What Is Best Soil For Fiddle Leaf Fig?+ Soil Mix Recipe

Just like light, water, moisture, and airflow, determining the right soil mix is equally essential for your fiddle leaf fig plant’s ideal growth. Soil compatibility is a significant factor. If your houseplant is not compatible with the soil mix you have chosen, the plant cannot absorb nutrients and water properly. It will eventually get weak and dull.

If you are confused about which soil to choose or how to pick the best ingredients to prepare the soil mix for your beloved plant, you are at the right place! With this write-up, we will give you a clear insight into potting soil and help you opt for the best one for your beautiful fiddle leaf fig.

TL; DR

Usually, fiddle leaf figs love well-draining soil that allows aeration. This particular soil type drains out the excess water, keeping the roots of your beautiful indoor plant healthy and safe. However, you also need to ensure that the soil you choose is rich in nutrients and comes with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0. The soil mix should retain enough moisture to keep your indoor plant hydrated, while at the same time, the soil should not stay soggy or wet as it can give your fiddle leaf fig a root rot. If the soil mix is not suitable for your fiddle leaf fig, you will notice browning of leaves, drooping leaves, shedding of leaves, and stunted growth. For a smooth and uninterrupted development of your beloved plant, prepare the soil mix recipe by mixing potting soil, peat moss, or perlite in a 2:1:1 ratio. Alternatively, you can mix compost and cactus soil while preparing your fiddle leaf fig’s potting soil.

Problems Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Can Encounter When You Use The Wrong Soil Mix

Using the wrong soil mix can be toxic to your fiddle leaf fig. But how to find that out? Well, when your plant cannot adjust to its soil mix, it shows the following signs.

1. Droopy Leaves

Well, this specific issue is directly linked to your water schedule and indirectly to the soil mix. Both overwatering and underwatering can lead to drooping leaves. If you have not made any changes in your water schedule, but the leaves still get droopy, the problem probably lies within the soil mix you have used.

Usually, this problem occurs when the soil mix does not support a smooth drainage system. It results in water retention, which gradually leads to root rot. Also, when the potting mix cannot retain water at all, your plant will absorb insufficient water and get droopy leaves.

2. Brown Spots On The Leaf Surface

Generally, due to overwatering, the surface of the leaves of fiddle leaf fig gets brown spots, holes, etc. If you’re watering your fiddle leaf fig following your previous water schedule, once again, the draining ability of your soil mix is the one to blame!

3. Shedding Of Leaves

Shedding of leaves occurs when your plant is in a root rot condition. And the reason for it is the potting soil’s low draining ability. If you notice that your plant is shedding more than usual, run a quick check of the roots, and immediately change the potting soil.

Things To Consider While Choosing The Soil Mix For Fiddle Leaf Fig

Fiddle leaf fig plants are very delicate. A wrong soil mix not only results in stunted growth but also can be life-threatening. Hence, you need to be very sensitive while choosing your soil mix. Here is a checklist to mark when you are picking your potting soil.

• The soil should support aeration.
• It has to be well-draining while at the same time possessing moisture retention ability. It must let the fiddle leaf fig soak necessary moisture.
• Make sure the potting soil delivers enough water and nutrients to your houseplant and helps in root growth.

[ Read: Why Are The Leaves On My Fiddle Leaf Fig Curling? ]

The Best Soil Mix Recipe For Your Fiddle Leaf Fig

Only knowing the names of the ingredients is not enough. In order to prepare the most appropriate potting soil mix for your indoor plant, you need to understand what benefits each ingredient brings with it and in what ratio you need to add them.

Here is the list of the top three ingredients:

• Perlite

Perlite increases the aeration ability in the soil mix. Have you ever bought any pre-mixed soil? The tiny white pebbles in it are known as perlite. Perlite is actually a volcanic glass that expands on heating.

• Peat Moss

The second element you need in order to prepare your potting mix is peat moss. This particular ingredient contributes to the aeration, drainage capability, and water retention ability of the soil.

• Organic Soil Mix

Made with tree barks and compost material, the organic potting soil is loaded with nutrients, helping your houseplant grow fast and uninterruptedly.

The Making Process

The readymade potting mix already has these elements mixed in the right amount. But when you are preparing a soil mix at home, take two parts of organic potting soil, one part of peat moss and perlite, and mix everything perfectly with a little amount of water.

Another Top-notch Recipe For The Soil Mix For Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

The elements of the aforementioned recipe are pretty handy. However, if you do not have the resources near you, here is another recipe you can try out.

The ingredients that you need

• Cactus mix
• Peat moss/ compost

To prepare the soil mix, you need to take one part of peat moss or compost and two parts of cactus soil mix. Now, blend everything well using a little bit of water. This potting mix comes with a high draining & aeration capability, which is very fruitful for your houseplant.

