Tuesday, June 17, 2014

How to Take Care of a Fiddle-Leaf Fig Tree


Ready For The Weekend: Home Decor :: Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
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Like every other designer or design lover on the planet, I have long lusted for a fiddle-leaf tree. In fact, I tried in vain to source one for this project last year and could find zero at my local Home Depot. Truthfully, I have a VERY brown thumb, which means I can't even care for a cactus plant, so I'll continue to lust from afar for this beauty.
We've teamed up today with Gaddy's Indoor Plant Hire, and they're here to give us the skinny on this celebrity tree, and how best to treat this beauty.
A native to the tropics, the fiddle-leaf fig tree (Ficus lyrata) produces very wide, violin-shaped leaves and can grow up to 6 feet indoors. The plant is used to the very warm and wet  conditions present  in its  native environment. While this environment may be difficult to duplicate in your house or apartment, the fiddle-leaf fig tree is a fairly hearty plant that will survive less than ideal conditions for a longtime. With the right  care, your fiddle-leaf  fig tree will  grow into a tall,  beautiful specimen that will become the centerpiece of the room.

fiddle leaf fig tree, Jonathan Adler
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The fiddle-leaf fig tree needs bright but indirect light. The tree won’t do well when placed directly in front a sunny window, but will thrive in the corner of a bright room that’s not being bombarded by sunbeams. If you have hardwood or tile floors,you might even consider purchasing a rolling plant stand for a few dollars to move the plant from room to room as the light conditions change throughout the day. But make sure the plant isn't kept in too dark conditions or it won’t grow, you can keep reading about this and more at Gaddy’s Indoor Plant Hire.

The soil for F. lyrata should remain moist, but if the roots are sitting in water root rot may occur. Test the soil with your finger. If the top inch of the soil is dry, it needs water.  Depending on your climate, water needs may go up or down with seasonal humidity. The tree doesn't require a lot of fertilizer, but if you do feed it,use a weak liquid fertilizer three or four times during the growing season.

It’s important not to pot the fiddle-leaf fig tree in a pot that is too large for it, because the plant won’t thrive. Keep an eye on the bottom of the pot. If you noticed roots poking out, it’s time to repot to a bigger pot or trim the root ball. If you trim the rootball no more than 20%, you can keep using the same pot and stop the plant from getting too big. Some experts recommend repotting the plant annually and replacing the top few inches of soil with fresh potting soil.
7 Secrets: How to Save a Dying Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
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If you notice brown leaf tips or brown spots on the leaves, consider how much you’re watering the plant. The spots could be indicative of many different things,but chances are you’re watering the plant too little or too much.  Leaf drop could occur when moving the plant to a new area or after exposure to cold air. If your fiddle-leaf fig tree is losing leaves, try moving it to a warmer part of the home. The broad leaves also tend to collect dust. Wipe then with a soft, damp cloth to keep them clean.


Purple Nuetral
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Keeping  a  F.  lyrata  takes  a  little  bit  of  love  and  care,  but  having  the beautifully tall tree is worth it. When shopping for your tree, check out your local independent nursery and look for a tree with even, green leaves and no signs of disease. Invest in a healthy plant and enjoy it for years.
Want further proof that they do well? My sister from another mother, Stacey at Design Addict Mom, has a thriving tree and recently shared her own tips on how she cares for her fiddle.
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via Design Addict Mom
Me thinks there may be hope even for the brownest of thumbs, assuming we pay attention and treat this tree with some love and affection.
How's your fiddle doing? We'd love to  know....

Thanks again to our sponsors Gaddy's Indoor Plant Hire for sharing these valuable tips.  

Gaddys Indoor Plant Hire



6 comments :

  1. Great hints....Maybe someday I'll look into this wonderful, beautiful tree.

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  2. Oh pretty shots! I also have a brown thumb, as in killing plants is one of my talents. Maybe there's hope for me yet!
    www.designsbykaty.com

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  3. Great tips and of course I am super thrilled for the shout out!!:)

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  4. It can grow much much taller than 6 feet indoors!

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  5. Hey, stopping in to say hi and I see you are talking about my favorite plant! I inherited a green thumb from my mother and don't kill anything and this one nearly bit the dust! It had 1 leaf and looked dead so I stopped watering it and it came back and now has 8 leaves! I read somewhere to add 4 ice cubes twice a week to the soil and thats what I've been doing!
    I just purchased a faux fiddle leaf for my staging inventory and it looks pretty good! These faux babies can be pricey but this one was under $130 for a 6ft tree on Overstock!

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  6. We installed one for a client and I got one for myself at the same time. I told her never to move it, water it once a month and call it a day. I have moved mine 2x, water it a little 2x a month, and hers never dropped a leaf and mine dropped 80% of its leaves. The key is never move it and water it once a month- there's my 2 cents. xoxo Nancy

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