What Is Ficus Lyrata?
Ficus Lyrata is a deciduous fig tree that grows up to 25 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It has green, glossy leaves that display fuzzy white hairs on the underside of each leaf. Its fruits are orange, about 1 inch long, with soft edible flesh containing pea-size black seeds covered in papery tissue.
It is commonly grown in Central America as an ornamental plant or shade tree because it can withstand higher temperatures than many other ficus species.
This plant’s native habitat reaches altitudes above 500 meters (1,640 ft.). It lives along rivers where water levels rise and fall throughout the year and braved through hot summers and cold winters. Hence this plant is well suited for bonsai cultivation.
Lyrata ficus is one of the best indoor bonsai trees. It tolerates low light levels and prefers a little bit of moisture, so it can be grown in an ordinary living room without any special care or lighting.
Ficus Lyrata Care:
Ficus Lyrata is a species of plant that is commonly known as the Fiddle fig, Weeping Fig or Lyrate Fig.
This tree comes in many different shapes and sizes but is most popular for its weeping branches and large leaves.
The plant has been around for thousands of years with examples being found in China, India, and Greece. The uses for this plant were as a food source but it is most popular today because of its beautiful appearance.
How to Grow a Fiddle Fig?
It is very easy to grow a fiddle fig but they do have some specific needs that should be met in order for you to see optimal growth. You can keep the plant indoors or outdoors and it will still thrive as long as you properly take care of it.
First, you need to find a pot that is at least three times larger than the root ball. Place the plant inside and fill in any dead space from the soil with drainage material. This will help prevent watering which leads to root rot. You can use small rocks or pieces of broken pottery to accomplish this goal.
Then go ahead and add new soil to cover up your drainage material by about two inches. When putting in the new soil you want it to be slightly moist but not wet like a wrung-out sponge because they do not tolerate overly wet roots very well. Make sure to create an airy atmosphere for your plant as well so you can keep it humid but also allow proper ventilation.
Ficus Lyrata Lighting:
The minimum amount of light needed for this plant comes from a bright window with indirect sunlight coming through.
Too much lighting will make the leaves drop prematurely, which is why the right amount of indirect light is needed.
If your plant doesn’t receive enough light, consider switching to fluorescent lights rather than incandescent bulbs since they put out more energy at night than during the day, which is what plants need most.
Water:
It’s recommended that you water your fiddle fig once a week, just make sure to check the soil for moisture before doing so.
If you notice that your plant is drooping or losing its leaves at the top then it’s probably not getting enough water.
You should only be watering it when the soil is dry like a wrung-out sponge (and even then, use less water than what you use in other plants).
If you are keeping this plant outside during summer or very warm locations inside and humidity levels are high then do not worry about watering as much. Remember, indirect sunlight=moisture and can reduce the need for watering.
Ficus Lyrata Fertilizing:
Two times per month using half-strength fertilizer will suffice if you want your plant to grow fast.
If you are not trying to get your fiddle fig as big as possible, then watering with a weak fertilizer solution once per month will be enough.
Fertilizing too much can lead to more foliage and fewer flowers or fruits from the plant so keep that in mind whenever fertilizing it.
Temperature:
When growing this plant indoors make sure you give the roots the proper temperature range which is around 15-22 degrees Celsius (60-70 degrees Fahrenheit), for both day and night air temperatures are best.
Outside during the summer, noontime heat should remain between 25 – 32 degrees Celsius (80 – 90 Fahrenheit) while nighttime temperatures can drop slightly down to 22 – 30 degrees Celsius (71 – 86 Fahrenheit).
You don’t want to put the plant in direct sunlight or let it get below freezing temperatures, so if you live in either of these conditions then remember to bring the plant indoors.
Troubleshooting:
If your fiddle fig starts showing signs of drooping (i.e. leaves turning brown at the tips or dropping) and has yellowing leaves on their underside then this could be a result of overwatering.
The plant is not getting enough light Depends on what type of Fiddle Fig you have whether outdoor or indoor. If outdoors then too much cold for long periods can cause damage to the plant especially when nighttime temperatures drop down into low temperatures early in spring.
Too much heat and sun are also a problem for this plant, so if that is the case then put your plant in partial shade to keep it cool. If indoors, make sure it’s not too close to any heat source such as radiators or vents.
The same goes for windy areas; you might need to place them closer to walls and furniture for added protection from the elements or find a new location if there is no other way.
