Fiddle Leaf Fig
Light - bright indirect light.
Fiddles can handle direct morning sun until about 10am. Hot sun can burn the leaves. Ideally, they need to see the sky via a window or door, south facing and window tinting is fine.
Watering - water when the top 1/4 - 1/2 of the soil in the pot is dry. Fungus gnats (the annoying black flies) live in that top few inches too, so letting your plants dry out will help stop these!
Water with filtered water or leave your watering jug out overnight so majority of the chlorine evaporates.
To test if it’s ready for watering, check out my hack here -
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpL9PVvOJJu/?igsh=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ==
Potting - we pot our fiddles with 1/4 peat moss, 1/4 perlite and half premium potting mix. If your potting mix doesn’t have slow release fertiliser, add this in too at about a quarter of the recommended strength. Water with weak seasol solution after potting (should look like weak tea). This will reduce shock.
Pests - we find spider mites to be the biggest issue with fiddle leaf figs. Here’s how to manage and spot spider mites -
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXz07a6sOzY/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
We also recommend watering the soil with neem oil every 1 - 2 months. We do this to ALL our plants. It’s bee and pet safe.
Extra hacks -
Gently shake the trunk when you water to mimic the wind and create a stronger trunk.
Clean leaves with half full fat milk and half water. This makes the leaves glossy without blocking the pores of the plant.
If you fiddle is struggling or dropping leaves and your light and water are good. Then we suggest alternate between neem oil and weak seasol / seaweed solution until it recovers. Don’t fertilise a sick plant! Seasol is just a tonic… think of it like the chicken noodle soup of the indoor plants 😂
Hope this helps 🪴