How to take care of a fiddle leaf fig tree
Greenery Unlimited | Fiddle Leaf Fig Care
Plant Care | March 08, 2020
Placement
PRO TIP: Rotate your tree once a month to keep it standing straight and tall. Fiddle Leaf Figs in particular like to reach towards the light, so if you don’t rotate you’ll notice them bending over time.
Native to the rainforests of western and central Africa, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata) is a stunning plant with huge green leaves and an even larger following of houseplant fans. Despite its popularity, it's certainly not the easiest houseplant to look after, but its visual impact in a space is unmatched when given proper conditions and care.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig appreciates a warm, humid environment, a fair amount of water and plenty of light. Choose a location away from air vents and drafts where the tree will receive plenty of bright ambient light. Directly in front of, or close by a southern or western facing window is ideal, and eastern exposure can also work as long as the plant is directly in the window and the space feels very bright. A few hours of direct sun is also beneficial. If placed in a full-sun location (where the plant will receive over 6 hours of direct light daily), a humid environment will keep your Fiddle Leaf looking its best. We do not recommend this plant for windows with northern exposure. They will not thrive in low-light locations.
If you’re unsure about your lighting conditions, placing the tree directly next to the window is the safest bet. We also have a guide for how to measure light in your space.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees are particularly sensitive to environmental changes. They will likely take a little time to adjust to their new home. Be sure to follow the care instructions, and don’t panic if yours loses a few leaves. If leaf discoloration or leaf loss persists, please reach out and we will help troubleshoot!
Lastly, if you are using a container made from organic materials to pot your Fiddle Leaf in, we highly recommend using a waterproof saucer underneath to protect your floors, as humidity may accumulate beneath the pot due to the volume of water this plant requires.
The common name for this plant, Fiddle Leaf Fig, comes from the fact that the leaves are the size and shape of a fiddle.
Routine Maintenance
PRO TIP: Every three months, rinse your plant’s leaves with room temperature water. This helps remove any dust that’s accumulated, ensuring they’re able to absorb and photosynthesize sunlight more efficiently.
Always be sure to assess your plant’s watering needs upon receiving it. Before giving your plant a drink, it is best to check the moisture level in the soil first to ensure it isn’t moist right beneath the surface. Also, consider aerating the soil of your plant before the initial watering. Many growers compact the soil to avoid shifting during transit, so aerating can aid in drainage, help the soil breathe and allow moisture to be released.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig likes its soil to be kept consistently, evenly moist with a brief drying out period between waterings as it comes from an area of the world that gets very dry between rain storms. Water it thoroughly whenever the top 2” of soil have dried. Allowing the soil to dry deep to the lower root system will lead to leaf loss, so be sure to check in with the soil regularly until you develop a routine with your plant. In contrast, too much moisture in the soil can lead to root rot and also cause leaves to drop.
The best way we have found to obtain an accurate moisture reading throughout the soil is with a soil probe, which allows you to check your plant's moisture level at the root level and can also be used to aerate the soil if ever overwatered. Our Monitor Brass Soil Probe is an elegant option.
We highly recommend potting your Fiddle Leaf, as it is a challenging plant to keep alive long term in its nursery pot — however make sure to pot it in a permanent planter with plenty of soil mass and crucially, drainage. If your Fiddle Leaf Fig is planted in a container without a drainage hole, you must be very careful not to overwater. In this scenario we suggest allowing your Fiddle Leaf Fig to dry out slightly more between waterings and use a soil probe to see how damp the soil is at the root level before watering. These plants do particularly well in our self watering containers!
Recommended Pots for the Fiddle Leaf Fig
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Ficus have a bacterial infection or root rot?
- Probably not. Although the internet is ablaze with this diagnosis, we've found this affliction to be exceedingly rare in the thousands of Ficuses we've cared for through our sister company, Greenery NYC. It's probably another problem such as low light or overwatering. However, we have a guide on how to identify fungal and bacterial leaf spotting if you're interested in learning more.
