Why I CUT my FIDDLE LEAF FIG! - Care & Propagation tips!

Yep! I really cut my healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig in HALF! Join me in this video where I share my Fiddle Leaf Fig care and growing tips and tricks.
Here's the products I used in this video:
Keiki Cloning paste: amzn.to/3XKmt6k
Garden Safe Rooting Powder: amzn.to/3UgEXbs
Fiddle Leaf Figs - aka Ficus Lyrata have a reputation for being Diva plants, but if you get to know your plant, they can actually be really easy to grow and eventually propagate into new, free plants!
In this video, I show you how I cut my Fiddle Leaf Fig in half to encourage branching and grow a whole new tree from the top cutting.
I also share my tips and tricks for growing a happy, healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig - tips about light, how the leaves tell you what's wrong - all you need to know is how to read their brown spots - as well as watering, soil health, and fertilization tips.
0:00 - Intro
0:29 - All about Fiddle Leaf Figs
1:15 - About my Fiddle Leaf Fig
2:00 - Why & how to chop an FLF
2:48 - Propagating FLF
3:50 - Encouraging branches on FLF
4:20 - Using Keiki cloning paste on FLF
9:48 - Water propagating a Fiddle Leaf Fig
13:49 - Fiddle Leaf Fig Care Tips & Tricks
19:00 - Care & Tips wrap up
21:30 - Wrap up and outro
#FiddleLeafFigCare #PropagatingFiddleLeafFig #FiddleLeafFigTips
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TikTok: / free.plants.forever
Instagram: / free.plants.forever
Blog: freeplantsforever.wordpress.com/

[@elisabetherker6882]

I bought a FLF and set the pot down outside under the eves temporarily. Well, the fig didn’t wait and shot its roots into the ground and quickly multiplied into four strong healthy stalks. They have now reached the eves. My house is two stores so the plants must be 18 - 20’ tall now. Looks really nice.

[@DMFG16]

Can you make a video to show us how the propagated Fiddle Leaf turned out?

[@daliaflanders6598]

This technique definitely works. I cut my 9ft fiddle and it gave me three new shoot without using a growth powder or paste. I saw new shoots in less than a month and the tree is over 11ft after four months

[@ericathompson2996]

Thanks for the very useful information! I'm getting ready to cut back my two 6 1/2' fiddles before they reach the ceiling! I will definitely attempt to propagate what I cut.

[@johnstevens2164]

This was informative and engaging throughout the entire video! Great quality production & Thank you

[@FreePlantsForever]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dianas5017]

Suggestion…Fill the glass jar with small stones or marbles to stabilize the stem in the jar. Refill with water as needed. Hope this helps.

[@ThrowtheJ.DownTheWell]

Good suggestion except for the fact that I lost my marbles.

[@vickykent353]

​@@ThrowtheJ.DownTheWellI like your sense of humor. I can also relate to losing all your marbles! 😅

[@yasminlabra3238]

​@@ThrowtheJ.DownTheWell😂😂😂

[@karenamalfi8551]

I really enjoyed this video, thanks for making it.

[@FreePlantsForever]

So happy to help, thanks so much for watching!

[@laquishamckinnie7294]

Very helpful, thank you! I just got a FLF from one of my girlfriends, she got it when it was a tiny baby 7-10 yrs ago. I think its about 6 ft tall. I shined her leaves up today and am repotting her tomorrow. I think i will cut the top of and prop as well. I ordered a light for her also because my living room doesn't get enough light. I'm very excited about her lol! I would love to see an update video!

[@beverleybailey3161]

Can you post a follow up video on how the original (bottom) bit turned out please. Has it started growing new branches yet and if so, how long did it take? Am thinking of doing the same to mine but i need to know all facts before i chop. Thank you for a detailed video on chop and prop.

[@viv9524]

Thank you so much for this info! Mine has been giving a headache. Now I just need to decide if I'm going to prune mine or attempt to get it to promote branch growth closer to the bottom to the plant.

[@RSJ-Texas]

Very nice video. Thanks so much !

[@FreePlantsForever]

So glad you enjoyed it and hopefully it's helpful!

[@lindamarquez9391]

I cut top of my fig leaf to propagate. Did it before grew nicely. But this time it looks like it's dying...help!

