TI’ve struggled with fiddle leaf figs — in fact, until recently, none of the ones I’d owned survived. I even shared a past fiddle leaf story, and that one didn’t make it either. Of four fiddle leaf figs over the years, all but one are gone.
Except this one.
When we moved into our new house he had a rough transition — I left him outside unattended for several weeks during a hot summer move and many leaves turned brown and crunchy. After a few months of settling into his new spot, though, he bounced back and started looking healthy again.
And then he grew.
He’s put on a lot of growth. His branches (or trunks—whatever you call them) are bending under the weight of very large leaves. Some new leaves measure more than 16 inches across and they’re gorgeous. Because he’s expanding outward — he has four main limbs that reach wide — I’m wondering whether I should intervene in some way beyond moving lamps and furniture to give him more room.
I’ve been cautious: I haven’t pruned or repotted him because I didn’t want to upset him. I water him once a week and that routine seems to work — he’s green and thriving, so I assume he’s happy for now.
Perhaps this outward growth is normal and his limbs will continue to spread rather than grow taller. He’s not much taller overall; he’s just getting broader in all directions.
He’s in a relatively small pot and I can see some roots at the surface, which I’ve noticed before. I’m considering repotting into a slightly larger container with fresh soil, but I’m hesitant — should I risk repotting while he’s healthy, or leave him alone since he seems content?
Now that he’s robust, it might be a good moment to repot and prune. But I worry about the consequences: will pruning simply encourage the same long, arching limbs to return? The new leaves are so attractive that I’d hate to cut them back and be left with older, less appealing foliage. I also worry about transplant shock or making a mistake that harms him.
HALP!
If you have experience with a large, healthy fiddle leaf fig and can offer guidance on repotting, pruning, or general care for a plant that’s getting very wide, I’d be grateful for your advice. 🙂
Room Sources:
Round wood pedestal table (drop-leaf)
Cable-knit wool rug (on sale)
Metal barrel plant pot
Chalk Paint fireplace makeover details
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