Ficus Lyrata, or fiddle-leaf figs, are native to Africa’s rainforests. However, they add a tropical feel to any place they inhabit with their massive, dark green leaves. Learn more about these exotic plants in this article.
Keeping A Fiddle Leaf Fig Outdoors
A Fiddle Leaf Fig can grow up to 50 feet tall when grown in the ground. They outgrow many people’s homes, and the tree must either be cut back or relocated outside where it has more space.
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Fiddle leaf fig trees grow in tropical rainforests. They’ve evolved to thrive in hot, humid conditions. As a result, if you reside in a warm area, you can only grow a fiddle leaf fig outside.
Fiddle leaf figs can be grown all year in the ground in regions like southern California and the Florida coast. In more temperate climates, a fiddle leaf is best grown in a container and only kept outside during the summer months.
Fiddle leaf figs grow huge outside, so choose your planting spot wisely. They can soon shade a small garden, making it difficult to grow anything else in the vicinity.
When Should You Plant Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Outdoors?
The suitable time to plant a potted fig tree outside is during the summer. You can gradually convert your fiddle leaf fig from indoors to outside at the start of summer when temperatures regularly stay above 50°F.
When the summer heat fades, and the October frost sets in, it’s time to bring the fiddle-leaf fig back inside. If it becomes cold-stressed, it will drop leaves, and the tree may perish.
Consider These Points Before Moving Your Plant
Fiddle leaf figs are challenging to grow indoors. They’re the same in the open air. Outside, these trees require special conditions to thrive. Consider the following factors before moving your indoor fiddle leaf out, either temporarily or permanently.
– Water Requirements
When you bring fiddle leaf figs outside, their watering demands can fluctuate dramatically, and their needs in the summer are different from those in the winter. When you move your fiddle leaf out, you’ll need to change your watering routine.
– Temperature Requirements
Temperatures vary a lot more outside than they do inside our homes. It’s critical to check that your fiddle leaf fig is warm enough during the day and night before moving it outside.
– Light Requirements
Fiddle leaf figs are adapted to growing in the dappled shadow of more enormous trees as a rainforest plant. Because they tolerate low light levels, they make excellent houseplants. They do, however, prefer full sun to partial shade.
It is not a good idea to transplant a fiddle leaf fig that has been growing indoors into full sun. The plant might be shocked by a fast change in light levels.
Consider how much light your deck, patio, or lawn receives during the day before relocating your fiddle leaf fig outside.
– Placement
You should consider carefully where you put your fiddle leaf fig. It’s preferable to let it alone for a while once you’ve moved it. These plants dislike being dragged about a lot.
Look for the following when choosing an outdoor location for your fiddle leaf fig:
- A secure site from the wind. Fiddle leaf figs prefer humid environments; thus, a breeze may be too drying. Strong winds might also cause harm to their branches.
- From dappled to partial to full sun. They require intense light to thrive.
- The blazing midday sun is protected. Unobstructed sunlight can harm the plant.
- A potted fiddle leaf fig looks excellent in a sunny patio or foyer.
Repotting
Fiddle leaf figs are plants that multiply quickly. As they sprout additional leaves, their roots expand as well. Their growth will be slowed, and they may develop problems if they get root-bound.
It’s vital to repot a fiddle leaf fig now and again to keep it from getting root-bound.
Pruning
Pruning an outdoor fiddle leaf fig is necessary to maintain the desired size and shape. Because outdoor fiddle leaf figs grow quicker than indoor ones, they must be pruned more frequently.
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Pruning your fiddle leaf fig keeps it looking good and promotes new growth. You can remove old, dead leaves, and cutting off the main growing tip encourages the plant to produce additional branches and bushes.
Pruning a fiddle leaf fig is best done in the spring. Use a sharp, sterilized set of pruning shears on your fiddle leaf fig. Wear gardening gloves to avoid getting latex from the fig on your hands (it stings!).
Cut the leaves at a 45-degree angle from the stem.
If you chop off more than five to 10 leaves in one go, fiddle leaf figs can go into shock, so keep that in mind!
Cut off the top of the central growth stalk to keep your fiddle leaf fig from becoming too tall. Snip off the top bud to encourage new top growth to branch out.
Moving The Indoor Palnt Outdoors
The abrupt shift in growing conditions can kill the plant if you bring your indoor fiddle leaf fig immediately outside. It’s critical to shift from inside to outside as slowly as possible.
Start by taking your indoor fiddle leaf fig outside every day for a time. Please put it under a shade for a few hours and then bring it inside before the midday sun gets too hot.
Increase the amount of time your fiddle leaf spends outside during the day until you’re only bringing it in at dusk. Start with three or four hours out and gradually increase to 12 hours over a week.
Place your fiddle leaf fig outside in direct sunlight for a couple of hours in the morning and evening during week two. Keep it out of the sun for the rest of the day, and don’t bring it in at night.
