Fiddle Leaf Fig - Care & Rescue Tips

In this video, I share the journey of taking a sad, nearly-leafless Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata) that was purchased from the clearance bin at Home Depot, and bringing it back to full health. I will show you what the tree looks like two-years on and then examine the leaves to see what problems may be currently ailing the plant, and what treatments I need to do to make it healthy again.
I also share a follow-up on the Fiddle Leaf Fig that I chopped five months ago, to see how it is doing and its progress.
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[@DreamSemancik]

Finally a great video that helped. Thsnk you so much for all the info

[@briana14333]

Thank you! I hope this helps mine! If not, I’m sending her your way 🤭

[@FreePlantsForever]

Haha! I hope it helps! I find these trees thrive from neglect

[@briana14333]

@@FreePlantsForever ok, I'll try that too! lol

[@AmandaMaliah]

There was a fitness commercial playing before this video. The guy kept saying "This is a metabolism killer!" *points to oreos* "This is a metabolism killer!" *points to another processed food* "This is a metabolism killer!" *points to another processed food*. I skip the ad and then "THIS is a fiddle leaf fig." lol. :)

[@FreePlantsForever]

Haha! I've seen that ad. Luckily the ficus isn't a metabolism killer 🤣

[@carrots.]

Finally someone that helps! Mine was overwatered leaves falling off… helppppp i took it out of the pot to drained it, let the roots dry. Next got fresh soil. Will it make it??

[@FreePlantsForever]

I wouldn't leave the roots out of soil for too long, but so long as the soil isn't overly soggy hopefully it will be okay? Just be warned, they do usually go through shock after repotting and it might lose more leaves, but don't throw it out, it will hopefully come back to life once it settles in.🤞

[@carrots.]

@@FreePlantsForever thank you! I repotted it, i didn’t leave the roots exposed to long. Used fresh soil. Ugh i have 5 leaves i think 😆 one is brown. We will see what happens!

[@cooloutac]

@@carrots. how is your plant doing? I'm thinking about buying one of these guys lol.

[@SuperManning11]

I was at HD this past weekend and found a nice size FLF in a corner with a bunch of other near-dead plants. The tree itself wasn’t in that bad of a condition and I knew I could save it. I took it to the register and because it had a yellow label on it and I told the cashier where I found it, he got angry and told me I should not take things from ‘the trash’. Undaunted, I told him I was willing to buy it anyway, thinking he might just give it a random price and I’d be on my way-but nooooo…. He got even angrier and told me those plants were NOT for sale and that he wasn’t going to tell me again!!! After standing there for a few seconds in shock that I was being dressed down for wanting to purchase something …in a store…I turned and walked out. I guess I’m going to have to find the clearance rack next time.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Ugh... that is so frustrating. I'm sorry. I wonder if they employee was saving it for themself! 🤔

[@SuperManning11]

@@FreePlantsForever very possible! I hadn’t thought of that.

[@kamilleseven283]

Im so sorry that happened to you that was so mean! If they threw it away, they are terrible.

[@cindyhenry1410]

I would have asked for the manager!!

[@EuniceKirby-to9nc]

I live in the south and I leave mine on the deck all summer Growing like a weed but have to watch direct sun. Mostly shade is good

[@malouses2166]

I'm in the south too. What do you do when winter comes?

[@devilmecare]

Mine had red spots. I thought it was called edema. I backed off on the watering and they disappeared.

[@romy1223]

It is edema … not sure what she’s talking about

[@maylani3697]

In your case, it was just edema. Looks like her fiddle got so much water and moisture that it developed an infection and not just edema. That’s why she treated its roots with hydrogen peroxide and repotted to help deter root rot and used the copper spray on the leaves.

[@claudiamartinez3855]

Saved my fidel from an aldi on clearance (it was 3.50) i did not know i was gonna have a DIVA in my home

[@FreePlantsForever]

OMG - 3.50?! What a deal. You can definitely make that dive work for you. Light is my number one tip, they like it bright.

[@RubenGonzalez-px4bw]

Muy lindo vídeo

[@LiaaHill-gq6bq]

I found the fiddle leaf plant it was some damaged and and dried out I brought it home gave it some water for now and wiped off the leafs. I'm hoping that I can bring it back

[@triciag3311]

I just bought one of these at Aldi and it is super pretty. I live in an atrium ranch, so we have a walk of windows that faces east. The rest of our windows are west. I currently have the fig in our living room where the atrium wall is. It's about 10 feet from the windows. Does this sound like enough light?

[@MiscellaneousMichelle]

💚

[@lorac4126]

Ok, Im nervous. Got my first Fiddle today. It was 29.99 at Cosco and 5 feet tall. From the comments, the Fiddle sounds finicky. Sounds like you're damned if you do and damned if you dont.😮

[@priscillafuller8685]

In my experience mine has been very low maintenance. Worth a try

[@cooloutac]

well at least you saved it for a little while. it had a good life lol.

