Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Need Fertilizer? (How Often And Which Ones To Buy)

Fertilizing fiddle leaf fig

Fiddle leaf fig plants are valued and highly-sensitive tropical indoor plants. They can brighten up your home incredibly with their magical charm and beauty. You can let your beloved houseplant flourish impeccably with immense love and care, bringing a positive vibe to the ambiance! Well, the plant enjoys a balanced lifestyle with well-balanced resources. And by well-balanced resources, we refer to limited fertilization

In simple words, you need to be very careful while fertilizing your fiddle leaf fig plant. Too much fertilizing tends to burn out your plant, resulting in wrinkled leaves, stunted growth, and weak stem. On the other hand, if you do not feed your plant with adequate nutrients, it can become floppy, lean, leggy, and gradually embrace death.

So, what kind of fertilizer does your plant need to remain healthy? How often should you manure the plant? When is the best time to fertilize your fiddle leaf fig? If all these questions are hovering inside your mind, this write-up is a must-read for you.

TL; DR:

Fiddle leaf fig plants have significantly big leaves that grow pretty quickly. In order to retain the glaze of the leaves as well as the health, the beautiful indoor plant needs a lot of energy. That is why fertilizing your plant in the correct manner is absolutely essential. While too much fertilization can burn your plant, inadequate nutrients can weaken its stem, pushing it towards death in both cases. To prevent these possibilities, fertilize your plant once a month with liquid fertilizer only in summer and spring. You must skip fertilizing it during the colder months. Since fiddle leaf fig plants remain in a dormant phase, manuring it at this time can be dangerous. Your plant will not be able to absorb the nutrients during winter, and the excess nutrients can accumulate in the soil, leading to a root rot condition. Preparing the fertilizer in the ratio of N:P:K – 3:2:1 is ideal for your fiddle leaf fig’s uninterrupted growth.

Recipe Of Ideal Fertilizer For Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Care

Fertilization plays a critical role in your fiddle leaf fig’s smooth and fast growth. However, the fertilizer would only show good results if prepared precisely. Mixing all the ingredients in the correct ratio is the foremost important thing you should keep under check. Also, do not forget to dilute the fertilizer. Otherwise, you might unintentionally over-fertilize your houseplant. And the consequences are definitely not good for your fiddle leaf fig.

The three must-have ingredients you need to mark on your checklist while preparing the fertilizer for your fiddle leaf fig are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. And the ratio in which you need to add them is 3:1:2. It means you will need three parts nitrogen, one part phosphorus, and two parts potassium. Keep in mind that when diluting it, the ratio should be 10:10:10.

The benefits that each element shower your plant with include:

Nitrogen: Nitrogen encourages the growth of new leaves, boosts the photosynthesis process, and equips your plant with necessary protein.

Potassium: This particular element increases the immunity power of your plant. It also assists in regulating water to different parts.

Phosphorus: Adding adequate phosphorus to the manure encourages root and cellular growth and maintains your houseplant’s shape. It also contributes to photosynthesis.

The Best Time To Fertilize Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

Since a fiddle leaf fig stays active in a warm and moist environment, summers and springs are the ideal time of year to manure your plant. It is because your plant thrives flawlessly in these two seasons.

On the other hand, during dry and chilly months, your house plant remains in a dormant phase where it stops growing. You should definitely not fertilize your plant at that time! Otherwise, you can invite several unfavorable conditions for your beloved houseplant. During winters, your fiddle leaf fig can hardly soak the different nutrients from the soil mix. Moreover, those nutrients will accumulate near the roots and lead to root rot.

While frequent manuring can obstruct your plant’s natural growth, fertilizing your plant at large intervals can also prove to be toxic! Unlike other indoor plants, fiddle leaf figs do not store nutrients for later use. Owing to this reason, you need to fertilize your plant more often. If you’re using diluted fertilizer, it is recommended to fertilize your plant once a month.

In case you are using granules, fertilize your plant every six months. If you have brought a new fiddle leaf fig plant, manure it after a month. And when you re-pot your plant, hold off the fertilization routine for one to two months. Start again once your plant is acclimatized to the surrounding.

The Best Way To Fertilize Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

When fertilizing your fiddle leaf fig plant, make sure you are doing it correctly. Else, your plant might not get the necessary nutrients it needs. To simplify the process, we have mentioned a few simple steps that you can follow:

  • Take a tub or bucket where you can mix the fertilizer properly.
  • After that, take a fertilizer that has NPK in a 3:2:1 ratio.
  • Then, mix 10 ml fertilizer in about 1 gallon of water to dilute it. Well, various fertilizers come with different instructions. So, read the instructions property before diluting it.
  • The next step involves pouring the fertilizer into the houseplant. Make sure to pour it until the solution spills out of the drainage holes.

Note: If you want, you can store the diluted solution and feed your plant once every one or two months during summers and springs.

Signs That Prove Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Is In Desperate Need Of Nutrients

If you want your plant to grow fast without any interruption you need to make sure that your plant is getting enough nutrients. Also, as mentioned earlier, a fiddle leaf fig plant cannot retain nutrients, and when you water your plant, the fertilizer tends to wash away. To restore the nutrients in your plant’s soil mix and make sure that your fiddle leaf fig is growing smoothly, you need to feed it from time to time. Here are a few signs that show your plant lacks adequate nutrients, and you should immediately fertilize it.

