Fiddle leaf fig - ficus lyrata (bambino) care and propagation

In this video I share the comprehensive care of the Ficus lyrata, more commonly known as the fiddle leaf fig. I also propagate the plant using various methods including air layering, water, and soil propagation in a video that took 5 months to complete filming due to its update.
My instagram: @bo.tan.ist
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[@janineloftin2151]

I have 3 FLF trees, I love them for their leaves and size. Best advice is to fertilize with a 3-1-2 fertilizer. Make sure to clean the top and bottom sides of each leaf. I use a water meter before watering. There were times in winter, that I have gone 2 1/2 weeks in between watering my largest fiddle leaf fig (she is about 7 feet tall). She continues to put out new leaves. 🍃 😊

[@rodrigomartino6798]

i Loooooooooove how real you are! How you show honest and real and lovely results you get. And all your work involved in showing us months of evolution. Thank you. A LOT! Thanks for being so real and let us know that failure is part of this hobby all the time. And, despite of that, gardening is always a beautiful task ♥

[@steva30]

agreed! well said

[@karenhart4316]

Hi Sean ; I just cut off a fiddle leaf fig branch , put it into water and kept it near a window (light) ;changed the water every week and topped up keeping an eye on it … after months it started forming little white notches ; then roots formed ; I waited for the roots to become long and thick enough ; then I planted in a mix of potting mix with perlite … then bingo growing Fig plant ; I continually turn the plant around to straighten it up as it grows 🙌 it worked well ; yes they are temperamental toward being moved around and prefer to be kept in one position & love a good drink but not sitting in water ! Excellent video thank you 😊 🧤👒🦘🐨🥰

[@user-eh2hj8bx6i]

Love that you showed us the real results of your experiment. Your backyard is gorgeous.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you

[@nicholepartney3295]

I got my first fiddle leaf fig this past spring. So far, so good. I have it in my large living room with large picture windows covering the south, west, and north walls. The real test will be this winter. I live in northern Minnesota where it stays well below 0° F for days/weeks at a time so the heat is always on. I have a humidifier and I’ll be keeping it away from drafts. Wish me luck 😅🌱

[@sabee7060]

my big fiddle leaf fig struggles to get new growth... thought about checking YT-Videos and ta-taaaaaaaaaaaaa, there you are... BIG THX Sean, I appreciate your planty knowledge!

[@michellethiam5977]

I have 3 ficus lyrata. They love direct sunlight (I live in Malaysia). I put them outdoor. After heavy rain and the leaves are still very wet, I will use towel to dry / clean the leaves. Thank my neighbours for loving them. They come to chop the branch for propagation and the effect is the trees grow brushier and taller! Happy and win-win for everyone. I haven't tried this air layering. Really interested to try! Thank you, Sean for this interesting experiment.

[@muisisverso]

I have to say your content is absolutely one of the best out here, thank you so much for such an effort

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 😀😀

[@ArdeanPeters]

Love your videos! My experience propagating ficus lyrata when rooting it in water from a top cutting with 3 leaves is that it took two months for the white root buds to show up and then another month or 2 to eventually sprout actual roots

[@horace6851]

I mostly grow ferns and I love them above anything else but there is something special about fiddle leaf fig. It's so so beautiful, almost unreal. When I look at those freshly washed leaves you propagate my hearth melts for them. Gorgeous plant!

[@hotstratman4u2]

What a great video! I learned so much. Thank you!

[@jomassey4207]

Very interesting outcome. I've always wanted a bambino ficus lyrata as they take up less room. I think your bambino lyrata looks so much better now, and we all have learnt about what to avoid when propagating cuttings. Another great video. Thanks, Sean.😊

[@jaskaur5127]

Not my favorite plant but its good to know the best methods to propagate it. Thank you for all the hard work you put in your videos.