Help! My Fiddle Leaf Fig dropped a leaf!
- Ficus trees are sensitive to environmental change and transplanting. The dry, cold air is a big shift from the warm humidity of the greenhouse, and Ficus will temporarily go into shock and drop leaves. Don’t worry, this is a temporary state. It will take a couple of weeks for your tree to normalize and it might drop a couple of leaves in the process.
However, if the leaves continue to drop it could be a sign of improper light or water.
My Fiddle Leaf Fig has brown spots and the leaves are dropping. What do I do?
- The number one mistake most people make in taking care of their plants is overwatering. Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees prefer to dry out slightly between waterings, and while they take a good deal of water to keep healthy, soggy soil will drown the plant. If your leaves start to brown and fall and the soil is moist, let the plant dry out until the soil becomes completely dry.
- The second biggest mistake people make is not enough light. Fiddle Leafs need a lot of light to thrive and will start shedding their leaves if they’re not absorbing enough energy. If you’re unsure about where to put your plant, it’s best to place it by a window. For more information visit our lighting guide.
- Underwatering can also be a big killer of the fiddle leaf fig. When underwatered, the rim of the leaves will start to brown and curl in, which will eventually spread throughout the leaf.
Underwatered leaves that have fallen will normally be either fully brown or mostly brown, and dry to the touch.
LEFT: An example of overwatering on a dropped leaf. Note the browning spreading through the leaf's veins from the central node (or midrib), a telltale sign that the plant has received excessive water. RIGHT: Brown spotting or holes in the leaves typically signal that the plant isn't receiving enough light. This is common on the lower leaves of the tree, which can become shaded out over time.
How do I tell when my Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree needs water?
- Once you've established that the top few inches of soil have dried, the easiest way to tell if your Fiddle Leaf needs water is to look at the leaves. If the leaves are not rigid and upright, and they start to look floppy, they’re telling you they need water. Be sure to check in regularly with your tree to ensure you don't underwater until you establish a routine.
An underwatered Fiddle Leaf Fig tree on the left, and the same tree less than 24 hours later.
How much light is too much light for the Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Sunburn on a Fiddle Leaf Fig's leaves.
- Fiddle Leaf Figs will generally do fine if placed right in front of a window in NYC. However, they can’t take extended periods of full sun (being placed outside on a sunny day). In extremely bright apartments (i.e. floor to ceiling windows) they may get sunburned, and in this instance your safest bet is putting them in front of the window with a sheer curtain. Do not block the light with a partial shade like a solar shade as they will block out the full spectrum of the sun’s radiation.
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees are tropical plants that appreciate a humid environment. If conditions are too dry they will drop their leaves. While Fiddle Leafs will thrive in an air conditioned apartment, always avoid putting them in the direct line of fire for either AC or heating units.
If their leaves are wagging from the air, it’s best to find another spot.
How often should I fertilize my Fiddle Leaf Fig?
- In general, house plants will thrive when they are fertilized spring through fall. Fertilize once a month with an organic houseplant fertilizer, following the package instructions for dilution and administration. Greenery NYC uses an organic potting mix with a slow release fertilizer in the soil, so your plant will not need fertilizer within the first 6 months of receiving it.
How often does my Fiddle Leaf Fig need to be repotted?
- For larger floor plants, we suggest repotting every 18-24 months. Typically you want to choose a potting vessel 2”- 4” larger in diameter to allow for growth. Don’t choose a pot much larger than the previous as this could drown the plants roots. If you prefer to maintain the current size of your plant, repot into the same vessel, providing new soil and trimming away some roots and foliage.
Spring or summer is the ideal time to repot as the plant is at its strongest.
Standard Planter Instructions
All of our Standard Planters include a removable drainage plug to give our customers the option of drainage. While no drainage is sometimes preferred for its aesthetic simplicity, we don't recommend this option for beginners as watering mistakes can be hard to rectify.
