May 24

May 24 My Fickle Leaf Fig

How my fiddle leaf fig came back to life.

I am not a pro in horticulture. Nor am I a master gardener. I am just a guy trying to keep his fiddle leaf fig tree happy.

The backstory

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve searched, “how to save fiddle leaf fig.” For those who have followed my journey with Rex - the name our nephews gave our tree - you know how much of a ride it’s been. You’ve seen the highs of new growth and the lows of root rot. You’ve witnessed the repotting (twice), fungal disease and the inevitable decapitation. With each leaf that shriveled and fell, some of you screamed “give up” in DMs - cough, cough…Eric.

I am here to report that Rex is making a comeback. Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, each new leaf is like a wing catching air. A fiddle leaf fig in flight.

If you’ve somehow found your way to this post for a sign of hope, let this help you keep faith. I’ve been there. It’s embarrassing how much stress Rex has caused me in the last year and I empathize with anyone questioning whether or not their FLF is worth it. For me, it has been. Rex was a housewarming present from my in-laws and as we approach our one-year anniversary of being in our home, I am so proud that I didn’t give up and let the gift go to waste. Also, could you imagine the familial flack I’d get?

Below, you’ll see the ride we’ve been on. This story is like many in the FLF fan club. I’ve got a few tips below that I wish I found when I was caring for what many referred to as my twig. So, to all those caring for their fiddle leaf twig, hang in there.

Tips and affirmations

Check your roots
Rex suffered from root rot. How could I tell? The leaves were turning brown on the edges and they were dropping quickly. If you think you have root rot go right to the source and look at the root ball. Is it wet? Are your roots brown? Are they mushy? If yes, follow these instructions for how to deal with root rot. Don’t fret. If you act swiftly, it’ll be okay.

Pinch your branches
As you saw from above, Rex reached a point where all the leaves fell off and I needed to trim it down to the branches. If you’re at this point, you want to look for where the branches or trunk are still solid and make your cut there. Yes, it will feel wrong. And yes, you’ll officially reach twig status. But, I have seen time and time again that cutting back to just the healthy trunk will bring it back. It will take time, but you’ll see green again.

Look for sap
If you’re caring for a fiddle leaf twig, you may be searching for a sign of life. Without having to make a cut, pinch your branches. If they’re hard, you’re good. Be patient. If you need to see a sign of life - I get that, I did - make a cut and see if the branch oozes its sap. If it does, that’s a healthy branch! You’ll quickly see the end of the branch turn brown where you made the cut, that’s natural. Take a pair of kitchen shears and make a notch around the circumference of the branch about half an inch from where you cut. I’m not sure if this really does anything, but it’ll make you feel like you’re doing something. I likened it to a tourniquet to stop the “bleeding.”

Keep it warm
Reminder to all of you trying to care for your fiddle leaf fig in climates with legit winters. These plants are native to African tropical rainforests. Tropical. Rainforests. Aka, not Minnesota. Keep this in mind and try to keep your FLF warm. The internet says that fiddle leaf figs should not be in temps lower than 50 degrees at night and no hotter than 95 degrees during the day. When you’re caring for it during the winter, try to give it as much indirect light as possible and keep it as consistently warm as possible. Beware of low or no air circulation during the winter - that’s what caused the fungal disease which showed up as powdery mildew on the leaves. If you’re close to giving up on your FLF, wait for warmer weather before you lose all hope.