You might have seen the Mile Marker boards that parents create for their children – they highlight things like the height, weight, likes, and dislikes of their child at various stages of life. We at Nick’s Garden Center think Plant Parents should have something like this for their Plant Babies as well! Our Plant Parent Chalkboard Photos and blogs will provide you with an overview of what each plant needs in order to “grow up” happy and healthy!
One of the most sought after houseplants today, Fiddle Leaf Fig can be a challenge when it comes to getting it settled, but is certainly worth the effort. Because care of the Fiddle Leaf Fig is relatively easy once it’s settled, we’re going to put this one at an intermediate level. The Fiddle Leaf Fig can grow to be about 6 feet tall in indoor settings, and up to 40 feet tall in its natural habitat. Part of the Moraceae family, Fiddle Leaf Fig is known to the scientific community as “Ficus Lyrata,” and as a result, often goes by just its first name – Ficus. But the reason this native of the rainforests of western and central Africa got its common name can be attributed to its leaves. The leaves of this tree are shaped like – you guessed it – a fiddle!
Fiddle Leaf Fig likes a soil that will drain well, and a pot that does the same. As with other houseplants, if your pot does not have drainage built in, add some rocks into the bottom of the pot before the soil in order to help keep the roots of the plant out of water. Take extra care to water only when necessary if your pot has no drainage. If you’re using a pot that has good drainage, you can usually check to see if the soil is dry to the touch one to two inches below the surface to determine whether or not you need to water. With pots that do not have drainage, a Moisture Meter is recommended to make sure that the bottom of the pot is not still saturated. When watering house plants with good drainage, slowly pour water into the soil until it starts to run out the bottom of the pot. Make sure to drain excess water left in the tray (a little is fine and will evaporate).
Fiddle Leaf Fig likes bright (indirect) sunlight, and should be rotated regularly to keep growth uniform. It can even benefit from brief periods of direct sunlight. Brown spots on the leaves will appear if the sun the plant is receiving is too bright or too direct – just watch your plant for warning signs. Keep Fiddle Leaf Fig in temperatures similar to your own comfort, but don’t let the temperature go below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Fiddle Leaf Fig will also benefit from some humidity (use a humidifier to keep your Fiddle Leaf Fig extra happy if you live in a dry climate like Colorado).
Don’t fret too much if you have given Fiddle Leaf Fig its recommended environment but it still sheds some of its leaves upon arriving at its new home. They can get stressed out with environment changes and will shed leaves if they do stress. Keep Fiddle Leaf Fig’s leaves clean by gently wiping them down every now and then. This helps keep some pests at bay, and the leaves will soak up sun more easily if they are clear of dust. Like many houseplants, Fiddle Leaf Fig is said to be an air cleaning plant, but this one is not pet safe. If you have chewers, keep them away from the plant, or the plant away from them, to keep everyone safe.
Happy Plant Parenting!