Whether you choose to use drainage or not, we always recommend using a layer of drainage (such as our Aeration Stones) at the base of the planter. A drainage layer allows the plant's roots access to oxygen in the pockets between the drainage medium, and a lack of drainage can cause anaerobic damage to your plant.
If you decide to utilize the drainage hole for your pot, make sure to include a Plant Saucer beneath your pot to collect excess water. For most plants in standard planters, we recommend watering about once a week. Water the soil mass until water begins pooling in your Plant Saucer.
With no drainage hole, you will need to be more precise in your watering. While we would love to give you a specific measurement of water to provide for your plant, the reality is that a plant's water requirements vary wildly depending on factors such as light exposure and the overall health of the plant. You will need to learn to tell when the plant is thirsty based on how its foliage looks. Droopy foliage is usually the first sign: when your plant looks a little slumped over that's usually a visual indicator that it's thirsty.
The best solution for checking your plant's moisture level, drainage hole of not, is to use a Soil Probe to determine the moisture content of the soil at the bottom of the planter.
Self Watering Planter Instructions
The Self-Watering Planters require a deep and thorough watering of the topsoil after they are first planted. This is important because the roots of the plants first need to grow into the reservoir in order to drink from it. Water your plant from the top for two to four weeks before using the reservoir. During the dormant seasons, or for plants that have slower growing habits, consider top watering for longer.
TEST: After the initial top water period, fill the bottom water reservoir. If the water in the reservoir is absorbed into the planter, it means the plant is ready for regular reservoir servicing. If not, be sure to continue top watering for a few more weeks until the plant has started drinking from the reservoir.
RESERVOIR SERVICING: Once the reservoir empties on its own, do not refill the reservoir right away. Similar to how humans need a breath of air between gulps of water, most plants require a drying out period. Allow for the reservoir to empty all the way between watering. All plants are different in their needs so the amount of time the reservoir sits empty will need to be determined, but know that for most plants this period is between 1-3 days.
From here on out, you should rarely topwater the plant while using the reservoir system. Watering from below allows the plant to drink at its own pace, and can help combat certain issues like fungus gnats by allowing the top layer of soil to dry out more. Please note that if your plant's soil dries out too much, it can impair the wicking ability of the Aeration Stones in your planter. If your soil becomes too dry, we recommend giving it a thorough watering.
For more information on our Self Watering Planters include planting instructions, visit our blog post on How to Use Our Self-Watering Pots.
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Our Complete Guide to Fiddle Leaf Fig Care — STUMP
So, you’ve just purchased, or currently own, a Fiddle Leaf Fig. Now what?
The Fiddle Leaf Fig, also known as the Ficus lyrata, graces the covers and photos of many design publications, bringing drama and height, and tying entire rooms together with its tall stature and enormous, elegant leaves. What some people don’t realize is that Fiddle Leaf Figs need to be positioned directly in front of a window despite where you’ve seen them in photos. They can be tricky to take care of while the plant acclimates to your space, and until you learn their watering schedule. Read on to learn the ins and outs of ensuring your Fiddle Leaf Fig remains healthy and vibrant for years to come.
Light
Fiddle Leaf Figs should be placed in front of a window that will receive direct morning or afternoon light. Ideally, what you’re aiming for is a window with a mostly unobstructed eastern, western, or southern exposure — you don’t want trees or close buildings shading the window. If the window is large enough and doesn’t have anything obstructing a clear view of the sky, a north facing exposure can also work if your Fiddle Leaf is placed directly in front of it. If you want to place your tree in front of a southern exposure, you’ll want to slowly acclimate it to being in many hours of direct sunlight — if they’re given too much direct sunlight too quickly, the leaves could burn and form brown scorch marks. Slowly increase the amount of time it spends in front of a southern window over the course of 1 - 2 weeks.
