We may garner tax income from the products uncommitted on this Thomas Nelson Page and participate in affiliate computer program . Learn More ›
The deep green , shining , dinner - plate - sized leaves of the fiddle leaf Libyan Fighting Group have made it a popular house works . combine with its impressive height — indoors , it can grow to as tall as 10 foot — the African native is sought by many who desire to total a touch of the tropic to their decor .
Also known as violin fig tree , fiddle leafage tree , and fiddle leaf fig , Ficus lyratacan be a scrap tricksy to grow , but aware tending to its needs will honor the caretaker with a lush showstopper .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Fiddle Leaf Fig Care at a Glance
USDA zone:10 - 12 . gardener in some parts of the very southern United States might be able to mature violin leaf Ficus carica alfresco , but it ’s a houseplant in most area of the U.S.Soil : truehearted - draining , pH 6 to 7Light : bright , indirect light ; good morning sunlight is bestWater : Thoroughly when the top 2 inch of territory becomes dryFood : One tablespoon 3 - 1 - 2 melted fertilizer mixed with a dry quart of water each sentence you water , February to SeptemberTemperature and Humidity : Consistent warmth between 65 and 75 level Fahrenheit ; high humidness between 40 and 60 percentPropagation : Stem cutting in soil or water ; air layering is an pick for larger plantsSafety : leaf are poisonous to PET and the great unwashed if ingested
How to Care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig
Originally from cardinal and West Africa ’s tropical region , where they grow in lowland forests , the violin leaf Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya plant belongs to theFicusgenus , one of about 850 specie in the Moraceae family . As such , they are epiphytes that grow on top of other industrial plant in the state of nature . Like other plant life in theFicusfamily , they do not like to be move , so it ’s best to find the right situation in your dwelling and leave them there .
It ’s a tight - acquire flora with enormous leaves that add dramatic play to any blank space . The large , shiny leaves are shape like a fiddle — thus , the name .
In its natural habitat , where they are pollinated by wasps , the tropic plant produces yield : small , unripened figs that nestle under the toughened , leathery leaves . However , it ’s unusual for them to bloom or fruit in indoor environment . Nevertheless , their popularity resides in their towering form with showstopping foliage , and study how to care for violin leaf fig is central to its success .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Select the Right Soil
Fiddle leaf fig industrial plant like well - draining dirt high in constituent matter with a pH between 6 and 7 . Look for a soil that ply aeration , good drainage , a bit of grit to forestall clumping , and organic thing . Among the ingredients that address these needs are perlite , vermiculite , peat , coir and Baroness Dudevant .
Most quality indoor potting mixes designed for tropical plants will work for fiddle Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya trees . Leaves and Soul ’s fiddle leafage fig soil , which is our top option in ourresearched guide to the dear filth for violin leaf Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya , is formulated specifically for these trees .
Choose the Right Light
Fiddle leaf fig sleep together bright , filtered light , and the more lead the Ficus carica has , the more ignitor it command . Place the industrial plant in front of a window with eastern exposure to take vantage of delicate morn light . If you ca n’t volunteer your flora this character of light , you may need to supplement withLED grow igniter . Too much lineal sun can burn the plants and call on the leaves brownish . revolve the works every few days to check it produce straight , rather than curve toward the light .
Water Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Key to shrink from leaf common fig tree diagram fear is using way - temperature water system to give the plant a thorough soaking . Water that is too hot or too dusty can stimulate the plant to go into shock .
While fiddle foliage fig plant like their filth moist , they do n’t like it too wet and can succumb to root rot if overwatered . However , if they do n’t get enough water , their leaves will wilt and fall back their vibrant green color . Your plant will tell you how often to water violin folio figure .
How often should you water fiddle leafage Libyan Fighting Group ? When the top 2 inches of dirt has dried out , it ’s time to water again . This typically means about once a hebdomad during the alive mature season ( February – September ) and the air is warmer , drying the dirt out more quickly . You may require to water only every other calendar week during wintertime .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Fertilize Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
fertilise fiddle foliage fig Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout the growing time of year with a high - nitrogen plant life nutrient ; for example , one that has an NPK ratio of 3 - 1 - 2.Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Food ’s urea - free expression is designed specifically forFicus lyrata . Add a tablespoon of fertiliser to a quart of body of water and decant into your fig ’s soil .
