Key to managing soil moisture is the type of soil the fiddle leaf is planted in. A mistake people make is to pot them in regular potting soil. To give them better drainage, add 1/3 cactus soil mix or perlite/pumice to loosen the mixture. This will help prevent the pot from holding too much moisture for too long. I have three fiddle leaf figs (2 are nearly 6 ft. tall and one is grown as a "bush") and I rarely get leaf drop because of the practices mentioned in the video and the type of potting mixture.
You are right. I think the person who uploaded the video should mention the type of soil he is using. My own experience with it being an indoor plant and using potting mix: perlite in 2:1 ratio is I'd water every 5-7 days in summer, 8 days in fall and around 10 days in winter. I will water it when it's still a bit damp on the top of the soil unlike my other plants for which I'd water only if it's 1-2 inch dry. I won't say my fiddle leaf has the best look but it's definitely is happy and growing tall. A friend watered her plant more often and her fiddle leaf is definitely gorgeous and bushy.
Actually, you can get new leaves/branches to grow by nicking the plant above the nodes and using roofing hormone. I inherited a FF 18 months ago and successfully created several new branches and many new leaves. A barren stalk will absolutely come back.
Fiddle Leaf Fig tree tought me to be resilent even though it looked dead after purchasing it. Mine was diseased after bringing it home and my girlfriend at the time told me to keep it (not give up on it) even though I wanted to throw it away. Being a business owner made me want to quickly resolve things as my mind is so used to putting out fires. It's thriving now and looking more like a tree than a skinny tree. (wide branches have formed) It's a great air filter! 🤓
This came at the PERFECT time! My Fiddle leaf came home happy and healthy even had 5 new leaves withing 2 months of having it. Then out of the blue it started dropping leaves :( I came to the conclusion that its pot was too big and not draining well enough (Got it from a big box store so not surprised with this) I've repotted into a smaller container and used better draining soil. Fingers crossed she's happy after the transition!
All this work and concerns, this plant should pay back with fruit. Therefore, I bought a Fig Tree. 😅. I leave the FIDDLE Fig alone for 2 weeks at a time.
I bought a large fiddle leaf fig that had been sitting in the outdoor area at Lowe’s in sunny and humid Florida. I took it home, repotted it in a larger pot since the one it was sitting in was way too small and outgrown. It was very dry but lush and green and a month after moving it and repotting it it’s dropping leaves every few days. I use a water meter and only water when dry, could this be plant chock? I have another smaller fiddle leaf fig that is doing fine under the same circumstances.
I just started my first job at a plant nursery/house plant store and your videos have been an amazing way to brush up on all my knowledge and ensure that I can pass along the best information to customers! Thank you so much!! 💚🌿🌱
I had a lot of leaf drop on my fiddle but I think it had something to do with the place I had it. But now that I've move it to a sunny place I see leaves growing so far 6 leaves has grew and it's winter in New York
Your videos are so informative and entertaining! Thank you for content. I’ve meant to mention that I have one of those moisture meters also, and I wondered where have you been all my life!!! What an amazing invention 😂
I have two huge Fiddle Leafs plants, I give it artificial light since the sun as moved to another window which is crowed with other large plants, no room for them. I’ll try once a month watering. May I ask you to show pictures of overwatering, under-watering, dry heat, lack of sun leaves, so I can figure it out, you said leaf’s want grow back? How do I get leaves to grow elsewhere? Please help me, I love them so much. Thanks. Bernadette
Okay so I’m suddenly overwatering my FLF plants after 2.5 years. 🥴 I’ve had them on a consistent water schedule but the past month I’m getting dropped leaves that are wilted as shown. Time to go find my water meter and begin using it again.
I’ve had mine for 3 years and now I’m having issues. I honestly can’t tell if it’s overwatering or underwatering. Leaves are turning brown from the outside going in then dropping
Thank you so much for all your videos! I have learnt so much useful tips from you, especially bottom watering! I have a question, how do you water the big fiddle leaf fig? I recently moved my 8ft tall fiddle leaf indoor. What will be the best way to water it? Thank you very much!
Sounds like a beast of a plant! How old is it? Is it in nursery pot inside a decorative pot or a saucer? I'd bottom water, but obviously it would need a good drink so needs a good size saucer!
Ive decided to not buy anymore ficuses, they are so needy and dramatic to own and upkeep. Producing new growth and looking happy just to drop leaves over night lol. Only own my ficus benjamina at the moment and it has been without any issues so far.
I was wondering if you think a philodendron hederaceum..lemon lime...is a good houseplant to have? I know on your 10 houseplants to avoid for beginners mention to avoid the philodendron birkin...so what's your thoughts
Your channel is awesome! Thank u for all the content :) A lil feedback on this one. A few too many cuts with “memes” or Whatever. I don’t mind usually but in this case it was distracting. Thanks :)
You have one of the most informative and easy to follow monologues. I liked I did like your monologue because there were no distractions but now you've got all those crazy distractions trying to be funny and I just think that that's not the way for you to go.