The size of your Fiddle Leaf Fig also plays a role in determining how much light it will need to stay happy. The larger the plant, the more light it will need. E.g. a 7’ tall tree would need a much taller window to accomodate its height compared to a 4’ tall tree.
Generally speaking, the more leaves your Fiddle Leaf Fig has, the more light it will need to maintain its leaves and continue to grow new ones. When a plant doesn’t receive enough light, it responds by dropping lower and interior leaves, communicating with us that it’s not getting enough light to sustain all of its leaves.
During the winter months, when natural light isn’t as abundant, it’s important to keep your plant in front of the window while still making sure it’s not getting any cold air from drafts that blow in. If you do have windows that are drafty, move your Fiddle Leaf anywhere from around 2 - 3 feet back from the window, and see how it responds. This distance is usually best, as it allows for plants to avoid any random bursts of cold air, while still receiving a similar amount of light. Continue reading for additional winter care tips.
For additional information about window light scenarios, check out this past journal post.
Water
To match their love for natural light, Fiddle Leaf Figs need to be thoroughly watered about once a week. Depending on the size of the plant — and therefore the size of the roots — you’ll want to adjust the amount you water. A good rule of thumb is to wait until the top 2 - 3 inches of the soil is dry, and then give the plant a thorough watering. If it’s in a planter with a drainage hole, this means watering until you notice water dripping out the bottom. However, don’t let the drip tray sit full of water for any extended lengths of time, as this allows root rot to set in easily. When you water, remember to do so slowly in a circular motion around the plant, making sure to cover all areas of the soil. This way, water reaches all of the roots and not just some.
One of the best tools to understand how often your Fiddle Leaf Fig needs water is through the use of a Sustee Aqua-metern (available for purchase in our shops). Since we have been using these in our shops, we have realized that there are certain times of the year where our plants are much more thirsty than usual. The Sustee turns blue when the soil is saturated with water, and then turns white once the soil’s water content is low enough that watering again won’t result in overwatering.
Like with all tropical plants, you want to water with room temperature water. Hot or frigidly cold water is a surefire way to cause a plant to go into shock the same way it would if it was exposed to either end of extreme temperatures while outside.
Aerating and breaking up the soil before watering will help the soil better absorb the water. We also recommend watering very slowly around the top of the soil so water can reach all of the plant’s roots, rather than draining out around the edges of the planter.
Maintenance
Like with most other plants, Fiddle Leaf Figs do require some general maintenance. One important routine you can do for your Fiddle Leaf happens to correspond to its most obvious feature: its leaves. With great leaves come great responsibility — in the form of habitual dusting. Since their leaves are so large, Fiddle Leaf Figs need to be dusted regularly. When dust accumulates on plant leaves, dust particles make it difficult for the plant to absorb sunlight and perform photosynthesis. Since Fiddle Leaf Figs love light so much, regular dusting goes a long way in helping your plant stay in top shape.
In addition to dusting leaves, it’s also a good idea to rotate your plant weekly or bi-weekly. Rotating your plant gives it even light exposure, meaning one side won’t be growing drastically more than another, leading to a sturdy and symmetrical Fiddle Leaf Fig.
If you’re wanting your Fiddle Leaf Fig (or any tree, for that matter) to begin to grow branches, you can do a couple of things. Try giving your plant more light first — trees naturally grow branches, and if they’re receiving a lot of natural light, they’ll have more energy to potentially spend on creating branches. Another way to encourage branching is to cut off the topmost point of growth on your plant. This will force the plant to stop growing directly upwards, and instead, it’ll begin to branch out from the sides. To learn more about pruning and branching check out our pruning journal post.
For those who don’t do so already, aerating the soil once every couple of months keeps the soil from becoming compacted. Compacted soil eventually creates small pockets of soil where water never reaches, which can negatively impact your plant’s ability to take in water, among other things. Aerating can be accomplished with a lot of different objects, whether it’s an official soil aerator, or something similar in size and shape, like chopsticks. Gently insert the aerator into the soil, slowly pushing it further in to avoid damaging too many roots. Do this in an assortment of spots around the soil, and it’ll help keep your plant healthy and happy by breaking up any spots where the soil has clumped together.