If your fiddle leaf fig looks cheerful after two weeks, you can leave it outside full time. Keep a watch on your fiddle leaf for the first few weeks outside, and bring it inside on stormy days.
Best Time To Bring The Fiddle Leaf Figs Indoors
Fiddle leaf figs can be grown outside in the late spring, summer, and early fall, but the temperatures will drop after that.
Bring your fiddle leaf fig inside before the winter arrives. From the middle of autumn, keep an eye on the minimum temperatures. It’s time to bring your fiddle leaf back inside when the temperature drops below 55°F.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fiddle Leaf Fig
– What Temperature Can Fiddle Leaf Figs Tolerate?
Fiddle leaf figs can’t resist frost and can’t sustain temps below 50°F. When the weather is over 60°F, you can start migrating this plant outside.
Fiddle leaf figs can withstand much heat. They start to display signs of heat stress when the temperature rises above 95°F. Their leaves droop, become yellow or brown, and eventually fall off.
– Can Fiddle Leaf Figs Survive Winter Outside?
Temperatures between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal for these plants. They can withstand temperatures as low as 60°F outside.
If your winters are colder than this, a fiddle leaf fig will not be able to survive the winter outdoors.
Only big, mature fiddle leaf figs that have been in the ground for an extended period can withstand winter temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
– Do Fig Trees Need Direct Sunlight?
Fiddle leaf figs prefer bright, indirect sunshine to thrive. They can thrive in full sun as long as they are shielded from the intense afternoon sun. Scorching, unobstructed sunlight can cause the foliage to burn.
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Outside, fiddle leaf figs do not require direct sunshine, but they do benefit from some direct morning sunlight. They need around 5 to 6 hours of bright, indirect light each day.
– Can Fiddle Leaf Fig Take Full Sun?
Fiddle leaf figs can’t handle full sun just after they’ve been growing in your house. They require time to adjust to greater light levels. It’s critical to ease your fiddle leaf into full sunlight.
Fiddle leaf figs can grow in full sun, although they prefer bright, indirect sunlight to rainforest plants.
– How Often Should You Repot A Fiddle Leaf Fig Grown Outside?
Because they receive more light, fiddle leaf figs grown outside grow faster than those produced inside. As a result, they require more frequent repotting.
Fiddle leaf figs should be repotted every year outside. They should be transferred to a little larger pot, no more than 2 inches broader than the previous one.
– Can I Put My Fiddle Leaf Fig Outside In Summer?
During the summer, you should move your fiddle leaf fig outside. They can live out in the spring, summer, and early fall, but you should bring them inside before winter if you live in a temperate climate.
– Do Outdoor Fiddle Leaf Figs Need Fertilizer?
During the spring and summer, you should feed your outdoor fiddle leaf to ensure that it has all the nutrients it requires to thrive. Don’t fertilize your outdoor fiddle leaf fig during the fall and winter.
You don’t need to feed your fiddle leaf if your garden soil is rich and healthy, or if you apply compost once a year, it will grow faster and more significantly if you do.
Organic liquid plant food is the best fertilizer for fiddle leaf figs. Look for a product with a 3:1:2 NPK ratio.
– How Often Should You Water Them In Winter?
These trees are not adapted to cold winters because they are native to warm, tropical climates. They go into dormancy when the temperature drops. Their growth is substantially slowed, and they use far less water and nutrients.
As a result, watering a fiddle-leaf fig less regularly during the winter than during the rest of the year is critical. You may only need to water your fiddle leaf once a month during the winter if you water it once every ten days during the summer.
The frequency with which your fig plant requires water is determined by its growing conditions (which change throughout the year). It is preferable not to water your fiddle leaf regularly but when the plant needs it.
Regularly check the soil moisture with a simple soil probe, and only water your fiddle leaf fig when the earth is nearly dry.
– When Outside, How Often Should I Water My Plant?
If you live somewhere warm enough for your fiddle leaf to be outside all year, make sure it gets plenty of water. Fiddle leaf figs, significantly when grown outdoors, are thirsty plants.
An outdoor fiddle leaf fig plant may need to be watered several times each week during the summer. The rainfall determines how often you water your fiddle leaf fig in the winter.
During the winter, check the wetness of your fiddle leaf’s soil every two weeks and water it if the top few inches are dry. Fiddle leaf figs in containers require more frequent watering than those on the ground.
Conclusion
Fiddle leaf figs are great for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Your fiddle leaf fig can spend most of the year outside on your patio and just come inside for the winter if you grow it in a container.
- You may even keep it indoors for most of the year and only bring it outside in the summer.
- In zones 10 to 12, you can transplant your indoor fiddle leaf fig onto your garden if it has outgrown your home.
- Because tropical plants require warmth and humidity to thrive, they cannot be kept outside all year in more moderate climates.
These trees can be planted and will thrive outdoors as long as you take all precautions and put in the care they need.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor