Once you bring a fiddle leaf fig to your home, your instincts will compel you to get more and more fig plants. And it is pretty obvious! The beautiful green baby with its glossy, long, and broad leaves enhance your home’s exquisiteness while bringing an instant change in your home’s mood. However, the houseplant is extremely sensitive. Even one wrong move from your end can create hindrances to its smooth and natural growth.
So, you need to be utterly careful while nurturing it. Knowing the right amount of fertilizer and light it needs, the ideal time to re-pot, and when and how to water it can accelerate its growth. Originating from African rainforests, the indoor plant can reach as long as 10 ft height if it receives special care and nourishment.
On average, the indoor plant can grow around 2 feet with each passing year. However, for its uninterrupted growth, you need to shower immense love and care upon it. Through this write-up, we are going to give you a clear insight into its care routine by which you can let your beloved plant grow fast and smoothly.
TL; DR:
Usually, fiddle leaf figs are slow-growing houseplants that take around 15 years to mature. However, there are a lot of external factors that impact the growth of your fiddle leaf fig. Planting it in a spacious pot with a proper drainage system and selecting the ideal soil mix is extremely crucial. Also, letting it get filtered light for 6 to 8 hours a day, manuring it with liquid fertilizer routinely, and watering it only when the soil is dry. Apart from this, you can keep the moisture level under check, prune the leaves, and set the room temperature between 60 and 70° F to boost its growth ideally.
Table of Contents
How To Improve Fiddle Leaf Fig’s Growth?
A Large And Airy Pot With The Perfect Drainage System
Fertilization, watering, light, and temperature are undeniably essential for your plant’s growth. But not picking the right pot can ruin your whole effort! Yes, planting your fig plant in the right-sized pot is very important. So, to begin explaining the care routine of your indoor plant, let’s talk about the most suitable kind of pots for them.
While planting a fiddle leaf fig in the sapling form, most people tend to pick a small-sized pot, and that is the first mistake they commit. Fiddle leaf figs do not enjoy frequent repotting. So, once it starts growing, you can’t re-pot it until it’s the right time. On the other hand, a small-sized pot obstructs the plant’s growth, leading to the rootbound condition. A large pot can hold more water, resulting in root rot. So, whenever you are planting your fiddle leaf fig, make sure to choose a pot that is moderate in size, where the roots can move freely, absorbing nutrients perfectly. Additionally, the pot must have drainage holes to drain out the excess water.
Soil Mix
The second most crucial attribute that is directly linked to your green baby’s growth is the soil mix you’re opting for. Unless your chosen soil is compatible with your fiddle leaf fig, it cannot properly absorb the nutrients and supply them to the other parts.
Fiddle leaf figs like well-draining soil that drains out the excess water instead of retaining it. The soil mix that welcomes aeration is the best fit for your gorgeous plant as it supports root growth.
While preparing your soil mix, follow the below-mentioned recipe to ensure your house plant’s optimal growth!
The soil mix has to be in the ratio of S-P-P 2:1:1; considering that, take two parts of soil, 1 part of peat moss, and 1 part of perlite, and mix everything properly. Add a few drops of water to make it a little moist, and this way, your potting soil is ready!
Proper Exposure To Light
Once you have figured out the suitable pot and soil mix for your fiddle leaf fig, your next concern should be the right amount of light your plant requires. Lack of light not only halts its growth, but also makes it lean, leggy, and unappealing. And it’s truly disheartening for an owner to see the beautiful fiddle leaf fig plant in such a condition.
Native to tropical warm and moist climates, fiddle leaf figs enjoy bright light. Moreover, since it has big and broad leaves, the plant needs more energy for a smooth photosynthesis process. Due to these reasons, you need to place your plant in a position where it receives adequate filtered light. During the chilly months, do not forget to arrange artificial lighting near your indoor plant.
Daily 6 to 8 hours of indirect yet bright light can maintain a smooth pace of your indoor fiddle leaf fig’s growth.
Summers and springs are ideal times of the year when your houseplant can get natural light, moisture, and warmth. However, for that, you need to find the perfect spot in your room where it comes in direct contact with filtered light. Positioning your plant in front of a window, especially the one facing towards the south side is an excellent idea.
Also, keep in mind that your green gem should not get direct sunlight. The scorching heat can shrink the leaves, making them dull and dry. If it’s too scorching, use a curtain to filter the heat.
Related: How Much Light Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Need?
Humidity
As we mentioned earlier, fiddle figs thrive in warm and moist weather. The more the moisture, the faster they grow. During summer and spring, the plant gets enough moisture in the air and grows smoothly. But problems arise in the colder months. Since the moisture level in the air remains very low during the winter, you need to increase the moisture level around your houseplant artificially.
Well, there are several ways by which you can let your plant get enough moisture. A smart way is to place your plant near your shower room. The moisture level in your washroom remains higher than in other parts of your home.
You can also use a humidifier, and set it above 20%. Remember, if the humid level is below 20%, it can threaten your plant. You can also just mist your plant gently. But make sure you do not overdo it. The best time to mist your plant is early in the morning so that the foliage can dry itself by the evening.