[@lizarahmat1118]

Perfect timing for this video. I just brought home a pot last weekend and hoping it will survive! 🙏🏼

[@benlcr7784]

Beginning of my gardening, i killed 1 fiddle. Now i hv mastered the art of keeping them happy.N did some cuttings.They really love indirect very bright light for long hours n humidity in my case😊...

[@gregnations4939]

Wonderful information, I learned quite a bit. Misting, omg, I mist quite often thinking the humidity is needed. Arg. Love your passion and thoroughly enjoyed your information. thank you.

[@sandyzuniga1]

Another great video! Thank you so much!

[@marycampoyplantas8538]

Buen trabajo y hermosa plantita bendiciones 💗😅😀🌳❤️

[@kowachiaki3265]

Oh my! Lucky! I just bought one and you upload it.

[@rosedunn7476]

Hi Sean, thank you for sharing.😍☺👍

[@namehere8433]

New houseplant enthusiast here. Your videos are interesting and enjoyable to watch and I've learned a lot about houseplants by watching them; your channel is my "go-to" for good information. I've become more interested and purposeful about the plants I purchase and I guess that this has become a bona fide hobby now. It provides wonderful satisfaction. I live in NYC with my partner; our apartment faces east and our plants are thriving. Thank you for your effort!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you ❤️ lots to discover in this hobby!

[@dianepido3052]

Love this vid!! Learned a lot! Thanks

[@jpadvocates]

Thank you for the video. You always provide great detail, and information!

[@onlyplants]

😀😀🙏🏽

[@corasarne3703]

Nice video, I enjoyed watching and will try it with my plant. Hope it thrives. Thank you so much!

[@mygardeninglife]

Beautiful sharing

[@mitalipandey7870]

Hey Sean m from India n staying in one of the hottest states........it becomes very difficult to care for the plants....but watching your videos uplifts my mood n yeah I try to be a better me....all the best

[@Ch33Ch22]

Well that settles it...I'm cutting my ficus 😃 thanks for the inspiration and the tips👍

[@marloca2407]

Hi Shawn Hope you are feeling and doing good sending you good energy from California 🥰 thank you for all the KZbin content!!!

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu 🥰

[@colorfullifettt5251]

Thanks for an interesting experiment. You have so much patience to wait 4.5 months to update everyone! Happy Lunar New Year!

[@onlyplants]

Thank youuu. Happy lunar new year to you too

[@juliaermakow5970]

Great video! Thank you a lot!

[@iddybiddyladybugleeza262]

I did the mistake years back in buying one that didn’t look very good & thought I could save it from a big box store I don’t think I’d try this one again but I’ll enjoy your video

[@karenb136]

Thanks for the video.

[@baspernahkesini]

just ordered them, should arrive tomorrow. btw nice golf course behind. played there often 👍

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@happinessinleaf]

Thanks for sharing 👍. Happiness in leaf 🍃 vlog

[@onlyplants]

Thank youuu 🐸

[@Tarmantarmant]

Nice video...

[@Mangovideono]

6:45 the plant is so smart it’s branching at the lower to weight balance , looks like it’s top heavy to one side.

[@onlyplants]

Haha they tend to do that. Usually its because it feels stress up above

[@TimosGarden]

For ficus or trees in general i'd recommend to allways use quiet a bit of the stem, single node cuttings may work really well with aroids but most other plants do better having more nodes

[@alexquiles1995]

Love to have that plant. 💚

[@ronjameyerhoff2307]

Imperfect leaves? My advise to you… is to live with it 😂 the motto of this plant. I gave up the perfect leaf battle long ago. I’d rather have leaves with imperfections over a bare stem with no leaves at all.

[@Plantenbaas]

Nothing went wrong! Perhaps you wanted it to root a bit too fast.. I myself have propagated the Lyrata many times on water with success. It always created these weird white spots and roots next to them! Just try it once on water :)!

[@sunnysolheim2628]

Happy plant parents, if you’re freaking out about all the little imperfections, get more plants! No time to notice! Yup, more plants! More plants!