[@BeckyA59]

Very helpful! I rescued one last year from Lowe's, it's not as tall as yours but it's about doubled in height. Still has a couple of leaves with brown spots but mostly they've fallen off and the new growth looks great, I'd like it to branch out though so I may try the cloning paste.

[@FreePlantsForever]

As long as the new growth looks good you're in good shape. The cloning paste might not even be necessary, but I figure it cant' hurt, especially if hoping to make new branches without cutting the top.

[@faribajavaherpour710]

@@FreePlantsForeverdirect sun won’t burn it?

[@craiglsu72]

Can you score a line and add that stuff where a leaf drop has taken place?

[@winnychiuu]

Love the makeover! So proud of you and Brian. Lotus Bloom 🪷 🇺🇸

[@wildlywity]

I grew a fiddle fig from 3" to 5'. I had it on a plant stand and it grew to the ceiling. So I have finally cut the top off so it can branch out (it's one long stalk at the moment). I am going to start cutting the leaves from the bottom, and work upward (noted a comment that no more than 10% should be pruned at one time). What I want to know is if I can dry the leaves so they retain some color and not break apart, then create some arrangements with them. Anyone here know the answers to my question.

[@donnajaemoon]

Great video. You’re a great plant rescuer. I think you could’ve gotten two (maybe three) propagations from the size cutting you took. And, more importantly, the props should have no more than three leaves remaining. I think that’s why yours took a while to root. I recently (October 1) took a similar sized cutting from my 8’ Fiddle. I split it into three propagations and the uppermost section has already grown a 3” root and two shorter ones. The next one has the little white dots. I left too many leaves attached to the bottom one, and removed two and a partial one today. So I’ll see how it goes.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thank you! And I think you know exactly why my propagation failed... I will definitely heed your advice next time. It's been almost a year and I am planning a follow up to this video. I might actually try to use the air propagation method to see if it's more successful.💚

[@partlycloudyoptimist809]

Mine is 15 inches tall and has been for 4 years. I fished him out of the trash after my coworker…cough jerk…cough… pardon me… threw it away after he found out I was gonna buy it reduced price. He’s a good little fiddle though. He be tiny but he is tough.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Aww... tiny but tough! Love it. Maybe a little fertilizer and it'll get a little more height? Unless you love it small. I have heard there are some dwarf varieties

[@partlycloudyoptimist809]

@@FreePlantsForever I feed him on a sced with my other indoor plants. I think he’s just tiny. Or the fall and time he was in the freezing cold dumpster when he was younger stunted him. My trauma tree. Today they were tossing Christmas cactus’s, money trees and philodendrons. Never ends.

[@martyspence8590]

Why do the new buds not open on my Fiddle Leaf fig! I’ve been watching the new buds for two months. The brown sheath just stays there. It’s getting good indirect sunlight out of S/W window and I use a grow light every day for 10 hours. I use moisturize meter and water when needed. I use the Dyna Gro-Foliage Pro fertilizer each time I water. What’s wrong with my Fiddle?

[@jakeryker546]

​@@FreePlantsForeverThere are no dwarf varieties. They are all trees. Bambino is also a tree but grows smaller and more compact leaves 😃

[@jakeryker546]

Air Layering is a lot easier and less of a hassle and almost a guarantee to get new plants. If grown outdoors, just wrap in plastic bags and keep wet 😉 Inside will be easier to grow and maintain moisture.

[@hattierobinson347]

I keep all of my jars. Where do you get the root growth?

[@nenamilenkovic975]

Da li mogu sada da isecem fikus jer je zima ili da cekam prolece?

[@Pattymelt415]

Is there a substitute for the sap?

[@ABG1788]

Hmm i don't understand, how do you know it will branch, and not just create a new leaf from the node?

[@katherinekelly4782]

This video really needs closure. Did it root? Did it branch? The techniques don't matter if the process didn't work.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Absolutely agree! I will post an update as soon as I have one... these processes can be a little slow.

[@diannenaworensky6698]

​@@FreePlantsForever How did it do ????? I need to cut mine and was wondering if the water worked or do I use a different medium ???

[@FreePlantsForever]

Full disclosure… the top propagation did not survive the water propagation. I went on vacation the day after I made this video and came home to a very sunburned piece, the leaves started falling off and it eventually just rotted. In retrospect I think I should have removed most of the leaves and made it much smaller. I also probably would have used sphagnum moss. But the main tree is doing awesome, there’s an update on the video I just posted.