Too much watering can cause root rot which can kill off your fiddle fig so be careful with how often and how much you water it, especially during summer months where humidity levels are high outside.
Soil Requirements:
This plant prefers soil with some organic material to it, so soil that has been amended recently or is still packed from the plant store will work fine. It also likes soils that are relatively moist but not too soggy since it can cause root rot.
If you have an all-purpose potting mix already on hand then use at least 50% of what you usually do when germinating seeds and adding new plants into the container.
Container Requirements:
The fiddle fig is a tropical plant so if you want to keep it inside then make sure the container you choose has plenty of holes in its bottom for drainage.
Plastic containers generally don’t last that long especially if kept outside for extended periods of time as the sun will damage them faster.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements:
This plant will do best inside with temperatures in the 60-70 degree Fahrenheit range and relative humidity of around 50%.
If you have to keep this outside then it will tolerate hotter weather than that but at night time the temperature should drop down to around 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants are grown outdoors also prefer humid conditions so misting them at least once per day if possible is recommended.
Planting Outdoors:
You’ll start by planting your fiddle fig in a pot at least 10 inches in diameter and about 6 inches deep, placing it somewhere where there are no other plants nearby since they will compete for sun and water.
Once planted you can place the pot next to something like shrubs or trees for added protection from the wind–not under them.
The plant will grow tall with time but it usually branches out in 3 directions so give it plenty of room for future growth if you want to avoid pruning the plant at a later date.
Potting and repotting Requirements:
Even though the fiddle fig is a fairly hardy plant when it comes to surviving outdoors during your first year of growing them then you’ll still want to give them enough care and attention until they become more established.
If your plant has grown large enough then re-potting may not be necessary but it’s generally recommended that this plant gets repotted once per year if you want to keep it healthy. You can re-pot any time of the year but it’s best done in spring or summer (March – August).
Be sure to take cuttings from the plant’s new growth to replace and repot into smaller containers or use some of its root systems in another larger pot for added support. Don’t forget that the pot should have at least one hole in the bottom to allow excess water to escape out of the soil.
Make sure that this plant gets plenty of sunlight for good growth and health so avoid placing them in areas that get too much shade. You can also use a grow lamp or other artificial lights if you want but it’s not necessary for survival.
If your fiddle fig is still in its initial pot then look around the sides slightly when repotting because sometimes there can be small roots growing into the drainage holes which makes it hard for water to drain out.
Be gentle when watering these plants since they tend to like their root systems very moist but not soggy. Let any extra water drain out before putting the pot back inside your home.
Fiddle Fig Pests and Diseases:
The number one threat to fiddle fig plants is mealy bug infestations because these insects like to suck the juices out of new leaf growth, eventually killing off whole branches if left unchecked for extended periods of time.
Most insecticides designed for indoor plants work just fine on these guys so be sure to use them every other week or as needed (follow manufacturer’s instructions), being careful not to put any chemicals inside the potting soil since that can kill the plant too.
If you want to avoid this type of problem then take preventative measures by placing yellow sticky traps around all your potted plants regularly since this is where most pests will reside in between
Ficus Lyrata Propagation info:
As far as propagating your own fiddle fig plant from a cutting then that can be done at any time of the year but it’s best in spring or summer (March – August).
Step 1:
Make sure you take off any leaves and cut away some of the bark so that there is a clear area for new roots to sprout out. Then dip it into rooting hormone, dusting both sides lightly. After this place, the cutting into the water until it starts to grow new roots after about 10 days.
| Step 2: | Once you see new growth sprouting up then go ahead and pot it up with peat moss soil and place somewhere warm until it’s big enough to re-pot or move outside on its own.
| Step 3: | If you want to re-pot it into a larger container then wait until the plant is about an inch tall with some roots growing out of the bottom of its pot, then remove it and slice off any dead growth.
If you see any brown spots on the leaves or yellowing then cut them away as well to give more light and air flow throughout the plant.
| Step 4: | Once ready, place your fiddle fig into a bigger pot with soil that has good drainage since this type of soil retains less water than regular topsoil does.
Since this is one of those plants that adores warmth then you’ll want to place it into full sunlight so choose a location near a window with good southern exposure.
Avoid exposing the plant to direct sunlight during hot summer days instead of providing it with some shade or leave its leaves alone when they feel too warm to touch.