[@saraialegria]

Oh Shawn that was a little heartbreaking. I couldn't do that to my FLF. I respect all you do for plant education. We're getting 2 new leaves since moving my FLF to brighter area 💚 now the tineke and burgundy, those I want to toss jk I hope they didn't hear that 🤣

[@arthuslim]

Wife: how come your balcony seemed to have more plants? Wow, look at that P. Gigateum, when u bought them? Me: no dear, I was inspired by Sean to propagate plants, that's why 🙄 PS: yes, Lyrata can water propagate. But for me the process is superb slow. Still better than soil propagation which I always have casualties.

[@critic109]

I want one of the regular sized ficus but how my apartment is set up,having an only east facing window WITH a small balcony that has access to full morning and afternoon sun but I still am just so intimidated. Your ficus is gorgeous btw. Once I move into my home I’ll have nothing but ficus trees 😂

[@mariepatterson7804]

Wow ❤

[@onlyplants]

❤️❤️

[@kwahanui]

IHi Sean in terms of misting, maybe it depends on what climate you live in? I live in Sydney, Australia and drench mist my Ficus Lyrata once a week regardless of the season Autumn,Winter, Spring here can be quite dry(lol but apparently not this year) and it's twice the size of your one on this particular vlog. Wasn't sure I wanted to sacrifice propagating it until I saw towards the end how bushy that parent plant of yours become. I love that look so it maybe worth experimenting. Thanks for your honesty with your propagation vlogs the good and the not so good I think it's important to show it all. Thank you.💚

[@onlyplants]

Thank youuu. Im thinking of doing a video in misting to go through what I know, pros and cons etc. But you are right, everyones growing conditions are different so what didn’t work for me may for work others 😀

[@kwahanui]

@@onlyplants I look forward to it.🙂

[@rikusdamon4635]

Nice propigate

[@barblee9615]

I think those whitish "dots " on the stem are root nubs. Maybe placing the cut-off stem in water will help the roots to grow longer.

[@Wendy-zl8kv]

Thank you sir

[@rainsagun]

Not instagrammable! Hahaha That made me laugh but will take your advise seriously. ☺️😁 Thank you!!!

[@tpmcclanahan5272]

Your videos are very informative; it’s like talking a class!! Have you ever used Aloe Vera gel as a rooting hormone? I used Aloe to grow an orchid which had lost all of its leaves. I spread the gel all over its remaining roots and continued to water as I had been. It had continued to grow producing flowers as well.

[@onlyplants]

Ooo I havent but I did but my hand badly last week and applying aloe to it immediately soothed it entirely. It healed up in a day. I can imagine how it may promote healing in fresh cut propgates 😀

[@mariepatterson7804]

Thank you

[@onlyplants]

❤️❤️

[@rhodealexandre6583]

Very informative video thank you. I think you should’ve poke hole in the plastic for ventilation.

[@onlyplants]

Good idea 😀

[@roserozhasangma1264]

❤❤❤

[@lindadianamurrell6653]

💚💚💚

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚

[@kleabkatra7516]

Nice demonstration!! I just got my first Bambino today! I'm exited to learn!! So no foliage spay? Are they similar to orchids where they don't like water in the crease of the leaf to the stem.. and to make sure it's dry there? For the wounds or scars have you ever tried cinnamon, or neem oil for pests?? Have you ever tried semi-hydroponics for any of your plants?

[@onlyplants]

Neem oil works wonders on plants as mild fungicide and pest control. Cinnamon only when I propagate sometimes. And yes Ive tried semi hydro but its not for me. I enjoy watering plants too much to be into semi hydro 😅

[@skyscraper7664]

Not sure what went wrong but just a suggestion next time when you air layer, try to seal the moss tightly so it does not get watered and it can stay moist with evaporation. Also, I think you are too excited for the it to root, it takes time and patience sean 😅

[@onlyplants]

Haha thank youuu. I will keep trying!

