery bract that shrivels and dries once the leaf fully emerges.
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- Carlos removes the fiddle leaf fig from its pot. Any plant ready for repotting should slide out with the soil in one piece.
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- Among the signs that a plant is ready for repotting is when the roots are tightly packed within a pot. This root ball is definitely ready for more room.
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- Using a sharp knife, Ryan cuts off a couple inches from all sides of the root ball. This is very effective in the future development of a strong root system.
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- Roots packed tightly in a pot don’t take up nutrients efficiently, so Ryan gives the roots a good trim to loosen up the root ball and promote good aeration.
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- Ryan then fits the fiddle leaf fig into its new pot on top of several inches of soil mix.
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- Next, he centers the tree – the goal is to get the top of the root ball to sit about an inch below the rim of the container.
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- Once the tree is properly positioned, Ryan backfills the sides with more soil mix. The extra room at the top prevents soil from overflowing when watered.
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- Fiddle leaf figs grow below the forest canopy, so it should be placed where the tree will receive very bright, but indirect light all day. In proper conditions, it can grow to 10-feet tall when kept indoors as a houseplant.
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- Once again, Ryan trims off the bottom of the root ball.
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- Ryan also makes three or four vertical cuts about a third of the way up the remaining root ball. This also promotes new growth – it is called scarifying.
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- These fiddle leaf figs are easy to repot. With about two to three inches of space around the root ball, this pot is the perfect size for this specimen.
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- Fiddle leaf fig trees prefer to dry out completely between waterings, and while they take a good deal of water to keep healthy, consistent moisture will drown it. Check the tree regularly and do not water if the top two-inches of soil are still moist from the previous watering.
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- Fiddle leaf figs can benefit from regular doses of a good fertilizer during the growing season.
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- Last weekend, I also pruned these fiddle leaf figs. They will soon be brought indoors where they will spend the cold season in a humidity and temperature controlled environment. How do you care for your fiddle leaf fig trees? Share comments below – I always enjoy reading them.
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