How to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig? Just fertilize once every 10 days during the growing season

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

As a beautiful foliage plant, the fiddle-leaf fig has very large leaves and stays evergreen all year round. To maintain the beauty of its leaves, adequate nutrients are crucial, so in the process of growing a fiddle-leaf fig, fertilizing is a very key step. So how do you fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig? How often should you fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig?

1. How to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig: the method matters

“A crop's bloom depends entirely on fertilizer,” and although the fiddle-leaf fig is not admired for its flowers, its leaves are large and green, and only with sufficient fertilizer can it stay evergreen all year round. However, fertilizing, like watering, is a technical skill, and both the frequency and amount must be well controlled. So there is a technique to how you fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig; let's look at the specifics below.

2. How often should you fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig

1. Seedling stage

When it comes to how often to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig, it actually depends on its growth state. First, during the first month of the seedling stage, the plant does not need much fertilizer; for better growth, you can fertilize lightly along with watering. As for the choice of fertilizer, gardeners can use Hua Duo Duo (Peters Professional); note that the fertilizer concentration must be very dilute.

2. After the seedling stage

In the first three months after the fiddle-leaf fig's seedling stage, the plant has already taken shape and needs gradually increased fertilization. As for how often to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig, at this point you can keep fertilizing once every half month, and the fertilizer concentration can be slightly stronger than in the first month. At this time, besides Hua Duo Duo, you can also use potassium nitrate and calcium nitrate, and it is best to use them together.

3. Growing season

In the fiddle-leaf fig's growing season, the plant grows relatively fast and needs a fairly large amount of fertilizer. As for how often to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig at this time, you can keep fertilizing once every one to two weeks. The choice of fertilizer is the same as above; after such fertilization, the fiddle-leaf fig's leaves will be denser and more emerald green, and their glossiness will be brighter.

4. Mature stage

After the fiddle-leaf fig's leaves have fully unfolded, generally by August in summer, the fertilizing interval should be kept at about 10 days, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main type. After late autumn, fertilization should be suspended; do not fertilize throughout the winter either, and pause fertilization during the dormant period as well.

3. Precautions for fertilizing a fiddle-leaf fig

For beginners, when fertilizing a fiddle-leaf fig, over-fertilizing often happens, so what should you do then? At this point, you should water the fiddle-leaf fig thoroughly so the water flow carries the fertilizer out; at the same time, move the plant to a ventilated, shady place and let it slowly recover, and only start fertilizing again once the temperature is above 20 °C.

That's all the editor has to introduce about how to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig. After reading this, you should be more confident about growing a fiddle-leaf fig! Overall, growing a fiddle-leaf fig is not hard; the difficulty lies in some of the details. Whether watering or fertilizing, you must use the right amount, neither too much nor too little. Only in this way can you grow a beautiful fiddle-leaf fig!

How to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig?

How to fertilize a fiddle-leaf fig

1. The fiddle-leaf fig grows faster than other similar plants. During the first month of the seedling stage, its demand for fertilizer is not great, so you can fertilize lightly, combined with watering, fertilizing once or twice; the fertilizer can be Hua Duo Duo, and note that the fertilizer concentration must be very dilute.

2. From the second month to the fifth month, it already has a tree shape and is getting bigger and bigger. At this time, gradually increase the amount of fertilizer, fertilizing once every half month; the fertilizer concentration can be slightly stronger than in the first month. You can use three fertilizers together: potassium nitrate + Hua Duo Duo + calcium nitrate; the calcium and potassium in the fertilizer are very helpful for the lignification of the stem.

3. In its growing season, it needs the largest amount of fertilizer, fertilizing almost once every one to two weeks; this can make the plant's leaves denser and its leaf color more emerald green, with brighter glossiness. The fertilizer can likewise be three fertilizers used together: potassium nitrate + Hua Duo Duo + calcium nitrate.

4. After the new leaves have fully unfolded, around mid-August, fertilize once every 10 days, and you can choose a nitrogen-based fertilizer.

Precautions

Under normal growth conditions, fertilization should be suspended when the plant reaches late autumn; do not fertilize throughout the winter either, and pause fertilization during the dormant period as well.

How to grow a potted fiddle-leaf fig: propagation methods for the fiddle-leaf fig

The fiddle-leaf fig, also known as the fiddle-leaf rubber tree, is an evergreen tree plant of the Moraceae family and Ficus genus, named for its leaf tips that swell into a violin shape. It has a tall stature, is upright and elegant, with peculiar leaves of relatively high ornamental value. It is often used as an ideal indoor foliage plant for large halls, and can also be used to decorate conference venues or offices. Let's take a look below at how to grow a potted fiddle-leaf fig!