Things To Consider While Manuring Your Houseplant

Often owners of fiddle leaf fig plants complain that even after following a healthy fertilization regimen, the house plant is showing hints of malnutrition. It could be the result of specific mistakes that are too insignificant to notice yet too obstructive to your plant’s growth. Here are a few simple aspects that you should definitely mark on your to-do list while undertaking the fertilization program of your fiddle leaf fig.

  1. Go For Custom-made Fertilizer

The fertilizer you pick for your fiddle leaf fig must be specifically prepared for it. Choosing any random fertilizer can do no good to your house plant. In fact, within a few days, you can observe its stunted growth and dull appearance.

  1. When In Doubt, Opt For Less

If you are unsure about the right quantity of your fiddle leaf fig plant, feed your gorgeous houseplant with less fertilizer. It is because adding less manure is way better than overfeeding.

  1. Leach The Excess Fertilizer

It is not new to fiddle leaf fig owners that the plant loves to stay in a warm and moist environment which is challenging to get from a particular position. So most owners change their position from day to day to ensure that the plant is getting enough light, air, and moisture. And during this activity, it is very crucial to leach out the excess manure from your plant’s pot.

  1. Double-check The Drainage Holes

The pot you are using to plant your fiddle leaf fig must have sufficient drainage holes. Without drainage holes, the excess water cannot be drained out, resulting in an accumulation of fertilizer near the roots. And it is not at all a good thing for your beloved indoor plant.

  1. Avoid Slow-release Fertilizers

You must avoid using slow-release fertilizers because they take more time to break down the nutrients in the soil mix. As a result, your plant would take a lot of time to absorb them. This, in turn, makes it difficult for the plant owners to keep track of the fertilizer amount that your plant is soaking.

  1. Evade Combining Different Fertilizers

Mixing slow-release and soluble fertilizers is not a good idea. Ultimately, you will end up getting confused and mixing the schedule.

The Consequences Of Over-fertilizing Your Fiddle Leaf Fig

Some new fiddle leaf fig owners think adding too much fertilizer can accelerate the plant’s growth faster. However, it is nothing but a myth. Overfeeding your plant would negatively impact your house plant, leading to burns. Over-fertilizing can result in stunted growth, cranky and wrinkled leaves, and weak and lean stems.

However, if you have already committed the mistake and your house plant is already in a miserable condition, worry not! There is a satisfactory solution by which you can restore your indoor plant’s health. All you need to do is scrape off the surface soil and leach out the excess manure. Then wash your fiddle leaf fig with clean water and let it settle down. Within a few weeks, you will notice that your plant is returning back to its former shape and health. Now, remember to be careful enough while fertilizing your beautiful fiddle leaf fig this time.

Granules vs Liquid Fertilizers

There are two types of fertilizers, i.e., granules that are chiefly known as slow-release fertilizers and liquid fertilizers. We always recommend fiddle leaf fig owners to choose the liquid fertilizers, and there is a big reason behind it. Well, in the case of slow-release fertilizers, it is very challenging to track down how much nutrients your house plant is absorbing because the fertilizer dissolves in the soil mix at an unpredictable rate. Whereas, liquid fertilizers are very easy to control.

The only drawback it brings with it is that you need to follow a complex fertilization schedule when using liquid fertilizer. Compared to liquid fertilizer, the slow-release ones require following a simple fertilization routine where you need to feed your plant twice a year. So, if you are an expert in handling the fertilization program of fiddle leaf fig plants, you can go for the slow-release granules.

FAQs About Fertilizing Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

Can I use coffee grounds to fertilize my fiddle leaf fig plant?

Coffee grounds can be beneficial for your fiddle leaf fig’s growth when used in a safe and small quantity. Also, make sure not to mix it directly into the soil. Doing so can make the soil extremely acidic, burning out your fiddle leaf fig. So, if you want to use coffee grounds as a fertilizer, mix it with your kitchen compost before adding it to the soil.

How do I know that my fiddle leaf fig is getting adequate fertilizer?

Well, one can easily guess that by observing the plant’s shape, size, and appearance! If your plant is growing fast, flaunts its big glazy green leaves, grows evenly from all directions, new leaves are larger compared to the old ones and are standing upright, your plant is getting enough nutrients.

After how long can I see the results of fertilizing?

Usually, it takes anywhere from 1 to 5 days for your fiddle leaf fig plant to show both the positive and negative impact of fertilizing. If you notice that your plant is thriving, stick by the fertilizer routine, but if your plant is not responding well, take immediate action.

Conclusion

Keeping a keen eye on your fiddle leaf fig plant’s fertilization routine is utterly crucial to ensure its ideal growth, healthy shape and size, and overall charismatic appearance. A wrong move from your end can compel your beloved plant to pay the price. Consider the above-discussed guide and make a habit of fertilizing your plant just after you water it. This way, you can keep track without missing out on a dose!

Do you follow any other fertilization regimen for your fiddle leaf fig plant? Is it effective? Then share it with us today in the comment section.

Reference

Ficus lyrata from CABI.ORG

New York Botanical garden

University of Florida.

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