| |

How I Saved My Fiddle Leaf Ficus Tree By Doing 6 Simple Things

Happy almost Mother’s Day friends! It has been a running tradition that every year on this special day I ask for a plant(s) from my boys, whether it’s a house plant, herbs for my garden or beautiful perennials for the outside of the house. I love seeing these grow each year, to know they have a story attached to them and to know they will grow for years to come. My mom cherished her plants and even though she has been gone for 20 years my dad still cares for indoor plants, in a small way we still have a piece of her. I think that is why I ask for plants myself.

Last year for Mother’s Day I asked for a Fiddle Leaf Ficus Tree. AHH!!! I had been looking for years and John finally found one at a local nursery. To say I was overjoyed was an understatement. This plant was beyond beautiful, the leaves were bright & shiny, it was large, it was perfection!

How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple Things  How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple Things

How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple ThingsYou can see why I loved it! Well…over Christmas in order to make room for my Christmas tree I moved it to the other side of the room. I guess that is a BIG no, no. Apparently after talking to many people you should never move a Ficus. I had no idea! This plant still had plenty of sun but it was a different kind of sun exposure it was used to. I honestly didn’t think it would survive, I was so heartbroken. The leaves were brown & drooping and most of the leaves fell off the bottom. It was hanging on by a thread.

I began doing some research and tried different things. Guess what?! It worked! The leaves on the bottom have gone but it is still just as beautiful.

How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple Things

These are the 6 simple things I did that brought my Fiddle Leaf Ficus Tree back to life….

1. Moved it to a south-east facing window, not in direct sunlight.

2. Let it completely dry out, then went back to a good watering schedule once a week.

3. Gave it Miracle Grow indoor plant food, a little each week.

4. I sprayed the leaves with water every few days until it got back on track. Now I do it about once a week.

5. I gave the top a nice refill of dirt. Some suggested I repot but didn’t want to shock it too much, maybe this summer I will though.

6. I added coffee grinds and orange peels to the top of the soil. If the edges and tips become yellow in color then it could have a potassium deficiency, citrus rinds will help this deficiency. The leaves also had some yellowish hues in the center, so to be sure I added some coffee grinds to the base as well, in case it was a nitrogen deficiency. THIS chart really helped.

How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple Things

How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple ThingsI also rotated the plant, which I did before and is super important. If anyone has any other insight I would love to hear. I feel like I am constantly learning as a plant mommy.

How I Saved My Fig Tree by Doing 6 Simple Things

Have a Happy Mother’s Day!

Similar Posts

18 Comments

  1. I just sent my sick fiddle leaf fig outdoors for some plant rehab. I find that a summer outdoors – not in direct sunlight – is a miracle for sick plants. It worked with another sick fig last summer, so I hope my giant one enjoys the same miracle cure this summer. Now fingers crossed for fall when it returns indoors!

    1. I put my ficus on my second-story screened porch one year and it got nematodes. Needless to say it didn’t last long after that! Pray you don’t get nematodes! Before that it had successfully moved to a different state then 3 different houses and was it’s fifth year in the last house. It was big and beautiful for a long time!

  2. We have one in our yard that’s doing really well. The landscape architect told us the bottom leaves are supposed to fall off. So that is normal 🙂

  3. What a shame I did not know or hear about how to save my plants that are GONE now – I never did the research as you did – so keep on giving advice on assorted subjects – helpful to know – thanks!

  4. Good tips. I found a fiddle leaf that someone had thrown out- most of the leaves were missing. I kept it in a shady corner of the yard, right up against the lilac bushes because I figured it might get a little moral support. It really rebounded, filled out very well and was happy to winter in a rather chilly back stairwell. I mention this because the following winter, i thought I’d bring it down to the laundry room where other plants were doing well (aloe and sanseveria) but this was a mistake. It hated the laundry room. Dropped leaves steadily, many of those that remained had odd gray patches. It didn’t seem to be too pleased with life after that. We have a gas dryer, and I’ve often heard that some plants don’t do well around those kind of appliances. Anyway, I recently found a blog that talked about pruning and that you can root up the leaves by putting them in water and propagate them. Am thinking of doing this in order to get rid of deadwood and give it a better shape. Sorry for the novel!. Thumbs up on driftwood garland.

  5. Love these tips! And coming from someone who still hasn’t made one of these pretties a permanent part of her home 😉 now I feel like I can get one since I have a quick and simple reference guide. Thank you! Hope you had a nice Mother’s Day!

  6. I’ve never had one of these but it looks so beautiful! And I love the contrast of the big, green leaves up against your pretty walls! I love plants, and am currently trying to make an avocado tree (started from a seed) thrive. It’s not the prettiest plant, but I’m trying!

    1. Good luck Sarah, that is awesome!! It takes time, I am still learning!! Happy Saturday! Jen

  7. I have one and it started getting brown on the edge of some of the leaves. It has now spread to most of leaves. I have sprayed with a organic fungus spray but I’m so afraid I’m going lose it. Any suggestions. I have it on the south wall of our house next to a window. To always worry it doesn’t get enough light. PLEASE HELP ME SAVE it.

  8. Oh my word! This couldn’t have been more timely. I’ve had my tree for almost a year. It went through some trama during a cross country move, but still has new growth on it. I’ll definitely use you tips! Thank you!

Comments are closed.