Lastly, our suggestion on fertilizing your Fiddle Leaf Fig and other houseplants is the ‘less is more’ approach. It’s best to not overwhelm your plants with additional nutrients all at once. We highly recommend using a slow release pellet fertilizer, such as the Osmocote Plus Indoor Smart-Release Plant Food in the spring and summer months by mixing them into the top layer of the plant’s soil. Typically, these pellet fertilizers last for several months.
Winter Tips
With a noticeable lack of natural light and colder temperatures, winter is a tough time for indoor plants, Fiddle Leaf Figs included. While watching out for cold windows, as mentioned above, is a good starting point, there are some other things you can do to keep your Fiddle Leaf happy throughout the cold months.
Heating vents are a common issue people run into during the winter — it’s easy to forget they exist when they’re not turned on for more than half of the year. When it does come time for them to turn on, plan to move all of your plants away from any heating vents. The repeated blasts of hot air can burn leaves and dry your plants out quickly.
Before watering your plant during the winter, break up the soil slightly with your fingers. With the drier indoor air during wintertime, soil easily becomes clumped and compacted. Breaking it up lightly with your fingers will help the soil retain water instead of water falling straight through between the soil and sides of the planter.
It’s also worth mentioning that a humidifier can do wonders for Fiddle Leaf Figs and other tropical plants all year round, especially in the winter when indoor air becomes dry. The constant increase of moisture circulating in the air helps prevent browning leaf tips and lets your plants thrive as they would in a rainforest.
Key points:
Fiddle Leaf Figs need a lot of natural light and do best when placed directly in front of a window.
Water thoroughly about once a week, allowing the top couple inches of soil to dry out before watering again.
If you have any questions regarding Fiddle Leaf Fig care, feel free to ask down below, visit one of our shops, or get in contact with us!
Written by: Egan Thorne
Photos by: Emily Kellett
Videos by: Brian Kellett
Egan ThorneSTUMP108 Comments
0 Likesgrowing at home, propagation
Lovers of home ornamental plants grow various exotic plants such as lemons, persimmons, pomegranates, bananas, murayu, feijoa, pineapples, avocados, including figs, or rather figs. Naturally, it will not be possible to completely solve the problem of providing the population with overseas fruits, but in part it is quite possible.
Despite the fact that figs are much rarer than lemon, tangerine or pomegranate, they may well please others with their fruits. Fig home is the closest relative of the ficus and also grows in height and has a lush crown, which is easy to form in the process of growth. 9Ol000 at home
Varieties such as Oglobsha, Purple Sukhumi, Kedoma, Solnechny, etc. are acceptable for cultivation in urban rooms. They can easily please with their fruits, the size of a walnut and very pleasant in taste. The taste of the fruit is unforgettable and certainly pushes the desire to have such a tree at home.
If someone wants to get a special decorative effect and rapid flowering from this plant, then this is a serious mistake. The process of the appearance of fruits in this tree is peculiar and is not accompanied by rapid flowering. The fruits appear in the axils of the leaves, gradually increase in growth, while changing their color from green to dark purple. Dark purple color indicates fruit ripening.
Despite the fact that the fig is thermophilic, it feels great in a city apartment, with dry air and average temperature conditions. In winter, it should be moved to the area of the south window, and in the summer, the east window will also suit him.
Fruiting
The fruiting cycle of figs stretches for half a year: at the initial stage, the plant acquires leaves, after which fruits are tied in the axils of these leaves and ripen. After that, the tree sheds its leaves and goes into dormant mode, lasting up to 3 months. If this plant is provided with certain conditions associated with the presence of good lighting, then the fig tree can bear fruit all year round and will only drop leaves and rest from time to time.