The Best Time To Replace Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant’s Soil

Fiddle leaf figs usually do not love to embrace changes. So, repotting frequently can kill the plant. Replacing the soil once in 2 to 3 years can be ideal for your fiddle leaf fig plant’s smooth growth. However, these indoor plants tend to get rootbound, and replacing the soil at that time is a must. Well, when you’re repotting it, you do not need to change the pot. For instance, if the pot’s draining ability is perfectly fine, there is no need to buy a new one. Just replacing the soil mix will do the job! Also, do not use the same pot if your fiddle leaf fig has outgrown it. In such a scenario, choosing a container bigger than the present one will be perfect!

Readymade Soil Mix

Preparing the potting mix at home can be a bit challenging! As you need to purchase each element separately, measure them perfectly and add them in a precise ratio, it ends up being laborious! Well, it is true that even the slightest imbalance in the proportion can disrupt your plant’s wellbeing. If you’re a new plant owner and are not accustomed to preparing the soil mix, using the ready-made one can undeniably be a clever choice. It is vital that you do not take steps that you are not ready to.

The Right pH Balance

Unless the soil’s pH level matches your beloved plant, you cannot expect it to bloom perfectly. If the soil becomes too acidic, it can create hindrances causing issues with the absorption of necessary nutrients and water. So, overlooking the soil pH level is never the option! Usually, fiddle leaf fig plants flourish amazingly when their soil mix maintains a pH level of 6 to 7.

The soil’s pH level can change with time. Therefore, you should always use a pH meter to check the acid level from time to time.

Steps To Follow To Repot Your Fiddle Leaf Fig With New Soil Mix

As mentioned above, with passing time, the soil mix tends to get acidic. Ultimately, this could have dire consequences on your beautiful fiddle leaf fig. Repotting your fiddle leaf is mandatory in such a case. However, you must handle the entire matter very delicately. If you do not, it can shock your plant and obstruct its wellbeing.

• To begin the process, unpot your plant very carefully. Just hold it softly and take it out from the pot very gently.
• After that, gently massage the roots to remove the old soil mix. Do not scrub or scratch it, as doing that can stress your plant.
• If the plant has root rot, remove the damaged roots with a gentle approach using clean and sterilized scissors. In case, your fiddle leaf fig does not have root rot, skip this part.
• Then, take a clean pot, or you can also use your old pot by cleaning it. Add a few inches of the new potting mix to the clean container. After that, place the tree upright straight and fill all the sides using the soil mix. Don’t over-add the soil. You must leave about 2 inches to add some water.
• Once you have placed the plant on the pot, feed your fiddle leaf fig with adequate water and let it settle down. Repotting your plant can be tricky, but it is remarkably easy! But make sure to be gentle, or your plant can suffer from a root shock condition.

Root Shock In Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants

You are probably unaware of how much love your fiddle leaf fig has for consistency. Any slight change in its lifestyle, resources, and surrounding environment can give your plant a massive shock. Can you imagine what it goes through with a repotting program?

The worst thing occurs when the owners make more and more changes to solve this situation. Little do they know that by doing this, they are not doing any good to the plant. Instead, it makes the condition even more miserable!

Since repotting can give your plant a sudden root shock, help your fiddle leaf fig settle down by placing it in a place where it gets bright filtered light, enough moisture, and air. Make sure not to repot it again. And do not water it for at least a month. Once your plant adopts the new soil mix, continue nurturing your previous care routine.

[ Read: How To Propagate Fiddle Leaf Fig? (Step By Step Tutorial) ]

FAQs Best Soil For Fiddle Leaf Fig

Can I add orchid potting soil to my fiddle leaf fig?

Orchid potting soil mix usually appears with high-drainage capability, which is great for a fiddle leaf fig. However, this typical soil mix maintains a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5, which can distress your plant as it can be too alkaline. However, if it reads near 6.5 in your pH meter, your fiddle leaf fig can fit in suitably.

Can my fiddle leaf fig thrive well in wet soil?

Fiddle leaf figs love moist soil but not soggy ones, as they can get root rot. Thus, make sure that the soil mix is not too wet. On the other hand, dry soil can be deadly to your plant. To put it simply, the soil mix you choose for your beloved plant should neither be too soggy nor too dry. Use a moisture meter to ensure the moisture level in your soil mix.

Why is it necessary to use well-draining and aerated soil for your fiddle leaf fig?

The term root rot is pretty frightening to the fiddle leaf fig owners. Once the root rot spreads, it becomes difficult to treat it. Your plant can also die from root rot. It generally happens when the soil mix retains excessive water. That is why using well-draining and aerated soil is essential. When the soil has well drainage capacity and is aerated, your plant gets the precise amount of moisture and thus thrives well!

Conclusion

Being a fiddle leaf fig parent, it’s your responsibility to give your houseplant the nourishment it needs. And, missing out on the soil mix is the worst mistake that any owner can commit knowingly and unknowingly. That is why you should pay enough attention while choosing the ingredients and mixing them in a precise ratio. When your green baby gets the right soil mix, it can soak the necessary nutrients, enjoy moisture and grow happily. Thus, developing into a mature, gorgeous, and healthy fiddle leaf fig with large and shiny leaves.

What soil mix do you use for your fiddle leaf fig? Share it with us in our comment box!

Reference

Ficus lyrata from CABI.ORG

New York Botanical garden

University of Florida.