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Make a Statement with a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

When you want to add some life and visual interest into your home space, look no further than the fiddle leaf fig tree to help you achieve that. Ficus lyrata is native to West Africa and boasts giant violin shaped leaves. Wherever you choose to place this tree, it is guaranteed to make a big impact. Here is how to take care of this living sculpture.

Start with the Right Soil Base

If you are going to be successful in growing a fiddle leaf fig tree, you first must start with the right base, the right soil. Figs do not like to sit in soil that holds onto water. Therefore, it is important that you choose a soil that drains water quickly. It should also provide a bit of aeration and grit. An ideal soil mixture for fig trees should include peat, perlite, vermiculite, and a bit of sand.

Get the Light Right

Lighting is key for most houseplants, but especially fiddle leaf figs. Because they originally hail from the tropical regions of West Africa, they are used to lots of sun and lots of humidity. Therefore, your fig tree will do best if placed near a window that receives Eastern exposure. Eastern exposures will offer bright, but gentle morning sunlight. Southern exposures are also good but the light that the tree receives from there could prove to be too intense at points. If you notice browning on the leaves, this is a sign that the tree has been sunburned and that you may need to scoot it back a few inches from the window. If you do not have a suitable place that receives Western or Eastern sun, you can supplement the tree’s lighting needs with LED grow lights.

Know When to Water

Something that can frustrate a lot of fiddle leaf fig tree caretakers is their watering needs. Too little water and their leaves dull, wilt, and lose their vibrant green color. Too much water and their leaves can yellow, drop, or the tree can succumb to root rot. The longer you care for your tree, however, the more you will notice that the tree really communicates to you what its watering needs are. For the most part, though, fiddle figs like the soil to be moist but not wet. Watering when the top two inches of soil is dry is a good rule of thumb. This may mean you are watering more frequently in the Summer when the air is drier and hotter, and less in the Winter when the soil stays wetter for longer.

Give It Food

Maintaining a lush, dramatic tree also comes down to feeding it properly. During the growing season, which is from March to October, give your fiddle fig a high nitrogen fertilizer once a month. Doing so will keep its leaves big, vibrant, and happy.

Know When to Give It a Trim

In its natural habitat, these trees can reach heights of 50 feet. Most people cannot accommodate a fifty-foot tree in their homes, so knowing how to prune your fig tree is important. Not just to control its size but you can also control the look and shape you want your tree to have with pruning. The key to successful pruning is to do it during its active growing season and to make the cut in between two nodes. You can identify a node by seeing where a leaf has grown or is growing from. That is a node. Then you can trim as you desire!

And there you have it! A quick guide to fiddle leaf fig care. Once you know the basics, you too can transform any room in your home with one of these bold, beautiful trees.

If you are looking for the perfect place to grow in, look no further than Ripple Creek Homes. Take a look at our available homes in our desirable communities today.

By Ripple Creek Homes 2-27-2023