Chris Buckland
Are you a plant enthusiast and want to bring fiddle leaf figs home? But you’re not sure about how to create the right environment indoors as this plant is native to western Africa.
Don’t worry! Because with proper care and an adequate watering schedule, your plant can thrive inside any space.
On the other hand, fiddle leaf fig plants can also become a stunning architectural statement in any room.
And it’s not a surprise why #fiddleleaffig on Instagram has reached 354,303 posts. Most plant parents love it and flaunt it on social media too.
If you’re planning to elevate the aesthetics of your space with this plant, read on.
But first, let’s learn more about the plant!
What Exactly is Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Used as a protective plant or shade, fiddle leaf fig is also known as ficus lyrata. It’s a flowering plant that belongs to the mulberry and fig family Moraceae.
It’s loved for its distinctive foliage and is easy to recognize. And it has a tendency to grow in the lowland tropical rainforest.
What Does it Look Like?
This plant has large and violin-shaped leaves that grow upright. The leaves are 45 cm long and 30 cm wide.
And its leathery texture with prominent veins and wavy margin make it an attractive plant. Know that it’s categorized into tall plants, so it can grow up to 12-15 m.
Create Suitable Environment
This plant thrives in humid and bright conditions. That’s what makes it challenging to maintain it indoors. Unlike other plants, it’s quite tough and withstands not-so-perfect conditions.
Therefore, with a proper maintenance routine and temperature, you can keep this plant alive inside any space.
Once you’re done with finding the perfect environment, it’s time to take care of your plant.
Taking Care of Fiddle Leaf Fig
Image: https://pin.it/2KwF6BQ
Following this step-by-step process, you are sure to keep your plant in the best health.
Focus on Location
Choosing the right spot for fiddle leaf fig is incredibly important. It needs sunlight, but too much light might not be a good idea.
Therefore, find this plant a nice place either in a bright space or near a window. But once you decide on the place, avoid moving it.
This plant is a creature of habit. And you will see it flourish once it settles near a sunny spot.
Moreover, you need to turn or change sides of the plant once a week so that it receives equal sunlight and doesn’t start growing in one direction.
Now that you’ve chosen a suitable location, let’s move on to the watering routine.
Establish a Balanced Watering Schedule
Don’t over or underwater your plant if you want to keep it nice and healthy. You can try watering it once a week to maintain a routine, but you need to keep an eye on it to find the right time for watering.
Depending on the weather conditions and moisture levels, you can even wait for two weeks before the next watering session.
To be sure, you can stick your fingers 3-4 inches in the soil. If it feels moist, you can wait for a few more days. However, if it feels dry, you can water your plant as you normally would.
Most people prefer filtered water for this part, but you can try tap water too. Since it’s a big plant, watering it in the sink or bathtub will be convenient and less messy.
Just like watering, finding the right soil for your plant is essential too.
Soil your Plant the Right Way
Know that fiddle leaf fig prefers humus-rich, well-drained, and moist soil. That’s why most garden soils work for it.
However, the pH in the soil needs to be ranging from 6-7 for healthy growth. Don’t forget to read the pH kit carefully.
For indoor fiddle leaf fig, you need to get your hands on a premium standard potting mix. And try to go for a large and sturdy pot, as your plant will grow tall and heavy.
It’s suggested to re-pot your plant after every two years to keep it healthy. Here are a few repotting tips that you can follow:
- Fiddle leaf fig is sensitive to root rot, so select a spacious planter with good drainage.
- Pour 4 inches of potting mix into the new pot while carefully removing the old pot, you don’t want to damage the roots.
- Once placed, fill the sides of a new pot with soil.
- Water fiddle leaves figs and allows them to drain.
- Use water-soluble fertilizer for fertilizing, preferably after a month.
Practical Ideas to Decorate Fiddle Leaf Fig
With its rich and glossy green foliage, the fiddle leaf fig is surely a gorgeous plant that draws plenty of attention. If you’ve been struggling to find the perfect idea to decorate it, we can help!
But before that, here’s where you can place it.
In the Bedroom
You can make it a statement piece in your bedroom and make it look great effortlessly. However, ensure that it gets natural or artificial light for at least 6-8 hours a day.
You also need to keep it away from AC, as the cold air will make its leaves dull and dry.
In the Bathroom
Place your fiddle leaf fig in the bathroom to enhance its look of it instantly. Placing it in the bathroom will also provide ample humidity to the plant too.
If your bathroom has a window, consider placing the plant near it to promote its overall health.
Now that we know where to place fiddle leaf figs, it’s time to explore a few ideas to decorate it.
Modern White Pot
For indoor fiddle leaf fig, you can never go wrong with a modern white pot. It’s modern, large, and appealing enough to bring attention to your plant.
Apart from aesthetics, it’s quite functional and comes with a drainage plug. This feature facilitates water flow, providing just the right amount of hydration.
Perfect Belly Basket
If you want to hide those unappealing multi-functional planters, belly baskets can be your safe bet.
With this type of basket, you only need to place the entire planter and drainage tray inside the belly basket and you’re good to go!
