Did you know that the fiddle leaf fig plant is one of the most popular indoor plants that has been named after the violin or fiddle-shaped leaves which is a type of tree? Also, did you know keeping a fiddle leaf fig plant at home can give some amazing physical and mental health benefits?
Fiddle leaf fig trees grow in western African rainforests, where they enjoy a warm and humid environment. For fiddle leaf figs to grow successfully, temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal. So, inside your house, they prefer the same conditions.
Also, they can grow quickly when their needs are met, but they can also be finicky. If fiddle leaf fig temperature changes, the plant often drops its leaves. Hence, it is important to keep them at a consistent temperature.
Your fiddle leaf fig will need a specific temperature at different times of the year, so today in this article, I will discuss the temperature requirements and care tips for fiddle leaf fig plants to keep at home!
What is the ideal temperature for fiddle leaf fig?
Fiddle leaf figs grow best at 60 -75 °F. Additionally, your fiddle leaf fig can easily handle temperatures up to 100 °F. However, do not leave your fiddle leaf fig in temperatures below 50 °F for long periods. Because if the temperature is too high or too low, it can harm the health of your plant.
Furthermore, your fig plant will drop its leaves when the temperature in its location drops or rises significantly.
Additionally, fiddle leaf figs are sensitive to drafts. So, keep your fiddle leaf fig away from heating or AC vents. Even in the summer, keep nearby windows closed to avoid drafts that can cause leaf drops.
Fiddle leaf fig temperature tolerance!
Indoors, fiddle leaf figs can prefer temperatures between 60 F and 75 F. Moreover, in their native environment, they are used to very hot temperatures, so they can tolerate higher temperatures outdoors. Nonetheless, high temperatures won’t last very long indoors, so it’s better to stick to milder but more consistent temperatures.
As long as these temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year, they should remain comfortable.
In the winter, as they require high levels of light, hanging them close to windows is a difficult task. For this reason, it’s vital to choose the right spot for your plant in your home for lighting, temperature, and humidity before bringing it home. You won’t have to move it every season if you choose the right spot.
Overall, fiddle leaf figs must be kept at a moderate and constant temperature. When you keep the temperature and humidity moderate, your Fiddle Leaf will remain happy as new.
How to Care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig temperature in spring and summer?
During the warm months, some people move their fiddle leaf figs outside. However, this move is temporary and won’t require much change on your part. And the second option is to move the tree permanently outside.
Depending on the climate in your area, you need to determine what option is best for you. Furthermore, if your plant performs well in both conditions, you can decide which is best for it.
1. Temporary Moving fiddle leaf fig
Growing plants indoors may require you to chase the sun throughout the day. During the warmer months, some people move the plants outdoors to avoid this shifting altogether. This option also works with a fiddle leaf fig. However, it’s important to position it correctly.
To protect the plant from wind, rain, and hot air, it should have some shade. As a result of temperature fluctuations, leaves often drop, reducing the plant’s beauty.
Additionally, it takes some time to adjust to the bright light outside. Consider it from this perspective– throughout the summer, your plant has received indirect sunlight. Now it comes into contact with the rays. In response to this sudden change, leaves may burn and droop.
This is another reason why you should shade your plants for the first few days and weeks. You can gradually increase its exposure to the sun. However, keep an eye out for any warning signs.
After moving the plant back inside, make sure to rotate it regularly in a sunny spot. It is ideal to rotate every two weeks at a half-turn. By moving the plant, all sections will receive enough sunlight to grow evenly.
2. Permanently Moving Fiddle leaf fig
When keeping the tree outside all year, take into account the climate in your area.
The best hardiness zone for this plant is 9-11. If you can compensate for temperature and other factors by making some slight changes, you can grow the plant outdoors even if you are outside the hardiness zone.
If you are moving it permanently, move it outside for two weeks in its pot. In this period, you should shield it from direct sunlight while slowly exposing it to more light.
As long as the plant’s health has not deteriorated, you can transplant it to the ground after two weeks. Make sure the location has well-draining, rich soil and is partially shady.
How to Care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig temperature in Winter?
Maintain a consistent indoor temperature and humidity as the temperatures drop. If you are running heaters, you will need to check humidity levels more often since they dry out the air and cause the soil in the pots to dry out faster.
Whenever you have plants near the windows, move them a few steps away because cold air accumulates around the glass. This season, give your trees a little more direct sunlight as it isn’t as intense and leaves aren’t likely to burn.
During this time, avoid moving the plant, altering the care routine, or changing the environment. Furthermore, plants will take longer to rebound in the colder months when growth is slow to nonexistent.
Signs your figs have been exposed to the wrong temperature!
1. Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves fall off
If Fiddle Leaf Figs get stressed, their leaves fall off. Shedding your Fig’s leaves can tell you if your growing conditions are too hot, cold, drafty, or unstable.
When you keep your Fig at a temperature it can handle, it will return to its former glory. To help it rebuild, use diluted fig tree fertilizer in the warmer months.
However, if your Fig loses its leaves during winter, you will need to wait until spring to see them again. Since it will likely go dormant until the weather warms up, fertilizing is pointless. A lack of nutrients in the soil can also cause a fungal bloom in the growing medium, harming the fig.
2. Blackened Fiddle Leaf Fig leaves
The Fiddle Leaf Fig’s blackened leaves mean it has been exposed to too much heat.
In the summertime, if your Fig develops black patches close to the window, it is probably overheating. Likewise, when moved away from an air conditioning vent, the side closest to it may also darken.
There may be a temptation to remove those leaves. However, you should leave those leaves on your Fig because they can still produce food.
3. Fiddle leaf fig leaf edges are crispy
Your fiddle leaf fig has been dehydrated if the edges are crispy and dry. In either a hot or dry climate, plants are most likely to be affected by this.
As the Fiddle leaf fig dries out, its edges become yellow and brittle. The plant loses even more water through transpiration when the temperature is high. As a result, the leaves lose moisture from the top down.
4. Pale spots on your Fig’s leaf (sunscald)
Sunscald is characterized by dry, pale spots on your Fig’s leaves. When exposed to sunlight, the color fades, and patches spread on leaves. Also, it can be caused by overly powerful lights.
If your Fig suffers from sunscald, you should move it to a more shady location.
Sadly, the damage to the leaf cannot be reversed. Eventually, the pale area will become crisper and drier. So, it’s best to trim the leaves back to about a third of their original size if you want to feed your Fig. In some cases, severe burns can be removed.
Few questions on fiddle leaf fig temperature
Q 1: What is the minimum temperature that a fiddle leaf fig can tolerate?
A: Your Fig will not thrive if the temperature drops below 65°F. With slow growth, the leaves of the plant will become dark.
It is possible for leaves to completely fall off when the temperature suddenly drops. There is a lot of leaf loss when the weather is bad for figs.
Additionally, cold drafts can harm your Fig. No amount of warmth will be able to protect your Fig against air conditioning vents or cold windows.
Q 2: Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Survive Outside in Winter?
A: Fiddle leaf figs may not survive outside in winter if it gets colder than 55F at night. Rather, bring it indoors until the weather warms up again. As tropical plants, they prefer warm, humid environments.
When temperatures drop suddenly in your area, you must bring your outdoor fiddle leaf fig indoors. If you gradually lower the temperature to around 55F, the fiddle leaf fig probably won’t die.
You may encounter trouble if the temperature plunges overnight and your plant hasn’t had time to adapt. So, let it stay indoors until spring.
Q 3: Can Fig Trees Take Frost?
A: The fiddle leaf fig does not tolerate frost well. Despite preferring warmer, more humid environments, they can tolerate cooler outdoor temperatures to some extent. Nevertheless, if you live in an area that gets frost, you should bring your fiddle leaf fig inside.
Fiddle leaf figs are known for their glossy, deep green leaves. Getting frost can weaken your plant’s foliage, reducing its health and making it lose its striking look.
Additionally, frost is a good indication that temperatures have dropped below 55 degrees, which is the lowest temperature the fiddle leaf fig tolerates. When the frost hits, your fiddle leaf fig is likely to need to be brought inside because it is below its ideal temperature.
Q 4: Can fiddle leaf figs tolerate high temperatures?
A: In general, your fiddle leaf fig tolerates temperatures up to 80 F but does not like high temperatures above 75 F. The sudden temperature rise may cause leaf drop in your fiddle leaf fig, even at lower temperatures.
The fiddle leaf fig tree may drop leaves if the temperature suddenly rises to 75 F in your household. Hence, it is important to maintain a consistent temperature within the range of 65 to 75 F for your fiddle leaf fig.
During the summer, the light from the windows can cause the room’s temperature to rise suddenly. Fig trees can also get sunburned, so watch the strength of the sun at different times of the day.
Conclusion
You should keep in mind that fiddle leaf figs don’t cope well with temperature changes. Heat waves and soaring temperatures are common during the summertime in the U.S. Also, fiddle leaf fig plants to survive these conditions. However, they cannot survive the frost that comes in the winter.
A fiddle leaf fig plant can usually survive at temperatures between 50- 95 F. If you go higher or lower than that, your plant might get damaged. Hence, if you want to put your fiddle leaf fig outside for some fresh air and sunshine, you will need to keep the temperature moderate and consistent.
If you have any questions about fiddle leaf fig temperature, please feel free to leave a comment below. Also, don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family!
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