[@jbdjessa2]

Thanks for the lovely content on this plant! Can you notch these plants similarly to the way you would with the larger Fiddle leaf figs? Or can these plants not handle that?

[@onlyplants]

Yeah you can, people notch them all the time

[@Llolothua]

Buy 100 more plants you say? Yes, sir!

[@beremarquez1792]

8:47 cutting and exposing

[@geegs120]

Hello - I really appreciate your videos. They are very thorough and informative. I bought a bambino a couple of months ago. It is doing great and eventually I would like for it to branch out - maybe next summer I will do this. I am curious though - once you cut the top off the plant, in order for the bottom nodes to form branches, do you have to remove the leaves (where you want it to branch) in order for that node to be "free" to sprout a branch? So far my bambino has not dropped any leaves so I was curious about how I would proceed with trying to get it to branch. Thank you!

[@onlyplants]

Nopeee dont have to remove the leaves. It will branch out at the node it wants to with or without leaves 😀

[@geegs120]

@@onlyplants Thank you!

[@mariaantonietadefatimaciri5700]

Quando vcs traduzirem oque postarem, eu sigo ok!!!!

[@kelly73]

My Bambino leaves are HUGE! They also occasionally get edema. They do recover and their trunks are incredibly strong. I wonder why the leaves on mine are so large. I had 5 new leaves here in western NY on my double dwarf. On my huge ficus lyrata put out healthy new growth all winter. As did my huge Monstera. Must have been doing something right.

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaaa green thumbs 😀

[@serafia_]

I feel like my lyrata hasnt grown at all since i moved apartments 😂 its such a fussy plant!

[@onlyplants]

Its a pretty slow grower haha

[@vaniawhitfield6486]

I just got the bambino

[@kelly73]

How do you feel about neem oil? Not for pests, but diluted and used to clean/shine leaves.

[@onlyplants]

Oh yes its really good… it also has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties

[@bobbrooks6478]

The leaves will root but they won't form a tree. They need to have a small amount of trunk.

[@andrescastillo07]

At least the mother plant is happy 😅I wouldn't be confident to propagate my FLF, ever!

[@mushroom4rain]

wow do you live in front of a park? thats beautiful view!

[@adarshtv7807]

That's his dad's house. He moved away from there. 🙄

[@onlyplants]

That was a golf course , and yeah I moved out from my parents home a month ago 😀

[@ManoloVintage]

I have a question. I have a Bambino and where I placed it there is no room to branch out and I need to control the height. Where do I cut to keep the height I want without causing it to branch out?

[@onlyplants]

Ooo thats tough cuz when you make a cut, it will always activate lower nodes and they will branch out, you can actually nip off these new buds as they emerge as a means of eliminating these branches permanently. Or you can propagate a few of these and start over, maintaining the right height and length while having cuttings to share 😅

[@jaclynsugar]

my ficus lyrata has been growing new leaves like crazy and so fast. one of the leaves grew it and it was a lot smaller than the rest. do you know what could be the issue??

[@onlyplants]

Do wait for them to fully harden as they can still expand in size. Their leaf sizes can be random so you may experience some small ones now and then. Make sure the roots are not pot bound, fertilize lightly, and give excellent care to promote growthh 😀

[@cole6877]

can you do a xanthosoma lindenii care and propagation video?

[@onlyplants]

I don’t, mine is just recovered and Im still figuring out the care. Will do one sometime early next year I think

[@leatamayo9333]

You failed to remove the cambium layer which is the slimy film below the bark that you peeled off. Essentially the top is still fully attached and dependent on the parent plant that’s why it didn’t need to grow its own roots.

[@onlyplants]

Interesting. So not deep enough! 😀

[@leatamayo9333]

Yes, so next time, gently scrape the bare stem before wrapping it. It shouldn’t feel slimy if you’ve successfully removed it.

[@adarshtv7807]

I propagated my spider plant and is repotting some other plants.