No doubt, the fiddle leaf fig plant becomes a statement piece in any space and elevates aesthetics, but it can fall prey to diseases too.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Diseases
If not taken care of properly, the following diseases can destroy your plant.
Edema
More like a condition, edema can trouble you as a plant parent. The plant can develop this condition as a result of over or under-watering.
An inappropriate watering routine enables leaves to burst, leaving tiny red or brown dots all over the leaves. Mild cases of edema are harmless, but if it’s a severe case, it indicates a problem with your watering schedule.
Treatment
To water your plant adequately, you need to take cues from it to know when the plant needs it.
You can make this step easier using a moisture meter to get an idea about when to water your plant without over or under doing it.
Root Rot
A fungal infection – root rot occurs when the soil stays too wet for a long time. This situation allows the fungus to grow.
When this happens, dark brown or black spots appear on the bottom leaves, working their way up to the plant.
Browning or blackening veins on the lower leaves, mushy stems, and weird smells from the soil are also indicators of root rot.
Treatment
If the symptoms are mild and there are only one or two spots without odor, you have a chance to save your plant.
You can begin by removing the damaged leaves, watching the watering routine, allowing more light, and using root supplements to prevent the further spread of the infection.
However, in the case of severe symptoms, repot your plant, remove old soil, and trim rotting roots to heal your plant.
Bacterial Infection
Not common, but still dangerous – bacterial infection can eat up your plant if you don’t act right away.
Unlike root rot, the bacterial infection covers the entire plant, appearing in medium-brown spots or slight yellowing.
Treatment
To cure this condition, remove rotten leaves carefully with clean hands and tools. Repot your plant into the fresh soil in a cleaned pot with proper drainage.
Try providing maximum light, using less water and root supplement to allow your plant to recover.
Powdery Mildew
Poor air circulation between the leaves often leads to powdery mildew, which is a fungal disease. When it occurs, you will notice chalky white or gray spots on the stems and leaves.
This disease makes your plant vulnerable to insects. Worse, it can affect other houseplants too. Therefore, you need to take action quickly.
Treatment
First, isolate your plant to prevent fungus from spreading. Then, elevate the airflow between the leaves by opening windows, doors, and turning on fans. But don’t put your plant in front of a fan.
If the fungus has only affected a few leaves, remove them using sharp shears carefully.
At this point, if you’re wondering, what’s the benefit of keeping this plant at home when there’s a risk of diseases, here are its interesting advantages for you.
Benefits of Keeping Fiddle Leaf Fig Indoors
Decorating your space with fiddle leaf fig isn’t only about aesthetics, as it brings awesome advantages too.
- Studies have revealed that ficus trees, such as ficus lyrata are good at keeping the air clean and removing harmful chemicals.
- Fiddle leaf fig can help in promoting physical health and influence our well-being and moods.
- It boosts mental well-being, like pruning, repotting, cleaning, watering, and fertilizing prove to be rewarding and meditative.
Just like the pros, this plant also comes with certain cons that you need to pay attention to.
Risks of Keeping Fiddle Leaf Fig Inside your Space
You may not believe it but fiddle leaf fig can be toxic to your adorable furry friend.
Whether you’re a cat mom or dog dad, it’s difficult to keep this plant and pet in the same space without stirring some kind of curiosity inside your pet.
That’s why it’s essential to know that this plant is mildly toxic for pets. If your pet ingests it, it will result in oral irritation, drooling, or diarrhea.
This plant has white and sticky sap containing tiny calcium oxalate crystals with sharp edges that lead to discomfort for your pets.
The toxicity of the plant won’t kill your pet. But if you notice the above-mentioned signs, you need to visit the vet quickly.
Apart from that, you can keep the plant away from pets using the following ways:
Ways to Keep Fiddle Leaf Fig Away From the Pets
Here are quick ways to keep this plant out of your pet’s reach.
- Spray lemon juice around the plant, as pets, such as cats and dogs don’t like its smell.
- Mix coffee grounds in the soil of your plant, as pets, especially cats, don’t like the smell of coffee.
- Try decorating your plant at a height that your pet can’t reach.
- You can keep the plant in a room or space where pets aren’t allowed.
FAQs
Are fiddle leaf figs good indoor plants?
Fiddle leaf figs are a popular indoor plant and tend to do well indoors. They require bright light but not direct sunlight, watering once a week and temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F. They are slow growing plants and are best when they are 2-3 years old.
Are fiddle leaf figs hard to keep alive?
Fiddle leaf figs are not difficult to maintain in the home. They require moderate light, humidity, and temperatures. If the conditions are suitable, fiddle leaf figs can be prolific growers, producing new leaves from the center of the plant.
Do fiddle figs need sun?
No, fiddle figs do not need sun. They are indoor plants that require filtered light and humidity. Fiddle figs can be grown on windowsills or in pots, and they prefer temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees F.
Summing it up!
No doubt, indoor plants are a great way to boost the curb appeal of any space. With a big and beautiful fiddle leaf fig, you are sure to make it a focal point of any room.
Choose a visually interesting planter to decorate your plant and create modern vibes indoors. From jute baskets to colored pots, the options are endless.
Lastly, if you take care of your plant properly, it will thrive, keeping your environment safer and cleaner.