Growth habits of the fiddle-leaf fig

The fiddle-leaf fig originated in lowland tropical rainforests from Sierra Leone to Morocco in West Africa, and is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, and also cultivated indoors and in greenhouses in temperate zones. In China, it is mainly produced in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Zhejiang and other places. It likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight; the optimum growth temperature is 25 °C to 35 °C, it goes dormant at around 15 °C, and can safely overwinter above 5 °C. Its water requirement is to keep it moist rather than dry.

Propagation methods for the fiddle-leaf fig

1. Cuttings: When taking fiddle-leaf fig cuttings, choose 1- to 2-year-old branches, cut them off 20 to 30 cm above the pot soil surface, and cut the stems into 3 to 4 node segments as cuttings. Leave one leaf on each cutting segment and cut the leaf down by 2/3 to 3/4 to reduce water evaporation. First soak the cut wound of the cutting in water or dip the wound in plant ash, etc., to prevent the sap from flowing out. Insert the cuttings into a cutting bed made of river sand or perlite, and be careful to maintain the bed temperature and relatively high air humidity around it. At a temperature of 25 to 30 °C, roots can form in about one month.

2. Air layering: Fiddle-leaf fig air layering can be done from April to August. Choose a semi-lignified top branch of the mother plant, leave 3 to 4 leaves on the upper part, make a ring cut or tongue cut below it, then wrap it with moss, etc., and tie it with plastic film. Roots will form in about 40 days, and once it grows to about 30 cm, it can be removed and planted in the ground or potted.

How to grow a potted fiddle-leaf fig?

1. Pot and soil: When potting a fiddle-leaf fig, choose a pot with a somewhat larger volume, repot in spring every 2 to 3 years, cover the bottom of the pot with a tile piece with the convex side facing up, first put in a layer of old potting soil, then add a new substrate mixed from garden soil, peat soil and a small amount of sandy soil; the soil should be slightly acidic.

2. Fertilizing: The fiddle-leaf fig has broad leaves and needs a relatively large amount of fertilizer, so during the growing season it generally needs liquid fertilizer or granular compound fertilizer applied once every 1 to 2 weeks to promote plant growth and dark green leaves; generally do not fertilize in late autumn and winter. From when the new leaves unfold to mid-August, fertilize once every 10 days, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer. When growth is vigorous, you can fertilize more; when growth stops or during dormancy, do not fertilize.

3. Watering: The amount of water for a fiddle-leaf fig should depend on the surrounding ambient temperature. In spring and summer the water demand is relatively large; during the dormant period reduce the amount of water and keep the pot soil moist. In summer you can appropriately give it a light rain shower to aid growth, and regularly spray warm water, which will make it grow even better; watering with slightly acidic water is also preferable. Excessive short-term temperature fluctuations or exposure to direct sunlight are both unfavorable for growth. If it is kept at low temperatures for a long time while also being overwatered, the plant may die.

4. Light: The fiddle-leaf fig has strong adaptability to light and can grow well under bright indirect light. In summer, avoid direct sunlight; if placed outdoors, it must be shaded, and in winter light should be increased. It is suitable for growing in a semi-shady environment; in summer avoid direct sunlight so as not to scorch the leaves and cause them to lose their gloss. However, if the light is too weak, the plant will grow thin and weak, so it must be given relatively bright light to promote robust growth. During the growing season, it generally grows better under 50% shading.

5. Temperature: Compared with other Ficus plants, the fiddle-leaf fig has relatively weak cold tolerance; the optimum growth temperature is 25 °C to 35 °C, it goes dormant at around 15 °C, and can safely overwinter above 5 °C. To improve its cold tolerance, besides controlling the amount of watering in late autumn and winter, you can apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer about one month before winter arrives.

6. Disease prevention: After a potted fiddle-leaf fig plant becomes diseased, it should be quickly moved to a ventilated, sunny place with sufficient light; do not spray water on the leaf surface, and cut off severely diseased leaves. For lightly diseased leaves, cut off the diseased spots together with part of the healthy tissue, then spray Bordeaux mixture for protection, or spray 80% zineb wettable powder at 500 times dilution, 25% metalaxyl wettable powder at 500~800 times dilution, etc.; be careful to rotate the chemicals used.