[@amandaallen2339]

Is your bar soap available in Canada yet?! 😍🥰

[@onlyplants]

Haha i dont think anytime soon. Licensing for soap exports cost more than a car 😅

[@sahleuq]

Hi Sean, I have a Bambino plant which is getting too tall. What can I do to limit its height without fostering the growth of lateral branches ? Thank you

[@onlyplants]

If you ask me, the best way is to air layer to top of the plant, find a desirable height. Once roots has formed, chop it and start over from the ground 😅

[@sahleuq]

@@onlyplants thank you

[@sahleuq]

@@onlyplants is this method better than simply pruning the top of the plant ? Is it because it will not foster branching or just because the propagation of a new plant as a bonus ? Thanks again

[@azeoprop]

Omg it can grow so tall?

[@ysb362]

Ohhhhh, mine looks just that size. I didn't know it was considered mini

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@marielagauna4997]

Que le ponen en las puntas del ficus

[@nadethcrusch4603]

This plant always be on my wishlist. But i will never buy it. 😂

[@horace6851]

I honestly don't know why are people afraid of it. In my experience it really is not hard as long as you give it direct sunlight. Light is the only factor, if the plant is strong, it will handle or other variables like over/under water or pests much better. Mine is growing like crazy and I'm not even paying much attention to it, but it gets 6h+ direct sunlight. And I'm not really good with plants I just killed a succulent (hen and chicks) and peperomia... I also managed to root rot a pothos... yes, a pothos, a plant that can live indefinitely in water (it's still alive but in recovery...). And somehow lyrata is happy as a clam. If you have a bright enough spot for it, go for it!

[@ravensdotter6843]

Leaf shine clogs the 'pores' of the leaves.

[@buttercupslongnails]

This tree can grow large outside in heat and bright light it just needs to climatise.

[@skyscraper7664]

I think bambino are cultured and can only grow max of 6ft

[@ApatheticBlogger]

I got one of these for 1.99 because it was dying. I've got 10 new leaves in 2 months after losing 5. This plant is scary 😨

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaaa it can be unstoppable once its happy

[@richardportelli1983]

water propagation is actually much easier.

[@onlyplants]

For these, yes. Unless you can keep an eye out for soil moisture

[@ivandmunthe9835]

I didn't know that the fruit could be eaten, where I grew wild a lot, only monkeys ate the fruit.

[@sunshinecarnivores1919]

A large one where I live is $100. As much as I want one I don't have any room.

[@onlyplants]

The bambino variety stay quite compact 😀

[@yonokzeller5402]

🤭🙏

[@elzbietahalinasliwa2669]

Dzień dobry!!! Niech Pan da tłumaczenie na j. polski 🇵🇱

[@giselleph7439]

Where could I get the bar soap?

[@onlyplants]

Hello I have a video titled “insecticidal bar soap” with ingredients. Hopefully a local soap maker can make it based on the ingredients provided.

[@glennjaso4859]

How tall is yhe maximum height of bambino?

[@onlyplants]

Im not sure… my best guess is maybe 10-15 meters? Their regular form can get up to 30 meters in the wild

[@zulul9326]

Can we prune them?

[@onlyplants]

Prune as in taking out leaves to “shape” it better? Or as in taking the top off the plant to encourage more vines to appear from below for a bushy plant? Both of these should be ok 😀

[@rodrigodiniz884]

These look like some sort of pest, you left the sphagnum moss too wet for too short of a time.

[@ye1119]

Those dots are edema, not fungus rust!

[@user-gr2vc3ud6u]

Muy mal hecho ese acodo

[@damianadamski7275]

Maybe not be so greedy with your cuttings 😂

[@onlyplants]

🙈🙈

[@rosellalynn]

Just reinforcing all my plant buying habits, "Other advice, if you're freaked out about all the little imperfections... is GET MORE PLANTS. Buy hundreds of plants" 🪴💚

[@onlyplants]

Lol yes.