[@martinaneutzling2612]

9/23. My FLF dropped leaves. Only has leaves at top. I repotted. What else should I do?

[@FreePlantsForever]

It could be going through shock... these trees can be divas. Let it settle, make sure you're only watering when soil is fully dry, monthly fertilizing... and fingers crossed!

[@cindyhenry1410]

How do I get mine to grow leaves on the lower 2/3 where it is bare??

[@brittanidoster7846]

All my leaves have fallen off the bottom has long stem and a bunch of leaves on top. What should I do?

[@R-0-R-Y]

My FLF is too tall! Can I prune it to reduce the height? It dropped its upper leaves around the end of winter weather (its room was probably too dry, dark and warm) but it still has nice lower leaves.

[@seppcarrankohler9819]

Definitely trim top and give more light +humidity

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes! Absolutely, if you trim the top it will likely start to branch as well, which (to me) is great. They do require light though. The best advice I heard was that the tree should be able to see the sky from where it's placed. So next to a window is ideal.

[@reneetaillon7471]

As I understand best to wait until spring to can go into water to root and where you cut your should get two branches.

[@R-0-R-Y]

@@reneetaillon7471 thanks! So waiting til the rainy part of spring and cutting off two branches?

[@ericaodenweller8840]

What do you use to wipe of the branches? Just water 💦

[@melissalemucchi5848]

Where do you live? I am wondering if I can put mine outdoors? I live in southern California

[@FreePlantsForever]

Absolutely! I'm also in So Cal. They love being outdoors here, just ease it into the outside as they can sunburn if they're not used to hot, direct sun.

[@melissalemucchi5848]

@@FreePlantsForever thank you will do!! I seriously thought you were in Florida lol.

[@kohort1]

Can leaves come back from yellowing/paling? I have a huge tree that was doing so well but i repotted probably a year too late. It didn't grow much last year and slowly pale and lost a some leaves. i just repotted into a gigantic pot and as suspected the roots were totally coiled up. I'm probably going to top it but wanted to take it step at a time. I'm hoping the older leaves regain color instead of continue dying.

[@KourtneyConwayll5]

So I just bought my fiddle leaf fig tree maybe two weeks ago I’ve done nothing but water it once and all of the leaves completely shriveled up and are starting to fall off. I let it air out for a couple of days just in case I was giving it too much water because this happened the day after I watered. Any tips?😊

[@madyella-Ge]

I have black spots on the leaves and I keep it inside by a window… I cut the ones that was really bad… What can I do??

[@martyspence8590]

Black spots usually indicate root rot from over watering. Pull the plant out of pot and look at roots. If they are brown or black or mushy then it is root rot. Trim the brown roots off with sterile shears. Healthy roots are tan or white. Then repot with a fast draining cactus soil like Black Gold Cactus and Succulent soil mix. I have nine fiddles and this is what I use. Then use a moisture meter weekly to determine when to water. Join me of Fiddle Leaf Fig Q&A Group where we help answer questions like this.

[@scumpuppies]

my flf confuses the hell out of me. I water it when its totally dry, typically every 7-10 days. I give it 1tsp of FLF fertilizer. It has sprouted TWO leaves in two years and multiple leafs have fallen off. What else can I do!?!?

[@FreePlantsForever]

It could be the lighting or heat conditions, they really need a lot of light and like it warm, but not overly hot. I once heard advice that if they're indoors, they should at least be able to see the sky from where they are. Hope that helps!

[@scumpuppies]

@@FreePlantsForever Thanks. The heat is rarely on (I live in northern california)...It may not be getting enough sun I guess?

[@martyspence8590]

First, use a moisture meter weekly to determine when to water it. Lack of growth can mean lack of sunlight or lack of nutrients . Or it could mean it needs repotting because it’s root bound. If it’s been in soil longer than a year then they use all the nutrients bin the soil and needs fresh soil. Try using the fertilizer called “Dyna Gro-Foliage Pro”. It has 12 extra vitamins that the FLF plant fertilizer doesn’t have and doesn’t cost near as much.

[@VivianGales]

Can u cut half of the fig tree and repot it

[@FreePlantsForever]

Technically... yes! Personally I have not had success in getting the top to re-root, but others definitely have. The best part about cutting the top of the tree is that the original tree will start to branch where it was cut.

[@Thinktanq2000]

That is not fungus, it’s edema from too much watering. You killed this tree using copper fungicide

[@NeetuChoudhary-gx6ei]

Marwadi bolo smj m nhi aa rha h

[@user-cu2ej7qu6p]

hi, have you tried to grow eucalypts from seeds? your clymate is good for it