Bringing a Fiddle Leaf Fig back from a stick
Inspirational Story: Rehabbing a Fig
We get a lot of calls about Fiddle Leaf Figs at Austin Plant Doctor. They are a part of our logo for a reason! These beautiful leafy friends have been the "It" plant for interior design over the last decade, and their high profile has attracted lots of new plant parents to them.
Unfortunately, these fiddle leaf figs are quite fiddly at first, and we get a lot of calls about struggling plants dropping leaves. We wanted to post this blog update to show how a fiddle leaf fig really can come back - even after losing all its leaves!
The start: Just a stick
This fiddle leaf fig started at an office! We make sure all our plants meet aesthetic standards here at Austin Plant Doctor. Repotting is a stressful process for plants, and even when things go perfectly, some leaf drop and browning is normal.
Of course, we want our clients to have happy health plants. So, we took this fig back at the first sign of trouble to rehab. Unfortunately, a sudden stop on Lamar caused it to tip over in the truck, and snapped the top off. With a few leaves having dropped off base of the trunk, losing the leafy top made the tree look very sad indeed.
The key when managing a completely defoliated fig tree is to keep the vibrations high! We have a special little south facing patio with lots of bright, indirect light. Light and time are a plant's best medicine.
A New Beginning: Leaf Buds
After ten days of no watering or attention to the plant, it started to bud out. Those tiny little green nubbins are the beginning of whole new branches. The secret? None! Just a proper amount of watering and a little bit of our special formula for transplant shocked figs. Repotting is stressful, and the leaves come eventually as long as the water comes at the right time and amount.
After a few weeks, the tree is really waking up! It's an awesome feeling to rehab a fig tree from just a stick. If you have a fiddle leaf fig tree that is completely stick-like, or you're worried it's on the way there... Don't hesitate to contact us for a free quote!