Watering
Fig tree prefers moderate watering to keep the soil from drying out. In winter, watering can be limited to the level of watering through the pan. During the period of fruiting and active development, it is recommended to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizers, although the tree does not suffer much even without fertilizing.
Soil
For plants, purchased from a flower shop. It should be intended for the cultivation of decorative leafy plants.
Propagation of the "fig tree"
Propagation of figs is carried out using cuttings. To do this, cuttings are cut off, which have 3-4 buds and are placed in water or wet sand to form roots, after which they can be planted in pots. With this method of reproduction, figs will bear fruit in six months. If it is propagated by seeds, then the fruits can be seen only for 4-5 years of life. Therefore, figs propagate by seeds only in extreme cases.
Propagation of figs by cuttings.
Watch this video on YouTube
Crown formation
The plant responds gratefully to pruning, so there are no restrictions in this regard.
Useful properties of figs
Figs are not only useful, but also have a pleasant taste. The fruits of the plant grown at home are very useful.
Figs contain a lot of potassium, which helps to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, even if you eat no more than two fruits a day.
The fruits of the "fig tree" contain substances that thin the blood, which is a prophylaxis against the formation of blood clots. It can help with anemia, as well as diseases of the urinary tract and the formation of kidney stones. It can be stated as a fact - the ability of figs to cure cancer.
If the fruits of figs are boiled in milk, and the resulting drink is consumed 100 g three times a day, then diseases of the upper respiratory tract can be treated.
Fig fruits can be used to make jam, which improves metabolism and digestion.
Fig jam diluted with water can be used as a laxative, especially for children.
In this case, you can use not only the fruits of the "fig tree", but also other parts of it, and especially the juice. With it, you can get rid of acne, heal wounds, get rid of pustules and even treat skin cancer.
Naturally, each treatment with the use of such drugs requires consultation with doctors. Self-medication can lead to unpredictable consequences. It is necessary to study all contraindications very well, since any drug has them. Fig fruits contain a lot of sugar, which means that for people with diabetes, figs are contraindicated. It is not recommended to use it as a medicine for people who are overweight, as well as people who have a disrupted normal digestion process.
It is very interesting to watch how the “fig tree” grows, how a plant with many leaves grows from a small cutting in two months, and already during this period fruits begin to set. Not a single tree is capable of this, because you have to wait at least 2 years for flowering and fruiting, and this is in the most successful scenario.
From this point of view, the fig is a unique tree, despite the fact that it is not very decorative, but practicality and usefulness are in the first place.
The fig is one of the most ancient plants cultivated by humans. To this day, it is grown as a valuable fruit plant. It can be found in Georgia, Armenia, Mediterranean countries, on the Absheron Peninsula, in the Carpathians, etc. The value of figs is that they can be used to make wine. Because of this, figs are also called figs, because they contain a large amount of sugar and make excellent wine from their fruits.
Figs in your garden or on your windowsill
Watch this video on YouTube
Fig tree - how to grow at home, possible diseases, transplantation and reproduction rules substances. Few are aware that it can be grown at home and please others with useful fruits.
Fig tree - what is it?
The exotic fig tree belongs to subtropical deciduous crops and belongs to the Mulberry family. It is the closest relative of ficus and mulberry. It is worth knowing for those who want to grow a fig tree that this plant is pollinated with the help of tiny black wasp blastrophages that transfer pollen from male seedlings to female ones. Sometimes this function is taken over by other insects.
What does a fig tree look like?
The fig is a vigorous deciduous tree with a spreading crown. In the natural environment, it can reach 10 m in height. The plant is considered long-lived and can live up to 300 years. The leaves of the fig tree are dark green, large (up to 15 cm long, up to 12 cm wide), hard, divided. Fig flowers have two types:
- figs - female inflorescences;
- caprifigs - male inflorescences.