Because they like a inert pH soil ( the perfect level is 6.5 ) , supplements such as coffee — even though it ’s high in nitrogen — are too acid and could be harmful to the plant , causing leave toturn xanthous .
Set the Temperature and Humidity
These tropical flora like warm , humid , static conditions : utmost temperature fluctuations can harm them . Indoors , temperature between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal , but avoid placing them near heating and aura conditioning blowhole or drafts , which can have temperature transmutation that result in wry or discolored foliage .
A relativehumidity levelbetween 30 and 65 percent provides the best surroundings for violin folio trees , but because many menage have only 10 percent humidness in the winter , you may desire to add on by placing ahumidifiernear the plant , misting it , or setting it on atray of pebblesthat is filled with pee , as long as the pot is n’t standing in water . Additionally , placing other flora nearby raises the humidness level for all .
Prune Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
In their rude habitat , these Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can produce to 50 foot ! If the plant is pushing up against your roof , you may be question how to clip fiddle leaf fig . You may also want to garnish sidelong branches if the tree is becoming too bushy or too wide for the quad . However you need to prune , do it only during the plant ’s active grow time of year .
Because the sap from this plant is an irritant , it ’s a adept melodic theme to bust long sleeve and gloves as you gear up to figure out . Using acuate , clean pruners , first crop away any dead or dying leave . Then identify a space between two nodes ( the office on a root word from which leave grow ) and make a diagonal cold shoulder in the middle between the nodes .
If you need to remove an entire lateral arm , cut just above the branch choker , which is the place where the limb grows from the central trunk . pass over forth the sap with a damp rag .
Photo: istockphoto.com
How to Propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig
If you ’d wish to give a fiddle leaf fig a protagonist , broadcast a 2d flora . We ’ll describe two ways for how to pass around fiddle folio fig .
Alternatively , use the melodic line layering method , which is slower but create a turgid plant .
When to Repot Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyratacan grow a foot or two each year , and can become rootbound quickly . If you find your plant is drying out quickly and necessitate more frequent than normal waterings , it might be time to repot . await to repot it every 2 years , or even per year . Choose a pot that ’s about 2 inches in diam enceinte than its current abode , and do your repotting in springtime for the good resultant role .
Types of Fiddle Leaf Fig
• Ficus lyrata‘Bambino’is a midget variety that reaches just 2 - 3 feet tall while still rollick enceinte , but not as declamatory , leaves . It typically does n’t grow laterally , so does n’t require a large space .
• Ficus lyrata‘Variegata’is an rare , highly sought - after motley with variegated leaves . The benighted immature centers of the foliage are ringed by a pale white-livered , or cream , gloss .
• Ficus lyrata‘Compacta’is a mixed bag that can grow up to 5 feet tall and feature pocket-sized , more bunched leave of absence . It typically grows more lento than the standard fiddle leafage Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Safety Considerations
As with many beautiful plants , the fiddle leaf fig poses a threat in that its leaves are toxic to dogs , cats , and people if consume . While the plant ’s milky sap is n’t black , it can do knockout unwritten combustion and botheration , as well as gastrointestinal disturbance . Pets may drool excessively , vomit , and have difficulty get down . The sap can also induce blistering of the peel and dermatitis or skin irritation in tyke and pets . If you suspect a pet has ingested this plant life , call your vet like a shot .
Potential Pests and Diseases
Like most houseplants , fiddle foliage fig trees are susceptible to coarse pest .
FAQs
violin leaf fig care is n’t overly demanding , but it is important to do things flop in order for them to expand . With the right care , these majestic plant can live 50 long time .
Q: Why are there brown spots on my fiddle leaf fig plant?
A : browned spots are probably due to overwatering . piss only when the top two column inch of ground are ironical .
Q: Are fiddle leaf fig leaves toxic to cats?
A : Yes . According to theASPCA , violin folio common fig leaves are toxic to guy . get through your veterinarian forthwith if you distrust your pet has ingested any part of the flora .
Q: How fast do fiddle leaf figs grow?
A : Fiddle leafage fig Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree can raise 1 to 2 feet per year .
Q: Why is my fiddle leaf fig dropping leaves?
A : deficiency of water or a very dry environment can get a fiddle foliage fig plant to drop its leaves .
Q. How do you clean fiddle leaf fig leaves?
A : only spray the large leaf with water and wipe them with a piano cloth .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a raised bed , or an in - ground plot of ground out back — and choose the correct plant for your soil and realm .
Photo: istockphoto.com
