Seeing small or stunted leaves or yellow to brown leaves on fiddle leaf fig indicates that it lacks nutrients. To avoid such a situation, your fiddle leaf fig needs the best fertilizer.
Figs’ large and dense leaves need fertilizer for proper growth. Also, failing to fertilize your fiddle leaf fig plant can result in slow growth and overall poor health for your plant.
Therefore, it is important to choose the best fiddle leaf fig fertilizer to ensure your plant grows strong and healthy!
Furthermore, fiddle leaf fig parents may encounter problems, such as when to fertilize the plant or how to use fiddle leaf fig fertilizer.
If you are one of them, you have come to the right place. In this article, Iām going to talk about fiddle leaf fig fertilizer with some essential tips for growing healthy fiddle leaves.
When to Use Fiddle Leaf Fig Fertilizer?
Feed Fiddle Leaf Fig Food to your plant every time you water, except during winter. If you use other fertilizers, follow the instructions on the label!
During the winter months, the plant will go dormant and rest. Hence, there will be no need to add nutrients while it is not actively growing.
The fiddle leaf fig stays dormant longer if you live in a place with severe winters. In mild climates, your plant might only go dormant for a month or two before starting up again.
After the days begin to grow longer and you see signs of new growth, fertilize your plant with diluted plant food every time you water. As soon as it starts growing again, it will appreciate the extra nutrition and reward you with tons of beautiful leaves!
How to Use Fiddle Leaf Fig Fertilizer?
Every fertilizer works a little differently, so make sure you read the directions on the bottle! Also, the truth is, that you can’t just throw fertilizer on your plants and expect great results!
Liquid fertilizer usually needs to be diluted into the water, and granules have recommended doses.
For each cup of water, add one teaspoon of Fiddle Leaf Fig Food. That’s it! You can do this either by watering from the top or bottom. Add 1 teaspoon to each cup of water if you are bottom watering.
To be absolutely certain that your fiddle is getting the right amount of fertilizer, double-check your measurements.
How Often to Use Fiddle Leaf Fig Fertilizer?
Several factors determine how often you should fertilize your fiddle leaf fig. These include how often you apply fertilizer, and the growing environment the plant is in.
Also, the use of organic slow-release fertilizer might be more convenient and cost-effective than applying liquid fertilizer regularly.
There is no rule of thumb when it comes to liquid fertilizers, but some fiddle leaf fig parents give their plant a very diluted dose of liquid fertilizer once a week or twice with their normal watering schedule.
As a general rule, fertilize plants only during their growing seasons, usually spring and summer. Additionally, fiddle leaves will also be affected by your location.
Spring
- In the spring, when your plants have rested for several months, you can start fertilizing them.
- Spring is the time when many plants grow their fastest, especially those that aren’t in tropical environments.
- Light, moisture, and warmer temperatures are perfect conditions for fiddle leaf figs.
Summer
- In the summer, plants grow steadily and take advantage of longer daylight hours and warm temperatures.
- To check whether your fiddle leaf tree got enough NPK macronutrients, perform a soil nutrient test at the beginning of the season and add another application as needed.
- Don’t overapply fertilizer if you are consistently watering your fiddle leaf with diluted fertilizer.
- The fiddle leaf may prefer more fertilizer than the average plant, but it will be easily damaged if it is overfed.
Fall and winter
- When the weather is below freezing during the winter, daylight hours are shorter, the air is drier, and plants go into dormancy, conserving energy and slowing growth.
- Fertilizing plants while they are dormant isn’t a good idea since they are in a state that conserves energy and won’t absorb extra nutrients.
- Using too much fertilizer, especially synthetic forms that are based on salt concentrations, can stress and damage fiddle leaves.
- If there are no cold seasons in a tropical location, fiddle leaf figs can grow steadily throughout the year. If this is the case, a steady dose of the diluted liquid, or an application of organic fertilizer twice a year, would be the most beneficial.
How to choose the best fertilizer for fiddle leaf fig?
In the world of plant fertilizer, one size does not fit all! The requirements for different nutrients vary from plant to plant, and fiddle leaf figs are no exception.