Flowers develop in the axils of different trees - male and female. Outwardly, they are very similar, but only the second appears figs. The fig tree gives pear-shaped fruits with juicy and extremely sweet pulp inside, at the top they have an eye covered with scales. Their length is 8 cm, radius - 5 cm, weight - up to 7 g. The color of figs is varied - blue-black, yellow, greenish-yellow. Fresh figs contain 12 g of sugars, dried - 70 g, they are used to make jam, candied fruits and even wine. Fruits are very useful:
- Improve the condition of blood vessels due to the high content of calcium.
- Thins the blood, which is useful for those suffering from thrombosis.
- Useful for people with anemia, diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system, respiratory tract.
- Fig jam helps with digestive problems.
Where does the fig tree grow?
The fig or fig tree is an undemanding, cold- and drought-resistant plant that bears abundant fruit. Culture prefers sunny locations with protection from strong winds. In the wild, figs grow:
- in Africa;
- in Asia;
- in the Caucasus;
- in the Mediterranean;
- in Crimea;
- in the Krasnodar Territory.
The fig tree likes to grow where it is warm, but at the same time it can withstand winter cold down to -20°C, which makes it a good opportunity for northern cultivation. In the subtropics, the fig plant brings up to three crops per year. In mid-latitudes, one fruiting can be achieved with proper care, which is already an excellent result. It is easy to grow a tree both at their summer cottage and at room conditions.
Growing figs in open ground
When planting an ornamental fig tree in a summer cottage, the main thing is to choose the right place for it. This should be the area with maximum lighting. Up to 10-12 hours a day, the fig tree should bask in direct sunlight. There should be no obstacles on the south side of the tree - tall plantings, buildings. From the north and west, such obstacles must be obligatory. They will protect the fig tree from cold air. For an excellent harvest, self-fertile species are suitable: Turkish brown, Date Neapolitan, Crimean black.
Planting figs in the open field
Planting is best done in spring - in late April, early May, and in regions with a southern climate, the tree can be rooted in autumn. To do this, you need to organize everything correctly:
- Dig a trench 0.
7-1 m wide and 1.2-1.5 m deep. Mix the upper fertile layer with leafy soil, manure, compost.
- Drainage material - sand or gravel - is laid out at the bottom of the trench.
- A mound is poured from the nutrient mixture at the bottom of the pit.
- The fig tree is placed on a mound, the roots are straightened, sprinkled with soil, the root neck is allowed to be slightly deepened.
- The seedling is plentifully watered with 3-4 buckets of warm water.
- The trunk circle is covered with a film. Above the tree, you can build a polycarbonate shelter.
How to care for figs outdoors?
Describing how to grow a fig tree, it is worth disassembling and caring for it in the open field:
- In summer, every 7-10 days the tree is watered, spending 10 liters of water. The last time the plant is moistened after harvest.
- In spring, figs are fed with nitrogen compounds, in the middle of summer - with phosphates, in autumn they are given potash top dressing. Every two months, fig trees are sprayed with a solution of complex feeds.
- In autumn, when the temperature drops to +2°C, the tree must be covered for the winter. All branches are tied and bent to the ground. A shelter is built over the seedling from boards or plywood, everything is covered with polyethylene and sprinkled with a layer of earth.
- In mid-April, a fig tree is released from warm captivity. Landings are watered, branches are straightened, a polycarbonate greenhouse is being erected.
Fig tree - growing at home
Indoor fig tree is a lush plant 2-4 m high. A fig tree at home does not need the services of an os-blastophage, it self-pollinates and produces amazing fruits even in an apartment twice a year . Growing figs in a room does not require much effort. The plant loves heat, but can withstand coolness. It is better to put the pot on the east side in summer, on the south side in winter. The best varieties are Sochi, Dalmatika, White Adriatic.
Planting figs in a pot
To get a healthy fig tree at home, planting is best done in the spring, before active growth begins. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the tank, and a layer of soil is placed on top. You can use the soil for decorative leafy plants, or prepare it according to the recipe:
- Take soil from under a deciduous tree, except for oak.
