Fiddle Leaf Fig Care: Everything You Need to Know

How Much Light Does A Fiddle Leaf Fig Need?

Fiddlers need plenty of light to recreate the long, sunny days of Africa. That means 6-8 hours of bright sunlight, but indoors you need indirect light. If fiddler tree leaves are exposed to strong sunlight, the leaves will scorch. Therefore, place the violin near a bright window where the sun cannot reach it.

Make sure your fiddler is getting enough or too much sunlight each time of the year. The strength of the sun in midsummer and in midwinter is very different.

They need similar sun outdoors, but fiddle leaf figs can tolerate direct outdoor exposure if acclimated first. Fiddler crabs are usually grown under artificial lighting, so they can catch a bad cold or get sunburned when first planted. An extra hour of sun each day before planting minimizes the problem.

If the fiddle leaf fig does not get enough light, it cannot undergo photosynthesis and produce food. Without enough nutrients, it dies. Lack of light is the number one reason houseplants don’t grow.

If you love them but your home is dark, consider artificial garden lighting instead of sunlight. It is grown commercially in this way.

How to Effectively Water and Fertilize a Fiddle Leaf Fig

Overwatering is the number one killer of houseplants, and it’s a shame because it kills them kindly. We all know that plants need water, but they generally don’t need as much water as we think.

Always wet soil rots the roots and all plants need air for their roots, so fiddler crabs need to dry out a bit before watering. The best way is to test it by touch. Stick your finger in the ground.

Push a finger into the soil:

• It’s damp = leave it a few days and test it again later.
• It’s dry down to an inch = it’s time for a drink.

Movable fiddle leaf figs should be placed in a bucket or water-filled sink for several hours rather than watered from the top. Drain the water before replacing. For large violins, fill the glass with water until it runs out of water from the pedestal.

Outdoor fiddle leaf figs also need water, especially in windy or dry weather. Fiddler crabs kept in containers are most at risk of submersion. Test your compost the same way you test your houseplants. Dip the pan when it’s dry to an inch.

Soil violinists will need additional water during periods of drought. To reduce watering, place a thick layer of organic mulch around the roots. It not only nourishes, but also retains moisture.

During the growing season, feed the violin with a weak solution of houseplant fertilizer. Follow instructions carefully to avoid poisoning. Don’t skimp on fertilizer as they grow fast and use up the nutrients in the pot twice as fast.

What About Misting?

Spraying is a great way to improve fiddle leaf fig care. All you need to know is that rainforests are humid and fog increases the humidity. Improvements can be seen when the leaves are sprayed several times a week.

A damp cloth is the best way to remove dust, although misting can also help remove accumulated dust. Photosynthesis is more efficient when the leaves are clean. Photosynthesis is the process plants use to produce food, so taking care of fiddle leaf figs is very important.

Keep It Warm

The rainforest is warm! If you reproduce this warmth at home, happy figs will be born. Generally, it should be above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and should be kept away from drafts, such as frequently-open windows or cold air-conditioned areas. Cool figs throw away their leaves to protest. Conversely, if the radiator heat is too high, it will cause the leaves to fall off.

How to Repot a Fiddle Leaf Fig: Everything You Need to Know

A healthy chamber violinist grows about a foot each year and reaches a height of 10 feet. As the roots grow, so will the green leaves, but the roots will never grow larger than the available pot space. Repotting fiddle leaf figs every year is ideal for growing taller fiddle leaf figs.

Choose a new inner bowl that is a few inches larger than the enlarged inner bowl, carefully remove the violin and place it in the center of the new bowl. Add houseplant compost to fill in gaps. It is not necessary to remove the compost attached to the roots. Give it plenty of water and don’t worry if it loses a few leaves. Fiddler trees are notorious for dropping leaves, but they grow back.

Transplanting outdoor plants is done in the same way, although manipulating large trees may require special help.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care: All About Pests and Disease

Indoor fiddler crabs do not attract many pests, but spider mites and aphids can invade your home. Remove the eggs with soapy water and rub neem oil into the crevices of the leaves to kill the eggs. Outdoors as well, if fiddler crabs are large, they can attract ladybugs and songbirds to your garden, which are natural enemies of aphids and spider mites.

Powdery mildew can sometimes be a problem for fiddle leaf figs, but this is usually caused by poor air circulation or not enough water. If water shortage is the cause, please refer to the excellent violin watering system above. If the irrigation system is good, poor circulation could be the problem. Cut off excess leaves to allow air to reach all leaves.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care: Troubleshooting Guide

Doesn’t your fiddle leaf fig look great? Here’s everything you need to know to troubleshoot and get this handsome guy back on track.

It is not growing

It grows up to 30 cm (up to 3 m) annually indoors and is expected to grow more outdoors. Outdoor fiddlers can reach heights of 60 feet.

If the violin is not stretched in height and width, give it a lighter weight and double down on the touch-and-test watering routine. Consider whether you’re getting enough fertilizer or your current pot is too small.

It’s leaning

Plants tilt towards the sun. Therefore, if the plant is tilted, rotate the pot. A quarter turn of all houseplants every week is recommended. This ensures even growth and straight stems.

Dull yellow leaves

Fiddler crab leaves should be dark to medium green. So if it turns yellow, you have a problem. Double check your watering plan as your plant may be permanently soggy or, conversely, not getting enough water.

Wet compost causes root rot. This is because when the roots rot, the plant can no longer absorb water and nutrients and begins to die. Once the moist soil is dry, you can save the plants. The game is over when the roots become mushy.

Yellowing leaves can also be caused by too much fertilizer or by your pet urinating in the pot or on the leaves.

No flowers or fruit

The fiddle leaf fig plant bears fruit in its natural habitat, but rarely elsewhere. For fig bees to produce fruit, they need sufficient light, moisture, and a resident fig bee to pollinate. These are also dioecious plants, so both male and female plants are required for pollination.

Fiddler crab fruit is bland and bitter, has a leathery skin and a dry mouth, so missing a fruit is not a big loss. If you want to grow delicious figs, you need to buy regular fig trees.

Rough brown foliage patches

Brown leaf spots are usually leaf burn. Make sure the violin is not in direct sunlight or near a radiator. In that case, please move it. But be prepared to throw a tantrum when the leaves fall. If you like your new position, you will recover.

What’s this white fluff?

The white fluff between the stem and leaf joints is a spider mite nest! If you look closely, you’ll find small brown moving dots. Spider mites can be killed with rubbing alcohol or neem oil.