Choose a fertilizer that’s suitable for your fiddle leaf fig tree so it doesn’t develop an excess of certain nutrients and a deficiency of others.
Fiddle leaf fig fertilizer ratio
N-P-K ratios, which are the ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in a fertilizer, are essential factors to consider when choosing the best fiddle leaf fig fertilizer.
These are the main minerals plants need to grow and function, but different plants need different amounts.
In smaller amounts, fertilizers can also contain minerals like copper, calcium, sulfur, boron, and chlorine.
It’s best to fertilize fiddle leaf figs with a 3-1-2 N-P-K ratio, which is 3% nitrogen, 1% phosphorus, and 2% potassium. Be sure to look for these numbers on the packaging of any fertilizer you plan to buy!
It is also possible to use a well-balanced 1-1-2 fertilizer on your fiddle leaf fig, but 3-1-2 is recommended for long-term growth.
Type of fertilizer
There are two types of fertilizer: pellets or granules that dissolve slowly into the soil and liquids you add to water to feed your plants.
Of course, both have their pros and cons. Slow-release granules can help you remember when to fertilize your plants, but the rate at which the pellets dissolve is unpredictable. Thus, making it hard to control just how much nutrients they are getting.
It is easier to control liquid fertilizer, but you have to use it more often, usually on a more complex schedule than every six months. However, it is more convenient to use liquid fertilizer.
If you don’t know what you are doing, I recommend liquid fertilizer because slow-release pellets are too easy to mess up. It is also very important that you never mix liquid and pellet fertilizers together, otherwise, you will overfertilize your fiddle and cause chemical burns!
Soil pH
The pH of your soil can impact the effectiveness of your fertilization efforts and the overall health of your trees.
There is a certain pH level at which plants grow and function best. Having pH-balanced soil is crucial, as it affects how well plants absorb water and nutrients.
If the pH isn’t right, even if you use the perfect fertilizer regularly, your plant may end up over- or under-fertilized due to malabsorption.
The pH level of 6-7 is relatively neutral for fiddle leaf figs. Some potting mixes list the pH level on the package, but many don’t. I recommend testing the pH level of the potting medium before using it on a plant. There’s nothing better than a 3-in-1 soil meter that measures moisture, pH, and light.
Few questions on fiddle leaf fig fertilizer
Can I use Miracle-Gro on a fiddle leaf fig?
Yes, Miracle-Gro works on fiddle leaf figs. For good reason, it is one of the most popular fertilizers. While there are a lot of options in their product range, you will want to choose one clearly marked 3-1-2.
How much fertilizer should I give my fiddle leaf fig?
Use one teaspoon per week on a small to medium-sized plant (less than three feet tall). For plants over three feet tall, you can use two teaspoons per week. Make sure you dilute each teaspoon of plant food in at least two cups of water.
Do coffee grounds help fiddle leaf figs?
When using diluted coffee or coffee grounds on fiddle leaf figs, there are risks involved. Directly applying coffee grounds to soil can cause excessive moisture retention, fungal growth, and overly acidic soil, which will hinder plant growth.
What type of fertilizer do fig trees like?
It is fine to use a general-purpose fertilizer with an analysis of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10. With stronger fertilizers, you can easily overdo it.
The best time to fertilize fig trees is when they show symptoms of slow growth or pale leaves. However, there are a few exceptions when regular fertilizer is necessary
Conclusion
Fiddle leaf fig fertilizer is essential for a healthy fiddle leaf fig plant. It is possible to grow taller and thicker fiddle leaves by using a good fertilizer for fiddle leaf figs. And there is nothing more beautiful than a fiddle leaf fig with dense leaves.
Make sure to read the instructions for each fertilizer, as they work differently. You can fertilize fiddle leaf figs with pellets or granules fertilizer.
Every option has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you are a beginner, I suggest using liquid fertilizers, since they are convenient to use.
Also, make sure of three things when choosing a fertilizer for fiddle leaf fig trees: NPK ratio, fertilizer type, and soil pH.
Feel free to write in the comments about how often you fertilize your fiddle leaf fig to keep them healthy.
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