- Pass it through a 3-5 mm grate, mix with sand in a ratio of 2:1.
- Add 1-2 parts of humus (2-3 years old).
Sphagnum moss is best spread on the surface to regulate humidity. Pot in the beginning, you can take a liter. The material for planting can be root shoots, cuttings:
- It is advised to cut a fig stalk from a semi-lignified shoot - under the kidney, leaving 3-4 eyes.
The process is placed in sand, covered with polyethylene. After 20 days, the cutting can be transplanted into a pot - it will already have roots.
- If there is a shoot on the tree, it is pressed to the ground, sprinkled. After 3-4 weeks, the seedling will have its own roots and can be planted in a pot.
No need to plant a fig tree in the ground, which contains a lot of peat - it inhibits planting. Pebbles, charcoal, gravel with a layer of 1-2 cm can be used as drainage to the bottom of the tank. Figs are not at all afraid of deepening the root neck. The seedling can be drowned to the first bottom sheet. On the buried section of the trunk, new roots form later.
Home care fig tree
Exotic homemade fig tree requires special care:
- At the time of fruit formation and flowering, it needs to be fed with mineral and organic fertilizers. Bring them every two weeks, alternating. The fig tree loves mullein (1:10), a fermented infusion of herbs - nettle, dandelion.
Once a season, the plant is irrigated with a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate, a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate. Boric acid, zinc sulfate, ammonium molybdate are added in the spring as a solution of 0.1 g of each salt per 10 liters of water. At the time of fig ripening, it is fed with potash formulations from sachets.
- A fruiting tree needs sunlight and a temperature of +22...+25°C.
- During the growing season, fig trees need systematic watering once a week. The soil must not be allowed to dry out. In winter, watering is reduced to two times a month. At the end of February, frequent moistening resumes.
- If the crown of the plant has grown, it can be subjected to shaping pruning in spring. There is a pattern that the more young shoots, the more fruits are formed.
Diseases and pests of figs
If a fig tree grows in an apartment, it is sometimes attacked by pests and gets sick:
- Spider mites often attack the tree from insects, especially in a heated room.
The affected plant should be treated with the Actellik insecticide. For prevention - in the heating season, the tree is sprayed with cold water.
- Coral spot is a common disease of the fig tree. A reddish rash appears on the leaves and stems. Areas with problem shoots should be removed. Sections are lubricated with copper-containing preparations. Water the plant with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Repotting Figs
When growing a fig tree in a pot, be aware that any subtropical crop needs to be repotted every five years. Allocate him a container that is larger in outer diameter, but not more than 4-5 cm, so that the earth after the procedure becomes acidic. You should not take a very bulky pot - as long as the roots of the culture feel at ease, its flowering and fruiting will be delayed. An adult plant needs about 8 kg of substrate, it lives for about 30 years.
Propagation of figs
It is possible to grow a fig tree from a stone. For sowing, half-liter cups are selected, filling with a substrate - peat and sand 1: 1. Up to three seeds can be sown in one container and a stronger sprout can be chosen. The seed should be sprinkled with moist soil, covered with glass / film and placed in a sunny place, gently moistened. After 14 days, sprouts will appear. After 5 weeks, the seedlings can be transplanted into separate 10 cm pots. Gradually changing containers, the tree is grown until the first flowering, then planted in a permanent pot. Figs grown from seeds give the first fruits in five years.
Fig tree in the interior
By growing a fig tree at home in a pot, you can make the interior of the room pleasant and unusual. It reaches a height of 3-4 m and is an ornamental plant with large, almost round leaves that attract with their bright greenery. Such a spectacular lush bush up to the ceiling will become the leader of the greenhouse in any room. Figs are a photophilous culture, but they grow well even with moderate shading, although they rarely bear fruit under such conditions.