How to Care for a Fiddleleaf Fig Tree!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  I am pleased to announce I am the proud owner of a LIVE Fiddleleaf Fig Tree!  Yes, I’ve been tempted to buy artificial, but when Lowe’s has real ones for less than $20?  I snatched one up!  Come see how to care for a Fiddleleaf Fig tree!

The fact I am writing a blog post about how to keep any house plant alive is a bit ironic.  I don’t have a good track record with indoor plants.  I either love them to death by over watering, or forget to water or feed them altogether.  However, I have high hopes for this Fiddleleaf Fig!  #how to care for a Fiddleleaf fig tree

When I purchased this little tree, the cashier at Lowe’s told me that these Fiddleleaf Fig trees are quite a “thing” now.  She said people name them, talk to them, and bond with them, etc.   So, in the spirit of things, I’ve named my fiddle leaf fig, “Please Don’t Die.”  (PDD, or Petey for short, which is also my Mother’s nickname)  When I got Petey home, her leaves were spotted and dusty.  After consulting Google, I came up with a solution for cleaning and shining the leaves.  Here is how the leaves looked initially.  Not good.

First, I wiped off each leaf with a damp cloth and dried them.  They looked much better, but still dull.  Again after consulting my computer, it suggested shining the leaves with either coconut oil or mayonnaise.  Hmmmmm.  Mayonnaise?   Well, Reader’s Digest also recommended this, and I happened to have some Duke’s in the fridge.  Using a paper towel, I dabbed a tiny bit of mayo and rubbed each leaf being sure to support each one as I shined them up so they didn’t tear.  I wiped off the excess.  I must say, it worked like a charm!  Petey now has beautiful, shiny leaves!

I read that Fiddleleaf Figs like to get a little dry in between watering, which is perfect since I’ll probably forget to water her anyway.  They also do not like to stand in water, so proper drainage is key. I’ve had Petey for a over a week and she’s hanging in there like a champ!  It is also recommended to give the plant a good deal of natural sun light and fertilize every 2-4 months.  So, if Petey is still kicking in 2 months, she will get a little fertilizer boost!  Thus far, Petey and I are bonding well, and I gave her the honor of living in the antique planter in our entry way.  You can see she is getting plenty of sunshine!(She is LOVING it.)

Do you have a Fiddleleaf Fig?  How has yours faired?  Please share any tips with me so Petey can thrive and survive in her new home!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  xoxo Dell & Petey