[@judybenton8028]

I like your info about plant care BUT...the music in the background is so annoying. 😖 PLEASE...VIDEO W/O MUSIC??!!

[@glendaco]

Good morning. How did the catching of the mother fig trunk go, above nodes to encourage new branches. Were you able to get new branches?

[@cindyhenry1410]

QUESTION: Where is the follow up to this video? (Link?). QUESTION: I have a FLF I got from a friend. It lost a bunch of leaves so is basically a stalk with a few leaves at the top. If I trim off the top will the bottom part (basically a bare stalk would be left) produce any leaves? If not, how can I get leaves to grow on the bare areas at the bottom? Did that paste work on the nodes? Thanks!

[@FreePlantsForever]

Hi! I have a follow up here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4rRnI2VfamqmJYsi=IbDHVBcLiipW7y9j - Hope that it helps. I would think about trying the paste on the nodes first before cutting. Try to get some new leaves to grow. I was able to get a bunch of branches to grow after I chopped off the top, but I'd be worried if the plant had no leaves, it might be tough for it to get enough energy for new growth. That said, I'm not an expert! After a google search, it sounds like this works 30-50% of the time, so it's not a sure bet.

[@SummerAzures]

I have a huge fiddle leaf that has literally 6 trunks and twice as many branches. They’re too compacted to break apart and I don’t know how to tame the plant 😅 wondering if I can just lop off some of the branches and have it still flourish?

[@FreePlantsForever]

Absolutely, they do well when trimmed, but you should expect it to branch more after cutting, so it may get a little more compacted. Sounds like it's flourishing very well!

[@RightToFreedomGirl]

I ❤ THIS VIDEO I ❤ THE MUSIC TOO! * New subbie

[@FreePlantsForever]

Awww... thank you!

[@naomibus9039]

My cut branch doesn’t look like sucking the water, tip of the branch and leaves are starting droopy. I would appreciate if you have any suggestions 😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

Full disclosure... the top cutting did end up dying after I made this video. In retrospect I think I should have cut it into a few smaller pieces and maybe put some in water and tried some in damp sphagnum moss. This was more effective for me on another ficus I tried to propagate later. If it isn't rotting and you're changing the water regularly, it may just need to take some time. Fingers crossed!!!

[@naomibus9039]

@@FreePlantsForever thank you for replying. I had 5 leaves but it all fell off. And stem looked shrunk. But I’ve just checked the stem today, found the roots but still 2mm!😆 I just leave in the water, it will grow or not.

[@hennesseyme9112]

So you put the plant in the water then powder, then water again. I never understood how that works. I am going to invest in some drops instead. I thought the powder was not supposed to be distributed in water. All it does is wash off the powder when you put it in water. By the way, this vid is so soothing. Nice choice of background music that is not distracting.

[@makinMYway75]

The cloning paste work I used it before

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yeah, it worked great! I'm going to have to try it on an orchid next.

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@FreePlantsForever]

TYSM! Always appreciate your support ❤🌱

[@hattierobinson347]

I have a small one. It is doing great. I have it in in the same place for a month. I dare not move it.

[@brendaomusi2993]

Love the music

[@FreePlantsForever]

Thanks!

[@oraliapugh5054]

I rescue mine feom lowes😂

[@betteneiman8033]

Can you show us the results?

[@ladyexpenses7279]

Did you have luck with branching? Update 😊

[@FreePlantsForever]

Yes! It has sprouted about five branches! Sadly the top of the tree never rooted and ended up dying, but the mama tree is now so happy and looks much better with its new branches.

[@pokejuice1495]

I know it hurts so much but I woulda cut that bad boy down to 2 ft

[@zulmabontiffe487]

Always wash your empty jars BEFORE placing a cutting inside. Your scissor had rust on it ...Not good, use one that's in good condition as you can transfer bacteria to the cutting. Adding a little hydrogen peroxide to the water or washing the cut end first, will kill anything that will give you a failure thus losing your cutting all together. The background music was annoying. Try growing the cutting in leca. It works!!

[@schism6976]

I'm sure she values your opinion. 🙏

[@terrisanders3970]

Music so annoying

[@debbiefabro887]

Music is annoying. No need for it.

[@Beautiful-Sensation]

Cutting the tree for aesthetic purposes. How selfish.

[@FreePlantsForever]

Hmmmm... most gardeners would disagree, modest trimming is good for almost every plant's health.

[@albertramones3842]

Lol