Another great way of letting your plants have enough moisture is by adding pebbles to the pot and giving a moderate amount of water. The water starts to evaporate and keeps your plant moist.
Water
Too much watering can drown your plant. On the other hand, if you feed your plant with inadequate water, it can grow weak and dull. So you have to be very cautious while watering your green baby.
And the most excellent way to sense whether your fiddle leaf fig requires water is by running a DIY finger test. Just dig your finger into the soil about 2 to 3 inches deep. If it’s dry, you can water it. You can also use a stick instead of your finger. And if you have a moisture meter at your home, you can use that too. Water your plant when the moisture meter reads 3-4.
The most common sign of overwatering is dark spots on the edges of the older leaves. That indicates a fungal disease due to overwatering. In case you see wrinkled spots on the edges, including droopy leaves, it’s a clear sign of underwatering. While watering, pour it directly to the roots and evenly on the entire base of your plant.
Related: Fiddle Leaf Fig Water Requirements
The Right Amount Of Fertilizer
Fertilizing your fiddle leaf fig correctly can boost its growth faster than usual. Fiddle leaf figs are very finicky when it comes to fertilization. They generally enjoy two types of fertilizer, one is compost form and another one is liquid fertilizer.
Both slow-release compost and liquid fertilizer work amazingly in providing your fig baby with enough nutrients. So, it’s completely upon you which form of fertilizer you would love to use. While you need to feed your plant with liquid fertilizer routinely after watering during its growing season, the compost needs to be applied once in 6 months.
The recipe for fertilizer must contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the ratio of 3:1:1. This will help your houseplant grow faster and will make its leaves big, broad, glossy, and healthy.
Repotting
Timely repotting your fig plant can prevent it from getting rootbound. However, too frequent repotting can be toxic to their health as it can disturb your plant’s way of living. Repotting your plant every 2 to 3 years can be an ideal action. But how to guess that it’s the right time to re-pot your plant?
Well, for that, you need to keep a keen eye on your plant’s movements. If you notice that its roots are coming out of the drainage holes, the chances are high that your fig plant can get rootbound.
Ideal Soil Aeration
When soil gets compact, your fiddle leaf fig might suffer from stunted growth. That is why soil aeration is a must when you want your tree to grow faster and better. When you aerate the soil, the roots of your plant can move freely and grow smoothly. So, if you sense that the soil surface has become harder, just take a fork and make holes all around the soil and break it up.
Prune Down The Leaves
Once your fiddle leaf fig becomes leggy, it will witness stunted growth. Regular pruning not only restores the plant’s former shape, but also encourages its uninterrupted growth. The best time to prune down the leaves is in the spring and pre-summer periods. Any slight change can affect your plant, but if you prune the tree in the mentioned months, your plant can get enough sunlight to settle down.
Never ever prune down your plant during the winter months. As the plant remains in the dormant phase at that time, pruning can shock your plant, resulting in unfortunate consequences. And while pruning your fig plant, make sure to use gloves and sterilized tools and wash off your hands immediately once the job is done.
Keep Pests Away
To ensure your plant’s smooth and fast growth, keep it away from pests. Though pest infestation in fiddle leaves is rare, it can happen. To name a few, spider mites, mealybugs, and scales are deeply attracted to fiddle leaf figs.
If you notice any of them on your green baby, isolate it immediately from other plants. And then start taking care of it carefully. Spraying antibacterial and antifungal essential oils like neem and rosemary can eliminate the pests without harming your plant. Use this spray solution 2 to 3 times a week to get the best results.
FAQs About How To Improve Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant
Can I mist my fiddle leaf fig plant every day in winter?
Fiddle leaf figs love humidity and feel the best when the air is 65% humid. And in the colder months, the level in the air remains very low. So, yes, you can mist your plant daily during the winter season.
Is it necessary to rotate my fiddle leaf fig?
Certainly! If you do not rotate your plant, it can tend to outgrow on one side, giving your plant a crooked shape. But if you rotate it once a week, each of the plant’s parts can get sunlight evenly and grow ideally.
How do I know that my fiddle leaf fig is growing perfectly?
Well, you can easily know that from its appearance. If your green baby looks healthy and fresh, stands upright straight, its new leaves appear larger, greener, and glossier, your houseplant is perfectly fine and growing well.
Conclusion
Your fiddle leaf fig can be very sensitive to its surrounding environment. So, to ensure its smooth and optimal growth, you need to create a suitable ambience for your houseplant. Try out all the above-enlisted tricks that we have shared and give your fig plant the perfect shape and size.
Do you know any tricks that boost the growth of a fiddle leaf fig? Then, do not forget to share them with us in the comment section.
References:
From childhood, I have been extremely fascinated with plants and gardening. That has eventually led me to pursue BSc and then MSc in botany from the University of Calcutta. My deep love for plants has probably stemmed from the gorgeous terrace garden that I have seen my father nurture as long as I can remember.