Taking care of houseplants can be tricky, especially if you are growing plants that are not usually grown indoors. However, it is not impossible to grow healthy plants in your home.
The best way to do this is to simulate the plant’s native environment. Fiddle Leaf Fig grows to a large size. So, it is a requirement to know when and how to repot a fiddle leaf fig.
What Is a Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Fiddle Leaf Fig is a plant in the mulberry and fig family. It is native to West Africa. It thrives best in tropical rainforest areas and grows up to 50 feet. It is a popular house plant but does not grow as tall as it does in its natural habitat.
Although the Fiddle Leaf Fig can grow indoors, the inside environment must be suitable for its survival. Look around your home and find the brightest room that does not expose the plant to direct sunlight, and make this your Fiddle Leaf Fig new location.
This plant is used to a humid climate and requires a lot of water, but it does not like to have soaking wet roots. Therefore, the task is to keep your home humid, provide the plant with a pot with plenty of drainage holes to prevent root rot, and keep the temperature warm but not hot.
To test if your environment is humid enough, examine its leaves. If they are turning brown at the tips, your home does not have enough humidity. Place your Fiddle Leaf Fig on a plate of wet rocks to remedy dryness.
Fiddle Leaf Fig grows to be a big tree-like plant, because of this you will have to repot it from time to time. However, this plant is sensitive and does not like to move. So, it is a must that you know when and how to repot your Fiddle Leaf Fig.
When Do You Repot Fiddle Leaf Fig?
The Fiddle Leaf Fig grows to a large size, which makes it inevitable you having to repot it from time to time as it outgrows its container home. So, when should you repot? Here are a few signs that indicate your plant needs a new home.
- Overwatered mushy roots
- Roots that have outgrown the pot
- It’s been a year since you repotted it.
But knowing when to repot is not enough, you must also know how to repot your plant.
How to Repot the Fiddle Leaf Fig?
The Fiddle Leaf Fig thrives best when left in one location. So, when you find a suitable location where the plant blooms, try not to move it unless necessary. When moved, this particular plant may react and go through root shock, not establishing itself well in the new environment.
Therefore, it is a must that you take special care about how you repot your fig.
Soil Mix
The health of any plant begins with its soil. You must learn what type of soil your plant needs to thrive. For the Fiddle Leaf Fig, you must have soil that drains well. If the soil you are using does not drain well, backed-up water will cause root rot. In terms of pH, it grows best with a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 7.
You can make your potting soil by adding a mixture of organic matter. Examples of good organic matter to create the perfect potting soil are Perlite, peat moss, and bark. Perlite improves drainage, peat moss retains moisture, and bark also increases drainage. Add all of these together, and you get an excellent mixture for your fig.
Container Size
As a rule of thumb, the container you repot your plant to should be one to two sizes larger than the previous pot. If the plant’s new home is too large, you stand the danger of overwatering it, and this will cause mushy roots. If the container is too small, the roots get cramped and cannot flourish any longer. So take care when selecting a new pot.
The Method
The first thing you want to do is squeeze the sides of the pot to loosen the soil. Then carefully take out the plant. You want to pull it out by its base and not by the top branches as this will damage the plant. Lay it to the side.
Add soil to the bottom of the new pot, using the old container as a gauge of how much soil should be added. Move the roots around slightly to loosen them and place the plant in the new container. You will then add the remaining soil around the plant and fill it up to the rim.
After Care
As soon as you repot the Fiddle Leaf Fig, water it. To avoid too much root shock, place the plant back in the spot it was before. There will be an adjustment phase for your plant. You may see some dropping leaves, brown spots, or yellowing. Continue to treat your plant with care and it will begin to flourish again.
Final Thoughts
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a beautiful plant, but it’s fragile when it comes to repotting. If you buy a Fiddle Leaf Fig, know that sooner or later you’ll have to move it to another vase, but if you follow our instructions, you’re safe. Correctly caring for an repotting will make your fiddle leaf fig grow taller.