I've heard that the fiddle leaf fig doesn't like to be moved or manipulated either. It might drop leaves when it adjusts to its new environments. I've read it's recommended to only move them at the start of spring or end of summer.
Can the leaves grow back at the bottom if they felt in the first place? I have a beautiful ficus very tall but only the half top part is with leves. Unfortunately I made some mistakes in the past 😓
I haven’t changed anything with my fiddle leaf fig- had been thriving and was happy out! And even pruned it and had two new branches? And now the new buds on those branches have stopped? They just dried and sit there? They don’t seem to be opening up to produce new leaves? And I don’t know why! And now I don’t know what to do 😅
Similar thing happened to one of mine. Not sure why. I thought maybe lack of light but it lived on a windowsill. The soil was wet though so it could be that
Thank you so much for your videos because you are very different from others youtuber, every sentence is important information, assuming that each problem is complete also have pictures showing the results of each problem, so as to help me diagnose what is wrong with my plants. I think this plant is the most difficult to take care of.
Thanks for this! For plants where the lower leaves have dropped, is there anything that can be done to get the plant bushy again or will that stem always be bare going forward? Thanks again!
There’s not much we can do to get the leaves to grow back. You can try notching the stem to get it to grow new stems or cutting it back to get it to branch out. There’s a video on my channel where I cut back my rubber tree
Fiddle leaf trees are gorgeous, so lean into converting the plants into trees, if you can. (They can be any size you like, with pruning.) You can then focus on getting the fullness from new growth vs. trying to get leaves to grow back. If you notch successfully, you'll likely get a branch to grow at the site vs. a leaf. If you want a bush, let your existing plant grow tall enough to get cuttings off them, root the cuttings in water, and pot those as your new bushes. (Be sure to follow the practices in the video and use a mixture of 2:1 quality potting soil and cactus soil mix to help manage moisture.) They grow quickly during spring, then let the growth get woody, then prune for your cutting.
Mine came with powdery mildew when I bought it. Eventually I ended up with a pretty naked plant. The internet said to remove the sick leaves and I could remove 10% of the leaves without damaging the plant. That's pretty much all I had left... so I used a mixture of peroxide and water and scrubbed off what was on it with a baby toothbrush. I then added a couple tbs of sodium bicarbonate, and now it's bouncing back! I'm so happy I did a bunch if research. I also bought an organic fungicide that works great. Im so happy it's coming back, because I love my fiddle fig. I named it Mao.
@@SheffieldMadePlants lol he's named after the famous violinist. Thanks!! I have over 50 plants in my house, and all have names. They're like my pets, just part of the family. Lol
I got a new FLF Bambino a few months ago and I think it went through a period of shock because it dropped a couple of bottom leaves and then the new bud leaf that had started to grow at the top wilted and fell off. Now the plant seems stable and (dare I say) "happy", but there is no sign of new growth from the top. Is all hope lost? How do I get it to set a new bud?
I love your channel. You give terrific plant advice and information, thank you and keep them coming🙂. (One negative thing I would say-which won’t stop me watching - is that I think there are a tad too many comedy clip interruptions. I prefer it when you make your own wry comments) Just my opinion.
100% agree! Great information, although there are too many comedy clips (I personally don't think you need any). This video will definitely help keep my Fiddle Feaf Fig in much better shape. Thank you :)
I notched my fiddle leaf fig below my leaves above a node and fit excited when I saw new growth... well that new froth ended up being all roots ugh lol they are continuing to grow and nothing but roots. What are my options? Do I cut it off right below the new roots or make sure they are wetsuits in spaghum to make sure they are most first? I don't want to lose either part of the plant. Please help!
I was given a fiddle leaf fig tonight that looks like it’s on its last leg. Tomorrow morning I shall start rescue operations and hope I can save it. Fingers crossed. 🤞🏻
Hey, I bought a fiddle fig from Lidl last week, would it be OK to repot it with ficus specific soil I got from ninja soil for better nutrients? Or should I wait till next spring?
If I have a problem with any of my plants I run here to find out what wrong . I think your little pop videos in between you talking are great . Thank you for sharing .I know I have your water meter device in my cart I will Oder soon great reminder 😂
You are one of my favorite RU-vidrs for plants. You say frequently that you want to catch up to planterina for subscriptions. I am saying this with my utmost respect for you. I believe your style is closer to Swedish Plant Guys. Amanda’s popularity is great because she is hilarious,and very spontaneous.
Question ❓..do you have an update on plants beginners should avoid now that it has been a while since your previous list, and since you have started doing some different things for your houseplants
When I go get me a fig tree plant. I know my neighbors are gonna do evil to kill my plant because there jealous and are hateful because there doing a hate crime to me
Use a moisture meter. Use a moisture meter. (How many times do we need to say it?) With small or shallow pots, a finger is okay, but if the pot if deeper than your finger, USE A MOISTURE METER! I've used one for decades now, and mostly my plants thrive. Forget about schedules! The variations in humidity, light and temperature mean that there can't be a single rule for each situation. Use a moisture meter. (Anyone now wondering if they should use a moisture meter?)
